A multi-layer preform, includes: (a) a plastic inner liner, comprised of a cylindrical walled body, which may or may not include a tapered annular shoulder portion, and a cylindrical walled neck portion extending upwardly from the body, and (b) a molded outer layer. Prior to the outer layer being molded over the plastic inner liner, at least a portion of the liner is crystallized by a heat treatment process. The molded outer layer may include a means to receive a closure device. When the preform is at an acceptable temperature range for orientation, the multi-layer preform can be blow-molded to form a multi-layer container having improved properties.

In recent years, plastics have become widely used in the field of containers for food products, beverages, cosmetics, and for numerous other applications. Polyester resins, such as polyethylene terephthalate ("PET"), have become very popular because they can be blow molded into thin-walled containers having excellent physical properties and characteristics.
Conventional blow molding of plastic containers typically involves two steps. In the first step or phase, an intermediate article, or preform, is formed. The second phase involves biaxially orienting the preform into the final article by a process commonly referred to as blow molding, or stretch blow molding. Many of the properties of the plastic material are best realized once the container has been biaxially oriented and blow molded. Quite commonly during such processing, the neck portion of the preform is used as a mounting portion for the blowing mold and the finish or threaded area of the preform is not specifically heated. Also, because that segment of the preform is not fully oriented, it will not exhibit the full benefit of properties resulting from the biaxial blow molding method. For instance, PET containers in which the neck region has not been subjected to, or more fully subjected to, an orientation often exhibit reduced thermal resistance to deformation.
While the previously mentioned two-step process is frequently used to produce large volumes of containers for a variety of applications, in a number of specialized applications, the product content must be filled at elevated temperatures to ensure proper sterilization. For instance, beverages which are pasteurized, such as some European drinks, are bottled in a range of 148.degree. to 170.degree. F. Drinks which include a portion of fruit juice are typically hot-filled in a range of 170.degree.-185.degree. F. Moreover, some fruit drinks and the like, require even higher hot-fill temperatures, i.e., 190.degree. to 200.degree. F. and above, to achieve an appropriate level of purification.
Elevated filling temperatures pose a challenge in constructing plastic containers because thermoplastic materials are known to increase in plasticity with temperature over time. Exposure of the container to the contents at higher fill temperatures can cause portions of the article to soften and deform, making it more difficult to maintain the container's structural integrity. This is especially true when longer periods of time are involved and/or when the temperature of the hot-fill product exceeds the glass transition temperature of the plastic, i.e., the temperature at which plastic changes from a solid to a soft, rubbery state. For reference, the glass transition ("T.sub.g ") or softening temperature of PET is approximately 170.degree. F.
When the filling temperature approaches or exceeds transition temperature of the polymer, container manufacturers often employ additional thermal conditioning techniques to help avoid the associated thermal shrinkage and resulting distortion. In a number of applications, it becomes necessary to stiffen specific portions of the container to prevent an unacceptable amount of deformation. This is especially true for the neck region when hot-filling product contents at about 185.degree. to 200.degree. F. or higher, or when causing a closure roll-on die or a lugged neck finish to apply a closure means to the final container.
In the case of PET containers, non-discriminate heat treating of the entire container would induce spherulitic crystal growth in non-molecularly oriented portions of the container. The resulting container would have opaque, brittle portions, and would be commercially undesirable. As such, controlling the crystallization process is a basic consideration in determining the physical properties of the container.
The prior art discloses the practice of incorporating a heat treatment process to stiffen the neck section of preforms and/or containers. Essentially, heat treatment is used to induce crystallization at the neck portion of the preform or container in an effort to increase thermal resistance to deformation. The primary drawback with such methods is that it generally takes a significant amount of time to sufficiently heat treat the thickness of the neck portion, it being one of the thickest portions of the preform. Because this process can be costly and time-consuming, there exists a need to develop techniques for improving the properties of the upper, or neck, portion of preforms and the resultant containers in a more commercially efficient manner.
In addition to heat treating processes, manufacturers of plastic containers often attempt to take advantage of the use of multiple layers of plastic materials. Such multi-layer containers, i.e., those having multiple layers throughout all or portions of the article, often prove to be more desirable than their mono-layer counterparts for a number of hot-fill applications. This is often because the individual layers of a multi-layer structure may provide independent benefits and the layers can be selected from materials to better optimize functional characteristics. Multi-layer containers have found an increasing role in the manufacture of plastic containers and are commonly known to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, by employing processes which take advantage of both the multi-layered structure along with limited and controlled crystallization, one skilled in the art can best adapt the physical structure of the container to meet the needs of a given application.

Multi-layer container and preform and process for obtaining same


A roundness measuring device includes: an eccentric position calculation unit calculating, based on a measured distance and a measured angle, a distance between a axis of the measured object and a rotation axis as an eccentric distance, and calculating an angle formed between the detection line and a line segment connecting the rotation axis and the axis of the measured object as an eccentric angle; and a measurement correction unit correcting the measured distance based on the eccentric distance, the eccentric angle, the measured angle, a radius of the measured object, and a length from the center to the surface of the detector unit, and correcting the measured angle by adding a correction angle to the measured angle, the correction angle being formed between the detection line and a line segment connecting the rotation axis and a contact point where the measured object and the detector unit come in contact with one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a roundness measuring device, method and program for measuring the roundness of a measured object.
2. Description of the Related Art
Roundness measuring devices are used to measure the roundness of columnar or cylindrical workpieces (measured objects). Such roundness is measured by mounting a workpiece on a turntable (centering table), rotating the turntable (table rotation type) or revolving a stylus itself around the workpiece, and then tracing the round surface of the workpiece (such as the outer or inner surface) with the stylus. A roundness measuring device of table rotation type obtains measurements based on a displacement of its stylus on a predetermined axis. Examples of such roundness measuring devices are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 5 (Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. (HEI) 4-329306; Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. (HEI) 5-269649: Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. (HEI) 8-122050; Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-93529; and Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-108787).
Each of the above-mentioned measurement methods is premised on the assumption that a contact point between a stylus and a workpiece should be located on a predetermined axis (detection line) where the displacement of the stylus can be detected, so that more precise measurements may be obtained by the roundness measurement device of table rotation type. However, such a stylus has a radius with a predetermined distance from its center to the surface, of course. Accordingly, if the workpiece is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the centering table, some occasions may arise where the contact point is not located on a predetermined axis depending on the radius of the stylus, which would lead to errors in measurements. Such error problems would notably occur when a measurement is performed on a workpiece in an eccentric position that has a smaller radius than that of the stylus.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a roundness measuring device that can obtain a measurement with a high degree of accuracy even if a workpiece is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis, and to provide a method of and program for measuring roundness.

