Fastener-advancement systems comprise a multiple lever and linkage mechanically operated system operatively connected to the driver blade member of the fastener driving tool, as well as electro-mechanically operated systems, for advancing a leading fastener of a collated strip of fasteners into the driver blade channel of the fastener-driving tool. In the electro-mechanically operated systems, push-type, pull-type, and rotary solenoid actuating members are utilized for moving the fastener-advancement feed pawl or claw member.

In combustion-powered, fastener-driving tools, a combustible fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and mixed with air so as to define a combustible mixture which, upon being ignited, serves to drive a driving piston to which there is fixedly mounted a fastener-driving member. The fastener-driving member is accordingly driven along an axial path, at which the leading nail fastener, of a collated strip or collated array of nail fasteners, has been predisposed, from its retracted position to its extended position so as to drive and discharge the leading nail fastener, of the collated strip or collated array of fasteners, out from the nailing tool and into an underlying substrate. In order to cyclically advance the leading nail fastener of the collated strip or array of fasteners, so as to predispose the leading nail fastener, of the collated strip or array of fasteners, along the axial drive path of the fastener-driving member, such combustion-powered, fastener-driving tools normally employ fastener-feeding or fastener-advancement mechanisms which are effectively powered by means of exhaust gases which have been generated within the combustion chamber, and wherein a portion of such combustion gases have been diverted into a fastener-advancement or fastener-feeding piston-cylinder assembly. An exemplary fastener-advancement or fastener-feeding piston-cylinder assembly of the aforenoted type is disclosed and illustrated within U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,264 which issued to Weinstein on Sep. 24, 1996.
More particularly, as illustrated within FIGS. 1-3, which correspond to FIGS. 4-6 of the Weinstein patent, a fastener-advancement or fastener-feeding mechanism of the aforenoted type is seen to comprise a fastener-feeding mechanism cylinder 220 and a fastener-feeding mechanism piston 230 which is movably disposed within the fastener-feeding mechanism cylinder 220 between a retracted position as disclosed within FIG. 2 and extended positions as disclosed within FIGS. 1 and 3. The fastener-feeding mechanism cylinder 220 comprises a cylindrical wall 222, a closed end wall 224, and an annular bushing 226 fixed within the open end 228 of the cylindrical wall 222. A piston 230 is movably disposed within the cylinder 222 between a withdrawn or retracted position, as disclosed within FIG. 2, and an advanced or extended position as illustrated within FIGS. 1 and 3. The piston 230 includes a piston rod 232 which is movably guided by means of the annular bushing 226, and a coiled spring 234 is interposed between the piston 230 and the end wall 224 so as to bias the piston 230 and the piston rod 232 toward the advanced or extended position. An O-ring member 236 is seated within an annular groove 238 formed upon the piston 230 so as to provide sealing properties with respect to the cylindrical wall 222.
Still yet further, a feeding claw 240 is pivotally mounted upon the front end portion of the piston rod 232, by means of a pivot pin 242 so as to be alternatively disposed at an operative or engaged position with respect to the nails N disposed within the collated strip or array, or an inoperative or disengaged position with respect to the nails N, and a torsion spring 244 is provided so as to bias the feeding claw 240 toward its operative or engaged position. The feeding claw 240 comprises a pair of notched fingers 246 for effectively grabbing or encompassing the leading one of the nail fasteners N in order to advance or move the same forwardly under the biasing action of the spring 234, and the rear surface 248 of the rearwardly disposed finger 246 comprises a cam surface which permits the feeding claw 240 to effectively cam over the next nail fastener N to be advanced as the feeding claw 240 is pivoted to its inoperative or disengaged position, against the biasing force of the torsion spring 244, in response to the rearward movement of the piston 230 and the piston rod 232 under the influence of gas pressure admitted into the cylinder 222 by means of a conduit 274 which fluidically connects the combustion chamber of the tool to the cylinder 222. A holding claw 250, comprising at least one holding finger 260, is also pivotally mounted adjacent to the collated strip of nails N so as to be alternatively disposed at engaged and disengaged positions with respect to the next nail N disposed within the collated strip of nails N. A coil spring 254, disposed within a socket 258 of the holding claw 250, tends to bias the holding claw 250 toward its engaged position.
While the aforenoted type of fastener-advancement or fastener-feeding mechanism assuredly provides a viably operable system, this particular type of fastener-advancement or fastener-feeding mechanism is obviously only operable in connection with a combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool in view of the fact that a portion of the combustion gases must be diverted from the combustion chamber of the combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool and into the cylinder 222 in order to achieve the rearward stroke movement of the fastener-feeding piston 230, the piston rod 232, and the feeding claw 240 assembly in preparation for the feeding or advancement of a new nail fastener N toward the axial drive path along which the driver member of the combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool is movable. Accordingly, a need exists in the art for new and improved fastener-feeding or fastener-advancing systems which are adapted for use in conjunction with fastener-driving tools which are not combustion-powered and which therefore cannot utilize combustion product gases as the source of motive power for moving the feeding claw or similar mechanism in the desired direction during the operative cyclic feeding or advancing of, for example, a leading nail fastener of a collated strip of nail fasteners.

Nail advancement systems for nail arrays disposed within nailing tool magazines


An epoxy resin composition according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an epoxy resin, 0.05-190 parts by weight, based on 10 parts by weight of the epoxy resin, of a polyester-based curing agent, wherein the epoxy resin comprises a triazine derivative epoxy compound and a siloxane compound containing an alicyclic epoxy group and a siloxane group.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an epoxy resin composition, and more particularly to an epoxy resin composition which is used in a light-emitting device package.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used as light sources in various fields. With the development of semiconductor technology, the demand for high-power light-emitting devices has increased rapidly. To stably cope with large amounts of light and heat that are emitted from such light-emitting devices, resin compositions having excellent light resistance, heat resistance and moisture resistance are required.
As such resin compositions, epoxy resin compositions comprising triazine derivatives are used. Such epoxy resin compositions have an excellent ability to form a semi-solid, but do not satisfy the required levels of light resistance, heat resistance and moisture resistance. Particularly, such epoxy compositions are likely to yellow, and have low adhesion to silicon, and the light transmittance thereof decreases with time due to unreacted epoxy, thus adversely affecting the reliability of the light-emitting device. In particular, such epoxy compositions have low initial reflectivity, and thus the speed of light through the compositions is low.

Epoxy resin composition and light-emitting device package comprising the same


Systems and methods of managing enrollment of digital identities (e.g., for aeronautical communication) can involve a line-replaceable unit (LRU) in an aircraft establishing a digital identity with a ground-based server by requesting a public certificate from the ground-based server. The LRU may receive a public certificate from the ground-based server. The LRU may validate the public certificate. The LRU may generate, based on validating the public certificate, an enrollment status message indicative of at least one status code from a plurality of predefined status codes associated with a plurality of corresponding actions for the ground-based server. The LRU may transmit the enrollment status message including the at least one status code to the ground-based server, to cause the ground-based server to perform a corresponding action based on the at least one status code.

To establish a digital identity in aeronautical environments, an airborne unit may transmit a request for a digital certificate to ground-based infrastructure. The ground-based infrastructure may retrieve the digital certificate from a certificate authority. Once retrieved, the digital certificate may be sent by the ground-based infrastructure to the airborne unit. After the digital certificate is sent, under currently existing frameworks there may be no way for either the airborne unit or the ground-based infrastructure to indicate whether the digital identity is in fact established. This may be highly problematic in aeronautical environments in which there may be frequent interruptions in connectivity.

Managing enrollment of digital identities for secure air-to-ground communication sessions


Driving circuitry for a switch matrix provides a reset voltage to all rows of the matrix in between scans to recharge switch capacitance. Column detection circuitry is disabled in between scans so that column driving circuitry may also `reset` the charge on capacitors reducing the scan time and/or allowing a greater number of switch elements, element size, or EMI suppressing capacitances. Pull-up resistors are supplemented or eliminated through the use of active current sourcing and sinking for the drivers.

