An oxygen concentration apparatus (300) according to the present invention has: pressure swing adsorption type oxygen concentration means (310); and a control means (350) that controls switching means (316) that switches between intake of pressurized air into an adsorption column (312) and exhaust from the adsorption column. The switching means is controlled based on pressure in oxygen concentrated gas in the conduit measured by pressure measuring means to adjust a cycle of adsorption and regeneration processes of the oxygen concentration means so that pressure at the upstream of flow rate adjusting means (340) can be controlled and, as a result, the need for a mechanical pressure regulating valve, that has been needed conventionally, can be eliminated. Further, there is also shown a gas supply apparatus that comprises ultrasonic type gas concentration and flow rate measuring means that comprises, in turn, two ultrasonic transducers that is disposed in an opposed manner in the conduit through which product gas flows so that a concentration value measured when the product gas output is stopped is determined to be a product gas concentration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure swing adsorption-type oxygen concentration apparatus using an adsorbent that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen rather than oxygen and, in particular, it relates to a medical oxygen-concentration apparatus used in oxygen-inhalation therapy that is a treatment for respiratory diseases.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the number of patients that suffer from respiratory diseases such as asthma, pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis and the like has been growing. One of the most effective therapy methods for such respiratory diseases is oxygen inhalation therapy that allows the patient to inhale an oxygen-concentrated gas or oxygen-enriched air. As a source of the oxygen-concentrated gas or the oxygen-enriched air supplied to the patient (referred to as the "oxygen supply source" in this specification), an oxygen concentration apparatus, liquid oxygen, an oxygen concentrated gas tank and the like are well-known but, among others, in view of convenience in use and ease of maintenance and management, the oxygen concentration apparatus is mainly used in home oxygen therapy.
Though a membrane type oxygen concentration apparatus that uses a membrane for selectively permeating oxygen is known, a pressure swing adsorption type oxygen concentration apparatus that uses an adsorbent that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen, and that can provide higher concentration of oxygen, is more widely used.
Known methods for supplying the oxygen concentrated gas generated in the oxygen concentration apparatus include: a method for supplying the oxygen concentrated gas at a constant flow rate continuously; and a method for supplying the oxygen concentrated gas only in an inspiratory phase, or in a portion of the inspiratory phase, in synchronization with the patient's respiration.
When the oxygen concentrated gas at a constant flow rate is supplied continuously, the oxygen concentration apparatus is provided with a flow rate adjuster for supplying the oxygen concentrated gas at a prescribed constant flow rate to the patient. This flow rate adjuster may be an orifice type flow rate adjuster, a flow rate adjuster using a needle valve, and a feedback type flow rate adjuster using a flow rate sensor. The orifice type flow rate adjuster has a plurality of orifices of different diameters so that one of the plurality of orifices can be selected to obtain a desired flow rate under the pressure condition at the upstream of the orifice. The feedback type flow rate adjuster controls a degree of opening of a throttle valve based on a measurement value by the flow rate sensor.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. S61-131756 and Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. H03-22185 disclose an oxygen supply method for supplying oxygen concentrated gas only in an inspiratory phase, or in a portion of the inspiratory phase, in synchronization with the patient's respiration, and a pressure swing adsorption type oxygen concentration apparatus with this respiratory synchronous oxygen supplying method.
Still further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-187145, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-144549, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-144550 disclose a mechanical pressure regulating valve having a piston and a spring used in the oxygen supply method in a continuous or respiratory synchronous intermittent manner described above.
Still further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-352482, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-121010, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07-136272, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-45424 disclose a battery-driven mobile or portable oxygen concentration apparatus that extends the area of activity of the patient and contributes to an improved quality of life (QOL).
On the other hand, when the oxygen concentration apparatus supplies the oxygen concentrated gas to the patient, the oxygen concentration of the oxygen concentrated gas may reduce due to degradation of the adsorbent, failure of the concentration apparatus itself and so on. The patient cannot obtain a sufficient therapeutic effect with reduced oxygen concentration of the oxygen concentrated gas and, therefore, it is desirable to provide the oxygen concentration apparatus with an oxygen concentration sensor for measuring the concentration of the oxygen concentrated gas.
While a zirconia type oxygen concentration sensor has been typically used as the oxygen concentration sensor for measuring the oxygen concentration of the oxygen concentrated gas, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-214012 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-135601 disclose an ultrasonic type gas concentration and flow rate measuring apparatus.
Hereinafter, a principle of gas concentration measurement by the ultrasonic type gas concentration and flow rate measuring means will be described.
Two ultrasonic transducers that can transmit and receive ultrasonic waves with each other are disposed in an opposed manner in a line through which a product gas flows so that the ultrasonic waves can be transmitted and received in the forward direction of the gas flow. Assuming that a sound velocity observed in this case is V1, a sound velocity in immobile gas is C and a flow velocity of the gas in the line is V, V1 can be expressed by the following formula (1):V1=C+V  (1)
Then, a sound velocity V2 observed when the ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received in the reverse direction of the gas flow can be expressed by the following formula (2):V2=C−V  (2)
Therefore, even if the flow velocity V of the gas is unknown, the flow velocity V of the gas can be canceled by adding the formulas (1) and (2) and, as a result, only the sound velocity C in the immobile gas can be calculated by the following formula (3):C=(V1+V2)/2  (3)
Further, assuming that a gas temperature is T, a ratio of specific heat of the gas is k, a gas constant is R and an average molecular weight of the gas is M, it is known that the sound velocity C in the immobile gas can be expressed by the following formula (4):
                    C        =                              kRT            M                                              (        4        )
In the formula (4), k and R are constant and the value of C can be obtained by the formula (3) and, therefore, if only the gas temperature T is measured, the formula (4) can be transformed into the formula (5) to obtain the average molecular weight M of the gas:M=kRT/C2  (5)
Thus, for example, if the measured gas is a two-component gas consisting of oxygen and nitrogen, assuming that the oxygen concentration is x, the nitrogen concentration is 1−x, a molecular weight of the oxygen is 32 and a molecular weight of the nitrogen is 28, the oxygen concentration x can be determined by using the relationship of the following formula (6):32x+28(1−x)=M  (6)
Further, a principle of flow rate measurement in the ultrasonic type gas concentration flow rate measuring apparatus in which two ultrasonic transducers are arranged in an opposed manner is as follows.
By using the formulas (1) and (2) described above, even if the sound velocity C in the immobile gas is unknown, the flow velocity V of the gas can be obtained by the following formula (7):V=(V1−V2)/2  (7)
Then, if the flow velocity V of the gas can be obtained, the flow rate of the gas can be obtained easily by multiplying it by a cross sectional area of the line through which the gas flows.