Roundness measuring device, method and program for measuring roundness


A tissue closure treatment system and method are provided with an external patient interface. A first fluid transfer component FTC.1 comprises a strip of porous material, such as rayon, with liquid wicking properties. FTC.1 can be placed directly on a suture line for transferring fluid exuded therethrough. An underdrape is placed over FTC.1 and includes a slot exposing a portion of same. FTC.2 comprises a suitable hydrophobic foam material, such as polyurethane ether, and is placed over the underdrape slot in communication with FTC.1. Negative pressure is applied to FTC.2 through a connecting fluid transfer component FTC.3. A negative pressure source can comprises a manual device or a power-operated suction device. The tissue closure method includes a manual operating mode using a manual suction device with an automatic shut off for discontinuing suction when a predetermined volume of fluid has been drained. An automatic operating mode utilizes a microprocessor, which can be preprogrammed to respond to various patient and operating conditions. The method proceeds through several phases with different components in place and different patient interface functions occurring in each.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for treating closed wounds and incisions, and in particular to a system and method for draining and/or irrigating tissue separations, such as surgical incisions, and for compressing and stabilizing a dissected or traumatized field with ambient air pressure created by an external patient interface component and a vacuum source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tissue separations can result from surgical procedures and other causes, such as traumatic and chronic wounds. Various medical procedures are employed to close tissue separations. An important consideration relates to securing separate tissue portions together in order to promote closure and healing. Incisions and wounds can be closed with sutures, staples and other medical closure devices. The "first intention" (primary intention healing) in surgery is to "close" the incision. For load-bearing tissues, such as bone, fascia, and muscle, this requires substantial material, be it suture material, staples, or plates and screws. For the wound to be "closed," the epithelial layer must seal. To accomplish this, the "load bearing" areas of the cutaneous and subcutaneous layers (i.e., the deep dermal elastic layer and the superficial fascia or fibrous layers of the adipose tissue, respectively) must also at least be held in approximation long enough for collagen deposition to take place to unite the separated parts.
Other important considerations include controlling bleeding, reducing scarring, eliminating the potential of hematoma, seroma, and "dead-space" formation and managing pain. Dead space problems are more apt to occur in the subcutaneous closure. Relatively shallow incisions can normally be closed with surface-applied closure techniques, such as sutures, staples, glues and adhesive tape strips. However, deeper incisions may well require not only skin surface closure, but also time-consuming placement of multiple layers of sutures in the load-bearing planes.
Infection prevention is another important consideration. Localized treatments include various antibiotics and dressings, which control or prevent bacteria at the incision or wound site. Infections can also be treated and controlled systemically with suitable antibiotics and other pharmacologics.
Other tissue-separation treatment objectives include minimizing the traumatic and scarring effects of surgery and minimizing edema. Accordingly, various closure techniques, postoperative procedures and pharmacologics are used to reduce postoperative swelling, bleeding, seroma, infection and other undesirable, postoperative side effects. Because separated tissue considerations are so prevalent in the medical field, including most surgeries, effective, expedient, infection-free and aesthetic tissue closure is highly desirable from the standpoint of both patients and health-care practitioners. The system, interface and method of the present invention can thus be widely practiced and potentially provide widespread benefits to many patients.
Fluid control considerations are typically involved in treating tissue separations. For example, subcutaneous bleeding occurs at the fascia and muscle layers in surgical incisions. Accordingly, deep drain tubes are commonly installed for the purpose of draining such incisions. Autotransfusion has experienced increasing popularity in recent years as equipment and techniques for reinfusing patients' whole blood have advanced considerably. Such procedures have the advantage of reducing dependence on blood donations and their inherent risks. Serous fluids are also-typically exuded from incision and wound sites and require drainage and disposal. Fresh incisions and wounds typically exude blood and other fluids at the patient's skin surface for several days during initial healing, particularly along the stitch and staple lines along which the separated tissue portions are closed.
Another area of fluid control relates to irrigation. Various irrigants are supplied to separated tissue areas for countering infection, anesthetizing, introducing growth factors and otherwise promoting healing. An effective fluid control system preferably accommodates both draining and irrigating functions sequentially or simultaneously.
Common orthopedic surgical procedures include total joint replacements (TJRs) of the hip, knee, elbow, shoulder, foot and other joints. The resulting tissue separations are often subjected to flexure and movement associated with the articulation of the replacement joints. Although the joints can be immobilized as a treatment option, atrophy and stiffness tend to set in and prolong the rehabilitation period. A better option is to restore joint functions as soon as possible. Thus, an important objective of orthopedic surgery relates to promptly restoring to patients the maximum use of their limbs with maximum ranges of movement.
Similar considerations arise in connection with various other medical procedures. For example, arthrotomy, reconstructive and cosmetic procedures, including flaps and scar revisions, also require tissue closures and are often subjected to movement and stretching. Other examples include incisions and wounds in areas of thick or unstable subcutaneous tissue, where splinting of skin and subcutaneous tissue might reduce dehiscence of deep sutures. The demands of mobilizing the extremity and the entire patient conflict with the restrictions of currently available methods of external compression and tissue stabilization. For example, various types of bandage wraps and compressive hosiery are commonly used for these purposes, but none provides the advantages and benefits of the present invention
The aforementioned procedures, as well as a number of other applications discussed below, can benefit from a tissue-closure treatment system and method with a surface-applied patient interface for fluid control and external compression.
Postoperative fluid drainage can be accomplished with various combinations of tubes, sponges, and porous materials adapted for gathering and draining bodily fluids. The prior art includes technologies and methodologies for assisting drainage. For example, the Zamierowski U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,969,880; 5,100,396; 5,261,893; 5,527,293; and 6,071,267 disclose the use of pressure gradients, i.e., vacuum and positive pressure, to assist with fluid drainage from wounds, including surgical incision sites. Such pressure gradients can be established by applying porous sponge material either internally or externally to a wound, covering same with a permeable, semi-permeable, or impervious membrane, and connecting a suction vacuum source thereto. Fluid drawn from the patient is collected for disposal. Such fluid control methodologies have been shown to achieve significant improvements in patient healing. Another aspect of fluid management, postoperative and otherwise, relates to the application of fluids to wound sites for purposes of irrigation, infection control, pain control, growth factor application, etc. Wound drainage devices are also used to achieve fixation and immobility of the tissues, thus aiding healing and closure. This can be accomplished by both internal closed wound drainage and external, open-wound vacuum devices applied to the wound surface. Fixation of tissues in apposition can also be achieved by bolus tie-over dressings (Stent dressings), taping, strapping and (contact) casting.
Heretofore there has not been available a tissue closure system, patient interface and method with the advantages and features of the present invention.

Tissue closure treatment system and method with externally-applied patient interface


A method of manufacturing a high-power fiber laser by forming a first assembly of fiber optic components on a common first fiber; forming a second assembly of other fiber optic components on a common second fiber; forming a further fiber optic component on a third optical fiber; connecting the first fiber to the third optical fiber by a first splice to fix the first assembly of fiber optic components to the further fiber optic component; and connecting the third optical fiber to the second fiber by a second splice to fix the second assembly of fiber optic components to the further fiber optic component.

The prevalence of fiber lasers in the medical, military and industrial fields has increased the overall demand for high-power fiber lasers. As the number of fiber lasers needed by various industries increases, the manufacturers of fiber lasers requires improved techniques to efficiently manufacturing such high-power fiber lasers to meet the increasing demand.
A number of fiber lasers are known in the prior art, for example U.S. Pat. No. 9,360,625 B2, International Pub. No. WO 2015/102697 A2 and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2016/0099538 A1. Also known in the prior art are methods and devices for splicing optical fibers such as, for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,754.
A typical prior art laser is illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises of a number of individual fiber based components. In the illustrated example, the assembled fiber laser 2 comprises six individual components which are all coupled to one another in a desired configuration and arrangement. The components are arranged, from a pump end 4 of the fiber laser 2 to a terminus end 6 thereof, in the following order: a laser diode module 10, a high-reflector fiber Bragg grating 12, a rare-earth doped fiber 14; a partial-reflector fiber Bragg grating 16, a cladding mode stripper 18 and a fiber cable connector 19. As each of these components as well as their associated purpose and functions are generally well known in the art, further details concerning the same are not provided or believed be necessary.
As is conventional art, these components are manufactured or fabricated individually, i.e., independent of one another. Laser diode modules can include injection laser diodes and optically pumped semiconductor lasers. These diode modules are electrically or optically pumped semiconductor lasers that can control the flow of electrical or light energy, convert the electrical energy to light and amplify or increase the light energy before emitting the light energy via an un-doped passive optical fiber.
A fiber Bragg grating is typically fabricated by optically machining an un-doped passive optical fiber. This optically machining procedure involves illuminating the core material of the fiber, which in turn induces some structural changes in the fiber and thus modifies the refractive index of the fiber. Fiber Bragg gratings are used to alter input light in the optical fiber by reflecting/refracting differing ranges of wavelengths of the input light. For example, a high-reflector fiber Bragg grating allows for a greater amount, e.g., 99% of the input light to pass through the high-reflector fiber Bragg grating, i.e., only a small percentage of the wavelengths of the input light are prevented from passing through a high-reflector Bragg grating. In contrast, a partial-reflector fiber Bragg grating allows a smaller amount, e.g., 80% of the input light, to pass through the partial-reflector fiber Bragg grating. A partial-reflector fiber Bragg grating increases percentage of the wavelengths of the input light that are prevented from passing through the partial-reflector fiber Bragg grating.
Rare-earth doped fibers are formed from un-doped passive optical fiber which are doped with laser-active rare earth ions such as neodymium, ytterbium, erbium and thulium to name a few. These ions absorb light which excites them into metastable levels. This facilitates amplification of the light, which was input into the doped fiber, by stimulated emission.
Generally the term cladding mode stripper refers to conventional methods and means which cause light propagating in the cladding (i.e., not the core in which waveguide modes are desired) to propagate out of the cladding. To achieve this, the cladding mode stripper absorbs or redirects the stripped light. Cladding mode strippers in high-power fiber amplifiers are made from a double-clad fiber. The differences in the properties or characteristics of the core and the clads of the fiber facilitate the redirection and adsorption of stripped light.
Fiber connectors are generally used as the terminations of optical fiber cables and provide nonpermanent connections between fiber-coupled devices. Fiber connectors generally include a floating ferrule, into which an un-doped fiber is inserted.
The above described components are each either conventionally coupled to or formed with distinct individual fibers. That is, the laser diode module 10 is formed with optical fiber 20. In addition, the high-reflector fiber Bragg grating 12 is also conventionally formed with another optical fiber 22. Further, the rare-earth doped fiber 14 is formed with a still further fiber 24. Next, the partial-reflector fiber Bragg grating 16 is conventionally formed with an optical fiber 26. The cladding mode stripper 18 is then formed with still another optical fiber 28. Lastly, the fiber cable connector 19 is formed with a further fiber 29. These components are formed with or utilize the same type of optical fiber at the start of their production. The individual fibers used in the fabrication of the different components are typically double-clad, passive optical fibers which have a polymer cladding that provides a multimode waveguide for the pump energy.
In order to assemble the fiber laser 2 illustrated in FIG. 1, a fiber end of a first component to a fiber end of an adjacent second component and then splicing a fiber end of a third component to the opposite fiber end of the second component and so on until all the components are spliced together end to end in the desired order. The fiber ends of the components are spliced together by means of fusion splices. The process of fusion splicing the ends of the fibers of two adjacent components generally includes the steps of: stripping the fibers, cleaning the fibers, cleaving the fibers, splicing the fibers, testing the connection and protecting the connection.
In more detail, the splicing process begins by preparing the fiber ends of at least two components to be fused together. This requires that all of the protective coatings on the ends of the fibers of the at least two components be removed or rather stripped. Then the bare fiber ends are cleaned with an alcohol and wipes, being careful to ensure that moisture is not attracted to the bare fiber ends. Subsequently, the bare fiber ends are cleaved, using a "score-and-break" method to ensure that the faces of the fiber ends are perfectly flat and perpendicular to the axis of the fibers. Then, the two cleaved fibers are automatically aligned in the x, y, z planes by means of a fusion splicer so that, depending on the fusion splicer being utilized, the cores or the cladding of the fibers are aligned. Once aligned, the fiber ends of the adjacent components are heated and melted by a heating element and then fused together so as to connect the fibers end to end. The splices are then evaluated for example to ensure that the completed splice is strong enough to withstand damage during shipping, handling and extended use. Finally, the bare area of the fused fibers is protected by re-coating the area of the fibers with something such as a heat shrinkable membrane.
Although, splicing is an acceptable means for coupling the fibers of different components, it is recognized that connections of fibers that are made by fusion splicing have a number of potential drawbacks.
It is known for example that, if the surface of the fiber at or near the splice becomes compromised in any manner, the mechanical strength of the splice and its surroundings may be below that of the normal bare fiber. Such damage can include surface scratches which can be caused during the removal of the protective coating at the ends of the fiber. Damage can also be caused after splicing such as during the later application of a protective coating. In addition, faulty fusion splicing of fibers is known to negatively impact the transmission of light energy through fiber lasers thus reducing the effectiveness, efficiency and durability of the components and thus the fiber laser. Further, equipment for fusion splicing is fairly expensive, and may require extensive training.
Fiberoptic devices and systems ubiquitously employ fused splices to join fibers. As noted, each splice presents opportunities for optical and mechanical degradation of the device. Additionally, every splice takes time, equipment and resources to execute and packaging strategies that account for service loops and splice placement. The quality, cost and size of fiberoptic devices can also depend heavily on the total number of splices in the device. In FIG. 1 each splice is represented by an individual circle which connects the fibers of two adjacent components. The fiber laser 2 comprises six different components each having their own fiber. The fiber laser 2 thus requires a total of five splices 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 to connect the laser diode module 10, the high-reflector fiber Bragg grating 12, the rare-earth doped fiber 14; the partial-reflector fiber Bragg grating 16, the cladding mode stripper 18, and fiber cable connector 19. There is a strong motivation to reduce the number of splices required to fully assemble the fiber laser 2, as this would increase product quality and reliability and significantly reduce manufacturing costs. Considering the generally high cost of laser materials (mainly doped gain media and pump energy sources) it is advantageous to minimize touch labor on those materials so as to mitigate labor-based and poor-product-quality costs. For high-power fiber lasers, eliminating optical interfaces such as those caused by splices is critical as splices are sources for degradation in reliability, decreased performance and increased manufacturing costs.