This invention relates to electrical switches and in particular, to a multi-element switch matrix constructed to provide a rapid scanning of its elements.
A membrane switch switches electrical current across two contacting electrodes, at least one of which is attached to the rear surface of a flexible membrane. Pressing the front surface of the membrane near the contact deforms the membrane to bring the contact into electrical communication with the second contact opposing the first. The second contact may be attached to the front surface of a second flexible membrane rigidly supported by another surface.
The two membranes are typically spaced from each other by small insulating spacers distributed across the area between the membranes. The spacers permit the opposing contacts to touch only when the front membrane is pressed.
The contacts may be printed to the membranes by using conductive inks or deposited by vacuum metalization techniques or other methods known in the art. The conductors attaching the contacts to other circuitry may also in part be printed or deposited on the membranes.
Membrane switches find wide spread use in applications where sealed or protected switches or operating panels are needed. The front membrane provides a natural sealing of the contacts from outside contaminants.
Because the membranes and electrodes may be made transparent, one important application of membrane switches is for touch panels associated with CRT, LCD, Plasma, Electroluminescent displays. Here, a display directs the user to particular locations on the transparent membrane switch where pressing will activate a membrane switch. The number and caption of the switches may be readily changed (by changing the image on the display) thus providing a keyboard flexibly adapted for use with hierarchical menu structures in which a decision to press one key produces an entirely new keyboard with new choices.
It is often desired that a single pair of membranes support a number of separately operable contacts. These contacts may be arranged in a matrix of rows and columns on the membranes. In order to reduce wiring and circuitry for the matrix of contacts, each contact pair is normally scanned by row and column. For example, one terminal of the switch formed by each pair of contacts in each row may be connected to a common row line, and the other terminal may be connected to a common column line. These shared lines substantially reduce the amount of wiring to the switches.
In order to detect the closure of a switch, a unique voltage is applied to one row at a time and voltages at the columns are monitored to see which switches have closed. This process is repeated for each row, one at a time, on a rapid basis to ensure that even the briefest expected closure of a switch will be detected.
When the unique voltage is applied to a particular row, the other rows are connected to a different voltage by high impedance to prevent excessive currents in the event that more than one switch in a column is depressed. In a typical circuit, the rows may be driven low and the columns are passively pulled high to a voltage level above the switching threshold of the monitoring circuitry.
The pull up resistors must be large compared to the intrinsic resistance in the conductors and the expected contact resistance of the switches in order for proper detection threshold to be reached when switches are depressed. High resistance pull-up resistors are especially important in touch panels with transparent conductors which have high intrinsic resistances. The pull up resistors must also be large in case many switches in the array are depressed at once, which effectively places the pull up resistors in parallel. During this scanning process, the voltage on successive rows of the switches must be changed rapidly. The intrinsic resistance of the conductors to the switch contacts and the capacitance between the contacts (and added capacitance for the suppression of electromagnetic interference EMI) severely limits the speed with which such voltage changes may be accomplished. This, in turn, places practical limits on the number of switches that may be scanned within the prescribed time limits.


An object is to provide a cage and a thrust roller bearing with improved oil passage performance of a lubricating oil in the inside of a bearing while holding a needle roller in a stable manner so as to ensure excellent durability. The thrust roller bearing includes a needle roller and a cage holding the needle roller in pockets for accommodating the same. A length La of a roller holding portion provided in the pocket is set to be within a range of 30% to 80% of a length in a radial direction of the pocket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thrust roller bearing used in an automatic transmission and a compressor in an automobile, as well as to a cage used therein.
2. Description of the Background Art
A thrust roller bearing is constituted of a needle roller, a cage and a roller bearing ring, and has such a structure that the needle roller and the roller bearing ring are in line contact. Accordingly, high load-carrying capacity and high rigidity can be obtained for a small bearing projected area. As such, the thrust roller bearing is suitable as a bearing used in a harsh condition of use, such as poor lubrication or high-speed rotation, and widely used as a bearing for an automatic transmission or a bearing for a compressor of an air-conditioner in an automobile, for example.
FIG. 15A shows a roller holding portion provided in a pocket for accommodating a conventional needle roller. FIG. 15A shows a single-row roller, while FIG. 15B shows a multiple-row roller. Referring to these figures, in a cage, a pocket 105 accommodating needle rollers 102, 102a, 102b has a length Lp slightly larger than a length L of the needle roller. A roller holding portion 105a is provided on a periphery of a window in parallel to a central axis of the pocket, and projects toward the needle roller side above the needle roller axis. Here, roller holding portion 105a is provided on an entire periphery of the window in parallel to the axis. In such an arrangement of the roller holding portion, opening area, that is, a gap is inevitably small, and performance of oil passage to the inside of the cage is not sufficient.
As such, in order to increase an amount of passage of a lubricating oil per unit time, a thrust roller bearing as shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-70872). In FIGS. 16A to 16C, a thrust roller bearing 50 includes a needle roller 80 and two annular cages 60, 70. Two cages 60, 70 are arranged so as to sandwich the needle roller from above and below, and have a window 61 of the upper cage and a window 71 of the lower cage respectively. Here, windows have a length larger than the roller length in a radial direction respectively. Roller holding portions 64, 74 formed in such plurality of windows sandwich and hold a plurality of needle rollers 80. In two cages 60, 70, roller holding portions 64, 74 have a length la in the radial direction shorter than a roller length l. In addition, at least one of two cages 60, 70 is bent so that at least one of thickness t1 of a radially outer portion 62 (72) and thickness t2 of a radially inner portion 63 (73) of the roller holding portion is made smaller than thickness t0 of the roller holding portion.
In this manner, a gap is enlarged in at least one of the radially outer portion and the radially inner portion having a thickness smaller than the roller holding portion. Accordingly, flow-in performance or flow-out performance of the lubricating oil passing through the gap is improved, and an amount of lubricating oil passing through the bearing per unit time can be increased. In addition, blocking by the cage of passage of the lubricating oil does not tend to occur, and stay of the lubricating oil is prevented. Consequently, temperature increase in the oil can be suppressed, thereby improving durability of the bearing. In the example above, in two cages 60, 70, outer plate portions 62, 72 are superposed, innermost portions 67, 77 of inner plate portions 63, 73 are bent in such a direction that they are superposed, and innermost portion 67 of inner plate portion 63 is caulked. In this manner, two cages 60, 70 are integrally fixed.
Though not limited to the thrust roller bearing, falling of a needle roller must not occur in particular in the thrust roller bearing under a condition of use in which the thrust roller bearing is operated under high load and in high speed. If the length of the roller holding portion is made smaller in the above-described thrust roller bearing, however, it will be difficult to hold the needle roller in a stable manner and falling of the needle roller from the cage may take place, though probability is low. In other words, improvement in the amount of oil passage of the lubricating oil results in a possibility of occurrence of falling of the needle roller, though probability is low. Hence, development of a thrust roller bearing free from falling of a needle roller while securing the oil passage performance of the lubricating oil has been demanded.
In addition, in the thrust roller bearing described above, the roller is pressed against the outer diameter side by centrifugal force during rotation. Therefore, unless an end face on the radially outer side of the pocket of the cage has a hardness and a case depth higher than a prescribed level, abrasion may occur, which will lead to breakage. Though it is possible to form a hardened case in the cage with heat treatment such as quenching, deformation by heat may occur due to quenching or the like. Accordingly, in order to prevent deformation of the cage due to heat treatment, prevention of deformation due to heat treatment by forming a corrugated portion in a cage has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-097242).
Even with the cage having a shape for preventing deformation due to heat treatment described above, however, if the case depth is too large, the cage tends to be embrittled, and a crack or the like may be produced during working or in use, resulting in breakage. In particular, in order to increase the thickness of the hardened case from a worked face, a time period for treatment should be extended, leading to cost increase. Therefore, development of a thrust roller bearing having a cage capable of overcoming the above-described problems as well as such a cage has been desired.
Moreover, in the conventional thrust roller bearing, an end face of the roller is pressed against the wall surface of the window by the centrifugal force. Furthermore, because of the contact caused by rotation of the needle roller, abnormal abrasion (hereinafter, referred to as "drilling abrasion") is caused in the window. In addition, bearing noise has been large. As the thrust needle bearing is mainly used in an automobile, in recent days when quietness within a car is demanded, lowering of the bearing noise in the thrust roller bearing has also been demanded.


Packet routers route data packets based on existing topology files. The packet routers hash the existing topology files into content-addressed objects and exchange the content-addressed objects. One of the routers modifies its topology file into a new topology file, hashes the new topology file into a new content-addressed object, and transfers the new content-addressed object to the other packet routers. The packet routers exchange the content-addressed objects, and in response, exchange the topology files. The routers establish a consensus on the new topology file based on the existing topology files. The one packet router routes additional data packets based on the new topology file in response to the consensus. In some examples, the content-addressed objects comprise Inter-Planetary File System (IPFS) objects.

Data communication networks exchange data packets to support various data services like user messaging and machine control. The data packets have blocks of user data and headers with network addressing. The data communication networks route the data packets based on the network addresses in the packet headers. The network elements that transfer the packets are called packet routers. A common packet protocol is Internet Protocol (IP). The typical data communication network has multiple IP routers that route IP packets.
The IP routers use routing protocols to process the IP addresses from the packet headers of received IP packets to select output transmitter ports. A popular routing protocol is Open Shortest Path First (OSPF). OSPF is a link-state protocol. OSPF routers use a network topology to calculate the "shortest" paths from themselves to other OSPF routers. The shortest paths may be determined in various ways, but the fastest data path is usually the shortest path.
Another routing protocol is the distance vector protocol. Distance vector routers determine the hop-counts of the paths between themselves and other routers. Distance vector routers share their hop-count distances with their neighbor distance vector routers. Thus, a distance vector router typically selects a path to a neighbor router that has the lowest hop-count to the ultimate destination. The distance vector routers do not maintain formal network topologies, but they do maintain local topologies that indicate their neighbor routers.
Inter-Planetary File System (IPFS) is a peer-to-peer network protocol that uses content-addressing to control the exchange of data files. IPFS nodes hash their hosted data files into hash strings called IPFS objects. Unique data files hash to unique IPFS objects, and duplicate data files hash to the same IPFS object. The IPFS nodes exchange IPFS object requests, and the hosting IPFS nodes transfer their source data files for the requested IPFS objects to the requesting IPFS nodes. The IPFS nodes include translation functions between different routing protocols that allow the different protocols to exchange routing data.
Computer consensus is a decision-making technology that is often employed in distributed computer systems. In a distributed computer system, an initiating computing node executes a data-processing request like a balance transfer to generate a data-processing result like a new account balance. The computing node then requests consensus from other computing nodes in the distributed computer system. The other computing nodes also execute the data-processing request to generate the data-processing result. The computing nodes may apply a rule set to validate the data-processing result. The computing nodes may compare and match their results to validate the data-processing result. The computing nodes indicate their validations to the initiating node, and the initiating node aggregates the validations to obtain consensus. The initiating computer node and the other computing nodes then use the data-processing result responsive to the consensus. For example, the computing nodes may use a new account balance after consensus is reached on a balance transfer.
Unfortunately, data packet routers do not use IPFS and consensus to efficiently and effectively approve routing and topology file modifications.