The present invention relates to a method for estimating location of a moving object in a navigation system, which is capable of accurately estimating location of the object in a shadow area of GPS location data so that navigation service is provided. A method for estimating location of a moving object in a navigation system includes the steps of: (a) receiving GPS location data from a moving object; (b) determining GPS shadow area by using the received GPS location data; (c) calculating moving straight distance of the moving object with reference to a last GPS location data in visible regions when the moving object is in a GPS shadow area; (d) calculating virtual location data by using the calculated moving straight distance of the moving object; and (e) calculating estimated location on a digital numeric map positioned nearest from the virtual location data, and performing a map-matching to provide a navigation service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for estimating location of a moving object in a navigation system, which is capable of accurately estimating a next location of the object by using a speed of the moving object and a direction of the link on a digital numeric map especially when a moving object (e.g. a vehicle) goes in a shadow area.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in the navigation system, location information of the moving object is provided continuously in real time within a range of an allowable error and used for the services to display the present location of the moving object, to guide a moving path and to recognize an environment. However, the wrong location estimation or the discontinuous location estimation can affect a movement of the moving object seriously. Therefore, it is very important to estimate the location of the moving object.
The method for estimating the location of the moving object is disclosed in the Korean Patent No. 216535 (Application No. 1997-24564).
According to the Korean Patent No. 216535, the present location of the moving object is found in a dead reckoning (DR) technique by using data collected from a direction and distant sensor attached to the moving object and set to be a first moving location. Correction is performed on the link on the digital numeric map by a map mapping method using a location matching of the first moving location and the corrected position is set to be a second moving location. The present location of the moving object is estimated using the GPS location information received from GPS and set to be a third moving location. Correction is performed on the link on the digital numeric map by a map mapping method using a location matching and the third moving location is set to be a fourth moving location. Short distance moving patterns of the first to fourth moving locations are found, and similarities representing how much the short distance moving patterns of the first to fourth moving locations are matched with the link pattern are compared with each other. The moving location having the highest similarity is estimated as the final present location.
In such a location estimation method, the location of the moving object is estimated using a sensor signal and a GPS location data by the dead reckoning technique.
Without using the dead reckoning technique, direction sensors such as a gyro and an electronic compass may have errors depending on rotation direction. Traveling direction can be deflected or changed when the moving object stops. Therefore, the estimated traveling direction can include an error. Estimation of moving distance by wheel sensors includes errors due to external elements such as air pressure and street conditions. Accordingly, it is very difficult to solve instability of location estimation and to provide navigation service such as a map mapping in GPS shadow areas in the navigation system without any direction sensor.
It is not easy to estimate the locations of the moving object such as a mobile telephone having no direction sensors such as a gyro and an electronic compass, and the moving objects in the shadow areas, in which GPS data are not received, and the unreliable regions such as tunnel and underground passage in which quality of the received GPS location data is greatly lowered though the GPS location data is received. It is very difficult to estimate the location of the moving object precisely due to errors caused during estimation even if the location of the moving object can be estimated.

Method for estimating location of moving object in navigation system


There is provided herein a sensor/monitor combination designed to reduce the risk of pressure ulcer occurrence in immobile patients, wherein the level of patient activity is tracked to determine whether or not that patient has exhibited sufficient activity to merit eliminating a scheduled assisted relocation to a new position. The instant device senses the time since a patient last relocated into a different sitting or lying position. If the patient has not moved during some predetermined time period, the nursing staff will be notified by the invention that it is time to manually reposition the patient. If the patient has significantly changed position during the predetermined time period and, thus, allowed previously compressed tissues to reoxygenate, the invention will not signal that a move is necessary, thereby eliminating the need in some cases to rouse the patient from an otherwise healing sleep.

It is well known that patients who are confined to a bed or chair for extended periods of time are at risk of developing pressure ulcers, i.e., decubitus ulcers, pressure sores, or bed sores as they are more commonly known. These ulcers are often seen to develop within soft tissue that is compressed between a bed or chair surface and a patient's weight-bearing bony prominences, the compressed tissue being at least partially deprived of oxygenated blood flow. A continued lack of blood flow, and resultant lack of oxygen, can result in cell death which may be evidenced in the form of pressure sores. Pressure sores do not become apparent immediately, but rather form over time, with the development speed depending on a number of factors including the firmness and friction of the supporting surface against the patient's skin, the tissue temperature at the site of the ischemic condition, the amount of moisture in contact with the skin, and the health and susceptibility of the skin to such injury due to age or illness.
One venerable and generally accepted means of reducing the risk of decubitus ulcer development in immobile patients is to move or turn them regularly to a position where the previously compressed tissue is no longer weight bearing, usually at approximately two-hour intervals. For example, a patient in a back rest position might be periodically rolled to one side or the other, such motion helping to maintain blood flow to soft tissue that is under compression. Similar strategies are employed for patients that are confined to a chair for long periods of time. Obviously, an assisted-movement strategy relies to a large extent on the vigilance of the (often harried) attending staff to insure that the patient is properly relocated. Further, it is far too easy for the busy caregiver to let the time for turning the patient slip by in the press of other daily emergencies. To the extent that the caregiver is too busy or forgets to perform this service in a timely manner, this method can fail to achieve its intended purpose. Further, this sort of strategy can be counterproductive for use with the patient who has some capacity for self movement as, for example, where at the next scheduled turn a patient is moved by the nurse back into a position from which he or she had just moved scant minutes before.
More particularly, the process of moving a patient to another position is admittedly disruptive to the patient and this is especially true at night, since the patient—if he or she were sleeping—will be awakened for the purpose of relocation. The typical two-hour movement interval must be observed around the clock if the method is to be effective, so it is necessary to rouse the patient—who might be sleeping soundly at the time—to make the required adjustment in position. Further, this adjustment might not have even been necessary if the patient had recently moved of his or her own volition. Thus, in many situations it would be advantageous for the caregiver to know if and when the patient last moved him or herself. Then, if the last movement were within a prescribed period of time, it might be possible to spare the patient an unnecessary interruption in his or her healing sleep. The caregiver would then relocate the sleeping patient, only if that relocation were actually required. Further, knowing which patients do not need to be moved could result in a substantial savings in labor costs, as the time that would otherwise be devoted to moving the patient that did not actually need to be moved could be productively applied elsewhere. That being said, as useful as this sort of information might be to the health care provider, however, the present state-of-the-art in patient management does not provide this sort of information.
Generally speaking, there are two broad prior art approaches to dealing with decubitus ulcers: mechanical and medicinal. The mechanical approach is aimed at reducing the severity of bedsores through the use of a specialized mattress, pad, or other arrangement, which is designed to lessen the weight-pressure that is brought to bear on the patient's bony prominences. These devices might be either static (e.g., foam, air, or water mattresses) or dynamic (e.g., compartmentally inflatable mattresses that dynamically shift the locus of support pressure under the patient in response to the patient's movements). Examples of inventions in the prior art that are generally concerned with this subject matter are U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,676, 5,926,884, and 5,072,468, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
On the other hand, the medical—or second inventive—approach is concerned with the development of medicinal compounds and methods of treating the ulcer after it occurs. This approach is obviously useful but reactive, rather than proactive, as it attempts to minimize the damage occasioned by the ulcer after it has formed.
However, neither of the above approaches is directed toward the prevention of pressure sores which would, of course, be preferably for proper patient care.
General information relating to mats for use in patient monitoring may be found in patent application Ser. No. 09/285,956 filed Apr. 2, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,476, the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,179,692, 4,295,133, 4,700,180, 5,600,108, 5,633,627, 5,640,145, and 5,654,694 (concerning electronic monitors generally) contain further information generally pertinent to this same subject matter, as do U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,484,043, 4,565,910, 5,554,835, and 5,623,760 (switch patents), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,556 and patent application No. 60/487,021 (mats for use in preventing decubitus ulcers) the disclosures of all of which are all incorporated herein by reference.
Heretofore in the patient monitoring arts there has been no apparatus or method aimed specifically at reducing the risk of bedsores in a semi-invalid patient, i.e., the patient who at least occasionally moves without assistance. With a semi-invalid patient, assisted repositioning—whether manual or mechanical—should only take place if the patient has not moved for some particular period of time. This, of course, suggests the need for a method and apparatus for monitoring the patient so that the time when he or she last moved can be determined. Further, the duration of the patient's move should also be monitored to ensure that tissue reoxygenation takes place. Finally, there is a need for an apparatus that can monitor, record, and report the overall amount of patient self-induced and/or caregiver assisted movement, so as to give the caregiver (or that person's supervisor) some estimate of the amount of movement by the patient in the bed with respect to time. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that historical estimates of the overall amount of patient movement are directly useful to the staff and further useful in generating, for example, decubitus ulcer patient risk indices such as the Braden or Norton scale.
Heretofore, as is well known in the patient monitor arts, there has been a need for an invention to address and solve the above-described problems. Accordingly, it should now be recognized, as was recognized by the present inventors, that there exists, and has existed for some time, a very real need for a system for monitoring patients that would address and solve the above-described problems.
Before proceeding to a description of the present invention, however, it should be noted and remembered that the description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the invention to the examples (or preferred embodiments) shown and described. This is so because those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be able to devise other forms of this invention within the ambit of the appended claims.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for mitigating the risk of pressure sores