Method for high-rate fiber laser manufacturing

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


Method and apparatus for detecting abnormal regions such as masses and microcalcifications in living tissue depicted in radiographs such as mammograms is presented by digitizing the radiograph to produce a digitized radiograph, and, by computer, identifying, according to predetermined criteria, any suspected abnormal regions; and for each identified suspected abnormal region, extracting multiple topographic layers of the region from the digitized radiograph; and evaluating the extracted multiple topographic layers' abnormal regions to determine whether the region is an abnormal region; and displaying the abnormal regions in a version of the radiograph. Layers are extracted by thresholding the digital radiograph at a particular threshold value for each topographic layer. The threshold value for each other layer is based on the threshold and contrast values in a previous layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to detection of abnormal anatomical regions in radiographs, and, more particularly, to the detection of masses and microcalcifications in digital mammograms.
2. Background
Detection and diagnosis of abnormal anatomical regions in radiographs, such as masses and microcalcifications in womens' breast radiographs, so-called mammograms, are among the most important and difficult tasks performed by radiologists.
Microcalcifications are small-sized (25 micrometers to a few millimeters) calceous formations.
Breast cancer is a leading cause of premature death in women over forty years old. There is a great deal of evidence to show that early detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer significantly improves the chances of survival, reducing breast cancer morbidity and mortality. Many methods for early detection of breast cancer have been studied and tested, among them mammography. To date X-ray mammography has proven the most effective means of providing useful information to diagnosticians regarding abnormal features in the breast and potential risks of developing breast cancer (Detection of Breast Cancer, Strax, P. Cancer 1990, Vol. 66, pp. 1336-1340). The American Cancer Society currently recommends the use of mammography for screening of asymptomatic women over the age of forty with annual examinations after the age of fifty. Mammography will eventually constitute one of the highest volume X-ray procedures routinely interpreted by radiologists.
Between thirty and fifty percent of breast carcinomas detected radiographically demonstrate microcalcifications on mammograms, and between sixty and eighty percent of breast carcinomas reveal microcalcifications upon microscopic examination. Therefore, any increase in the detection of microcalcifications by mammography may lead to further improvements in its efficiency in the detection of early breast cancer.
Currently acceptable standards of clinical care are that biopsies are performed on five to ten women for each cancer removed. With this high biopsy rate is the reasonable assurance that most mammographically detectable early carcinomas will be resected. Given the large amount of overlap between the characteristics of benign and malignant lesions on mammograms, computer-aided detection of abnormalities will have a great impact in clinical care.
At present, mammogram readings are performed visually by mammograplnic experts, that is, physicians and radiologists. Unfortunately, visual reading of mammograms has two major disadvantages. First, it is often possible to miss the breast cancer in its early stages. This is because, unlike many other cancers, there is as yet no way to detect premalignant changes in the breast. This results partly from the relative inaccessibility of breast tissue. A second disadvantage of visual reading of mammograms is that these readings are both labor intensive and time consuming. Multiple readings of a single mammogram may be necessary in order to increase the reliability of the diagnosis.
Therefore, it would be advantageous and useful to have computer-assisted or aided detection (CAD) systems to help radiologists and physicians obtain quicker and more precise results when analyzing mammograms. Such CAD systems would aid in cancer detection and improve the efficiency of large-scale screening.
Various computer assisted detection systems have been investigated to assist diagnosticians in their diagnosis of breast cancer. While some of these systems tend to be overly conservative, thereby having a higher false-positive detection ratio, studies show that computer assisted detection systems can provide a useful "second opinion" to diagnosticians, and, under the help and guidance of computer assisted detection systems, the accuracy of diagnosis of mammography has improved.
Systems that alert a diagnostician to the location of possible breast masses and microcalcifications should reduce the number of false positive and false negative diagnoses, which, in turn, should lead to earlier detection of primary breast cancers and a better prognosis for the patients.
A mass shown in a mammogram is a very important sign in the diagnosis of breast cancer, and therefore, computerized detection of masses in digitized mammograms is basic to any computer assisted detection system. However, because masses in digitized mammograms demonstrate a large variation in their image features and because they can be obscured by normal breast parenchyma in the mammogram, the computer assisted detection of masses in mammograms is very difficult.
A typical system of computerized mass detection in mammograms involves two steps (or stages), namely image segmentation and image feature analysis. Some computer assisted detection systems use single-image segmentation in their first or image segmentation stage in order to search for suspicious regions of masses by analyzing a single input image (see, for example, An approach to automated detection of tumors in mammograms, Brzakovic, D., et al., IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging, Vol. 9(3), pp. 233-241, 1990; and On techniques for detecting circumscribed masses in mammograms, Lai, S. M., et al. IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging, Vol. 8, pp. 377-386, 1989). Other computer assisted detection systems use bilateral-image subtraction in their first or segmentation stage in order to select possible mass regions based on the asymmetry in left and right image pairs (see, for example, Investigation of methods for the computerized detection and analysis of mammographic masses, Giger, M. L., et al., Proc. SPIE, 1233, pp. 183-184, 1990; and Computerized detection of masses in digital mammograms: analysis of bilateral subtraction images, Yin, F. F., et al., Med. Phys., Vol. 18, pp. 955-983, 1991) .
Having performed image segmentation in order to obtain an over-inclusive list of suspected regions in the input image, different feature analyses are then applied to the image in the suspected regions in order to distinguish positive or negative masses (see, for example, Computerized detection of masses in digital mammograms: investigation of feature-analysis techniques, Yin, F. F., et al., J. of Digital Imaging, Vol. 7, pp. 218-237, 1994).
A single-image segmentation technique uses a local thresholding algorithm to process the image, and as a result, it usually selects more suspicious areas than a bilateral-image subtraction technique. Without an effective method of feature analysis in the second stage, however, the computer assisted detection system will produce a high rate of false-positive detection. Thus, using single-image segmentation, current techniques are usually limited to detect particular types of masses, namely those which show certain well defined characteristics, such as uniform density inside an area, an approximately circular shape of varying size, and fuzzy edges (see Automated detection and classification of breast tumors, Ng, S. L., et al., Computers & Biomedical Research, Vol. 25, pp. 218-237, 1992; and Computer detection of stellate lesions in mammograms, Kegelmeyer, W. P., Proc. SPIE, 1660, pp. 446-454, 1992).
Techniques of alignment and subtraction of bilateral-images reduce the number of possible mass regions selected in the first stage of a computer assisted detection. Computer assisted detection systems using bilateral-image subtraction have been tested to detect wide varieties of mass in digitized mammograms. (Yin, et al., Comparison of bilateral-subtraction and single-image processing techniques in the computerized detection of mammographic masses, Invest. Radiol., Vol. 6, pp. 473-481, 1993), show that because bilateral-image subtraction uses asymmetry in the left-right image pair, it produces better results than single-image segmentation in computerized mass detection systems. However, bilateral-image subtraction has drawbacks, including that a left-right image pair of mammograms is not always available. Further, even when a pair of mammograms is available, it is sometimes difficult to align the images in them. Alignment involves matching angles, positions, size, etc.