File control for data packet routers using consensus and inter-planetary file system (IPFS)


A device and method for lifting and transporting a conventional hay bale feeder in association with the directed movement of a round hay bale and for facilitating the placement of the feeder around the bale. The device can be removably attached to the feeder and consists of a lift arm assembly, a lift arm support assembly, and an anti-slide stabilizing assembly. The lift arm assembly includes a lift arm that is angled away from the top of the feeder to provide feeder lift. The lift arm support assembly acts as a brace to support the lift arm. The anti-slide stabilizing assembly limits rearward and side to side rocking movement of the feeder when lifted and transported, respectively. In alternate embodiments, the device is integrated into circular and multi-sided feeders during manufacture, forming single stand-alone units. The method of using the device includes moving the bale toward the lift arm using a tractor or other vehicle, tilting of the feeder in an upward direction as the lift arm contacts and slides up the bale, terminating the bale movement when the lift arm rests on top of the bale, moving the hay bale in the opposite direction causing the lift arm to penetrate into the bale and pull the feeder in unison with the bale, terminating the bale movement at the feeding location, and pushing the feeder down over the bale or pushing the bale into the feeder until the feeder falls to the ground with the bale inside. Moreover, the design of the device allows the lift arm to be pivoted toward and secured to the feeder for manual rolling of the feeder in the traditional manner.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the maneuvering of a conventional hay bale feeder or ring, typically used to feed cattle, and more specifically to a device and method for (a) lifting and transporting the feeder by an interaction produced between the device and a conventional round hay bale upon the directed movement of the bale and (b) facilitating the placement of the feeder around the bale.
2. Prior Art
In a typical farming or ranching operation, it is a common practice to feed cattle with conventional round bales of hay weighing up to 1800 pounds because they offer many advantages over the alternative of traditional small square bales. Since the round bales shed water, they can be stored outside on the ground with minimal degradation and their large size significantly reduces the bale replenishment frequency when feeding is in progress. The feeding operation necessitates the placement of a conventional hay bale feeder, well established in the prior art, around the bale to help contain the loose hay and prevent cattle from trampling and wasting it. In general, the feeder has a substantially cylindrical structure that is either circular or multi-sided and includes 3 structural closed rings, either round or linearly segmented, respectively, that are concentric about a common vertical axis. The top and middle rings are connected by a series of either vertical or slanted structural members that form a plurality of openings large enough for cattle to pass their heads through. The middle and bottom rings are spaced apart by connecting structural components. Usually, a sheet metal or a heavy wire mesh circular panel covers the space between the middle and bottom rings. Some conventional hay bale feeders with either circular or multi-sided structures have legs attached to the bottom ring to elevate the feeder off of the ground for corrosion protection. The feeders are approximately 4 feet high, 8 feet in diameter and can weigh in excess of 200 pounds. An example of a prior art conventional hay bale feeder that has a circular structure is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,624 issued Dec. 3, 1974 to Leonard R. Peak. Examples of prior art conventional hay bale feeders that have multi-sided structures were previously manufactured by Priefert Mfg., P.O. Box 1540, 2630 South Jefferson Ave., Mount Pleasant, Tex., 75456-1540 as their model numbers RBF2 and RBFS2.
The size and weight of the round hay bales dictates that their movement and placement be accomplished by a powered vehicle such as a farm tractor, truck, or towed vehicle like a special trailer, each with inherent ability capable of lifting the bale. Numerous vehicular attachments, accessories, mechanisms, implements, and the like have been developed in the past for the sole purpose of lifting and transporting conventional round bales and are well known in the prior art. Most of these bale carriers are attachments that mount to the 3 point hitch on the rear of a farm tractor and usually couple to the bale with either a long spear(s) to pierce the bale near its center axis or a fork with long tines that go under each side of the bale. Other common bale carriers are spear or fork configurations that are mounted to a front end loader on a farm tractor or to the back of a truck. Additionally, special trailers have been developed with spear or fork configurations to transport round bales in the same manner. In the case of a truck or trailer, a powered unit is normally incorporated to provide the required lifting force.
Examples of prior art attachments applicable to tractors are presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,890,864 issued Apr. 6, 1999 to Willie Davis Sloan; 4,364,700 issued Dec. 21, 1982 to John Arabshian and Paul O. Mittelstaedt; 4,318,653 issued Mar. 9, 1982 to William F. Benefield and Elmer D. Larkin; 4,316,691 issued Feb. 23, 1982 to Joseph B. Kucera; 4,275,985, issued Jun. 30, 1981 to Stanley M. Schremmer; 4,120,405 issued Oct. 17, 1978 to John B. Jones and Robert W. Upton; 3,934,726 issued Jan. 27, 1976 to Leon C. Martin; and Des. 245,984 issued Oct. 4, 1977 to William D. Priefert. Tractor 3 point hitch attachments similar to those associated with U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,120,405 and Des. 245,984 are the most common because they require no extra hydraulic components and/or front end loader and are therefore, considerably less expensive. Examples of prior art attachments applicable to trucks are presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,135,343 issued Aug. 4, 1992 to Myron O. Wigness; 4,288,191 issued Sep. 8, 1981 to Bobby R. Lynch; and 4,090,616 issued May 23, 1978 to John G. Runyan and James H. Kline. An example of prior art applicable to a towed vehicle is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,143 issued Sep. 7, 1982 to Clofford L. Hedgespeth.
In a typical cattle feeding operation, a farm tractor with attached bale carrier is employed to move a hay bale from a storage location, that is not accessible to cattle, to the feeding location, which is normally in close proximity to the feeder that was used in the previous feeding cycle. The bale is placed on the ground and the tractor is moved away from the bale. The tractor operator then gets off the tractor, walks over to the empty feeder, and lifts up on one side of the feeder until it is stable on its circular side. Next, the operator rolls the feeder over to the bale, properly aligns the feeder to the bale, and then pushes the uppermost side of the feeder down over the bale, resulting in it falling to the ground on its lower portion or base. The bale now resides inside the feeder. The operator then removes the twine, that holds the bale together, while intermingling with the cattle trying to get to the bale. After the twine is removed, the cattle are then permitted to access the bale through the plurality of openings in the feeder. The reason that the bale is placed in a different location from the previous feeding location is that if it is not moved, the continued concentration of cattle around the feeder will result in the surrounding grass getting trampled and possibly destroyed and/or ruts being formed in the ground. This condition is compounded when the ground is wet. Another problem is that old uneaten hay will collect in the bottom of the feeder if the feeder is not moved. Also, note that a farm tractor was used in the above description of a feeding operation because it is the most commonly used, but other vehicles with bale carriers, previously described, could be employed.
There are numerous inherent problems associated with feeding cattle in the above described manner, namely due to the required manual maneuvering of the large heavy feeder. First, the tractor operator has to get off of the tractor and walk over to the feeder, leaving cattle that have gathered free to eat from the unprotected bale. Lifting the heavy feeder up on its side can be very hard, especially for small, old, and/or handicapped people. Rolling the 8 foot high feeder can also be a challenging task if the terrain is uneven, uphill, and/or if it is windy. Tilting the feeder over the bale can be the most difficult task for even taller stronger people because the high feeder center of gravity has to be rotated beyond the feeder's ground pivot point by pushing the feeder from only one side which tends to cause an adverse side rotation of the feeder. The problems associated with the manual handling of the feeder are further multiplied if it is raining, muddy, and/or nighttime. In addition, manual handling of the feeder can be deadly to small calves. If calves are near the bale when the feeder falls from its 8 foot height, they could be hit by the feeder and extensively injured or even killed. Removing the hay bale twine in the presence of cattle trying to access the hay bale poses a significant safety problem to the operator.
To help circumvent the problems involved in the manual maneuvering of the feeder, several prior art devices were developed for use on or with farm tractors to lift and carry both round bales and feeders. While these devices provide for powered lifting and carrying of both the bales and feeders, they all heretofore known suffer from a number of deficiencies and drawbacks.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,488 issued Apr. 3, 2001 to Leon Wright presents an adapter that attaches to a conventional hay bale feeder which incorporates a receiving cylinder that permits the feeder to be lifted and moved by inserting the spear of a conventional spear bale carrier into the cylinder. The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) on tractors with limited 3 point hitch lift height, typical of smaller tractors, it is probable that the feeder cannot be lifted high enough to clear large bales due to: the geometry of the 3 point hitch, the close proximity of the feeder to the hitch, and the relatively loose fit between the spear and the receiving cylinder, due to the cylinder having to accommodate different size spears, (2) the adapter can only be used with spear bale carriers, (3) the spear has to be inserted into the adapter's receiving cylinder which can present alignment difficulties and therefore, can be a trying task, (4) the vertical member of the adapter's frame can interfere with the adjacent cattle access openings on some feeders with slanted openings and possibly result in a cow's head being caught in the reduced opening, and (5) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,314 issued Apr. 4, 2000 to David L. Greene presents a spear bale carrier with a height adjustable hook mechanism on the upper end of the carrier that connects to the top ring on a conventional hay bale feeder to provide feeder lifting when the bale carrier is lifted by a tractor. The carrier also has 2 lower short spears to stabilize the hay bale and a lower pivoting rocker plate to prevent the bottom of the feeder from excessive forward movement. The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) on tractors with limited 3 point hitch lift height, typical of smaller tractors, it is probable that the feeder cannot be lifted high enough to clear large bales due to the geometry of the 3 point hitch and to the close proximity of the feeder to the hitch, (2) connecting the hook with the top feeder ring could be difficult if the terrain is rough, (3) the lower 2 spears will hit a sheet metal panel connecting the middle ring to the bottom ring on feeders of this type and prevent the hook from connecting to the top feeder ring, unless somehow, the lower 2 spears could be inserted under the feeder's bottom ring (a difficult task) which would require that the adjustable hook be precisely set to the feeder's top ring height, (4) the use of this bale carrier requires the added procurement expense of a redundant bale carrier, since a bale carrier normally already exists in most feeding operations, and (5) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,098 issued Feb. 9, 1999 to Darrell W. Adams presents a spear bale carrier, with upper hooks that connect to the top ring on a conventional hay bale feeder and a lower curved base to support the bottom of the feeder, which lifts the feeder when the bale carrier is lifted by a tractor. The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) on tractors with limited 3 point hitch lift height, typical of smaller tractors, it is probable that the feeder cannot be lifted high enough to clear large bales due to the geometry of the 3 point hitch and to the close proximity of the feeder to the hitch, (2) connecting the hooks to the top feeder ring could be difficult or unattainable if the terrain is rough, (3) placing the feeder around a hay bale could be a problem, since the spear could hit or insert into the top of the hay bale before the feeder touches the ground and make hook disengagement difficult, and (4) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,231 issued May 18, 1982 to James L. Brewer presents an independent feeder adapter that permits a fork bale carrier to interface with or couple to a conventional hay bale feeder, thereby providing a way for lifting and moving the feeder when the bale carrier is lifted by a tractor. This feeder lifting arrangement does not have the limited feeder lifting height deficiency inherent in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,209,488, 6,045,314, and 5,868,098 because the feeder is lifted at a significant distance from the 3 point hitch resulting in a greater feeder lift height. The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) the adapter can only be used with fork bale carriers, (2) the adapter has to be wider than the fork bale carrier which dictates that the adapter is wider then at least 2 feeder cattle access openings and therefore, not only will it impede cattle access to the openings but could result in serious injury to cattle by their legs or other body parts being caught in the various openings in the structure, (3) the structure is relatively large and complex resulting in higher relative cost, (4) the feeder cannot be manually turned on its side and rolled with the adapter installed on the feeder, and (5) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,139 issued Nov. 24, 1981 to Elton K. Malish presents a 3 point hitch spear bale carrier that has a relatively long boom with hooks that connect to the top ring of a conventional hay bale feeder and a hydraulic actuator that provides for articulation of both the bale and feeder. As with U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,231, the bale carrier does not have the limited feeder lifting height deficiency for the same reasons. In addition, an even greater lift height is achieved by the articulation provided by the hydraulic actuator. The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) the significantly higher relative cost due to the carrier's heavy boom structure and hydraulic components, (2) the carrier cannot be used on smaller tractors due to the high torque, created by the weight of the bale and the long boom, which can cause the front of the tractor to lift off of the ground, and (3) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Device and method for lifting and transporting conventional hay bale feeders with a round hay bale