An NMOS transistor 14 having one end connected to one end of a resistance memory element 10 is provided, and when a voltage is applied to the resistance memory element 10 via the NMOS transistor 14 to switch the resistance memory element 10 from the low resistance state to the high resistance state, the gate voltage of the NMOS transistor 14 is set at a value which is equal to or greater than the total of the reset voltage of the resistance memory element 10 and the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor 14 and is smaller than the total of the set voltage of the resistance memory element 10 and the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor 14, whereby the voltage applied to the resistance memory element 10 is set at a value which is equal to or greater than the reset voltage and is smaller than the set voltage.

Recently, as a new memory device, a semiconductor memory device called Resistance Random Access Memory (RRAM) is noted. The RRAM uses a resistance memory element which has a plurality of resistance states of different resistance values which are changed by electric stimulations applied from the outside and whose high resistance state and low resistance state are corresponded to, e.g., information "0" and "1" to be used as a memory element. The RRAM is considered prospective because of the high potentials of the high speed, large capacities, low electric power consumption, etc.
The resistance memory element has a resistance memory material whose resistance states are changed by the application of voltages sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. As the typical resistance memory material, oxide materials containing transition metals are known.
The semiconductor memory device using the resistance memory element is disclosed in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,473,332, Japanese published unexamined patent application No. 2005-025914, Japanese published unexamined patent application No. 2004-272975, Japanese published unexamined patent application No. 2004-110867, Japanese published unexamined patent application No. 2004-355670, A. Beck et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 77, p. 139 (2001), W. W. Zhuang et al., Tech. Digest IEDM 2002, p. 193, and I. G. Baek et al., Tech. Digest IEDM 2004, p. 587.
However, the conventional method of simply applying a voltage to the resistance memory element to thereby change the state of the resistance memory material from the low resistance state to the high resistance state applies an excessive voltage to the resistance memory element. There is a risk that such an excessive voltage might change the resistance state of the resistance memory element from the high resistance state again to the low resistance state, and the high resistance state could not be retained.

Method of writing into semiconductor memory device


A message transmitting method using a short message service (SMS) that can successively transmit messages that a mobile terminal user intends to transmit. According to the long message transmitting method using the SMS, in case that the message to be transmitted exceeds a predetermined length, identifiers representing a boundary of each predetermined unit of the message and an identifier representing that the message is divided and transmitted are inserted into the units of the message, and the message is divided and transmitted according to the inserted identifiers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the message transmission, and more particularly to a message transmitting method using a short message service that enables a mobile terminal user to successively transmit a message.
2. Background of the Related Art
As is well known, a short message service (SMS) is a service that enables a mobile station to exchange simple characters and figures with a base station or an external device capable of communicating with the base station. The mobile station supporting the SMS receives a data burst message and decodes the encoded message while it monitors a paging channel allocated to the corresponding mobile station.
In case that the mobile station is in an idle state, its access to the system function is limited, and in this state, the mobile station monitors the paging channel.
At this time, the base station transmits the paging message and SMS message to the mobile station through the paging channel. Also, the mobile station may transmit a limited SMS message to the base station using an access channel.
Generally, when the user intends to transmit a text message using the SMS, the length of the message is limited to only the length permitted by a communication service provider.
Accordingly, in case of transmitting a long message, it should be divided into a plurality of short messages, and the receiver's number and reply number should be selected for each short message.
Hereinafter, a conventional method of transmitting a long message using the SMS will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the conventional method of transmitting a long message using the SMS.
Referring to FIG. 1, the user first selects a text message transmission menu of a mobile terminal (step S10).
After selecting the transmission menu (step S10), the user inputs a receiver's number to which the user intends to transmit the long message, and then inputs a reply number of the user (step S11).
After inputting the receiver's number and reply number (step S11), the user prepares the text message (step S12).
Here, the length of the prepared text message is limited to the number of characters permitted by the communication service provider, for example, within 80 bytes.
After preparing the text message (step S12), the user transmits the prepared text message to the inputted receiver's number (step S13).
After transmitting the text message (step S13), the user's mobile terminal waits for completion of transmission until the message transmission to the inputted receiver's number (step S14).
After waiting for the completion of transmission (step S14), the user judges whether there is any message to be transmitted in addition to the previously transmitted message (step S15).
If it is judged that there is the message to be additionally transmitted as a result of judgement (step S15), the user prepares and transmits to the receiver's number the additional message by repeating the above-described steps.
Meanwhile, if it is judged that there is no further message to be additionally transmitted as a result of judgement (step S15), the user terminates the transmission of the text message.
However, according to the conventional long message transmitting method using the SMS, the length of the text message is limited to the number of characters permitted by the service provider, i.e., within 80 bytes, and thus in order to transmit the message whose length exceeds 80 bytes, the message should be divided into several short messages. Also, the menu selection process, input of the receiver's name and reply number, and waiting for completion of text transmission should be repeated for each divided short message.

Message transmitting method using short message service


An injection system includes an inner nozzle body defining a first air path along a longitudinal axis. The first air path defines a converging-diverging section between an upstream portion of the first air path and an outlet orifice of the first air path. A main orifice is defined at a narrowest portion of the converging-diverging section. A fuel circuit wall is outboard of the inner nozzle body. A fuel path is defined between the fuel circuit wall and the inner nozzle body. An outer nozzle body outboard of the fuel circuit wall has a second air path defined through the inner nozzle body for communication of air from the outer nozzle body into the first air path, wherein the second air path meets the first air path at a second orifice in the first air path downstream of the main orifice of the inner nozzle body.

Technical Field: This disclosure relates generally to gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to torch ignitors and methods suitable for their use in the combustor section of a gas turbine engine.
Background of Related Art: Torch ignitors can be used in lieu of spark ignitors to provide an ignition source for combustors located in gas turbine engines. Torch ignitors provide a flame to the combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine as an ignition source rather than the electric current provided by spark ignitors. Consequently, torch ignitors can provide a larger target for main fuel injectors within the combustor, allowing for utilization of a greater range of fuel injector designs. Torch ignitors are intended to remain active while the gas turbine is operating for continuous ignition. Torch ignitors have generally been considered adequate for their intended purposes, but there is an ongoing need for improved performance in continuous ignition. This disclosure provides a solution for that need.


A microwave heating system utilizes a microwave energy generator to provide microwave energy through wave guides to targets. The targets are microwave absorbers and thereby increasing temperature upon the contact of microwave energy. The heated targets then transfer heat to an area to be heated such as by conduction, convection or radiation depending on the particular embodiment. A sensor in the area to be heated provides an input to a controller for controlling the input of microwave energy to be directed to the target.