Microcalcifications are ideal targets for computer-aided detection schemes because of their clinical relevance, their potential subtlety, and, until reaching the actual noise level in the image, the lack of coexisting normal structures with similar appearance (Vyborny, C. J., et al. Computer vision and artificial intelligence in mammography, AJR 1994; 162:699-708.). Several CAD methods have been developed to detect clustered microcalcifications. The first step of these methods is to segment possible microcalcifications within the image from the normal tissue and image noise. Different methods, such as image-subtraction (Chan, H. P., et al., Image feature analysis and computer-aided diagnosis in digital radiography: 1. Automated detection of microcalcifications in mammography, Med. Phys 1987; 14:538-548; and Chan, H. P. et al, Computer-aided detection of microcalcifications in mammograms: methodology and preliminary clinical study, Invest Radiol 1988; 23:664-671), local area thresholding (Davies, D. H., et al., Automatic computer detection of clustered calcifications in digital mammograms, Phys Med Biol, 1990; 35:1111-1118; and Davies, D. H., et al. The automatic computer detection of subtle calcifications in radiographically dense breasts, Phys Med Biol, 1992; 37:1385-1390), and pixel-based feature testing (Fam, B. W., et al., Algorithm for the detection of fine clustered calcifications on film mammograms, Radiology, 1988; 169:333-337) are used for this purpose. If segmentation is implemented with high sensitivity (i.e., to include as many true microcalcifications as possible), most approaches routinely yield a large number of suspected microcalcifications. Therefore, a feature analysis method is followed to classify actual positive or negative detection. Many features, such as area, mean gray level, gray level deviation, contrast, shape factor, and edge strength (Shen, L., et al., Application of shape analysis to mammographic calcifications, IEEE Trans. Imaging, 1994; 13:263-274.11; Zhao, D., Rule-based morphological feature extraction of microcalcifications in mammograms, Proc. SPIE, 1993; 1905:702-715; and Woods, K.S., et al., Comparative evaluation of pattern recognition techniques for detection of microcalcifications, Proc. SPIE, 1993; 1905:841-852) have been used for this feature analysis, with varying degrees of success.
The difficulty in attaining simultaneously both high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of clustered microcalcifications needed to be clinically useful has attracted a significant research effort.
Some research has focused on yielding high sensitivity by increasing the quality of digitization (Chan, H. P., Digitization requirements in mammography: Effects on computer-aided detection of microcalcifications, Med. Phys., 1994; 21:1203-1210). Other research has focused on reducing the rate of false-positive detection, through the use of morphological filters (Nishikawa, R. M., et al., Use of morphological filters in the computerized detection of microcalcifications in digital mammograms, (abstr), Med. Phys. 1990; 17:524), different clustering methods (Nishikawa, R. M., et al., Computer-aided detection of clustered microcalcifications: An improved method for grouping detected signals, Med. Phys. 1993; 20(6):1661-1666), and artificial neural networks (Stafford, R. G., et al., Application of neural networks to computer-aided pathology detection in mammography, Proc. SPIE, 1993; 1896:341-352; Wu, Y., et al., Computerized detection of clustered microcalcifications in digital mammograms: Applications of artificial neural networks, Med. Phys. 1992; 19:555-560; and Zhang, W., et al. Computerized detection of clustered microcalcifications in digital mammograms using a shift-invariant artificial neural network, Med. Phys., 1994; 21:517-524). Using these techniques, the false positive detection rate can be reduced to below 1.5 clusters per image in limited image sets (Nishikawa, R. M., et al., Computer-aided detection and diagnosis of masses and clustered microcalcifications from digital mammograms, Proc. SPIE, 1993; 1905:422-432).
To date, research in computerized detection systems for masses and microcalcifications in digital mammograms has largely been based on thresholdling methods or neural networks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,550 uses neural networks as an aid in medical diagnosis and general anomaly detection.
Doi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,156, uses varying threshold levels to detect nodules for enhancement and detection of abnormal anatomic regions in a digital image. The difficulties of detection of such regions is noted by Doi, who states that "several investigators have attempted to analyze mammographic abnormalities with digital computers. However, the known-studies failed to achieve an accuracy acceptable for clinical practice." (Col. 2, lines 24-27) U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,374 discloses a method and system for analysis of false positive produced by the system of Doi '156 to reduce the false positive found by the latter system.
Giger et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,020, uses a thresholding technique to locate abnormal regions in a digital image of a radiograph, and then uses classification processing to determine whether the detected abnormal region is benign or malignant. Giger's classification is based on the degree of spiculation of the identified abnormal regions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,549 uses texture analysis on a number of small regions of interest in order to determine a classification of normal or abnormal of a patient's lungs.
Doi, U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,390, discloses a method and system for automated selected of regions of interest and detection of septal lines in digital chest radiographs. Doi uses a large number of adjacent regions of interest selected corresponding to an area on a digital image of a patients lungs. The regions of interest each contain a number of square or rectangular pixel arrays and are selected to sequentially fill in the total selected area of the lungs to be analyzed. The regions of interest are analyzed to determine those exhibiting sharp edges, that is, high edge gradients. A percentage of the sharp edge regions of interest are removed from the original sample based on the edge gradient analysis, the majority of which correspond to rib edge containing regions of interest. After removal of the sharp edge regions of interest, texture measurements are taken on the remaining sample in order to compare such data with predetermined for normal and abnormal lungs.
The above methods and systems have various disadvantages and deficiencies, including that they use absolute measurements only, they are not as robust as image quality variations, and either their sensitivity is too low or they tend to result in too many false positives.
Although a computer assisted detection system using bilateral-image subtraction can improve the performance of detection by reducing the rate of false-positive detections, its sensitivity and versatility is also decreased. These inventors' studies have found that improved methods of single-image segmentation can achieve a higher detection sensitivity and will be more versatile in future clinical applications. Unfortunately, because of the lack of effective methods of feature analysis, many computer assisted detection systems using single-image segmentation have high rates of false-positive detection if they select more suspicious mass regions.
It is therefore useful and necessary to balance the high detection sensitivity of computer assisted detection systems with true-positive and low rates of false-positive detection.

Computerized detection of masses and microcalcifications in digital mammograms


The invention relates to a makeup box or the like comprising a body housing a supply of substance, a lid, and a sealing member having a deformable lip extending around the supply of substance when the box is closed, one of the lid and the body of the box bearing against said sealing member when the box is closed. The sealing member is secured to a support piece fitted on the other one of the body of the box and the lid, and extending at least in part beneath said deformable sealing lip.

Numerous boxes of this type are known.
In particular U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,144,167 and 5,186,318 disclose boxes each having a sealing lip integrally formed with a cup containing the supply of substance, said lip extending away from the cup and the body of the box and then being curved at its periphery towards the body of the box so as to bear thereagainst.
There exists a need to further improve the hermetic sealing of makeup boxes in order to prevent solvents contained in the substance from evaporating, but without the means used for obtaining the looked-for sealing spoiling the appearance of the box or making it too expensive to manufacture.

Makeup box having a sealing member held by a support piece


A system for automatically establishing a network. The system includes a main device group including a main wireless transceiver device, a control device and a first network interface and a secondary device group including a secondary wireless transceiver device, a secondary device group slave device and a second network interface. The main wireless transceiver device wirelessly communicating with the secondary wireless transceiver device to instruct the main device group and the secondary device group to form a network wherein the control device communicates with the secondary device group slave device over the first network interface and the second network interface, respectively. The control device wirelessly controls functions of the secondary device group slave device with instructions sent over the network. The main wireless transceiver device only wirelessly communicates with the secondary wireless transceiver device when the main wireless transceiver device and the secondary wireless transceiver device are in a location.

Surgeons use many devices to help them during operative procedures. Currently, surgeons or other people in the operative theater have had to connect all cooperating devices by wiring the devices together or actively setting up a wireless network for each device in the operative theater before surgery. An easier method of networking devices in an operative theater is desired.