According to one embodiment, a signal from a power supply line is caused to pass through a high pass filter, and a first signal is generated by adding a voltage-divided signal to the signal. In addition, a second signal obtained by adding the voltage-divided signal to an identification voltage is generated. A comparator outputs a comparison result of comparing a voltage of the first signal with a voltage of the second signal, and a counter counts up a count value when the voltage of the first signal is higher than that of the second signal. A sample hold circuit sample-holds the count value just before the counter is reset.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a noise measuring device that measures a noise signal superimposed on a signal. More specifically, the present invention relates to a power supply noise measuring device that is mounted in a large scale integrated circuit (LSI), and that measures a noise signal superimposed on a power supply signal in the LSI.
2. Description of the Related Art
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit employed in a recent LSI has an advantage of reducing power consumption but has a disadvantage of always generating a power supply noise during switching. The power supply noise greatly influences a delay design in the LSI. When a power supply noise is increased in amount, a delay variation is increased accordingly, with the result that it is necessary to widen a margin for designing timing. The margin widened by as much as the delay variation relative to a timing window that is reduced following acceleration of signal transmission within the LSI greatly influences realization of the signal transmission. It is, therefore, important how accurately the power supply noise amount can be grasped.
In the conventional signal transmission at a rate equal to or lower than a rate in MHz, even if the power supply noise amount is observed on a printed circuit board outside of the LSI, a quantitative evaluation of the noise amount can be performed almost accurately without an influence of a waveform rounding.
However, if the LSI operates at a high-speed equal to or higher a rate in GHz, a rate of the generated power supply noise is accelerated accordingly. If so, it is difficult to measure such a power supply noise on the printed circuit board or the like outside of the LSI. In recent examples, as shown in FIG. 1 (2003 Symposium on VLSI Circuits Digest of Technical Papers, 4-89114-035-6/03, FIG. 5), in Symposium on VLSI Circuits, Intel Corporation proposed a method for extracting a minor variation in a measurement target power supply relative to a reference power supply, and for measuring a power supply noise amount based on a result of a magnitude comparison between the measurement target power supply and the reference power supply. With this method, when the high-speed noise is to be measured, a sampling frequency itself of an output is increased. As a result, it is disadvantageously difficult to transmit the output itself. In addition, a strict restriction is imposed on measurement at a plurality of locations in the LSI. Thus, this method is not suited for acceleration. Besides, probing of a peak noise that suddenly occurs is also difficult, because it depends on the sampling timing.
As another example, as shown in FIG. 2 (ISSCC 2002/Feb. 5, 2002/Salon 10-15/9:00 AM, FIG. 11.2.1), there is proposed a method using a sampling oscilloscope circuit as reported by Takamiya et al. in ISSC2002. With this method, data on a cyclically changing signal is acquired while shifting a data sampling timing by one clock each based on the principle of the sampling oscilloscope. Therefore, a data cycle is extended by T/ΔT times (where T is the clock cycle and ΔT is a resolution for acquiring the data), and the data can be fetched to the outside as a low-speed output. It is noted, however, the noise is assumed as a periodic noise in this method, so that this method is ineffective for a periodic noise. A chance of acquiring the peak noise that suddenly occurs, in particular, is extremely slight, so that it is quite difficult to acquire the peak noise.
The invention disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3096469 relates to a noise measuring device including a first comparator that compares a power supply voltage with a first reference voltage; a second comparator that compares the power supply voltage with a second reference voltage; a logic gate that outputs a signal indicating whether the power supply voltage exceeds a range from the first reference voltage to the second reference voltage using a comparison result of the first comparator and that of the second comparator; and a counter that counts outputs of this logic gate. According to the invention disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3096469, however, a direct-current (DC) level change of the power supply itself is also handled as a noise. Further, the invention disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3096469 is intended to measure a noise outside of the LSI. The device, therefore, fails to include a portion designed so that the portion is mounted in the LSI.


The present invention provides a laser theodolite device and kit for converting a new or pre-existing theodolite into a laser theodolite. More specifically, in one embodiment, the laser theodolite device comprises a theodolite having a visible and/or reflective laser source integrally mounted within the theodolite telescope for generating a laser line along the centerline portion of the telescope line of sight. The kit for assembling a laser theodolite from a new or pre-existing theodolite includes a universally mountable bracket with a laser source secured thereto. The universal bracket is constructed and arranged to be mounted at a forward end of a theodolite telescope housing with the laser source being positioned at about a right angle with respect to the telescope centerline. A mirror mounted at about a forty five degree angle is adjustably positioned in the universal mount to reflect the laser beam produced by a laser source along the centerline portion of the line of sight of the theodolite's telescope lenses. Positioning of the laser beam to coincide with the telescope cross hairs is accomplished via adjustment screws provided on the mounting bracket.