Presently, the applicant is aware that the poultry industry primarily relies on several different models of heaters that are normally fueled by propane or natural gas. These typically include conventional brooders, radiant brooders, infrared radiant brooders, forced air furnaces, tube heaters and other forms of propane-supplied heaters. These heaters normally combust propane utilizing a flame.
These models are presently somewhat expensive to operate because of relatively high fuel costs. Propane costs in 2005 in the southeast have increased approximately 21% over the cost at the same time in 2004. Under the current business model for operating poultry houses to raise chickens, this increased cost of heating can dramatically affect the profit of the poultry farmer since the revenue received by the poultry farmer has not increased a corresponding amount.
The flame based gas burner heaters also provide carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions. These can have harmful effects on the poultry.
The flame driven heaters also result in a somewhat elevated insurance premium since there is a statistical risk of fire.
Many of the propane models provide a supply of propane to a heater from a flexible hose which is then ignited and directed onto a ceramic element. The ceramic element is heated by the flame and heat from the ceramic element is then normally radiated in part utilizing a concave reflector to reflect heat toward the ground. One problem with this common propane heater is that the heating of the ceramic elements is not normally uniform. A lack of uniformity in heating the ceramic elements can cause them to crack and break thereby necessitating replacement. Furthermore, a supply of propane is exhausted in elevating the temperature of the ceramic element to a desired temperature which does not directly correspond to additional heating of the area. Also, the flames can roll around the ceramic element. This can cause at least some of the heat to rise toward the ceiling without significantly heating up the desired ceramic target. Accordingly, such a design is not believed to be sufficiently efficient at converting the energy contained within the propane into heat.
In a modern tunnel ventilated poultry house with insulated walls and ceilings, four houses would provide 80,000 square feet which could support 120,000 3.75 lb. chickens. In northwest Georgia, one user has encountered a need to use 17,000 to 18,000 gallons of propane per year to support the necessary temperature curve recommended by the chicken processing companies.
Costs of propane this year for raising poultry has been found to be in the range of approximately $1.139 to $1.299 which equates to an average price per gallon of $1.199 per gallon. 17,000 gallons would equate to a little over $20,000.00 per year and 18,000 gallons would equate to about $21,500.00 per year. If the chicken houses were an older style which are not as well insulated as new houses, the costs of heating could be even higher. In fact, if the buildings are uninsulated, it is possible that the heating costs could be nearly double which would constitute a significant portion of the gross revenue received by the grower.
If a way to heat these houses could be provided at a cost savings to the grower, this is believed to be advantageous to the marketplace and the environment.
Furthermore, if a non-propane based heater or heating system for use with chicken houses, then the estimated current 200 billion gallons of propane used each year in the broiler industry would be reduced significantly, if not eliminated. This decrease in demand could enable the use of the petroleum products for other purposes which could also serve to drive the price of gas, diesel, fuel, propane and natural gases downward.
In addition to the reduced consumption of propane and/or natural gas, a decreased level of emissions that currently transpire from the poultry and agricultural housing facilities could be reduced. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions which are provided as a product of inefficient and even efficient burning of propane could be virtually eliminated.
Additionally, the current consumption of propane in burners results in the production of wet heat. This water which is generated is absorbed in chicken litter which generates ammonia. Ammonia in chicken houses is an undesirable product as it can lead to a number of problems. Accordingly, a source of dryer heat would be particularly desirable.
At least the poultry industry has been searching for new or alternative methods of heating poultry houses for decades. Some have suggested heating poultry houses with used motor oils. Others have suggested the heating of poultry houses with burning litter. Both of these alternatives, although they consume less propane gas than the conventional heaters, rely on combustion which generates at least carbon dioxide if not carbon monoxide and other byproducts which may or may not be desirable to chickens and others.
Accordingly, a need is believed to exist for a more efficient heat source.
Another need is believed to exist for a non-petroleum based heater for use in at least an agricultural environment.
Yet another need is believed to exist for a non-flame dependent heater and/or heating system.

Method and apparatus using microwave energy to heat a target


RGB image signals are inputted. B/G ratio is calculated based on B image signal and G image signal. G/R ratio is calculated based on the G image signal and R image signal. In a feature space formed by the B/G ratio and the G/R ratio, a first process is performed. In the first process, a difference between coordinates in a first observation area and coordinates in a second observation area is increased. The first observation area mostly contains coordinates corresponding to a portion (of an object) infected with H. pylori. The second observation area mostly contains coordinates corresponding to a portion (of the object) in which eradication of the H. pylori infection has been successful.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical image processing device for taking and displaying a medical image of an object of interest in a body cavity and a method for operating a medical image processing device.
2. Description Related to the Prior Art
In diagnosing stomach cancer, it has been recognized that the onset of the stomach cancer is closely related to the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). In 1994, WHO (the World Health Organization) announced that the H. pylori is a carcinogen. The eradiation of the H. Pylori infection has been performed to prevent the stomach cancer. After the eradication, whether the eradication has been successful is examined.
Whether a patient is infected or uninfected with the H. pylori is examined by a blood test or by using an endoscope system, which comprises a light source device, an endoscope, and a processor device. In the endoscope system, illumination light is applied from the endoscope to an object of interest (hereinafter simply referred to as the object). Based on RGB image signals, which are obtained by taking the illuminated object with an image sensor of the endoscope, an image of the object is displayed on a monitor. In a case where diffuse redness appears in the image on the monitor, it is diagnosed that there is a high possibility of the presence of the H. pylori and it is likely to cause cancer.
It is known that the presence of the H. pylori correlates with IHb (also referred to as the hemoglobin index, which is represented by a G/R ratio between a G image signal and an R image signal) (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-220019). In this document, the IHb is used as an index for determining whether the eradication of the H. pylori infection has been successful. According to this document, in the case where the IHb is greater than a threshold value "59", it is diagnosed that the eradiation of the H. pylori infection has not been successful and the H. pylori is still present. In the case where the IHb is less than the threshold value "59", it is diagnosed that the H. pylori has been eradicated successfully.
As illustrated in FIG. 28, in a feature space formed by the B/G ratio (the vertical axis, the ratio between the B image signal and the G image signal) and the G/R ratio (horizontal axis), the coordinates corresponding to a portion (of the object) uninfected with the H. pylori are distributed in an observation area "A". The coordinates corresponding to a portion (of the object) infected with the H. pylori are distributed in an observation area "B". The coordinates corresponding to a portion (of the object) in which the eradication of the H. pylori infection has been successful are distributed in an observation area "C". In this feature space, the observation areas "A" and "B" are completely apart from each other. In this case, the observation areas "A" and "B" are distinguished from each other based only on the value of the G/R ratio (the horizontal axis), that is, the value of the IHb. On the other hand, the observation area "B" is in proximity to the observation area "C" and they are partly mixed in the feature space, so that it is difficult to distinguish the observation area "B" from the observation area "C" based only on the value of the G/R ratio (the value of the IHb). It is necessary to display images which allow distinction, using a method other than that using the IHb, between the portion infected with the H. pylori infection and the portion in which the eradication of the H. pylori infection has been successful.

Medical image processing device and method for displaying image of a body cavity with color distinction of infected area


A gas and liquid contact apparatus is disclosed having a vertically orientated containing vessel including a sidewall. At least one grid assembly is positioned within the containing vessel transverse to and concentric about a vertical center line of the vessel. Liquid and gas are injected into the vessel at specified flow rates whereby a fluidized zone results. Various techniques are disclosed for rotating the fluidized zone resulting from the interaction of the gas and liquid in the direction of the Coriolis rotational effect at the geographical point of use of the apparatus.