Method of wireless discovery and networking of medical devices in care environments


A fixing device including an endless fixing belt; a pressure member that presses the fixing belt toward the fixing nip portion from the inner circumferential surface side of the fixing belt; and a sliding sheet that covers the pressure member and extends outside the pressure member in the longitudinal direction thereof wherein a surface other than an opposed surface opposed to the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt is cut out.

The present invention relates to a fixing device for heating and pressing a sheet with a toner image, and fixing the toner image onto the sheet, especially to a fixing device using a fixing belt and an image forming apparatus provided with the aforementioned fixing device.
In the conventional art, as the fixing device used in the image forming apparatus using electrophotographic process in a photocopier, printer, fax machine, and multifunction machine provided with the functions thereof, the fixing device of heating roller system (also referred to as a heat-fixing roller system) has been employed over an extensive range from low-speed to high-speed machines as well as from monochromatic to color machines. In the fixing device of heating roller system, heat and pressure are applied to the transfer material with an unfixed toner image formed thereon, by a fixing nip portion made up of a heating roller kept at a predetermined temperature, and a pressure roller having an elastic layer and being pressed against the heating roller, while the transfer material is sandwiched and conveyed thereby.
Widening the fixing nip portion is required to heat toner efficiently on the sheet surface by the demand for colorization and speedup in late years. In this case, viewing the constitution of the aforementioned fixing device of a heat roller system, a means for enlarging the diameters of the two rollers or increasing the pressurizing force between the rollers, thereby increasing the crush (distortion) amount of the rollers would be considered to widen the nip portion. However, when such a method is employed, there may arise a problem with respect to the enlargement of the size of the fixing device and the reduction in durability of the fixing device and the degree of freedom of design conditions is low.
As a method for solving this problem, a fixing device of a belt nip system having an rotating endless fixing belt driven by a roller and a pressing pad fixed on the inner circumferential surface side of the fixing belt and pressing the fixing belt toward the heating roller by the pressing pad has been adopted in recent years. In the fixing device of a belt nip system, from the viewpoint of its constitution, the width of fixing nip portion can be set to be wider than in the heating roller system without growing in size.
The fixing device of nip belt system is designed in such a way that the fixing belt is pressed against the heating roller by means of a pressing member. Accordingly, if there is a great friction between the inner surface of the fixing belt and the pressure member, traveling of the fixing belt is blocked, and this will cause image misregistration or sheet wrinkles.
In an attempt to solve such problems, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-148970 discloses a fixing device to prevent image misregistration from occurring, wherein the aforementioned fixing device is provided with a sheet-shaped member to cover the pressure member for the purpose of reducing the drag of friction with the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt, and large irregularities are formed on the surface of the sheet-shaped member.
In the fixing device disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-148970, however, as a result of repeated use thereof, a lubricant coated on the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt or a releasing agent coated on the surface of the heating roller spreads inside the sliding sheet from the end part thereof, and sticks to the pressure pad covered by the sliding sheet. If the oil of the releasing agent or others sticks to the pressure pad, the pressure pad is subjected to swelling deformation, and the anticipated functions cannot be performed. This problem has been left unsolved in the conventional art.
To solve the aforementioned problem, the fixing device disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-79183 provides an outer extension of the sliding sheet. The end parts thereof are located outside the end parts of the fixing roller and fixing belt to ensure that the releasing agent does not easily spread inside the sliding sheet.
However, the addition of the aforementioned extension causes the sliding sheet to be longer than the fixing belt. Friction between the sliding sheet and the end part of the fixing belt accelerates the abrasion of the sliding sheet, with the result that the sheet tends to break more easily.
An object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems and to provide a fixing device using a fixing belt that ensures that the sliding sheet covering the pressure member which presses the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt is not broken by friction with the end parts of the fixing belt.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


In an organic photoconductor for electrophotography, improved adhesiveness is realized between a substrate that contains a crosslinked polyphenylene sulfide as its main component and an organic photoconductor layer on the substrate. The substrate is cylindrical and conductive. With A denoting the thermal expansion coefficient of the substrate and B denoting the thermal expansion coefficient of the organic photoconductor layer, the improvement is realized when 1/2.gtoreq.A/B.gtoreq. 1/4.

Organic photoconductors, used in electrophotographic apparatuses such as copying machines or printers employing electrophotographic techniques, conventionally comprise a conductive substrate and an organic photoconductive layer laminated on the conductive substrate. The photoconductive layer is made of organic materials including an organic photoconductive material. The conductive substrate is usually cylindrical due to design specifications of the electrophotographic apparatuses. The photoconductive layer, a thin film that contains an organic photoconductive material, is formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical substrate.
Aluminum or aluminum alloys which are light in weight and which have excellent machinability have been widely used as substrate materials. However, it is necessary to machine with high precision the outer surface of each cylindrical aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to meet the dimensional specifications (circularity: .+-.50 .mu.m or less, diameter: .+-.40 .mu.m or less) and to realize the preferred surface roughness (0.5 to 1.2 .mu.m for the maximum height R.sub.MAX). It is also necessary to insert a flange for precise rotation in forming a photoconductor layer by layer. And since the surface of an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate is susceptible to oxidation or transformation by atmospheric oxygen or moisture, countermeasures are necessary such as providing the substrate surface with a protective anodized oxide film. Thus, aluminum or aluminum alloy substrates have been manufactured through many manufacturing steps and at high manufacturing cost.
Japanese Patent Document No. H02-17026 discloses a cylindrical substrate that is lighter in weight, chemically and thermally highly resistant, neither oxidized nor deformed in air, and suitable for organic photoconductors. The cylindrical substrate is manufactured by injection molding of materials including a polyphenylene sulfide resin (hereinafter referred to as "PPS resin").
With a volume resistivity of pure PPS resin of 10.sup.14 to 10.sup.16 .OMEGA..multidot.cm, electrical conductivity of such a substrate is too low for the photoconductor to be viable in electrophotography. For obtaining images or prints clear enough for practical use, the volume resistivity of the substrate should be less than 10.sup.4 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. A volume resistivity exceeding 10.sup.5 .OMEGA..multidot.cm hinders the electric charges from transferring to the substrate during light exposure or discharge and raises the remanent potential. Thus, the high volume resistivity of PPS resin makes it unsuitable for obtaining clear images or prints. Carbon black is added, for example, to provide the PPS resin with enhanced electrical conductivity. Since the volume resistivity of carbon black such as conductive furnace carbon is 10.sup.-1 to 10 .OMEGA..multidot.cm, it is necessary to add as much as 15 weight % carbon black to the PPS resin to reduce the volume resistivity of the substrate to 10.sup.4 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. However, the addition of carbon black has its limits, as large amounts of carbon black addition reduce the mechanical strength of the substrate. Moreover, it is difficult to attain the required dimensional substrate precision if the substrate is made of normal linear PPS resin which, as compared with crosslinked PPS, is deformed more easily by the solvent of a coating liquid or by heating.
Though the PPS resin substrate has excellent chemical resistivity as described above, the adhesiveness of the PPS resin substrate to the organic photoconductive layer formed thereon is low, which may result in peeling of the coated and dried photoconductive layer from the substrate. Moreover, peeling of the photoconductive layer from the substrate can be caused in practical use by repeated contact with other parts and components of the electrophotographic apparatus. Thus, the production efficiency of the PPS resin substrate is low and its product life is short.

Organic photoconductor with crosslinked polyphenylene sulfide support for electrophotography


A method of constructing an aviary structure is provided. The method includes steps of forming a foundation and coupling an internal support structure to the foundation. The internal support structure is coupled to the foundation at least in part by coupling a plurality of aviary cages to the foundation, coupling a plurality of peripheral columns to the foundation, and coupling the aviary cages with the peripheral columns using bracing. The method also includes steps of coupling at least one side wall to the peripheral columns, coupling the roof assembly to vertical support members of the aviary cages, and coupling said external paneling to the side wall and the roof assembly.

Generally, aviaries are constructed as a building or enclosure having a plurality of cages positioned therein. With specific regard to cages used to house hens, the cages typically include nesting areas for the hens, as well as areas for the hens to move around, scratch and peck. Some modern aviaries also include means for automated egg collection. The building shields the hens from inclement weather, prevents the hens from wandering off and protects the hens from outside predators. As such, the building, or structure at least partially enclosing the cages, should be structurally sound and capable of effectively providing the necessary safety and protection for the hens.
Typically, an aviary is constructed by first pouring a concrete foundation. The building is then constructed and secured to this foundation by building walls and securing the walls to the concrete. A roof is then constructed and secured to the walls. After construction of the building is complete, the cages are constructed within the building. Unfortunately, this method of constructing the aviary is slow and costly. A need remains for a system and method for constructing an aviary that is faster and more efficient that conventional means.
The present disclosure is directed to such an endeavor.