Portable theodolites, or transits as they are commonly known, are used throughout the construction, carpentry and surveying trades as well as in other applications. The devices generally include a stand, such as a tri-pod to which the theodolite is pivotally mounted upon a top surface thereof for rotation about a horizontal and/or vertical axis. In operation, the devices are generally leveled manually using thumbscrews and the like in combination with fluid filled sight type level gauges. The theodolite generally includes a telescope in which cross hairs are positioned in the line of sight for use as a visual reference, allowing the person looking through the telescope to utilize the instrument for leveling and the like.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,429,437, discloses a Convertible Builders Level and Transit. The device includes a base plate having a pair of mounts for a theodolite. The theodolite may be mounted in one position for upward movement and a second position for leveling.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,533,545, discloses a Convertible Level and Transit. The device includes a tripod which has a threaded stud for attachment to a leveling plate. The upper face of the plate includes a rounded boss upon which the base plate is mounted. The base plate includes leveling screws for leveling the theodolite device with respect to the ground surface. The base plate includes upstanding Y-forks upon which the theodolite may be mounted for upward pivoting in one position and fixed for leveling in a second position.
It is also known to provide an automatic leveling device in combination with a theodolite, to eliminate the manual leveling requirement. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,111, discloses a Self Leveling Transit Having a Locking Mechanism. The device includes a telescope incorporating therein an automatic level line compensator and means for locking the swinging portion of the compensator means. The telescope may be used as a transit when the lock is operative to lock the swinging portion of the telescope, and as a level when the lock is not in operation.
Laser technology has also been utilized for indicating a level reference plane. Within these devices portable laser emitters are used in place of the theodolite telescope to establish the reference plane. In the construction industry, narrow beams of collimated light, in the form of laser beams are being increasingly used in connection with establishing and marking long, straight, level lines, such as those required for markings for walls, ceilings, and/or floors. Also, laser beam projectors and receivers are often used in the construction industry and in agricultural land leveling applications to ensure that a target area is graded in the proper or desired slope or grade. The laser beam projector is placed in a known position and one or more sensors are placed in the targeted area to sense the impingement of the laser beam.
These devices generally include a laser source for generating a beam of collimated light and a rotating mechanism for rotating the beam of light about an axis to generate a plane of light. In order to provide a substantially level plane, it is necessary to have a known orientation for the laser plane with respect to the true earth reference. Typically, the laser plane is oriented into a level position with respect to the supporting surface, such as by manually leveling the mechanism, or by a self-leveling gyroscopic or magnetic mechanism. Additionally, some laser plane generators are operable to orient the laser plane at an angle with respect to a level orientation by rotating the laser generator about a desired axis according to the desire slope.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,234, discloses a method and apparatus for performing precise surveying operations relative to a selected reference point by utilizing a laser beam. A portable laser beam reference plane generator is provided which may be set up in precise alignment with a selected reference point, and which produces a rotating laser beam sweeping over the adjacent terrain. The generator may be accurately adjusted to permit both elevation and angular displacements to be measured at any point within the area traversed by the rotating laser beam.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,616, discloses a Laser Positioning Device. The device includes a level having a pair of magnetic feet mounted thereto and a plate member mounted to one side to extend upwardly therefrom. The plate member is scribed with protractor markings for angular measurement. A pointer is pivotally associated with the apex of the protractor to which a laser beam generator is mounted. In operation, a laser beam from this generator can be impinged against a remote target location and an angle measurement may be taken from a known datum using the protractor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,510, discloses a Three-Dimensional Laser Leveling and Angle-Calibrating Instrument with Multiple Functions. The device includes a stand and a pair of magnetically attachable laser levels. The stand includes a horizontal and a vertical plate to which the magnetic laser levels are attached. This construction permits one laser level to be used for horizontal leveling while the other is used for vertical leveling.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,313, discloses a Laser Fanning Device. The device includes a laser generator mounted on a conventional transit for rotation about a vertical axis. A crank is interconnected at one end to the support structure of the transit and at its other end to the drive of an electric motor affixed to the transit and laser generator. Operation of the motor and crank causes rotational and reciprocal movement of the transit and generator about an axis to develop a datum plane of light. A control knob provides grade adjustment and is linked to a digital counter to provide a visual readout of the grade.
While such laser projectors facilitate generating a laser plane at a desired grade and orientation, the higher number of moving parts, including the rotating mechanism, within the laser projector may raise reliability concerns over a prolonged period of time. Also, when sensors are not used to sense the laser beam, the reference plane generated by the rotated laser beam can be difficult to see with the human eye as the beam of light is intermittently flashed along a surface.
It is also known to combine a distance measuring instrument with a theodolite. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,087, discloses a Surveying Instrument. The device includes a theodolite and an electro-optical telemeter in which the transmitter and receiver of the telemeter are arranged in gravity-symmetrical relationship with respect to the horizontal axis of the theodolite. The transmitter and receiver are housed within a U-shaped body having a hole through which the theodolite fits. The device is held in place by dovetails mounted on the upper surface of the theodolite.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,209, discloses an Adaptor for mounting one instrument, such as an electronic distance measuring device, atop another instrument, such as a telescope or theodolite. The device includes a base member attached to the upper device. The base member includes two downwardly facing cam surfaces and support members engaging the cam surfaces for vertical movement against springs to counteract the forces produced by the upper instrument as it pivots while the device permits the two devices to be moved together about a horizontal axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,087, discloses a Surveying Instrument. The device includes a theodolite and an electro-optical telemeter in which the transmitter and receiver of the telemeter are arranged in gravity-symmetrical relationship with respect to the horizontal axis of the theodolite. The transmitter and receiver are housed within a U-shaped body having a hole through which the theodolite fits. The device is held in place by dovetails mounted on the upper surface of the theodolite.
As disclosed, the above devices fail to teach or suggest a theodolite having a telescope in combination with a laser emitter. The prior art is also deficient in teaching a theodolite having a laser positioned to project a laser beam along the centerline of the line of sight of the theodolite telescope for use as an external reference for marking the instrument line of sight. The prior art is also deficient in teaching a kit for fitting a new or pre-existing telescope type theodolite/transit with a laser indicator.
Accordingly, the instant invention provides a theodolite in combination with a laser emitting device. The instant invention provides optical indication through the theodolite telescope as well as external visual indication (a laser beam) along the centerline of the telescope line of sight. The instant invention also provides a kit for fitting a new or pre-existing theodolite with a laser indicator. The laser theodolite kit includes adaptability for installation on various theodolite configurations which may include theodolites with auto-focus or auto-leveling.

Laser theodolite and kit for converting a new or pre-existing theodolite into a laser theodolite


A method for authenticating a printed or scanned embedded image is disclosed that utilizes a prediction of the effect of a print or scanning process on the embedded message based upon characteristics of the printer or scanner. These values are measured directly at the time of authentication and compared to the predicted. Based on the comparison a decision is made regarding authenticity.

Marketing of products and services through the use of coupons, brochures, labels, cereal boxes and lottery tickets is undoubtedly very effective in increasing awareness of consumers of companies and products. One useful way to market a product is to provide a valuable prize if a person has a winning number. The vendor may only be able to give several of the prizes without losing money. In this circumstance, preventing counterfeiting becomes important.
Steganography allows information to be placed in a hidden way in these instruments. A steganographic signal can be embedded in a picture, removing the need for bar codes or other explicitly printed accounting information. The value of this is that the packaging becomes more esthetically pleasing and the consumer is likely to be more interested in using the instrument.
Today's steganographic technologies are very robust to surviving the print scan cycle or other adverse process such as markings, tears, compression, smoothing, noise, etc. This poses a problem in the case of a lottery or coupon with a prize because the ticket can be scanned and reprinted, and the steganographic signal will be maintained, allowing the user to win with a counterfeit instrument and win a second time with the original instrument. Similarly, in many countries, forgery of brand name consumables such as whiskeys, cigarettes and cereals is rampant. With today's steganographic techniques, without other measures, simply copying an authentic label using a scanner and a printer is sufficient enough to guarantee the authentication of the embedded signal of the copied label.
A powerful technique that can be used for these kinds of steganographic instruments is disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/613,989. A method is disclosed that enables the use of paper or textured media to be authenticated based upon an embedded signal derived from the textural attributes of the media. A carrier is formed by scanning a region or multiple regions of the media and is convolved with a message to form an authenticable signal. After scanning, the carrier is subdivided and rearranged in ways that prevents a person from "discovering" the carrier. The drawback with this method is that it requires a scan of the media before a picture containing the steganographic signal is printed. This presents a loss of efficiency for companies already producing authenticable instruments because their existing workflow needs to be changed.
The present invention provides a solution to these problems.

Method of authenication for steganographic signals undergoing degradations


The present invention is directed to tissue sealant compositions comprising: a multi-arm reactive polyethylene glycol polymer having at least 3 electrophilic groups; albumin; a buffer; water; and entrained gas as bubbles; wherein concentration of albumin in a liquid component of the sealant is within range of 50-200 mg/ml; and wherein concentration of multi-arm PEG in said liquid component of the sealant is within range of 25-100 mg/mL.