Previous gas scrubbers have utilized commonly known forces such as impaction, interception, diffusion and phoretic forces to assist in the removal of suspended contaminants or absorb gases from gas streams. These conventional scrubber columns have in general, operated at low gas velocities such that so-called "plug" flow was assumed to exist. For example, packed tower scrubbers operate at 4-5 feet/second; tray towers in the range of 6-8 ft/sec. and, spray tower scrubbers at approximately 8 ft/sec. In an effort to make these devices more compact and less expensive, gas velocities have been increased in recent years.
Tray scrubbers have suffered from distribution problems, thus requiring weirs, downcomers, baffles and other problem-causing internal devices. Packed towers require liquid distributors, gas injection grids, packing and other materials, all of which cause an unnecessary resistance to air flow, while reducing the overall efficiency and gas handling capacity of the scrubber system.
Fluidized bed type gas cleaning devices, in contrast, operate at higher gas velocities and use the motion of the gas stream as it passes through a dispersed liquid to generate a high liquid to gas surface area. Contaminant gases then diffuse to the liquid surface at which point they are absorbed and removed from the gas stream. Numerous studies have shown that increasing the surface area of the liquid and agitating the contact zone enhances the transfer of the gas into the liquid. We see this every day when we stir(agitate) things in order to better mix them.
The inventor herein secured protection for a revolutionary gas scrubber in U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,914. This is known in the engineering community as the catenary grid scrubber design.
This is an improved gas-liquid contact device which utilizes a specially contoured, free hanging catenary grid member(s) interposed in the gas flow within the device. It recognizes the fact that gas does not flow as a flat "plug" through a vessel. Instead, the gas flow forms a parabolically shaped pressure front which has velocities greater in the center of the vessel, diminishing to zero at the wall. The patent describes a catenary grid design which approximates the mirror image of the velocity pressure profile of the gas stream. When scrubbing liquid is injected free flow onto the upper surface of the grid and gases are directed in a counter flow direction at the design velocity, the liquid "fluidizes" (or ebulates) creating an area of great turbulence and mixing. The result was that the catenary grid scrubber achieved high efficiency in both particulate removal and gas absorption operating at gas velocities on the order of 18 ft/sec.
It has been observed however, that this catenary grid scrubber design has certain deficiencies. These shortcomings include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. the fluidized (ebulating) zone can become unstable, with openings forming through which contaminants can pass; PA1 2. the design makes it difficult to make in replaceable format (to retrofit existing towers); PA1 3. it typically has an open area of only 40-80% on any horizontal plane and therefore exhibits a higher than optimum pressure drop; PA1 4. it demonstrates limited gas volume turndown (typically 10-25% maximum); PA1 5. it runs at vertical velocities limited by the draining capacity of the grid; and, PA1 6. it does not induce significant horizontal components into the gas stream to aid in particle collection through increased impaction into the liquid. PA1 where .omega. is the angular velocity of the earth; .nu. is the speed of the body's motion; PA1 and .phi. is the earth's latitude.
It is widely known that the total energy input to a gas cleaning device largely determines its particulate removal performance. This is generally called the "equivalent energy theory". The greater the energy input, the greater the collection. The practice to date has involved the use of "man made" energy inputs provided either by moving the gas (velocity pressure) using a fan or similar device or by moving the liquid (pumping pressure) or combinations thereof. One way to maximize the efficiency of a gas scrubber, would be to use alternative low cost "natural" energy sources; or to use the latter as a supplemental means to augment the man-made sources. One of those natural "sources" is the apparent, or inertia force known as the Coriolis force or as the deflecting, or deviating, force due to the acceleration caused by the rotation of the Earth itself.
The Coriolis effect, or force, is named after the French engineer and physicist Gaspard Coriolis. This force affects an object moving in a rotating system (such as the earth), while being influenced by Newtonian forces when considered in a rectangular coordinate system. The Coriolis effect is sometimes called a "fictitious" force because it must be included mathematically in describing movement in a rotating system, though it is less evident physically.
Mathematically, the magnitude of the horizontal component of this inertia force per unit mass is given by the expression: EQU Coriolis Force=2.omega. sin .phi..nu.,
For a given speed, the Coriolis force is therefore at its maximum, 2 .omega.v, at the poles, and at its minimum, zero, at the equator. It acts at right angles to the radial motion of the object. Since it does not act in the direction of motion, it does not serve to speed up or slow down the object. It acts as an "inertia" force, establishing a resistance to any subsequent change in the object's motion.
Though the Coriolis Effect is a naturally occurring effect at all areas of the earth except the equatorial area, it is a subtle force. We can experience it personally when we walk on the surface of a rotating carousel. It is most noticeable in everyday life when water flows down a drain. A spinning vortex will form as the water drops down the drain. The relatively heavy water prefers to take a spinning motion rather than fold onto itself in part by the Coriolis Effect curving the net liquid flow of the stream furthest from the equator. The energy expended in spinning the liquid follows Newton's laws of motion in that the rotational force is related to the mass of the component in motion (i.e. the water) from F=ma, where m=the mass and a=the acceleration of that mass.
The invention uses the naturally occurring Coriolis effect to enhance the spin of water in a scrubber and thereby increase its particulate removal capability and impart greater stability to the fluidized zone at the higher operating gas velocities with minimum input of "man made" energy. The gas flow's energy is first used to create a "fluidized" or ebulating zone of liquid and thereafter the liquid-gas zone is caused to spin by harnessing the "natural" Coriolis force. The vertical component of the moving gas supports the ebulating zone and a special spin inducer helps control the spin of the zone by providing slight resistance to flow in an outward direction (much like the basin of a sink helps to control the vortex created by draining water). The stability is enhanced due to the polar moment of inertia which results from the rotating fluidized zone about a pivot axis. This is the same as the stability exhibited by a rotating top.
The Coriolis scrubber is designed to permit the swirling action to occur in a controlled ebulating zone through which gas or gases may pass. The spinning motion is intended to create a vector component of the velocity of the particle and that of the liquid such that the particle must move sideways in order to avoid capture. The particle however, given its inertia, tries to move straight ahead. This swirling action imparts a force on the particle which otherwise would not be available. The swirling action, most importantly, is created without excess mechanical input. The force of gravity and the rotation of the earth impart the motion.
The ebulating bed in the Coriolis effect scrubber (CES) is significantly different than the fluidized bed created in the catenary grid scrubber. In the latter, the gases are caused to flow through a curved wire mesh grid. This grid helps compensate for the velocity pressure profile of the moving gases. The gas velocity is essentially all vertically upward. The zone above the grid is basically a random, turbulent zone wherein the gases move axially up the tower. In the CES, however, no such wall to wall velocity pressure profile exists. Instead, the gases and/or the scrubbing liquid are caused to spin through the introduction methods of the liquid and/or gas and a central drainage area that helps induce the Coriolis driven swirl. Since a fluidized or ebulating bed is produced with a density far less than that of water (about 1/10th of that of water), and the Coriolis effect is reduced, it is still significant.
The present invention reduces or eliminates the non-uniform (random) mixing problem that can sometimes occur with the caternary grid and provides needed stability to the fluidized zone. It also provides greater solids separation given both the swirl induced centrifugal force plus impaction.
It also has superior droplet control since the liquid droplets are thrown towards the wall with few passing directly up the tower. In mass transfer devices, this effect is seen in devices which spin liquid/droplet streams in order to separate them. If the stream is given a tangential velocity, let's say in a vertical cylindrical vessel, it becomes a rotating system. Liquid droplets are affected by the Coriolis acceleration tending to be more easily separated if the cyclonic separator has a counterclockwise rotation north of the equator. The whirlpool occurring at the conical base of the separator will also separate better if allowed to spin in this same direction.
It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a mechanism for harnessing the "free" energy of the rotation of the earth to enhance particulate and contaminant gas control in higher gas velocity mass transfer devices.
It is also a principal object of the present invention to provide a gas and liquid contact apparatus which is a compact and energy efficient gas absorption and particulate removal device.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a highly reliable apparatus for applications where the gas stream or liquid stream may contain components that could plug other designs in that the instant invention has an extremely open grid mesh design which resists plugging from gas borne or liquid borne solids.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus that is simple in design and operation with absolutely no moving parts.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device that has exceptional gas handling or throughput capability with over 4-6 times the gas handling capacity of most other scrubbers.