Wrapped aviary construction system and method thereof


The present invention relates to solid pharmaceutical dosage forms suitable for use as drinking water medication. More in particular, the present invention provides solid pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising a pharmaceutically active agent, a non-ionic surfactant having an Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance (HLB) of at least 8, and a maltodextrin. The present invention also provides the use of such pharmaceutical dosage forms in veterinary medicine, more in particular as drinking water medication; as well as methods for preparing such pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Veterinary drugs can be administered to pigs, poultry and calves individually or as mass medication such as drinking water and feed medication. For the treatment of large groups of animals with antimicrobials and antiparasitic drugs, mass medication is preferred above parenteral administration as large numbers of animals can be medicated at the same time. Besides, other factors such as animal welfare and the avoiding of tissue damage and stress are important advantages.
Immediate therapeutical care for all diseased or endangered animals in the flock and a quick change of drug and/or dose are possible in case of drinking water medication compared to feed medication. Additionally, diseased animals tend to stop eating, while mostly they will continue drinking.
One of the problems frequently observed in feed medication is "carry-over" of the drug, which results in contamination of the unmedicated feed in the silo. This often leads to the disapproval of feed and even animals, when drugs concentrations above the maximal residue levels are found in the slaughterhouses. Another fact is that feed medication is often used prophylactically with the result that veterinary drugs are overused and the development of resistance occurs.
The main disadvantages of drinking water medication are the unprofessional use of medication and preparation of the solution or suspension by the farmer, the fact that drug uptake can vary dramatically in function of the animals and solubility and stability problems often occur in relation to the formulation. The drinking water medication needs to be physically and chemically stable over a sufficient period of time to allow a homogeneous dose administration and consequently an efficient therapy.
An important limitation for an application via drinking water is the low water solubility of many antimicrobials and antiparasitic drugs. Different mechanisms are described to improve water solubility of the drug such as complexation with cyclodextrins, production of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems, the use of phospholipid micro-emulsions and the formulation of solid solutions. However, these technologies cannot be applied for veterinary drug formulations as they are too expensive. Therefore there is a need for alternative preparation methods.
Compounds with a low water solubility are mainly formulated as liquids, such as dissolved in a valuable solvent, or provided as suspensions or emulsions. As a consequence, drugs are often low dosed in the formulation. Hence, and in order to obtain suitable dosing amounts, an important amount of liquid, containing large amounts of non-active ingredients (solvents, water) needs to be transported, which is very inefficient and expensive. Another disadvantage of liquid formulations is that they are often characterised by a limited stability. Therefore, the development of a solid formulation such as powders or granules to be redispersed in water is recommended.
Although solid formulations are known from the prior art, these often have the disadvantage of sedimentation after a certain period of time after application in the drinking water. Hence, a large amount of active ingredient is lost at the bottom of the drinking through.
For example WO2008000453 describes that aqueous slurries were prepared including a drug substance, maltodextrin and a surfactant, after which the mixtures were formulated by spray-drying these slurries. WO03074031 describes that maltodextrin with PEG400 and a drug are formed into solid granules (i.e. not a multiparticulate form).
However, it should be noted that the used maltodextrines in these publications have a low or medium DE (Dextrose Equivalent), i.e. being less than 10 (e.g. Novelose 330 has a DE of 5-7), while we discovered that maltodextrins having a DE of at least 10 are essential in the context of the present invention. As detailed in the examples, we have found that decreasing the DE value, results in an increased particle size of the multiparticulate formulations of the present invention, and thus an increased risk of sedimentation after suspension of the obtained particles.
Hence, we have now developed a novel production process for obtaining spray-dried solid pharmaceutical multiparticulate dosage forms that remain stable in drinking water or delivery systems for a long period of time. The present invention specifically relates to spray-dried pharmaceutical dosage forms, in contrast to freeze-dried pharmaceutical dosage forms such as for example disclosed in US20040228919 or WO2004078122. Evidently, freeze-drying and spray-drying are very different processes and compositions suitable for freezed-drying are not readibly suitable for spray-drying. The specific components of the formulations of the present invention are selected such that they render the formulations particularly suitable for spray-drying.
Key to the process of the present invention, and ultimately the new dosage form, is the combination of a non-ionic surfactant having an Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance (HLB) of at least 8 and a maltodextrin having a DE (Dextrose Equivalent) value of at least 10. Said production process consists of two parts. In a first part, the particle size of the compound is decreased to the low micrometer range (below 10 μm) by wet milling with addition of said non-ionic surfactant, to improve the wettability of the compound. Hence, it is also key to the process that a non-solubilized active ingredient is used, since solubilized active ingredients, such as for example used in WO2010081815, cannot be milled. In the second part, the obtained suspension is spray-dried in the presence of maltodextrin to obtain an easily dispersible powder that remains physically stable during the time of administration via drinking water. As such, the obtained formulation can also be used for administration via proportioners. In proportioners, more concentrated suspensions are prepared and because of the low water solubility of many compounds, the preparation of such concentrated suspensions is difficult. A proportioner takes a small amount of a concentrated drug formulation redispersed in water and introduces it into the drinking water line. A 1% proportioner means that 1% of the concentrated dispersion (e.g. 1 ml) is diluted with 99% of drinking water (e.g. 99 ml)

Solid pharmaceutical dosage form suitable for use as drinking water medication


A novel method for forming short channel MOS transistors is described. A hard mask stack is formed over a substrate. A first opening is formed through a top portion of the hard mask stack. Oxide spacers are formed on sidewalls of the first opening thereby forming a second opening smaller than the first opening. The second opening is filled with a polysilicon layer. Thereafter, the oxide spacers are removed. First ions are implanted into the substrate underlying the removed oxide spacers to form source/drain extensions. Then, the polysilicon layer is removed wherein the first opening remains and wherein the substrate is exposed in a channel region. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the channel region. The first opening is filled with a gate electrode material that is polished back to form a gate electrode. The hard mask stack is removed using the gate electrode as a mask. Second ions are implanted to form source/drain regions within the substrate adjacent to the gate electrode to complete the formation of a short channel MOS transistor in the fabrication of an integrated circuit device.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the fabrication of integrated circuit devices, and more particularly, to a method of forming short channel MOSFET transistors with source/drain extensions in the fabrication of integrated circuits.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In photolithography, various mask patterns distinguish between the parts that are to be etched and the parts that should remain. However, due to diffraction effects, the boundary regions of the mask pattern may not be well defined, especially when the line width of the mask patterns approaches that of the light wavelength. Therefore, as the gate width of semiconductor devices continues to be reduced, it is increasingly difficult to fabricate devices with dimensions of less than 0.1 micron by using conventional lithography methods. It is desired to find a method of forming short channel MOS transistors that will solve this problem.
A number of workers in the art have proposed trench type MOSFET fabrication methods. U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,106 to Evans et al discloses source/drain regions and gate of the same height where the gate is formed by a dummy gate replacement method. U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,146 to Gardner et al shows a trench etch process. U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,679 to Burns et al shows a damascene gate process. U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,670 to Shih et al teaches a short channel trench process to form a metal gate.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide an effective and very manufacturable method of forming a short channel MOSFET device.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method of forming short channel MOS transistors using existing lithographic technologies and mask sets.
Yet another object is to provide a method of forming short channel MOS transistors having an increased gate width.
A further object is to provide a method of forming short channel MOS transistors having an increased gate width using existing lithographic technologies and mask sets wherein the gate resistance is reduced.
A still further object is to provide a method of forming short channel MOS transistors having an increased gate width using existing lithographic technologies and mask sets wherein parasitic capacitance is reduced.
In accordance with the objects of this invention a novel method for forming short channel MOS transistors is achieved. A hard mask stack is formed over a substrate. A first opening is formed through a top portion of the hard mask stack. Oxide spacers are formed on sidewalls of the first opening thereby forming a second opening smaller than the first opening. The second opening is filled with a polysilicon layer. Thereafter, the oxide spacers are removed. First ions are implanted into the substrate underlying the removed oxide spacers to form source/drain extensions. Then, the polysilicon layer is removed wherein the first opening remains and wherein the substrate is exposed in a channel region. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the channel region. The first opening is filled with a gate electrode material that is polished back to form a gate electrode. The hard mask stack is removed using the gate electrode as a mask. Second ions are implanted to form source/drain regions within the substrate adjacent to the gate electrode to complete formation of a short channel MOS transistor in the fabrication of an integrated circuit device.

Method of fabricating short channel MOS transistors with source/drain extensions

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.


A controlled air intake apparatus for a furnace includes a substantially flat cover plate attached to and placed over the updraft opening of the flue and a generally rectangular housing attached over the air intake opening adjacent the burner region. The housing includes a first open side and opposite thereto a side including a plurality of apertures. The remaining sides of the housing are enclosed. The first plurality of apertures are disposed into two rows and the housing further includes a cover plate with a similar arrangement of apertures. The cover plate is slidably received by the housing and is movable by means of a solenoid between an aperture-closed orientation and an aperture-open orientation. The solenoid responds to the thermostat which also controls the furnace energizing and deenergizing such that when the furnace is turned on the cover plate is moved to a position wherein the first plurality of apertures are in alignment with the second plurality of apertures enabling the introduction of combustion air into the furnace. When the furnace is deenergized, the solenoid is also deenergized and a spring return feature brings the cover plate back into an orientation wherein the plate covers the apertures in the housing.