Surgeons use tissue sealants in a wide range of different clinical applications. Sealants can be used as both a primary and/or secondary method of joining or sealing tissue. A common class of tissue adhesives is fibrin-based and contains a concentrate of fibrinogen and thrombin. Fibrin adhesives are typically two-component adhesives that when mixed together react to simulate the last stages of the coagulation cascade. The resulting clot adheres to tissue and bridges a gap between the tissues until healing can occur. Glues based on albumin or gelatin cross-linked with an aldehyde are also known. Representative of this class of glues are gelatin-resorcinol cross-linked with formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde. Gelatin-based glues have been extensively studied and shown to generally be effective. Cyanoacrylates, polyurethanes, polymethylmethacrylates, among other synthetic polymers, have been also investigated as tissue glues.
The tissue adhesives/sealants described above are typically delivered as liquids that react and crosslink to form hydrogels. The handling properties of liquids can be a challenge since they get diluted and also are difficult to retain in the area of application. Liquids can also be difficult to visualize at the site of application, especially if they are clear liquids.
Various technologies have been developed for the formulation of tissue adhesives. Some of them are of synthetic origin, such as the glues based on cyanoacrylates (2-butyl cyanoacrylate, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate), or on synthetic polymers (polyurethanes, polymethylmethacrylates) and others contain biological materials such as collagen or fibrin which, in addition, have hemostatic properties and also act by controlling bleeding. As a result of their hemostatic and adhesive properties, sealants, and particularly fibrin sealants-have been extensively used in most surgical specialties for over two decades to reduce blood loss and post-operative bleeding because of the ability to adhere to human tissue as it polymerizes. In some applications, the amount of adhesion to tissue can be sub-optimal with fibrin sealants, and a greater adhesion to the tissue compared with fibrin sealant formulations is needed.
The properties of existing tissue sealants also make it difficult to ensure adequate coverage of the lung, particularly when a minimally invasive technique is used. Adequate coverage of the lung can be important to achieve the thickness and coverage of sealant desired to seal leaks, because leaks can develop at the staple line, adjacent to the staple line, and in the lobes of the lung due to manipulation during the procedure. Due to the minimally invasive approach, current sealants must be applied to a deflated lung. Current sealants may not have the physical properties that allow them to maintain coverage over the entire surface of the lung during and after insufflation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,147 titled Compositions, systems, and methods for arresting or controlling bleeding or fluid leakage in body tissue, discloses a biocompatible and biodegradable material applied to arrest the flow of blood or to seal tissue comprising a mixture of a protein solution comprising recombinant or natural human serum albumin at a concentration of about 25% or less and a polymer solution including a derivative of a hydrophilic polymer with a functionality of at least three, wherein, upon mixing, the protein solution and the polymer solution cross-link to form a mechanical non-liquid covering structure without of a photo-initiator and ultraviolet light energy.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,129,210 titled Tissue adhesive sealant, discloses a tissue adhesive kit consisting: a cross-linkable albumin protein consisting of albumin dissolved or suspended directly in aqueous solvent to form a protein solution; and a cross-linking agent solution comprising an aldehyde and an amino acid containing species reactive with said aldehyde, said aldehyde and said amino acid containing species being present in a ratio between 20:1 and 1:1 applied with said protein solution to form a tissue adhesive sealant.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,168,325 titled Hemostatic foam, discloses a method for preparing a transient pharmaceutical hemostatic liquid foam, the method comprising: providing a pharmaceutical hemostatic liquid foam base preparation comprising albumin and thrombin, wherein: albumin is present in its native form, albumin is not crosslinked, and thrombin is present in a concentration of 100 to 10000 IU/ml; and contacting the pharmaceutical hemostatic liquid foam base preparation with a foaming gas so as to obtain the transient pharmaceutical hemostatic liquid foam.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,295,752 titled Bioadhesive for occluding vessels, discloses a method of occluding a vessel of a mammal, the method comprising: injecting a bioadhesive into a vessel of a mammal to displace blood in the vessel and prevent blood flow back into the vessel and to crosslink the bioadhesive in the vessel to form an occlusion in the vessel, wherein the bioadhesive comprises: (i) a biopolymer having one or more first chemically reactive amine groups; (ii) a biocompatible crosslinker having at least two second chemically reactive groups that can chemically react with the one or more first chemically reactive amine groups of the biopolymer; and (iii) a biocompatible rheological modifier, and wherein the biopolymer and crosslinker form a crosslinked network and the biocompatible rheological modifier does not substantially react with the biopolymer or the biocompatible crosslinker.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0272883 titled Methods and Compositions for Administering an Active Agent to the Pleura of a Patient, discloses a composition for treating a pleura of a patient, the composition comprising: a liquid component comprising a biocompatible composition having a viscosity which increases in response to an increase in temperature; and an active agent dissolved, dispersed, or suspended in the liquid component, the active agent being capable of causing inflammation and/or adhesion of the pleura.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,680,240 titled Tissue sealant for use in non-compressible hemorrhage, discloses a hemostatic composition containing four solutions comprising the ingredients described in portions a)-d), for cessation of blood loss from injured tissue of a patient's body without application of a compressive force: a) Teleostean (fish) gelatin type A mixed with sucrose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, a water-soluble foam inducer of sodium bicarbonate and dihydrogen phosphate, and human serum albumin in a buffer solution at a pH of about 8.3 in the presence of metallic ions and a gel enhancer selected from the group consisting of alpha-galactosidase degraded carrageenan, alginate sulfate, hyaluronic salt, or hyaluronic acid; B) polyacrylic acid crosslinked with allyl ethers of sucrose (Carbomer homopolymer) containing not less than 56.0 percent and not more than 68.0 percent of carboxylic acid; with a viscosity of a neutralized 0.5 percent aqueous dispersion between 30,500 and 39,400 centipoises; c) fibrin monomer in an acidic solution with a pH 3.4 to pH 4.0 that polymerizes upon change in pH from acid to neutral (7.0-7.2); and d) calcium independent transglutaminase enzyme and calcium chloride in HEPES buffer for stabilizing the fibrin polymer.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0369991 titled Formulations for Wound Therapy, discloses a pharmaceutical composition comprising an absorbable carrier of a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer and dispersed, at least partially through or on said absorbable carrier, microparticles comprising fibrinogen in an amount of from about 0.1-15 mg/cm2 and/or microparticles comprising thrombin in an amount of from about 0.01 to 500 IU/cm2, wherein the microparticles further comprise a glassy carrier.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0116341 titled IN-VIVO GELLING PHARMACEUTICAL PRE-FORMULATION, discloses an in vivo gelling pharmaceutical pre-formulation, comprising: (a) at least one water soluble first compound comprising more than one nucleophilic group selected from a thiol and an amino, wherein the first compound is a glycol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, hexaglycerol, or tripentaerythritol derivative, and wherein the first compound further comprises one or more polyethylene glycol sections; (b) at least one water soluble second compound comprising more than one electrophilic group selected from an epoxide, N-succinimidyl succinate, N-succinimidyl glutarate, N-succinimidyl succinamide or N-succinimidyl glutaramide, wherein the second compound is a trimethylolpropane, glycerol, diglycerol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, hexaglycerol, tripentaerythritol, or polyglycerol derivative, and wherein the second compound further comprises one or more polyethylene glycol sections; (c) an aqueous buffer in the pH range of 5.0 to 9.0; and (d) optionally, one or more therapeutic agents; wherein mixing the first compound, the second compound, and the optional therapeutic agent in the aqueous buffer and delivering the mixture to a target site in the human body generates the in vivo gelling pharmaceutical pre-formulation such that the in vivo gelling pharmaceutical pre-formulation at least in part polymerizes and gels at the target site to form a biocompatible hydrogel polymer.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0104280 Wound treatment systems, devices, and methods using biocompatible synthetic hydrogel compositions, discloses a system for promoting wound healing comprising a first solution comprising a biocompatible, synthetic, electrophilic polymer component including a multi-arm poly(ethylene glycol) succinimidyl glutarate (PEG-SG), a second solution comprising a biocompatible, synthetic, nucleophilic polymer component essentially free of human or bovine albumin and other biological molecules and including a polypeptide moiety having a number of active surface lysines of at least twenty (20) per 5000 M/W, and optionally blended with a multi-arm poly(ethylene glycol) amine (PEG-NH), and instructions for use comprising mixing the first and second solutions to form a synthetic hydrogel composition, and applying the synthetic hydrogel composition by topically spraying the synthetic hydrogel composition onto a targeted wound site to promote wound healing.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,314,211 titled Tissue sealant for use in non-compressible hemorrhage discloses a method of sealing injured tissue of a patient's body that utilizes a four-part hemostatic composition including a hydrogel carrier and a fibrin monomer, in combination, for cessation of blood loss from the injured tissue without application of a compressive force independently therefrom, the method comprising the steps of: (a) mixing in a mixing device the following components so as to create a foam: (i) a first component (Part A), in a liquid form, of Teleostean (fish) gelatin type A mixed with sucrose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and Bovine serum albumin in a selected buffer solution at a pH of about 8.3 in the presence of metallic ions; (ii) a second component (Part B) of a selected, relatively high molecular weight acrylic acid of carbomer and divalent ions in a solution at a pH of about 3.4; (iii) a third component (Part C) of a fibrin monomer in a selected acidic solution that polymerizes upon change in pH; and (iv) a fourth component (Part D) having a selected calcium independent transglutaminase enzyme and calcium chloride for stabilizing the fibrin polymer; and (b) delivering the foam through an outlet of the mixing device to a surgical site of a body cavity, organ or tissue so as to place the foam in contact with the site such that the non-dynamic, non-crosslinked fibrin monomer of the foam sticks to wet tissue of the site and forms a matrix in the patient's blood; wherein the mixing of Parts A, B, C, and D renders the non-crosslinked fibrin monomer dynamic by neutralizing the pH of the overall mixture such that the non-crosslinked fibrin is converted to a fibrin sealant, thereby inducing coagulation of the blood and adhesive properties of severed tissue.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0021431 titled Methods and Compositions For Medical Articles Produced From Proteinaceous Compounds, discloses a foam composition useful as a tissue sealant, tissue dressing or tissue barrier comprising: (a) an amino acid containing compound selected from the group of albumin, gelatin, collagen, and any combination thereof, and (b) an augmentative polymer selected from the group of chitosan, glucosamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, and any combination thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,911,750 titled Lung volume reduction therapy using crosslinked biopolymers, discloses a method for reducing lung volume in a patient, comprising the steps of a) inserting a bronchoscope through the trachea of a patient in need thereof to reach a lung segment to be treated; wherein said bronchoscope comprises a working channel; b) inserting a catheter through said working channel; and c) administering through the catheter to the lung segment a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a biopolymer, a cross-linker, and a polymeric additive; wherein said polymeric additive accelerates a cross-linking reaction between the biopolymer and the cross-linker; the composition is administered in an amount sufficient to reduce lung volume, but without systemic toxicity; and i) the biopolymer is bovine serum albumin in about 25% by weight of the composition; the cross-linker is glutaraldehyde in about 0.25% by weight of the composition; and the polymeric additive is poly(vinylpyrrolidone) in about 10% by weight of the composition; or ii) the biopolymer is human serum albumin in about 22.5% by weight of the composition; the cross-linker is glutaraldehyde in about 0.3% by weight of the composition; and the polymeric additive is poly(vinylpyrrolidone) in about 4.5% by weight of the composition.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0254016 titled Biodegradable foam, discloses a method for forming a dried absorbent foam having an open pore network and pores by: a. forming a wet foam from an aqueous dispersion comprising a polysaccharide; a foaming agent; optionally a plasticizer; optionally a crosslinking agent; optionally gel-forming ions; optionally one or more additives, and water; b. mixing a foam from the aqueous dispersion, optionally by mechanical agitation; c. molding or shaping the wet foam and optionally forming a crosslinked foam; and d. drying the foam to form a dried foam optionally by air drying and optionally further molding, shaping or compressing the dried foam.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,349,349 titled Tissue adhesives and sealants and method for their use, discloses a biocompatible composition comprising: an implant comprising a substrate; a first component comprising a biodegradable material including a tissue binding end group and a functional group selected from the group consisting of biotin and avidin; and a second component comprising a biodegradable material including a substrate binding end group and a functional group selected from the group consisting of biotin and avidin, wherein the biodegradable material of the first component, the second component, or both, is selected from the group consisting of polylactides, poly(lactic acid), polyglycolides, poly(glycolic acid), poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(dioxanone), poly(hydroxybutyric acid), poly(hydroxyvaleric acid), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), poly(lactide-co-(epsilon-caprolactone-)), poly(glycolide-co-(epsilon-caprolactone)), polycarbonates, poly(pseudo amino acids), poly(amino acids), poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s, polyalkylene oxalates, polyoxaesters, polyanhydrides, polyester anyhydrides, polyortho esters, and copolymers, block copolymers, homopolymers, blends, and combinations thereof, and wherein the functional group of the first component is different than the functional group of the second component and the first component adheres to a tissue surface and the second component adheres to the implant.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0062768 titled Biocompatible hydrogel compositions, discloses a hydrogel composition for application to a tissue region of an animal comprising a first component comprising an electrophilic polymer material, and a second component comprising a nucleophilic material comprising autologous blood or an autologous blood component obtained from the animal that, when mixed in solution with the first component and applied to the tissue region, cross-links in situ with the first component to form a non-liquid structure.