An image processing apparatus has a compression rate predicting section for computing an improving rate of compression required for storing image data of the entire document in a image data storage section, and a compression rate correction table for storing a change table for changing the reference values for bi-level processing based on the improved rate computed by the compression rate predicting section in its image processing section. In a case where storage capacity is short while the document image data is stored in the image data storage section, image processing is applied to image data in image data processing section by the compression rate predicting section and the compression rate correction table so that the compression rate is improved. Thereby, compression rate of image data is improved and the image data of the entire document is reliably stored in the image data storage section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus incorporated in a digital copying machine or a scanner and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that executes image processing such that, in the case where a storage capacity is short while image information is compressed and stored, a compression rate is improved.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, there is well known an image processing apparatus capable of compressing image data acquired by reading a document for a plurality of pages, storing the compressed data in a memory or the like, and repeatedly reading out the stored data. Such an image processing apparatus is incorporated in a digital copying machine or the like. The memory in the image processing apparatus is limited in capacity, and thus, image data on the entire document has not been always stored therein. Thus, in the image processing apparatus, countermeasures against a case in which a memory capacity shortage occurs are taken. One of such countermeasures is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-224579. In this countermeasure, if a memory capacity shortage occurs, reading of the document is temporarily interrupted, and image data already stored in a memory is read out and printed. Then, after a sufficient memory capacity has been allocated, the reading of the remaining document is restarted.
However, in an invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-224579, there has been a problem that processing functions such as electrical sorting for electrically sorting image data or copy mode processing called booklet creation is canceled. This is because it is required to store the image data on the entire document in a memory in order to execute these processing functions. That is, if a memory capacity shortage occurs, the image data on the entire document cannot be stored, and these processing functions are canceled.

Adaptive processing for images of pages of a document


The invention is directed to novel PDGFRβ-specific antagonists. The antagonists include antibodies, which can be bispecific. The antibodies are used to reduce or inhibit tumor growth and or to treat an angiogenic disease. The invention also includes combinations of PDGFRβ-specific antagonists with VEGFR antagonists for such treatments. The antagonists can further be administered in combination with other anti-angiogenic or anti-neoplastic drugs.

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are a family of potent mitogens for almost all mesenchyme-derived cells. There are four PDGF isoforms, A, B, C and D, that form five different disulphide-linked dimeric proteins PDGF-AA, -BB, -AB, -CC, and -DD. These growth factors exert their cellular effects through two structurally related tyrosine kinase receptors: PDGF receptor α (PDGFRα) and PDGF receptor β (PDGFRβ). (Sandy, J. R., 1998, Br. J. Orthod. 25:269-74; Betsholtz, C. et al., 2001, Bioessays 23:494-507).
PDGFRα and PDGFRβ are structurally similar and can form heterodimers as well as homodimers. PDGF-BB and PDGF-DD are the primary activators of ββ homodimeric receptors. PDGF-AA activates only αα receptor dimers, whereas PDGF-AB, PDGF-BB, and PDGF-CC activate αα and αβ receptor dimers. The dimeric ligand molecules bind to two receptor proteins simultaneously and induce receptor dimerization, autophosphorylation of specific residues within the receptor's cytoplasmic domain, and intracellular signaling. Ultimately, the activation of PDGFRβ signaling pathway induces various cellular responses, including cell proliferation and migration.
Angiogenesis is believed to be essential for both tumor growth and metastasis. Development of a vascular system, or vasculogenesis, involves the assembly of two principal cell types, endothelial cells (EC) and pericytes/vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC), into mature blood vessels. The involvement of the PDGF-B/PDGFRβ signaling pathway in vasculogenesis is suggested by PDGF-B and PDGFRβ knockout mice. The PDGF-B and PDGFRβ knockout phenotypes are virtually identical in that mice exhibit hemorrhages due to the loss of coverage of pericytes and smooth muscle cells in vessels. The studies indicated that PDGFRβ is involved in pericyte recruitment to capillaries and development of smooth muscle cells in vessels. Pericyte recruitment to coat nascent vessels is essential for the stabilization and further establishment of the vascular network. Vessels lacking adequate pericyte coverage are more vulnerable to VEGF inhibition than well-established mature vessels.
A number of tyrosine kinase inhibitors under development as anti-tumor agents have been found to inhibit PDGFRβ. However, these compounds have multiple tyrosine kinase targets. For example, imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®/ST571) was developed as an Abelson (Abl) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and also inhibits c-kit, PDGFRα, and PDGFRβ. Sunitinib malate (Sutent®/SU11248) is a broad-spectrum, orally available multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against VEGFR, PDGFR, c-KIT, and FLT-3. CP-673,451 is an inhibitor of both PDGFRα and PDGFRβ. Since these small molecule antagonists are not specific to these receptors, it is not possible to distinguish the contribution of PDGFRβ signaling to angiogenesis, including tumor-associated angiogenesis, tumor stimulation and growth, or toxicities associated with administration of such compounds that might be due to unnecessary targeting of multiple receptors.
Accordingly, the invention provides PDGFRβ-specific antagonists, demonstrates the role of PDGFRβ in angiogenesis, including angiogenesis that supports tumor growth and survival, and provides methods of treating tumors and angiogenic diseases. The invention further demonstrates the advantage of simultaneously inhibiting signal transduction through PDGFRβ and VEGFR.


An inhalation device is provided by means of which material in powder form can be inhaled. The device comprises a body 55 defining a reservoir 56 for medicaments in powder form, an outlet 57 through which a user can inhale and a dosing member 53 with at least one metering recess 65 formed therein. The dosing member 53 is moveable between a position in which the at least one metering recess 65 communicates with the reservoir 56 to receive a dose of powder therefrom and a position in which the at least one metering recess 65 communicates with the outlet 57 to permit the user to inhale the dose. The at least one metering recess 65 is formed in a face of the dosing member 53, the said face being mounted in contact against a similar mating face 60 of the body 55 at the lower end of the reservoir 56. At least one moveable weight may be incorporated within the device, adapted to strike an anvil surface when the device is shaken.