This invention relates in general to means and apparatus for controlling the air introduction into furnaces and in particular into gas furnaces which typically have a plurality of evenly spaced burners.
The design of heating units, such as gas furnaces, involves considerations of fuel efficiency, and operational economy. One objective is to obtain the maximum amount of heat from a volume of fuel and to efficiently conduct that heat to areas of the residence or building which are below the desired temperature. As the fuel is burned, heat is generated by the combustion process and by heat exchange means. This generated heat of combustion is transferred to clean heating air which then circulates through the building. The combustion gases and unburned particles of fuel exit from the furnace and from the building by means of an exhaust flue. The air for combustion enters by way of an open area in the lower region of the furnace adjacent the burner location. Typically, there are no restrictions on this open area and the incoming air establishes an entering velocity based upon pressure differentials created by the rising hot air from within. The flue typically includes an updraft opening at its lowermost end which enhances the "chimney effect" of the flue and allows a higher upward air velocity. This upward air flow increases the evacuation of exhaust fumes and unburned fuel particules from within the combustion chamber of the furnace.
While this foregoing description represents the typical gas furnace arrangement, a number of subtleties exist which may greatly influence fuel economy and overall operational efficiency. One factor involves the aspect of allowing the flue updraft opening to remain open at all times. When this is done any heat retained within the furnace after the furnace is turned off will exit more rapidly due to the updraft created. As this retained heat exits, the overall furnace temperature drops and when the furnace is restarted, a portion of the initial heat generated will be absorbed by the furnace itself rather than being directed to heating of the building. By providing some means to retain heat within the furnace longer, the heat generated by the fuel which is burned will be utilized more efficiently.
Another factor involves the introduction of the air into the burner area of the furnace. There are typically three or four burner locations which are somewhat evenly spaced apart and as air enters, this air is utilized for combustion in the immediate vicinity of the burners. However, a portion of the entering air which does not pass in close proximity to the burners will not be utilized for combustion and will travel somewhat directly through the combustion chamber and up the flue. This increased means flow rate of air which passes in and out through the furnace and is not utilized in any constructive way has a tendency to draw with it certain heated air. This heated air loss occurs before any effective heat transfer can be achieved and thus lowers the overall furnace efficiency. By controlling the amount of air which is introduced into the furnace such that the amount of air corresponds more optimally to just that amount needed for complete combustion, the flow of air through the furnace is reduced and the heat generated within the furnace is retained longer.
Another factor or consideration which finds a certain applicability to the present invention is that any medium which is being burned is burned more efficiently and more completely if the fuel is mixed more thoroughly with the combustion air. In order to enhance such mixing, a certain degree of air turbulence is desired as the air contacts the gas. With a single open area for air introduction into the burner region of the furnace, such air turbulence is not generated to a sufficient degree and consequently, this desirable mixing does not take place to an optimal degree. By the incorporation of a plurality of apertures or air inlet orifices, the turbulence of the incoming air can be increased and this in turn will create a mixing action of both the air and the gas thereby contributing to a more complete combustion and improved fuel utilization.
The following list of patents represent certain furnace controls and systems which have been conceived for a variety of purposes, yet none of the listed references provide the various means or structure to achieve those improvements which have been mentioned.
______________________________________ Patent No. Patentee ______________________________________ 4,155,699 Hansen 2,937,697 Johnston 4,021,187 Schulte et al. 3,999,710 Kemmerer 3,951,051 Dry ______________________________________
Hansen discloses a gas furnace concept which includes means for automatically closing the air inlet to the combustion chamber as well as the air inlet to the diverter air opening at the flue immediately after cessation of the main burner flame and also for opening both of the air inlets immediately prior to the ignition of the main burners.
Johnston discloses a furnace draft control which includes a parallel connection of two solenoids, one of which acts on an air inlet damper to the combustion chamber and the other of which acts on a similar damper arrangement associated with the flue. This arrangement, which is similar to Hansen, also results in simultaneous opening or closing of the two inlet locations.
Schulte et al. discloses a flue gate device which is operated by a solenoid whose energy comes from an outside source and this energy is controlled by the furnace burner control. The solenoid is deenergized when the furnace burner is energized and the solenoid is energized when the burner is deenergized thus enabling a fail-safe condition which enables the furnace to function completely free of the flue gate device.
Kemmerer discloses an auxiliary heating arrangement for a building which includes a solenoid-controlled damper subassembly.
Dry discloses a damper design which is operable by energizing or deenergizing an electrical circuit to open or close the damper for control of smoke ventilation in case of a fire.
These five references do not disclose permanently closing the updraft opening of the flue, a plurality of air inlet apertures adjacent the burner area of the furnace nor means to selectively open and close these apertures; all of which constitute improvements embodied within the present invention and which contribute to greater fuel efficiency and furnace economy. These advantages as well as others will be apparent from the descriptions which follow.

Controlled air intake apparatus for furnaces and the like


An apparatus for coding an input analog video signal to a digital code. The apparatus comprises an A/D converter for converting the input analog video signal to a first quantization code having a first number of bits, a class sorting circuit supplied with the first quantization code from the A/D converter, for effecting a class sorting process on a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked, based on the first quantization code corresponding to the pixel and the first quantization code corresponding to each of the pixels provided near the periphery of the pixel, and a quantizing circuit supplied with the first quantization code produced from the A/D converter and the result of class sorting by the class sorting means, for adaptively converting the first quantization code into a second quantization code having a second number of bits smaller than the first number of bits, based on the result of class sorting by the class sorting circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit for quantizing image data used for representing analog image data in the form of a digital quantization code having a predetermined number of bits.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a method for effecting A/D conversion on analog image data has heretofore been carried out in the following manner. That is, the range of values corresponding to the differences between the maximum values and the minimum values both selectable by respective pixels of an original image is divided according to the number of bits capable of being taken out as an output. Each of divided level ranges corresponding to the taken-out number of bits is represented in the form of a code using the corresponding number of bits. It is next decided to which level range the level of each pixel belongs. Further, a code indicative of the divided level range to which the level of each pixel belongs, is taken out as a digital output signal. In this case, as a decode level (decode representative level) of the code which represents each divided level range at the time that an D/A converting process is effected, a central value of each level range is used.
This method is equivalent to a method of minimizing quantization distortion developed in each pixel unit. When the level division is uniformly carried out, it is subjected to linear quantization. On the other hand, when the level division is uniformly made depending on the probability of development of a pixel level, it is subjected to nonlinear quantization. However, the norm of minimizing the quantization distortion developed in each pixel unit is applied even to either case as it is.
Since the above-described A/D converting method can minimize a quantization error developed for each pixel and provide a satisfactory S/N ratio, the analog level of the original pixel can be replaced with a decode representative level nearest to its analog level.
However, the A/D converting method has a problem in that although it is quantitatively satisfactory, visually remarkable deterioration is often developed in the restored or reproduced image. That is, this occurs because a human being sees or takes an image as a time variation (motion) in image or a spatial variation (details such as resolution, an outline or contour of an image, etc.) in image without taking the image as one pixel unit.
When such a variation that the level of an image signal abruptly rises and reaches a flat level occurs as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 6, for example, a decode signal at the time that the conventional A/D conversion for minimizing the quantization distortion for each pixel is effected is represented as indicated by a solid line b (corresponding to a line formed by connecting points indicated by black circles or dots to one another). Even in the case of a range FW indicative of the flat level, the signal is brought into a "jagged or notched" state and is not faithful to a visual variation.
Such notches give rise to deterioration in image when the reproduced image is seen with human eyes. When the notches are developed in a time direction, they are brought to so-called jerkiness. A so-called edge busyness appears at an edge portion extending in a spatial direction, whereas so-called mosquito noise is produced at a flat portion.
Thus, the conventional A/D converting apparatus has been designed uniformly based on the standard for minimizing the quantization distortion for each pixel and has been out of accord with a human visual characteristic. The more the number of bits increases, the more visual deterioration in image is made nonprominent. However, the conventional A/D converting apparatus has a problem in that since the quantized number of bits corresponding to an output signal is fixed, an increase in the quantized number of bits runs to waste and the efficiency of transmission is reduced in the case of such an image that the visual deterioration is not developed.
Even in the case of images which are in accord with the human visual characteristic, they are different in desired or favorite image quality from each other according to differences among individuals. Since the conventional A/D converting method can simply obtain the uniform image created under the standard for minimizing the quantization distortion for each pixel, as each reproduced or restored image, only a method of effecting adjustments such as contrast, tints, sharpness, etc. on a reproduced analog image signal was used to set each image to the desired quality of image.

Apparatus for effecting A/D conversion on image signal


Tailplanes and empennages for aircraft are disclosed. An exemplary tailplane disclosed includes a stabilizer having a fixed shape and an elevator movably secured to the stabilizer. The elevator is movable from a neutral position relative to the stabilizer. The stabilizer and the elevator define an airfoil cross-sectional shape having a positive camber when the elevator is in the neutral position. The positive camber of the airfoil cross-sectional shape may facilitate movement of the elevator during some flight conditions. Also disclosed are tailplanes having camber distributions that vary along the spans of the tailplanes.

A tailplane, also known as a horizontal stabilizer, is a relatively small lifting surface located on the tail (empennage) behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed-wing aircraft such as helicopters and gyroplanes. The tailplane typically provides stability and control. On many aircraft, the tailplane assembly consists of a fixed surface fitted with a hinged aft surface which is called an elevator. Most airliners and transport aircraft feature a slow-moving trimmable horizontal stabilizer which is combined with one or more independently-moving elevators. The elevators are controlled by the pilot or autopilot and primarily serve to change the aircraft's attitude, while the whole assembly is used to trim (maintaining horizontal static equilibrium) and stabilize the aircraft in the pitch axis.
Conventional tailplanes are typically designed to provide a desired aerodynamic performance during certain phases of flight such as during cruise for example. However, in some flight situations, the flow conditions around tailplanes can render the elevators difficult to use by requiring a large amount of force needed to move the elevators. On aircraft that do not have fly-by-wire systems or other forms of pilot-assist actuation of the elevators, the increased amount of force required to move the elevators under those conditions must be exerted by the pilot and can consequently increase pilot workload.
Improvement is therefore desirable.


A printhead includes a silicon substrate, a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, and a nozzle plate. The silicon substrate has a plurality of thermal elements and a main ink supply channel, each of the thermal elements being in a firing chamber of the first barrier layer and in fluid communications with the main ink supply channel through ink channels. The top of each ink firing elements is aligned with a nozzle on the nozzle plate. To satisfy the need for high-frequency ink ejection, the second barrier layer is utilized to provide an auxiliary ink supply channel for increasing the ink supply speed. The ink channel between the main ink supply and the ink channel inlet is enlarged in the vertical direction so as to lower the pressure and thus increase the ink supply speed.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a printhead for inkjet printers and, in particular, to an inkjet printhead structure that has an internal fast ink supply design.
2. Related Art
The widely accepted inkjet chips are either thermal or piezoelectric. Owing to the competition among similar products, researchers are forced to make further improvement and progress in order to make the latest products satisfy new needs, including the inkjet speed and quality. Such things rely on breakthroughs in the new structure design and the material development.
To increase the inkjet speed, one also has to increase the allowable inkjet frequency. The printing quality depends upon the improvement in the ink density. However, it is found that each time an ink droplet is ejected out of a nozzle, roughly 400 μs is needed for new ink to replenish from the ink channel and for the impact to settle down. This phenomenon in turn affects the inkjet energy controls on the next ejection or nearby nozzle ejections, causing instability in the inkjet quality. Researchers further find that such replenish impact induces cross-talks among nearby nozzles. Making the ink channel long and thin may reduce such cross-talks. For example, the ink channel disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,595 uses exactly this idea to ease the replenish impact within 400 μs.
Although the long and thin ink channel design helps reducing cross-talks among adjacent nozzles, nevertheless, they are not completely avoided. On the other hand, the channel pressure is considerably reduced to slow down the ink supply speed, resulting in worse printing quality and lower inkjet frequency.
To prevent the pressure-lowering problem due to the long and thin ink channel, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,442 shortens the ink channel and forms a dipped area between the edge of the main ink supply channel and the ink channel. The border of the dipped area is close to the inlet of the ink channel so that ink can be supplied more quickly.
The invention provides an auxiliary ink supply channel so that more ink can be supplied at a closer distance to the inlet, making the ink supply speed faster.

Ink supply structure for inkjet printhead


A wireless communication system includes a mobile station, a base station, and a relay device. The base station is configured to execute first link aggregation (LA) communication. The base station transmits a state notification representing whether or not a state is an LA connection state in which the base station is connected with a mobile station so that the first LA communication is executable to the relay device, and the base station is controlled such that the first LA communication is executed based on the state of the base station. The relay device is configured to execute second LA communication. The relay device is controlled such that the second LA communication is executed based on the state notification.

A wireless communication system including a mobile station and a base station configured to wirelessly communicate with the mobile station has been known. As this type of the wireless communication system, for example, first to fourth wireless communication systems have been known (e.g., see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-134817; Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2013-502152; Yohei Hasegawa, Tsutomu Murase, "A Multi-path TCP Gateway with Dynamic Path-Load-Balancing", IEICE technical report, IEICE, March, 2004, vol. 103, no. 692 (IN2003 249-336), p. 175-178; Takeshi Kawasaki et al., "Evaluation of LTE-WLAN Link Aggregation provided by LTE Femto cell base station", proceedings 1 of 2013 IEICE general conference, IEICE, March, 2013, B-17-23, p. 667; or Fujitsu Ltd., "Guidance for WTP (wireless technology park) 2013 Fujitsu booth exhibition", [online], May 2013, [search Jun. 19, 2013], Internet <URL:http://jp.fujitsu.com/telecom/carrier/events/pd f/wtp2013.pdf>).
In the first wireless communication system, LA communication is applied to a communication path having a first route connecting a first base station with a mobile station and a communication path having a second route connecting a second base station with the mobile station. LA stands for Link Aggregation. The LA communication refers to communication in which packets are transmitted by distributing packets to a plurality of communication paths. In the first wireless communication system, the LA communication is executed as a relay device arranged on a higher level side than the base station distributes packets to a plurality of communication paths.
In the second wireless communication system, the LA communication is applied to a communication path having a first route connecting a base station directly with a first mobile station and a communication path having a second route connecting the base station with the first mobile station via a second mobile station.
In the third wireless communication system, a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection is established for each of a plurality of routes, and the LA communication is applied to a plurality of TCP connections.
In the fourth wireless communication system, the LA communication is applied to a plurality of wireless communication paths between a femto base station and a mobile station.

Wireless communication system, wireless communication method, base station, relay device, and mobile station


A method and apparatus for marking the location of a buried object in which the location of the buried object is determined and a barhole driver or plunger bar having a detachable plug element and a marking material for marking the location of the buried object is driven into the ground proximate the location of the buried object. The detachable plug element detaches from the plunger bar as the plunger bar is removed from the ground, leaving a substantially continuous path of the marking material in the ground extending substantially continuously from proximate the detachable plug element to the ground surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for marking the location of buried objects. More particularly, this invention relates to barhole drivers or plunger bars for creating holes from above ground to an underground location proximate a buried object and for marking the location of the buried object.
2. Description of Related Art
In-ground pipelines are used for a variety of purposes. For example, and without an unnecessary limitation, in-ground pipelines are used extensively in the transmission of various materials between selected points for locations. Natural gas is one example of a material frequently transmitted via in-ground pipelines.
It is known that damage to in-ground pipelines can occur directly as a result of acts of nature such as earthquakes and landslides. The damage resulting from in-ground pipelines as a result of the occurrence of such events typically occurs on a sufficiently large scale such that multiple pipe joints are affected and detection of the occurrence of such damage is relatively easy. However, pipeline damage can also occur due to the activity of a third-party, i.e. a party other than the owner or operator of the pipeline. Such damage is known as "third-party damage." When the damage due to an act of a third party causes an immediate rupture of a pipe, little can be done via on-line monitoring to prevent an ensuing incident. However, many third-party contacts with pipelines may cause damage that does not result in an immediate pipeline failure but rather cause damage that may, with time, lead to a pipe failure such as in the form of a leak or a catastrophic rupture. The occurrence of such third-party contact and the effective detection thereof has proven to be a persistent problem. While sounds associated with contact with the pipeline can be transmitted through the pipeline and detected at substantial distances from the point of contact via highly sensitive acoustic sensors, the high sensitivity of such sensors can generate a significant number of false alarms arising from sources other than by contact with the pipeline. For example, sources such as passing vehicles and weather conditions, such as thunder and rain, can produce to a normal sound detection and monitoring method and system.
In view of the consequences of the failure of an in-ground pipeline due to third-party contact, particularly when coupled with the extensive construction related with urban expansion and encroachment of the right-of-way commonly associated with many of such in-ground pipelines, the importance of preventing such third-party contacts is apparent. Typically, the primary approach to preventing such third-party contact has been to mark the location of the in-ground pipeline through the use of above-ground means visible to excavators. Current methods of marking an excavation site, which include the use of small flags or paint, are applied at the surface above the location of the in-ground pipeline. However, such markings frequently become lost when excavation begins. Other methods of marking an excavation site include, for example, the placement of RFID devices in the ground proximate the in-ground pipeline, which devices are detectable from above ground. Disadvantageously, current methods for the placement of RFID devices in the ground involve excavation or drilling. And, finally, shifting in the ground caused by ground disturbances, such as earthquakes, may result in a relocation of the marking means relative to the in-ground pipeline as a result of which the marking means is no longer indicative of the location of the in-ground pipeline.
Barhole drivers, also known as plunger bars, are used to create holes in soil, concrete, and the like. The most common use of plunger bars is for making holes in the ground in order to detect and determine the location of gas leaks from natural gas utility pipelines. Conventional plunger bars comprise three basic components, a solid rod having a tip for promoting ground penetration and a drive means connected with the solid rod for driving the tip and the rod into the ground. However, when the plunger bar is removed from the ground, the hole created by the plunger bar quickly closes up after the bar is withdrawn.