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0211137 titled Foam-forming wound dressing, discloses a foam wound dressing, comprising albumin and at least one additional protein.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,299 titled Adhesive protein foam for surgical and/or therapeutic uses, discloses a kit for preparing a biocompatible fluid adhesive protein foam, which is bioresorbable and nontoxic, for surgical and/or therapeutic use, in particular for protecting/cicatrizing tissue wounds and attaching biological tissues to each other or an implanted biomaterial, said kit comprising: a potentially adhesive protein compound which can be polymerized/crosslinked, solubilized in aqueous medium, in a first container; a polymerization/crosslinking agent for forming a biocompatible fluid adhesive protein matrix, which is bioresorbable and nontoxic, in a second container; a biocompatible and nontoxic gas or mixture of gases, either in the first, second and/or a third container; optional means for extemporaneously mixing the constituents, protein compound in aqueous solution and polymerization/crosslinking agent for forming the adhesive matrix, and, said gas or mixture of gases; whereby the protein foam is obtained in a ready to use form.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,777 titled Method of producing polysaccharide foams, discloses a method of forming a dry polysaccharide foam from an aqueous polysaccharide solution comprised of the steps of: a) forming an aqueous solution of a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of alginic acid, a soluble alginate salt, and other soluble polysaccharides containing exchangeable counter-cations; b) introducing a gas into the aqueous solution to form a wet foam by agitating the solution; c) homogeneously dispersing an insoluble carbonate or hydrogen carbonate salt having one or more di- or tri-valent cations in the wet foam and subsequently treating the wet foam with an acid having a concentration not in excess of 1N thereby liberating carbon dioxide as a gas and the cations to produce a cross-linked polysaccharide foam; and d) drying the wet foam to form a dry polysaccharide foam; wherein the dry foam is predominantly comprised of polysaccharide.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0192271 titled Method for causing local hemostasis and hemostatic composition for local hemostasis, discloses a method for inducing hemostasis at a bleeding wound comprising providing topically to the site of the bleeding wound a hemostatically effective amount of FVIIa which is unaccompanied by other blood clotting factors and which has sufficient activity alone to produce a hemostatic effect, together with a biologically compatible carrier which permits said factor VIIa to remain in contact with said bleeding wound.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0287313 titled TISSUE ADHESIVE SEALANT, discloses a reinforced body tissue comprising a tissue adhesive sealant comprising: a cross-linkable protein; and a cross-linking agent solution comprising an aldehyde and an amino acid containing species reactive with said aldehyde, said aldehyde and said amino acid containing species being present in a ratio between 20:1 and 1:1 and said protein and said cross-linking agent are present in a ratio of between 15:1 and 1:1; in simultaneous contact with the body tissue and a patch.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,668,899 titled Advanced functional biocompatible foam used as a hemostatic agent for compressible and non-compressible acute wounds, discloses an apparatus for the treatment of wounds, comprising: a valve system attached to a canister containing a hydrophobically modified chitosan in a concentration of about 0.1% to about 2.0% by weight, wherein the hydrophobic modification of the chitosan is of 1 to 100 moles of a hydrophobic substituent per 1 mole of chitosan, and a propellant, wherein the hydrophobic modifications comprise hydrocarbon substituents of eight to twenty carbon residues in length covalently attached to chitosan.
PCT Patent Publication No. WO 2009/153748 Methods and devices for use with sealants, discloses use of a biocompatible medical adherent composition in a biological system, the composition comprising a non-fibrin cross-linkable polymer and an enzyme which induces cross-linking of said cross-linkable polymer, for thereby adhering at least a portion of the biological tissue, for reinforcement of surgical repair lines.
U.S. Pat. RE39321, titled Supplemented and unsupplemented tissue sealants, methods of their production and use, discloses an expanding fibrin sealant foam for treating wounded tissue in a patient comprising (i) fibrinogen, or a derivative or metabolite thereof, in an amount which forms a fibrin matrix; and (ii) an agent which causes fibrinogen to foam during application of said fibrinogen to wounded tissue, such that said fibrinogen expands to fill the wound and form a fibrin matrix that covers and adheres to said wounded tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,500 titled Crosslinked polymer compositions and methods for their use, discloses a composition comprising a multi-nucleophilic polyalkylene oxide and a multi-electrophilic polyalkylene oxide, wherein the multi-nucleophilic polyalkylene oxide has m nucleophilic groups and the multi-electrophilic polyalkylene oxide has n electrophilic groups, wherein m and n are each greater than or equal to two, and wherein m+n is greater than or equal to five.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,351 titled Delivery of poly(ethylene glycol)-modified molecules from degradable hydrogels, discloses a degradable crosslinked polymeric structure comprising hydrolytically unstable linkages between one or more chemically crosslinked nonpeptidic polymers and conjugates of said nonpeptidic polymers and one or more bioactive agents; wherein said nonpeptidic polymers are selected from the group consisting of poly(alkylene oxides), poly(oxyethylated polyols), poly(olefinic alcohols), poly(acrylomorpholine), and mixtures thereof; and wherein said hydrolytically unstable linkages degrade in aqueous solution to release conjugates of said bioactive agents and said nonpeptidic polymers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,406 titled Biocompatible crosslinked polymers, discloses a method for preparing a biocompatible crosslinked polymer hydrogel, comprising: providing a biocompatible small molecule crosslinker with a molecular weight of 2000 or less, the crosslinker having n crosslinker functional groups, wherein n is two or more, and wherein the crosslinker functional groups are either electrophilic or nucleophilic; providing a synthetic biocompatible functional polymer with a molecular weight of at least about 7 times more than the crosslinker, the functional polymer having m functional polymer functional groups, wherein m is two or more and the sum of n and m functional polymer functional groups, wherein m is two or more and the sum of n and m is five or more, and wherein the functional polymer functional groups are nucleophilic if the crosslinker functional groups are electrophilic, and the functional polymer functional groups are electrophilic if the crosslinker functional groups are nucleophilic; and combining the crosslinker and functional polymer to react the crosslinker functional groups with the functional polymer functional groups to form a hydrogel for which the crosslinked polymer gel time is less than 60 seconds as measured by a gel time measurement.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,034,367 titled Tissue adhering compositions, discloses a method comprising: mixing a first component, a second component, and a buffer material, the first component comprising an electrophilic polymer material comprising poly(ethylene glycol) having a functionality of at least three, the second component comprising a nucleophilic material comprising a recombinantly produced protein at a concentration of about 25% or less that, when mixed with the first component, cross-links with the first component to form a non-liquid, three-dimensional barrier, and the buffer material comprises tris-hydroxymethylaminomethane, and applying the mixture to body tissue, wherein the mixture forms a mechanical barrier on the body tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,383,144 titled Tissue adhering compositions, discloses a method comprising: mixing a first electrophilic polymer material comprising poly(ethylene glycol) having a functionality of greater than or equal to three and a second electrophilic polymer material comprising a linear polymer with a solution comprising recombinant serum albumin having a concentration of about 25% by weight or less and a buffer material comprising tris-hydroxymethylaminomethane, said buffer material being capable of providing a reaction pH range of between about 8 to about 10, and applying the mixture to a tissue region, wherein the first electrophilic polymer material and the second electrophilic polymer material crosslink with the recombinant serum albumin to form a mechanical barrier.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,198,365 titled Lung volume reduction therapy using crosslinked non-natural polymers, discloses a method for reducing lung volume in a patient, comprising the step of administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a hydrogel, wherein said hydrogel is prepared from a first non-natural polymer and a first cross-linker; said first non-natural polymer comprises a plurality of pendant first nucleophilic groups; said first cross-linker comprises at least two pendant first electrophilic groups; and said first non-natural polymer consists essentially of a plurality of subunits independently selected from the group.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,766,891 titled Lung device with sealing features, discloses a method of performing tissue treatment or diagnosis in a subject, comprising: inserting a device into the subject and toward a lung along an entry path; pre-applying a cross-linkable tissue sealant from a sealant delivery element of the device to a region disposed along an external surface of a parietal parenchyma, within a plural space, and/or along an interior surface of a visceral pleura of the lung of the subject; advancing the device, after pre-applying the sealant, along the entry path and through the pre-applied sealant to a target site within the lung of the subject; and performing treatment or diagnosis at the site.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,057,818 titled Methods of making expandable foam-like biomaterials, discloses a method of making a biopolymeric material having a cellular foam structure comprising: combining a proteinaceous pre-polymeric liquid material and a cross linker solution to produce a mixture, wherein the proteinaceous pre-polymeric liquid material comprises a water soluble or plasma protein; introducing or producing a gaseous blowing agent into the proteinaceous pre-polymeric liquid material or the mixture; and allowing the mixture to cross-link and solidify simultaneously with the introduction or production of the gaseous blowing agent to thereby form the biopolymeric material having a cellular foam structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,071,124 titled Methods of using expandable foam-like biomaterials, discloses a method of treating a tissue site comprising: applying to the tissue site a proteinaceous pre-polymeric liquid material and a cross linker solution; combining the proteinaceous pre-polymeric liquid material and the cross linker solution to produce a mixture; introducing or producing a gaseous blowing agent into the proteinaceous pre-polymeric liquid material or the mixture; and allowing the mixture to solidify at the tissue site to thereby form a biopolymeric material having a cellular foam structure, to treat the tissue site.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,597,882 titled Protein crosslinkers, crosslinking methods and applications thereof, discloses a low molecular weight precursor comprising: a biocompatible liquid crosslinker with a molecular weight of no more than about 2000 Daltons that comprises at least three activated acid functional groups that are strong electrophiles selected from the group consisting of succinimide, succinimide ester, N-hydroxysuccinimide ester and maleimide, wherein the crosslinker forms a melt at less than about 50° C., wherein the strong electrophiles are not reactable by a Michaels-type reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. RE38827 titled Adhesive sealant composition, discloses an adhesive composition consisting essentially of i) a first aqueous mixture of about 20-60 wt/vol % serum albumin in about 0.01-0.25 molar buffer at a pH in a range of about 8.0-11.0, ii) a second aqueous mixture of about 50-800 mg/ml of a crosslinking agent having a molecular weight in a range of about 1,000-15,000, wherein the crosslinking agent is of the formula G-LM-PEG-LM-G wherein—PEG—is a diradical fragment represented by the formula —O—(CH 2-CH2-O—)a— where a is an integer from 20-300; wherein—LM—is a diradical fragment selected from the group consisting of a carbonate diradical of the formula, —C(O)—, a monoester diradical of the formula, —(CH 2)bC(O)— where b is an integer from 1-5, a diester radical of the formula, —C(O)—(CH2)c—C(O)— where c is an integer from 2-10 and where the aliphatic portion of the diradical may be saturated or unsaturated, a dicarbonate diradical of the formula —C(O)—O—(CH 2)d—O—C(O)— where d is an integer from 2-10, and an oligomeric diradical represented by the formulas —R—C(O)—, —R—C(O)—(CH2)c-C(O)—, or —R—C(O)—O—(CH2)d-O—C(O)— where c is an integer from 2-10, d is an integer from 2-10, and R is a polymer or copolymer having 1-10 monomeric fragments selected from the group consisting of lactide, glycolide, trimethylene carbonate, caprolactone and p-dioxanone; and wherein -G is a leaving group selected from the group consisting of succinimidyl, maleimidyl, phthalimidyl, imidazolyl, nitrophenyl or tresyl, and wherein a combination of the first and second mixtures is initially liquid and then cures on the surface of tissue to give a flexible, substantive matrix which bonds to the tissue and has a burst strength greater than about 10 mmHg.
China Patent Publication No. CN105521521A titled Lung sealing medical gel, and preparing method and application thereof discloses a medical product of serum albumin, comprising the following components: (1), a first liquid component, the liquid component containing dissolved into pH range for the concentration of 6.0-10.0 buffer solution is 5%-45% of germ and albumin (w/v), (2), the second solid component, the solid component is electrophilic functional group containing the hydrophilic polymer, the hydrophilic polymer selected from polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol oxide or polyethylene alcohol ethylene; wherein the solid component and the liquid component in the first germ albumin and the mass ratio is 0.3-2.
U.S. Patent Publication 2009/0221496 titled NOVEL ANTITHROMBOTIC AGENT discloses a pharmaceutical composition comprising an albumin conjugated with polyethylene glycol.
Foams are generally understood to represent materials in which a gas, such as air, is finely dispersed in a liquid in a form that is stable over some time. The liquid is found in the form of thin films between the bubbles. The stability of such gas dispersions is affected by the surface tension of the liquid phase. The surface tension can be influenced (reduced) by the presence of surface-active agents in the fluid phase, which help to stabilize the films against collapse. These foams are generally referred to as closed pore foams, as there is no connection between the gas spaces of each individual bubble. If the liquid films are stabilized by other means, e.g. by chemical reactions that transform the liquid phase into a viscoelastic solid, then the formation of open pore foams is possible. The transformation of the liquid films into a viscoelastic solid material also serves to effectively stabilize the foams against rapid collapse.
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved sealant and/or hemostatic foams which can be safely expressed onto tissue and which are effective in sealing tissue from leaks, particularly lung tissue. In addition, it is important that such a foam sealant/hemostat does not present a risk of obstruction or compression of pressure sensitive organs or tissues due to excessive swelling. There is a need in improved sealant/hemostatic foams and materials which facilitate ease of application and rapid onset of hemostasis.