This invention relates to an inhalation device by means of which metered doses of medicament in the form of a powder can be dispersed to a user. In particular it relates to a device of the type in which the medicament powder is held in bulk in a reservoir with which the device is provided, and is metered to the user from the reservoir.
In devices of the type just described, it is difficult to obtain doses which are equal to a nominal value to within the appropriate tolerance. It will be understood that the tolerance permitted is often very small, as it is important that the user should be given a dose which is very close to the nominal value. In order to maintain the medicament powder in a manageable state it needs to be kept dry. Any ingress of moisture into the reservoir from outside can cause the medicament powder to agglomerate and this may be detrimental to its free flowing properties rendering it difficult to meter consistent doses from the reservoir. In the absence of adequate reservoir sealing it may be necessary to incorporate a desiccant cartridge into the reservoir to absorb any moisture that does enter. This is often insufficient to prevent deterioration of the medicament powder.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device of the type just described, in which doses can be repeatedly accurately dispersed, without requiring a dispensing mechanism of undue complexity.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the type just described, but which additionally incorporates a simple and efficient sealing means to prevent ingress of moisture into the reservoir.
According to the present invention there is provided an inhalation device comprising a body defining a reservoir for medicament in the form of a powder, an outlet through which a user can inhale, and a dosing member with at least one metering recess formed therein, the dosing member being moveable between a first position in which the at least one metering recess communicates with the reservoir to receive a dose of powder therefrom and a second position in which the at least one metering recess communicates with the outlet to permit the user to inhale the dose, the at least one metering recess being formed in a face of the dosing member, the said face being mounted in contact against a similar mating face of the body at the lower end of the reservoir, and at least one moveable weight adapted, when the device is shaken, to strike an anvil surface defined in the device.
The at least one weight may be slidable longitudinally of the device in a respective bore, with the anvil surface being at the lower end of the bore.
Alternatively the weight may be in the form of a ring encircling the device and slidable longitudinally thereof.
According to a further aspect of the invention the face of the dosing member and the mating face of the body are sealing faces with highly polished smooth surfaces which form a sliding seal which excludes substantially all air from the interface therebetween.
Suitably the sealing faces have a surface texture sufficiently smooth to have a roughness average value (Ra) of 0.5 microns or less, preferably 0.2 microns or less.
Suitably the sealing faces are flat. More suitably they have a flatness of 0.005 mm or less, preferably 0.003 mm or less.
Alternatively the sealing faces may be frusto-conical. The sealing faces may alternatively be cylindrical. In a further alternative the sealing faces may be spherical.
The sealing surfaces are suitably made of a hard rigid material such as acetal resins, ceramics or metals.
A further aspect of the invention provides an inhalation device comprising a reservoir for medicament in the form of a powder, an outlet through which a user can inhale, a metering means adapted to communicate with the reservoir to receive a dose of powder therefrom and with the outlet to permit the user to inhale the dose, and at least one weight moveable in the device and adapted, when the device is shaken, to strike an anvil surface defined in the device.
Additionally the invention provides an inhalation device comprising a body forming a reservoir for medicaments in the form of a powder, an outlet through which a user can inhale, and a dosing member with at least one metering recess formed therein, the dosing member being moveable between a position in which the at least one metering recess communicates with the reservoir to receive a dose of powder therefrom and a position in which the at least one metering recess communicates with the outlet to permit the user to inhale the dose, the at least one metering recess being formed in a face of the dosing member, the said face being mounted in contact against a similar mating face of the body, characterised in that the said face of the dosing member and the said mating face of the body have highly polished smooth surfaces which form a contacting face to face kinetic seal which excludes substantially all air from the interface. The term xe2x80x98kinetic sealxe2x80x99 in this context means a seal that can withstand relative movement of the two faces.
Another embodiment of the invention provides an inhalation device comprising a body defining a reservoir for medicament in the form of a powder, an outlet through which a user can inhale, and a dosing member with at least one metering recess formed therein, the dosing member being moveable between a first position in which the at least one metering recess communicates with the reservoir to receive a dose of powder therefrom and a second position in which the at least one metering recess communicates with the outlet to permit the user to inhale the dose, the at least one metering recess being formed in a face of the dosing member, the said face being mounted in contact against a similar mating face of the body at the lower end of the reservoir, characterised in that the said face of the dosing member and the said mating face of the body are sealing faces with highly polished surfaces which form a sliding seal which excludes substantially all air from the interface therebetween.


Stabilized pharmaceutical formulations comprising IFN-β and highly purified mannitol are provided. The highly purified mannitol stabilizes the compositions by reducing the formation of IFN-β adducts in comparison with IFN-β formulated with mannitol that has not been highly purified. Methods for increasing the stability of IFN-β or a variant thereof in a liquid or lyophilized composition and for increasing storage stability of such a composition are also provided.

The interferons are a family of glycoproteins whose secretion from cells is induced by a number of signals including viruses, double-stranded RNAs, other polynucleotides, antigens, and mitogens. Interferons exhibit multiple biological activities, including antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities. At least three distinct types of human interferons, α, β, and γ, have been distinguished based on a number of factors, including anti-viral and anti-proliferative activities.
Interferon-β (IFN-β) is the first identified effective treatment for those with multiple sclerosis (MS), and has been demonstrated to reduce the number of attacks suffered by patients with relapsing and remitting MS. IFN-β compositions are also useful in the treatment of hepatitis B and C infections.
As with all protein-based pharmaceuticals, one major obstacle that must be overcome in the use of IFN β as a therapeutic agent is the loss of pharmaceutical utility that can result from its instability in pharmaceutical formulations. Physical instabilities that threaten polypeptide activity and efficacy in pharmaceutical formulations include denaturation and formation of soluble and insoluble aggregates, while chemical instabilities include hydrolysis, imide formation, oxidation, racemization, and deamidation. Some of these changes are known to lead to the loss or reduction of the pharmaceutical activity of the protein of interest. In other cases, the precise effects of these changes are unknown, but the resulting degradative products are still considered to be pharmaceutically unacceptable due to the potential for undesirable side effects.
The instability of polypeptides in pharmaceutical preparations directly impacts their pharmaceutical utility, as the guidelines set for approval of protein-based pharmaceuticals emphasize that changes in the activity and the molecular characteristics of the polypeptide should be minimal. See, for example, the Nov. 30, 1995 report on stability testing of Biotechnological/Biological products issued by the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (a tripartite organization which makes pharmaceutical-related policy recommendations for implementation in the European Union, Japan, and the USA), which states "[w]herever significant qualitative or quantitative changes indicative of degradation product formation are detected during long-term, accelerated, and/or stress stability studies, consideration should be given to potential hazards and to the need for characterization and quantification of degradation products within the long-term stability program."
Consequently, there is a need for additional protein pharmaceutical compositions, including IFN-β compositions, comprising physiologically compatible stabilizers that are substantially free of reducing impurities, thereby stabilizing the protein and enhancing their pharmaceutical utility.


A magnetic field is measured with the aid of the Faraday effect. Light is coupled into a Faraday element subjected to the magnetic field, the light having a linearly polarized first component at a first wavelength and an unpolarized second component at a second wavelength different from the first. A light signal is coupled out of the Faraday element and is split optically into a first light signal component with the first wavelength and a second light signal component with the second wavelength. A first measurement signal is derived from the first light signal component and a second measurement signal is derived from the second light signal component and these are used to form a corrected measurement signal S. In this way, attenuation influences in the transmission paths can be largely compensated for, even when measuring a magnetic field which is constant over time or a magnetic field with a component which is constant over time.

The invention relates to a method and a device for measuring a magnetic field, in particular for measuring an electric current flowing in a current conductor. The device and the method make use of the Faraday effect, also referred to as magnetorotation.
Optical measuring devices for measuring an electric current flowing in a current conductor by utilizing the Faraday effect are known, and are also referred to as magnetooptical current converters. The Faraday effect is understood to be the rotation of the polarization plane of linearly polarized light which is propagated in a medium in the presence of a magnetic field. The angle of the magnetorotation is proportional to the path integral over the magnetic field along the path traced by the light. The proportionality constant is known as the Verdet constant. For its part, the Verdet constant depends on the material in which the light is propagated, on the wavelength of the light and on further interfering variables which influence the properties of the material, for example the temperature and the state of mechanical stress. In order to measure the current, a Faraday element is arranged in the vicinity of the current conductor. The element contains an optically transparent material which exhibits the Faraday effect. Linearly polarized light is coupled into the Faraday element. The magnetic field generated by the electric current has the effect of rotating the plane of polarization of the light propagating in the Faraday element by a polarization rotation angle, which can be evaluated by an evaluation unit as a measure of the strength of the magnetic field and therefore of the intensity of the electric current. It is generally the case that the Faraday element surrounds the current conductor, so that the polarized light runs around the current conductor in a virtually closed path. As a result, the magnitude of the polarization rotation angle is to a good approximation directly proportional to the current intensity.
In one prior art embodiment, disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,754 (see, also, European Patent 088 419), the Faraday element is designed as a solid glass ring around the current conductor. There, the light runs around the current conductor once.
In another prior art embodiment, disclosed for example in the published PCT Application WO 91/01501, the Faraday element forms a part of an optical monomode fiber, which surrounds the current conductor in the form of a measuring winding. During one passage, the light therefore runs around the current conductor N times, if N is the number of turns of the measuring winding. Two types of such magnetooptical current converters with a measuring winding consisting of an optical fiber are known, namely the transmission type and the reflection type. In the transmission type, the light is coupled into one end of the optical fiber and coupled out at the other end. The light passes through the measuring winding only once. In the reflection type, on the other hand, the other end of the optical fiber is mirrored, so that light coupled in at the first end is then reflected at this other, mirrored end, passes through the measuring winding a second time in the opposite direction and is coupled out at the first end. Due to the nonreciprocity of the Faraday effect, the plane of polarization of the light is rotated once more in the same direction by the same amount during the opposite passage. Given the same measuring winding, the rotation angle is therefore twice as high as in the transmission type. In order to separate the light coupled in and the light coupled out, a beam splitter is provided.
A problem in all of the magnetooptical current converters are disturbing influences which, for example, are brought about by changes in the attenuation constants in the optical transmission paths.
In the above-mentioned magnetooptical current converter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,754 (EP 088 419), the light coupled out of the Faraday element is split, in an analyzer such as a Rochon prism, a Wollaston prism, or a polarization beam splitter, into two linearly polarized light signals A and B with planes of polarization oriented at right angles to each other. These two light signals A and B are transmitted to corresponding light detectors via corresponding optical transmission fibers and converted into electrical signals PA and PB. The two signals PA and PB are used in a computing unit to calculate a Faraday rotation angle as a measurement signal, which corresponds to the quotient (PAxe2x88x92PB/PA+PB) of the difference and the sum of the two signals. By means of this formation of a quotient, a measurement signal is determined which is independent of the attenuation of the light signals A and B in the transmission path.
The above-mentioned U S. Pat. No. 5,764,046 (WO 94/24573) teaches to decompose the electrical signals S1 and S2 received by the receivers arranged downstream of a beam-splitting Wollaston prism in each case into a D.C. signal component D1 and D2 and an A.C. signal component A1 and A2. For each signal S1 and S2, an intensity-normalized signal P1 and P2 is then formed as the quotient P1=A1/D1 and P2=A2/D2 of its A.C. signal component A1 and A2 and D.C. signal component D1 and D2, respectively. As a result of the intensity normalization of the signals S1 and S2, fluctuations in the intensity in the transmission paths provided for the corresponding light signals LS1 and LS2, and differences in sensitivity in these two transmission paths, can be balanced out.
In that prior art method, it is assumed that the changes in attenuation that take place in the transmission path because of environmental influences are virtually static, as referred to the frequency of the alternating current to be measured. However, using that method, any change over time in the attenuation properties of the transmission path with a frequency component in the range of the frequency of the alternating current, for example a vibration of the attenuation at twice the mains frequency, cannot be balanced out. In addition, that prior art method is not suitable for measuring a direct current or a D.C. component. U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,243 (see European Patent 0 247 842) discloses the practice of coupling linearly polarized and unpolarized light whose wavelengths differ one after another into a magnetooptical sensor. Two light sources are provided for that purpose, and the two light sources are activated one after another and emit unpolarized light. A polarizer is arranged in front of the sensor which linearly polarizes the light emitted by one light source and lets the light emitted by the other light source through without polarizing it. Unpolarized and linearly polarized light are therefore coupled into the sensor one after another.
In a first receiver arranged downstream of the sensor, the light signals emerging from the sensor are converted into electrical measurement signals S1, S2, after passing through an analyzer. The signals are in each case compared with a reference signal SR. The light source which belongs to the electrical measurement signal S2 is driven on the basis of the result of this comparison in such a way that the electrical measurement signal S2 becomes equal to the reference signal SR.
The light intensities emitted by the two light sources are measured with the aid of a second receiver. Using a control unit connected downstream of the receiver, the intensity of the first light source is controlled in such a way that the electrical measurement signal S1 generated from the linearly polarized light signal in the presence of a magnetic field at the first receiver, and the measurement signal S2 generated from the unpolarized light signal are equal. In the presence of a magnetic field, the difference between the electrical measurement signal S1 and the reference signal SR is then proportional to the magnetic field and independent of the intensity of the first light source.
In this way, changes in the attenuation properties of the transmission path over time can also be compensated for. In addition, a direct current or a D.C. component can be measured with that method. However, with regard to the electronic processing of the measurement signals and the control of the light sources, the prior art measuring device is complicated and susceptible to interference because of the large number of electronic components needed to control the light sources.
The object of the invention is to provide a method and device for measuring a magnetic field with the aid of the Faraday effect which overcome the above-noted deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this kind, and which permit simple compensation of the attenuation present in the transmission path.
With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of measuring a magnetic field with the Faraday effect, which comprises:
coupling light having a first component with a first wavelength and a second component with a second wavelength different from the first wavelength into a transmission path leading to a Faraday element subjected to a magnetic field;
transmitting the first and second components together through a polarizing optical fiber to the Faraday element, such that the light coupled from the optical fiber into the Faraday element has a linearly polarized first light component with the first wavelength and a substantially unpolarized second component with the second wavelength, whereby the first light component is linearly polarized in the polarizing optical fiber;
optically splitting a light signal coupled out of the Faraday element into a first light signal component with the first wavelength and a second light signal component with the second wavelength;
deriving a first measurement signal from the first light signal component and a second measurement signal from the second light signal component, and generating from the first and second measurement signals a corrected measurement signal.
In other words, light is coupled into the Faraday element that is subjected to a magnetic field, the light having a linearly polarized first component and an unpolarized second component. The two components have a mutually different wavelength. The output light signal issuing from the Faraday element is split optically into the two wavelength components. A first measurement signal is thereby derived from the first light signal component and a second measurement signal is derived from the second light signal component. The two components are used to form a corrected measurement signal.
In this way, attenuation influences in the transmission paths can largely be compensated for, even when measuring a magnetic field which is constant over time or a magnetic field with a component which is constant over time. The method according to the invention thus permits the measurement of a direct current or of a current with a D.C. component which is accurate and largely independent of the attenuation properties of the transmission path.
The fact that the linear polarization of the first light component is generated in the polarizing optical fiber leading to the Faraday element, whereby the two light components are transmitted together makes for a particularly simple and loss-free assembly, since the polarizing optical fiber at the same time contributes to transmitting the light over part of the total transmission path.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the corrected measurement signal is formed by simple division of the first measurement signal by the second measurement signal.
With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a device for measuring a magnetic field with the aid of the Faraday effect.
The device has the following elements:
a light-source assembly for generating light having a first component with a first wavelength and a second component with a second wavelength;
a Faraday element;
a light transmission path connected between the light-source assembly and the Faraday element, the light transmission path including a polarizing optical fiber for linearly polarizing the first component and for jointly transmitting the first and second components to the Faraday element such that a light coupled into the Faraday element has a linearly polarized first light component with the first wavelength and a substantially unpolarized second component with the second wavelength different from the first wavelength; and
a device, connected o receive an output light signal coupled out from the Faraday element, for analyzing the output light signal, the device including a wavelength-selective beam splitter for splitting the output light signal into a first light signal component with the first wavelength and a second light signal component with the second wavelength, a receiving unit connected to the beam splitter for forming a first measurement signal derived from the first light signal component and a second measurement signal derived from the second light signal component, and an evaluation device connected to the receiving unit for forming a corrected measurement signal from the first and second measurement signals.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the evaluation device is configured to divide the first measurement signal by the second measurement signal so as to form the corrected measurement signal.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method and device for measuring a magnetic field with the aid of the faraday effect, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

Method and device for measuring a magnetic field with the aid of the faraday effect