Sealant foam compositions for lung applications


A connector reduced in depth dimension. Contact portions of first and second signal contacts and ground contacts for high-speed transmission are arranged in a housing in a row in a contact arranging direction orthogonal to a fitting/removing direction, and contact portions of contacts for non-high-speed transmission are arranged in the housing in a row in the contact arranging direction below the contact portions of the first and second signal contacts and the ground contacts. Terminal portions of the first and second signal contacts and the ground contacts are arranged in a row in the contact arranging direction, and press-fitting portions of the contracts for non-high-speed transmission are press-fitted in the housing along the direction of height of the housing, whereby they are disposed between the contacts portions and the terminal portions of the first and second signal contacts and the ground contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a connector, more particularly to a connector which is reduced in depth dimension.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been proposed a connector which is provided with a plurality of L-shaped contacts and an insulator holding the contacts, and is mounted on a printed board (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-334748).
The insulator has a fitting portion for fitting to a mating connector. Each L-shaped contact has a contact portion, a held portion, and a terminal portion. The contact portion extends in a fitting direction in which the insulator is fitted to the mating connector. The contact portions are arranged in the fitting portion of the insulator in two rows one above the other in a contact arranging direction. The held portion is continuous with the contact portion, extends in a direction in which the connector is fitted, and is held in the insulator. The terminal portion is soldered to a through hole in the printed board.
In general, the held portion of the L-shaped contact is press-fitted in the insulator along the fitting direction of the connector.
In the connector having L-shaped contacts, the held portions of the contacts extending in the fitting direction of the connector are held by the insulator, and hence it is impossible to obtain a sufficient holding force for holding the held portions of the contacts, unless holding portions of the insulator which hold the held portions of the contacts have a length (in the fitting direction) not shorter than a predetermined length.
In the case of the above-described connector in which the contact portions of the L-shaped contacts are arranged in two rows one above the other, it is necessary to make the length of the held portions of contacts of the upper row longer than that of the held portions of contacts of the lower row, because if the length of the held portions of contacts of the upper row is equal to that of the held portions of contacts of the lower row, the terminal portions of the contacts of the upper row and those of the contracts of the lower row come into contact with each other. Further, the respective lengths of holding portions of the insulator for holding the held portions of the contacts are determined by setting the length of a holding portion of the insulator for holding the held portions of the contacts of the lower row to a reference length as a shortest required length, and hence the length of a holding portion of the insulator for holding the held portions of the contacts of the upper row becomes longer than the reference length. The lengths of holding portions of the insulator are thus determined because if the length of the holding portion of the insulator for holding the held portions of the contracts of the upper row is set to the reference length, the length of the holding portion for holding the held portions of the contacts of the lower row becomes too short to secure a sufficient holding force for holding the contacts.
Therefore, the conventional connector suffers from the problem that the holding portion of the insulator for holding the held portions of the contacts of the upper row becomes long, increasing the depth dimension in the direction of the depth of the connector.

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited