A preformed metacarpal fracture brace is provided in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. The brace comprises a one-piece semi-rigid molded outer shell contoured to conform to an outside portion of a wrist and hand of a wearer. The outer shell may comprise a proximal section adapted to immobilize the wrist in an extension position and a distal section extending at an angle to the proximal section and adapted to immobilize at least the fourth and fifth metacarpals of the hand in a functional position at that angle. A soft inner shell may be applied to an inside portion of the outer shell. A plurality of straps connected to the outer shell may be provided to secure the brace onto the wearer.

The present invention relates to the field of medical braces for treating metacarpal fractures. More specifically, the present invention relates to a preformed brace for immobilizing fractures of the metacarpal neck. The molded metacarpal fracture brace of the present invention is a functional brace designed specifically for the acute and sub-acute treatment of fractures involving the neck of the fourth and/or fifth metacarpal, the so-called "boxers fracture".
The "boxers fracture" is the most common type of hand fracture. The treatment of this type of fracture is controversial and ranges from no immobilization of the fracture at all to complete immobilization of the fracture for up to six weeks. Most orthopedic surgeons agree that some period of immobilization is required to achieve a favorable result.
There have been a number of methods that have been utilized to immobilize the fourth and fifth metacarpalphalangeal joints (i.e. knuckles). Historically the most common method has been splinting or casting the hand with plaster of Paris or fiberglass. Many studies have shown that the most favorable position to splint the metacarpalphalangeal joint is one at which the joint is placed at 90 degrees. This position places the ligaments around the joint in an elongated position during the period of immobilization, therefore preventing problems with finger extension once immobilization is removed. It has been shown that if the joint is immobilized in an extended position the ligaments may shorten, thus preventing adequate flexion when immobilization is removed. More recently there have been a number of braces designed to immobilize the fourth and/or fifth metacarpal. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,364 to Viegas discloses a splint (commonly known as the Galveston Metacarpal Brace™) which applies pressure directly over the fracture sight to provide immobilization while allowing full motion of the hand. Also, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 20020002348 to Wiggins discloses a "universal" brace which immobilizes the fracture in an "extension" position.
It would be advantageous to provide a preformed one-piece metacarpal fracture brace which firmly immobilizes the fourth and fifth metacarpal necks in a functional position at approximately 90 degrees. It would be further advantageous to provide a one-piece preformed metacarpal brace which is lightweight, comfortable, and adjustable to fit various sizes. It would be further advantageous if such a brace were made of material which could be further molded after heat treatment to provide further customizability.
The present invention provides the foregoing and other advantages.

Preformed brace for treating metacarpal fractures and method of treating metacarpal fractures


An apparatus for slicing a cheesecake into a plurality of neatly cut pie-shaped slices of equal size. It includes a cutting cylinder having a plurality of tensioned cutting wires each extending diametrically across the lower end of the cylinder. The wires are tied at their one ends to retaining pins and at their other ends to guitar tuning peg assemblies at respective annularly spaced, equally distant locations about the cylinder. The cutting cylinder is attached with releasable latches beneath a similar size guide cylinder, in end to end relation. The cutting and guide cylinders are suspended from a U-shaped yoke with their common central axis extending vertically. The side edges of the yoke slidably engage respective vertical tracks which extend from a horizontal planar base. The cutting cylinder can be vertically reciprocated about its vertical axis into and out of close proximity with the base. This permits the tensioned wires across the lower end of the cutting cylinder to neatly slice a cheesecake centrally supported above the base on a pedestal.

The present invention relates to apparatus for slicing food products into a plurality of precisely shaped pieces. More particularily, the present invention relates to an improved food slicing apparatus utilizing tensioned wire cutting elements. The apparatus is adapted for rapidly slicing flat, cylindrical food products such as cheesecakes into a plurality of neatly cut pie-shaped pieces of equal size.
In the past, food slicing apparatus have existed which have utilized tensioned wire cutting elements. In one such apparatus adapted for slicing cheese, a single tensioned wire is spaced closely adjacent to a parallel elongate roller. The wire and the roller are mounted on the remote end of a handle. In another such apparatus also adapted for slicing cheese, a U-shaped lever is pivotably attached to a cutting board. A single tensioned wire extends between the legs of the lever. Downward swinging of the lever causes the tensioned wire to cut a slice from a block of cheese supported on the cutting board.
Other such slicing apparatus heretofore known have incorporated a plurality of tensioned wires elements arranged in a predetermined array for slicing or cutting fruit, vegtables, or other food products into a plurality of uniformly dimensioned slices. For example, one such apparatus is adapted for slicing french fries from a peeled potato. It includes a square-shaped frame having a relatively large cut-out region in its center. Two perpendicular rows of spaced apart tensioned wire elements criss-cross the cut-out region. These wires are tightly secured at their ends to the frame. This apparatus may be forced down over the peeled potato to produce a plurality of potato segments each having a uniform cross-sectional area. Similar apparatus have also existed heretofore for cutting fruit into precise slices suitable for decorative cuisine.
A number of food products are configured in the shape of a relatively large, flat cylinder. Examples are cheesecakes, and wheels of very soft cheese such as Brie. Typically, these food products are served or divided by slicing them into a plurality of pie-shaped slices. They have a soft consistency or texture which enables them to be neatly sliced by wire cutting elements under suitable tension. Oftentimes for saleability, it is desirable that the slices appear neatly cut. Furthermore, due to the relatively high cost of such food products, it is desirable to carefully control the size and weight of individual slices. Heretofore cheesecakes and cheese wheels and other similarly shaped food products of like consistency have typically been sliced by hand using a large knife. This manual slicing process is not only time consuming but frequently results in slices in unequal size. Furthermore, in the case of cheesecakes, slices which are manually cut using a knife are often not symmetrical.
There has existed in the prior art one apparatus for facilitating the scoring of cheesecakes into pie-shaped slices of uniform size. It incorporates an open ended metal cylinder having a relatively small height and a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the cheesecake. A plurality of tensioned wire cutting elements extend diametrically across the cylinder and are secured at their opposite ends adjacent the upper end of the cylinder. The wire attachment point are annularly spaced about the cylinder equal distances apart. The wire elements all intersect in the center of the cylinder. This device has not been used for slicing the cheesecake but has instead been impressed onto the upper surface of the cheesecake so that the tensioned wires could score a pattern thereon. Thereafter, the cylinder with the tensioned wires has been removed so that the scoring could be utilized as a pattern for cutting slices from the cheesecake with a knife.
The aforementioned apparatus utilized for scoring cheesecakes is not readily adapted for slicing the cheesecakes. There is insufficient clearance between the cylinder and the cheesecake and no easy manner of grasping the cylinder and pushing it down through the cheesecake. Furthermore, even if such manual pushing were to be utilized, there is no way to insure precise vertical downward and upward movement of the individually positioned wires. Thus, if slices are attempted to be produced with this apparatus, their edges are often non-uniform and jagged. Furthermore, the tensioned wires on this apparatus have been securely fixed. It has not been possible to adjust their tension readily. There must be sufficient tightness in the cutting wires in order to accomplish neat cutting. Thus in this known scoring apparatus, if any of the wires have become loose by stretching or otherwise it has not been possible to readily correct this defect. The wires have been tied at their ends to the rim of the cylinder and ready removal and replacement thereof has not been possible.


A heat transfer apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: a component having a wall structure defining a flow bounding surface; a chamber formed in the component, the chamber including a wicking structure, a vapor channel, and a working fluid.

This invention relates generally to gas turbine engines and methods for oil cooling in such engines.
Gas turbine engines are commonly provided with a circulating oil system for lubricating and cooling various engine components such as bearings, gearboxes, electrical generators, and the like. In operation the oil absorbs a substantial amount of heat that must be rejected to the external environment in order to maintain the oil at acceptable temperatures. As engine designs evolve the amount of heat to be rejected is increasing.
Known oil cooling systems for gas turbine engines typically include one or more air-to-oil heat exchangers, referred to as "air cooled oil coolers" or "ACOCs", These heat exchangers can be heavy and have high drag, and can require special inlet and outlet ducts and large, heavy brackets. Sometimes ACOCs are used in series with fuel-to-oil heat exchangers and fuel return-to-tank systems ("FRTT") in a complex cooling network; however increasing heat loads are expected to exceed the capabilities of such systems.
It has been proposed in the prior art to circulate fluid directly inside of flow-bounding structures such as outlet guide vanes ("OGVs"). But for flight critical fluids such as lubricating oil, a damaged heat exchanger is problematic as it could cause fires or critical loss of oil.
Accordingly, there is a need for a gas turbine engine heat exchanger having low drag, which allows the oil to be separated from the heat exchanger physically, while maintaining a strong thermal connection through the cooling cycle.

Gas turbine engine component with integrated heat pipe


An address associated with a failure in a programmable controller is provided, for reading out an operating state of each element of a sequence circuit. The address and a logic level thereof are stored in an address setting table (TA). The logic level is compared with a logic level of an actual signal stored in a signal update storage table (TB), and a difference therebetween is detected by a signal update detecting means (2). Every time a difference is detected, a signal update writing means (3) writes the address and the logic level of the actual signal into the signal update storage table (TB). The storage contents of the signal update storage table (TB) are displayed on a display means, thereby allowing an operator to check for the cause of the failure.

The present invention relates to a sequence abnormality check system in a programmable controller so as to check a cause of failure when abnormality occurs in processing results of the programmable controller.
In a conventional sequence control system, a sequence circuit is arranged between a control device and a machine to be controlled. The sequence circuit comprises a heavy current circuit consisting of a number of relays. A predetermined relay is operated in response to an instruction from the control device so as to cause machine members to perform a predetermined operation in accordance with this instruction. In a system using a programmable controller (to be referred to as a PC hereinafter), information for the sequence circuit is stored in the form of a program in a memory of the PC, thereby performing sequence control.
For example, the sequence circuit is exemplified by a ladder diagram represented by relay symbols, as shown in FIG. 1. A sequence program having a logical sequence of instruction codes and operands shown in FIG. 2 is stored in a memory of the PC, thereby achieving proper sequence control.
The ladder diagram shown in FIG. 1 comprises part of a ladder diagram of a numerical control (NC) machine tool system. Symbols and denote normally open and closed contacts of relays (not shown) each having a reference symbol. When M03 (spindle forward rotation instruction) is supplied from an NC in the automatic mode, relays MF, M12 and M11 are operated to energize a relay M03X. In this case, since the automatic mode is set, a relay AUT is kept ON. Unless the spindle is rotated in the reverse direction, (a relay SPCCW is kept OFF) and a relay SPCW is turned on. This indicates that the spindle forward rotation instruction is supplied to a machine such as a machine tool. In the conventional system, the high current circuit having the relays represented by the ladder diagram controls the sequence of the machine tool.
The PC creates a sequence program of FIG. 2 in accordance with the latter diagram, and the sequence program is stored in a memory so as to provide sequence control including instruction codes such as "RD", "AND", "WRT", "OR", "AND.multidot.NOT", etc. More specifically, RD is a read instruction; AND is a logical product operation instuction; WRT is a write instruction; OR is a logical sum operation instruction; and AND.multidot.NOT is an inversion/logical product instruction. Numeric values in the operand column represent addresses of a data memory (to be described later) incorporated in the PC. The addresses correspond to relay symbols (MF, M28, etc.) of FIG. 1, respectively. The relationship between the relay symbol and the address is illustrated in FIG. 1.
The relay symbols are listed for reference at the right of the table in FIG. 2. The information at the addresses of the data memory which are described in the column of operands is calculated by an instruction group D1 of the sequence program. In other words, a logical operation MF.multidot.M28.multidot.M24.multidot.M22.multidot.M21.multidot.M18.multid ot.M14.multidot.M12.multidot.M11 is calculated. A calculation result ("1" or "0") is stored at address 10.2 of the data memory which corresponds to the relay M03X. The following operation is performed in accordance with an instruction group D2:
AUT.multidot.M03X.multidot.SPCCW
A calculation result is stored at address 20.5 of the data memory which is designated by the operand SPCW. As a result, a spindle forward rotation signal is supplied to the machine tool as an external machine, so that the spindle of the machine tool is rotated in the forward direction. In this manner, the sequence control system having the PC is operated in accordance with the sequence program. In this control system, when an intermittent failure of the sequence occurs during automatic operation of the machine tool, it is difficult to determine the cause.
Assume that the machine tool is interrupted while in a feed hold state during NC automatic operation, and that the machine tool is not supposed to be stopped. A feed hold circuit is illustrated in FIG. 3A. Reference symbol a denotes a feed hold button; reference symbol b indicates a pressure decrease detection switch; and reference symbol SP denotes a feed hold relay. This feed hold circuit is represented by a ladder diagram in FIG. 3B. Since the machine tool is interrupted in the feed hold state, the feed hold relay SP is stopped. When a signal (i.e., logic level of the signal at address 102.5 of the data memory which represents the feed hold relay SP) representing the operating state of the feed hold relay SP is checked, a "1" is stored at address 102.5. The logic level "1" indicates that the feed hold relay SP is normally operated. This indicates that the failure may have been caused by the contact of the feed hold button or the pressure decrease detection switch being accidentally and temporarily opened during automatic operation.
However, since the contacts a and b are only instantaneously turned off, it is difficult to check changes in levels of the contacts although the contacts a and b are monitored. For this reason, detection cannot be performed as to which contact system caused the abnormality. In this sense, the failure check operation becomes cumbersome. In order to solve this problem, a system can be proposed wherein a failure check program is created and stored in the PC to discriminate failures. Even with this system, failure check operation is cumbersome.

Sequence abnormality check system in programmable controller


According to an aspect, a substrate for a display apparatus includes: a first substrate; and at least one translucent coloring layer that overlaps with the first substrate. The at least one translucent coloring layer overlaps with an entire surface of a display region in which an image is displayed. A color of the at least one translucent coloring layer is identical across the entire surface of the display region.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a substrate for a display apparatus and a display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A monochromatic display apparatus and the like may be provided with a coloring layer for outputting white in a desired manner For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2014-6475 (JP-A-2014-6475) discloses a coloring layer provided for adjusting white balance of a displayed image. JP-A-2014-6475 describes that the coloring layer is patterned on a substrate using a photolithography method.
However, when the coloring layer is patterned, there may be dimensional variations in the coloring layer. This may cause variations in white balance of the entire displayed image or in the entire display region.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a substrate for a display apparatus and a display apparatus that can prevent variations in white balance of the displayed image.

Substrate for display apparatus and display apparatus


In one embodiment, a medical mask includes a body and an orientation structure. The body includes a first polymer, is configured to cover portions of a user's face comprising the user's mouth and at least portions of the user's nose comprising the nostrils, and is further configured to contact the user's face surrounding the covered portions of the user's face to substantially prevent gas from escaping between the body and the contacted portions of the user's face. The orientation structure is configured to receive an oral appliance post to establish and maintain a custom orientation between the medical mask and the oral appliance post and the orientation structure includes a deformable material which includes a second polymer capable of transitioning between deformable and non-deformable states.

Many people experience breathing problems on a recurring basis, which often result in sleep disordered breathing (i.e., difficulty sleeping, snoring, or other more serious conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea). As technology advances, people with such breathing problems demand increased performance and comfort. Previous devices for improving a user's breathing have included face masks, nose masks, or nasal inserts that help deliver air to the user's nose at positive pressure. These devices help force open the user's breathing passage and thereby improve the user's breathing. However, previous devices have often provided an inadequate fit and thus have caused discomfort for users and failed to adequately prevent leakage.

System and method for custom-orienting a medical mask to an oral appliance


A servo writer writes servo information to at least one disc of a head disc assembly. The servo writer includes a clock head that writes a clock track to the at least one disc and generates a clock signal when the clock head reads the clock track on the at least one disc. A servo pattern generator writes servo patterns to the at least one disc in response to the clock signal generated by the clock head reading the clock track on the at least one disc. The servo track writer also includes a phase lock loop clock generator which synchronizes to the clock track and produces the clock signal for the servo pattern generator.

The present invention relates to the field of mass storage devices. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for writing servo information to the disc of a high density disc drive.
One key component of any computer system is a device to store data. Computer systems have many different places where data can be stored. One common place for storing massive amounts of data in a computer system is on a disc drive. The most basic parts of a disc drive are a disc drive housing, a disc that is rotated, an actuator assembly that moves a transducer to various locations over the disc, and electrical circuitry that is used to write and read data to and from the disc. The disc drive also includes circuitry for encoding data so that it can be successfully retrieved and written to the disc surface. A microprocessor controls most of the operations of the disc drive as well as passing the data back to the requesting computer and taking data from a requesting computer for storing to the disc.
To read and write data to the disc drive, the actuator assembly includes one or more arms that support the transducer over the disc surface. The actuator assembly is selectively positioned by a voice coil motor which pivots the actuator assembly about a pivot shaft secured to the drive housing. The disc is coupled to a motorized spindle which is also secured to the housing. During operation, the spindle provides rotational power to the disc. By controlling the voice coil motor, the actuator arms (and thus the transducers) can be positioned over any radial location along the rotating disc surface.
The transducer is typically placed on a small ceramic block, also referred to as a slider, that is aerodynamically designed so that it flies over the disc. The slider is passed over the disc in a transducing relationship with the disc. Most sliders have an air-bearing surface (xe2x80x9cABSxe2x80x9d) which includes rails and a cavity between the rails. When the disc rotates, air is dragged between the rails and the disc surface causing pressure which forces the head away from the disc. At the same time, the air rushing past the cavity or depression in the air bearing surface produces a negative pressure area. The negative pressure or suction counteracts the pressure produced at the rails. The slider is also attached to a load spring which produces a force on the slider directed toward the disc surface. The various forces equalize so the slider flies over the surface of the disc at a particular desired fly height. The fly height is the distance between the disc surface and the transducing head, which is typically the thickness of the air lubrication film. This film eliminates the friction and resulting wear that would occur if the transducing head and disc were in mechanical contact during disc rotation. In some disc drives, the slider passes through a layer of lubricant rather than flying over the surface of the disc.
Information representative of data is stored on the surface of the storage disc. Disc drive systems read and write information stored on portions of the storage disc referred to as tracks. Transducers, in the form of read/write heads attached to the sliders, located on both sides of the storage disc, read and write information on the storage discs when the transducers are accurately positioned over one of the designated tracks on the surface of the storage disc. As the storage disc spins and the read/write head is accurately positioned above a target track, the read/write head can store data onto the track by writing information representative of data onto the storage disc. Similarly, reading data on a storage disc is accomplished by positioning the read/write head above a target track and reading the stored material on the storage disc. To write to or read from different tracks, the read/write head is moved radially across the tracks to a selected target track. The data is often divided between several different tracks. While most storage discs utilize a multiplicity of concentric circular tracks, other discs have a continuous spiral forming a single track on one or both sides of the disc.
During manufacture, servo information is encoded on the disc and subsequently used to accurately locate the transducer. The written servo information is used subsequently to locate the actuator assembly/transducer head at the required position on the disc surface and hold it very accurately in position during a read or write operation. The servo information is written or encoded onto the disc with a machine commonly referred to as a servo track writer (hereinafter STW). At the time the servo information is written, the disc drive is typically at the xe2x80x9chead disk assemblyxe2x80x9d (hereinafter HDA) stage. The HDA includes most of the mechanical drive components but does not typically include all the drive electronics. During the track writing process, the STW precisely locates the transducer heads relative to the disc surface and writes the servo information thereon. Accurate location of the transducer heads is necessary to ensure that the track definition remains concentric. If the servo track information is written eccentrically, the position of the transducer head during subsequent operation will require relatively large, constant radial adjustments in order to maintain placement over the track center. When the tracks are sufficiently eccentric, a significant portion of the disk surface must be allotted for track misregistration.
When servo information is encoded or written to the discs of the disc drive several items are very important. First of all, the radial position of the servo marks must be carefully controlled so that the disc drive can always get an indication of the radial position of the transducer with respect to the disc. As a result, motor speed is carefully controlled in current servo writers. If the motor speed is not maintained at a selected RPM (revolutions per minute), repeatable run out error can result in the servo written disc drive. Secondly, the servo writer should not write in non-repeatable run out. This can happen if portions of HDA are vibrating during the servo writing operation. For example, the actuator may resonate at one rotational frequency. At other rotational frequencies, there can be spindle motor gyro effect or disc fluttering.
A constant desire or industry goal is to increase the storage capacity of disc drives. One way to increase capacity is to increase the density of tracks on the disc. Currently, the number of tracks per inch (TPI) is growing at a rate of 60% per year. It is contemplated that this trend will continue and further more that the percentage growth may even increase.
During manufacture, the time required to servo write a disc drive is lengthy. With the increased number of tracks on a disc and the constant trend to increase the number of tracks per inch, the length of time for servo writing discs will also increase. Another pressure is to cut down production time for disc drives. One way of doing this is by servo writing the disc while spinning the disc at a higher RPM than the designed spindle speed of the disc drive.
Presently, the selection of a rotational speed for the disc drive is severely constrained or limited by several factors. Present designs of servo writers do not allow for easy, flexible selection of the servo writer spindle motor speed. Spindle motor speed selection for a servo writer is generally constrained by many factors including the spindle motor gyro effect, disc flutter, the servo clock and the servo pattern. There are other factors that also may influence speed selection. Normally, the spindle motor is optimized at the disc drives operating speed so that the above factors are minimized at the operating spindle speed. At many of the spindle motor speeds other than the operating spindle motor speed, a bearing defect may very well induce the spindle motor gyro effect. The spindle motor gyro effect will generally cause a non-repeatable run out. This non-repeatable run out will be xe2x80x9cfrozenxe2x80x9d during servo writing process, subsequently seen by the drive as written in repeatable run out. At other speeds, other factors may result in either non-repeatable run out (NRRO) or repeatable run out (RRO) in a written servo pattern.
Typically, there are other xe2x80x9cgoodxe2x80x9d spindle speeds where the factors that cause either non-repeatable run out (NRRO) or repeatable run out (RRO) during servo writing process will be minimized. However, many times the xe2x80x9cgoodxe2x80x9d spindle speeds do not match the frequency at which the servo writer must write to produce the desired servo pattern.
To servo write at the xe2x80x9cgoodxe2x80x9d speed, the servo writer clock may have to run at some odd frequency that is impossible for most of the servo writer. Usually the servo writer clock is driven by a crystal and PLL (Phase lock loop) which typically has limited selections.
To servo write at higher spindle speed, normally the servo clock frequency is increased to the next higher clock from the normal operating clock. This will increase the spindle motor speed proportionally without altering the original servo pattern format. For example, the operating speed for the drive is 5400 rpm and the servo clock is 50 MHZ. If the next higher servo clock available is 60 MHZ, then the spindle motor speed will be (60*5400/50) rpm or 6480 rpm. If the new speed does conflict with the gyro frequency, then check at the next servo clock frequency and the step is repeated until a good speed is found or reaches the maximum servo clock frequency. However, if the calculation shows a match between the servo frequency and a good higher motor speed, the spindle motor may not be able to run at the speed due to the strong spindle motors"" bemf and motor driver saturation.
Accordingly, what is needed is an apparatus and method for use with a servo track writer (STW) that will allow the servo patterns to be written at any speed of the spindle motor so that a spindle speed may be selected that minimizes the factors resulting in either non-repeatable run out (NRRO) or repeatable run out (RRO). What is also needed is a servo writing technique that allows the servo to be written at higher spindle speeds than the operating spindle speed so that the total manufacturing time can be reduced by increasing the throughput of the servo write operation. What is also needed is a method and apparatus which uses the current servo writing equipment.
The present invention is directed to reducing these problems, especially the non-repeatable track writing errors due to imperfect bearings. The invention is a method for writing servo patterns on at least one disc in a disc drive. The method includes the steps of spinning the disc at a first selected rotational speed and writing a clock track on the disc at the first selected rotational speed. The method further includes spinning the disc at a second rotational speed while tracking the written clock track pattern on the disc using the servo clock phase lock loop circuitry as the disc rotates at the second rotational speed. Servo information is written while the disc is rotated at the second rotational speed. The second rotational speed may be selected so that it is faster than the first rotational speed. The second rotational speed is selected to minimize the causes of repeatable and non-repeatable run out in the disc drive. The method may further include the step of selecting the second rotational speed which is faster than the first rotational speed, said second rotational speed selected so as to minimize the causes of repeatable and non-repeatable run out in the disc drive. The second rotational speed is selected so as to minimize a spindle motor gyro effect in the disc drive. The method also includes writing the servo information using the clock signal generated by phase lock loop circuitry tracking the clock track on the disc. The servo patterns are generated in response to the clock signal generated by phase lock loop circuitry tracking the clock track on the disc. The method can also include generating servo patterns in response to the clock signal generated by phase lock loop circuitry tracking the clock track on the disc, and writing the generated servo patterns to the disc at an area other than the area of the disc having the clock track. The method also includes writing the generated servo patterns to each surface of the disc at an area other than the area of the disc having the clock track. The disc will have two surfaces.
Also disclosed is a servo track writer for writing servo information to a head disc assembly which includes at least one disc and a transducing head. The servo track writer includes a clock head placed in transducing relation to the disc. The clock head writes a clock track to the at least one disc and generates a clock signal when the clock head reads the clock track on the at least one disc. The invention also includes a servo pattern generator that writes servo patterns to the at least one disc in response to the clock signal generated by the clock head reading the clock track on the at least one disc. The servo track writer further includes a phase lock loop clock generator which synchronizes to the clock track and produces the clock signal for the servo pattern generator. The servo pattern generator writes with the transducing head. The at least one disc has a first surface and a second surface. The servo pattern generator writes to the first surface and the second surface of the disc. The servo pattern generator may write an embedded servo information pattern to the at least one disc with the transducing head.
The servo track writer further includes a mounting fixture for mounting the head disc assembly. The mounting fixture provides a mechanical reference for the servo track writer as servo information is written to the head disc assembly. A positioner for controlling the position of an actuator of the head disc assembly is also included. The servo track writer also includes a spindle controller for controlling a spindle motor of the head disc assembly. The spindle controller is capable of controlling the spindle at a first operating speed and a second servo writing speed. The second servo writing speed may be selected to be faster than the first operating speed of the spindle. The servo track writer further includes a controller for controlling the positioner, the servo pattern generator, the phase lock loop clock generator, and the spindle controller.
Most generally, the invention is to a servo track writer for writing servo information to a head disc assembly includes a servo pattern generator, and a device for writing servo information to the disc while the disc rotates at a speed other than the operating speed of the disc drive.
Advantageously, the method and apparatus of the present invention allows servo patterns to be written to a disc at any speed of the spindle motor using a servo track writer (STW). In other words, a spindle speed that minimizes the factors resulting in either non-repeatable run out (NRRO) or repeatable run out (RRO) from the servo track writer (STW) is selected. The servo writing technique allows the servo to be written at higher spindle speed than the operating spindle speed so that the total manufacturing time can be reduced by increasing the throughput of the spindle write operation. A further advantage is that the method and apparatus uses the current servo writing equipment. The equipment is used in a different way so that there is little, if any, additional equipment cost resulting from using the invention.

Method for servo writing servo pattern at a desired speed


A system includes a first coil, a signal source and a first control module. The first control module regulates coupling between the signal source and the first coil. The system also includes an implantable device having a second coil coupled to a therapeutic transducer comprising an ultrasonic transducer. When the first coil is aligned with the second coil, the signal source is able to supply electrical power to the implantable device to enable the therapeutic transducer to operate. The control module is able to activate the therapeutic transducer under the control of a physician.

This invention relates generally to implantable devices, and, more particularly, to implantable medical devices having therapeutic or diagnostic functions and related methods.
Diseased or defective portions of a patient""s vascular system may be treated or replaced to correct or improve the patient""s health. For example, persons requiring periodic hemodialysis to compensate for poor or absent renal function frequently are provided with arteriovenous grafts or shunts that couple a vein to an artery to facilitate coupling the patient to the dialysis unit. Dialysis, in turn, provides significant health benefits to the patient. In other cases, diseased portions of vasculature are replaced with or supplemented via grafts to facilitate blood flow or to reduce risk of rupture of an aneurysm. The grafts may comprise natural materials, e.g., a portion of a blood vessel taken from another area of the patient""s body, or they may comprise artificial materials, such as DACRON(trademark), TEFLON(trademark)or GORE-TEXT(trademark) fabric. In still other cases, angioplasty is used to alleviate stenosis of major blood vessels. In all of these cases, narrowing of the vessel or graft lumen (stenosis or restenosis) is likely, whether from thromboses, deposited material or tissue growth within the treated area (endothelialization).
Following graft implantation, or surgery to relieve stenosis, it is difficult to monitor the condition of the affected area. Grafts and angioplastic surgery often fail after a period of time and for a variety of reasons. Several of the causal mechanisms are amenable to drug treatment. It is highly desirable in at least some of these cases to localize the drug treatment to the site of the graft or surgery. For example, when stenosis due to thrombosis threatens a given area, thrombolytic drugs are capable of providing significant assistance in resolving the thrombosis, but may present problems such as hemorrhaging, if they also act in other portions of the patient""s body.
In other cases, steps may be taken to restore full fluid flow through, e.g., a graft that is becoming restricted, but only if treatment is initiated before the problem proceeds too far to be corrected without graft replacement. Since it is generally not possible to determine the condition of blood flow through a graft or vessel without invasive surgery to inspect it (or an angiogram), the procedure adopted with some grafts (e.g., access grafts for hemodialysis) is to replace the graft annually. Clearly, it would be preferable to be able to monitor the condition of a graft without resorting to invasive surgical procedures and without prescribing medication that may not be necessary, so that the useful life of the graft may be extended, problems associated graft failure avoided and so that medications are only prescribed when required by the known condition of the graft.
The best indicators of the condition of a graft are the velocity and volume of blood flowing through it. Fluid pressure at the distal and proximal ends of a graft (relative to the direction of blood flow) are a further indication of a graft""s condition. As the lumen through a graft gradually becomes occluded with fatty buildup, other deposits or intima, the pressure differential across the graft increases, the velocity of blood in the lumen decreases and the flow of blood through the lumen decreases. Each of these parameters thus serves as an indication of the condition of the graft and its viability to support necessary blood flow.
Chen et al. propose a light generating system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,608. Among its drawbacks are that it requires a photosensitive drug that is activated via light from an implantable probe. A number of different embodiments are disclosed. In one of these, an array of light emitting diodes or solid state laser diodes are mounted on a light bar inside the implantable probe and are energized using either a storage battery power source, an inductively coupled external transformer, or with current provided in leads running through a flexible catheter that extends outside the patient""s body to an external source.
According to principles of the present invention, a device and method are provided to achieve localized drug activation or localized drug delivery on an as-needed basis via an implanted therapeutic transducer that is coupled to an implanted electronic circuit. The implanted electronic circuit effects coupling of signals from a system external to a patient""s body to the implanted electronic circuit via a magnetic coupling. The implanted therapeutic transducer may be activated via control signals transmitted from a control system that is external to the patient""s body. Electrical power may be supplied to the implanted electronic circuit via the magnetic coupling, or, in some cases, via a hard-wired connection.
Optionally, a diagnostic transducer is also implanted that provides diagnostic information describing the condition of blood flow through a vascular graft to which the diagnostic transducer is coupled. This can allow a physician to determine that treatment is needed and then to activate the implanted therapeutic transducer to activate a drug in the vicinity of the vascular graft to which the therapeutic transducer is coupled.
In one embodiment, the therapeutic transducer comprises a cylindrical body including piezoelectric material wherein a first resonance frequency is determined by a thickness of the cylindrical body and a second resonance frequency is determined by a diameter of the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body includes a first electrode coupled to a first end of the cylindrical body and a second electrode coupled to a second end of the cylindrical body. An acoustic isolator may be disposed on the first electrode and on a sidewall of the cylindrical body. The acoustic isolator may comprise a mixture of microballoons and a polymer. The second electrode is coupled to a wall of the vascular graft. The first resonance frequency may be chosen to be related to the second resonance frequency by a factor of two.
In another embodiment, the present invention includes an ultrasonic transducer having a first surface, a sidewall and a second surface. A first electrode is disposed on the first surface. A second electrode is disposed on the second surface. An acoustic isolator having a low relative dielectric constant is disposed on the first surface and the sidewall. An acoustic reflector is maintained in alignment with and facing the second electrode of the ultrasonic transducer. In one embodiment, the acoustic reflector also functions as a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.
Further embodiments include transducers that provide magnetic, electromagnetic, optical, heat, ultrasonic or other kinds of signals for localized activation or delivery of drugs. These embodiments can allow a physician to provide needed therapy without requiring the trauma of surgery in order to maintain viability of a graft. This may also obviate graft replacement that is preventative in nature.
This invention provides an implantable diagnostic device for evaluating blood flow through vasculature on an ongoing basis that is capable of operating over an extended period of time. There is also provided an implantable therapeutic device for providing localized drug delivery or activation on an as-needed basis that is capable of operating over an extended period of time.
This invention provides the advantage that the physician can now locally activate or supply drugs in a variety of situations. For example, in situations where it is determined during surgery that part or all of a growth or tumor cannot be removed for safety or other reasons, the physician will be able to implant a therapeutic device, either on the growth or tumor or on the blood vessels supplying the growth or tumor with blood, to activate drugs directed to, or to selectively supply drugs to, the affected location or tissue. The therapeutic device may be able to be supplied with electrical power from time to time from a location outside the patient""s body.
Yet another advantage that may be realized through practice of the present invention is the treatment of tumors or organs that are downstream of the blood vessel that includes a vascular graft that is coupled to a transducer. The transducer may be remotely activated to facilitate localized drug delivery or to provide other therapeutic benefits.

Implantable therapeutic device and method


An optical coherence tomography device is disclosed for improved imaging. Reduced levels of speckle in the images generated by the device are obtained by forming a B-scan from a plurality of A-scans, wherein each resolution cell of the B-scan is generated through compounding of a subset of the A-scans and wherein at least some of the subset of A-scans are separated by at least half the diameter of a speckle cell both tangent to and orthogonal to the B-scan at that cell.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a technology for performing high-resolution cross sectional imaging that can provide images of tissue structure on the micron scale in situ and in real time. OCT is a method of interferometry that uses light containing a range of optical frequencies to determine the scattering profile of a sample. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a tool for evaluating biological materials was first disclosed in the early 1990's (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,501 for fundus imaging.). Since that time, a number of manufacturers have released products based on this technology. For example, the assignee herein markets a device called the StratusOCT. This device is used for diagnostic imaging and provides direct cross sectional images of the retina for objective measurement and subjective clinical evaluation in the detection of glaucoma and retinal diseases. The device can generate images of macular thickness, the retinal nerve fiber layer, the optic disc, the cornea, and other parts of the eye. This device is based on a version of OCT known as time domain OCT.
In recent years, it has been demonstrated that frequency domain OCT has significant advantages in speed and signal to noise ratio as compared to time domain OCT (Leitgeb, R. A., et al., Optics Express 11:889-894; de Boer, J. F. et al., Optics Letters 28: 2067-2069; Choma, M. A., and M. V. Sarunic, Optics Express 11: 2183-2189).
In frequency domain OCT, a light source capable of emitting a range of optical frequencies excites an interferometer, the interferometer combines the light returned from a sample with a reference beam of light from the same source, and the intensity of the combined light is recorded as a function of optical frequency to form an interference spectrum. A Fourier transform of the interference spectrum provides the reflectance distribution along the depth within the sample.
Several methods of Frequency domain OCT have been described in the literature. In spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT), also sometimes called "Spectral Radar" (Optics letters, Vol. 21, No. 14 (1996) 1087-1089), a grating or prism or other means is used to disperse the output of the interferometer into its optical frequency components. The intensities of these separated components are measured using an array of optical detectors, each detector receiving an optical frequency or a fractional range of optical frequencies. The set of measurements from these optical detectors forms an interference spectrum (Smith, L. M. and C. C. Dobson, Applied Optics 28: 3339-3342), wherein the distance to a scatterer is determined by the wavelength dependent fringe spacing within the power spectrum. SD-OCT has enabled the determination of distance and scattering intensity of multiple scatters lying along the illumination axis by analyzing a single the exposure of an array of optical detectors so that no scanning in depth is necessary. Typically the light source emits a broad range of optical frequencies simultaneously. Alternatively, in swept-source OCT, the interference spectrum is recorded by using a source with adjustable optical frequency, with the optical frequency of the source swept through a range of optical frequencies, and recording the interfered light intensity as a function of time during the sweep (U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,501).
The commercial OCT systems typically include some form of scanning mirror configuration to scan the light beam across the eye in a plane perpendicular to the propagation axis of the beam. The most common interferometer configuration for OCT is the Michelson interferometer [FIG. 1a of U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,501]. Michelson interferometers return some reference arm light to the source, causing a conflict between the desire to set the reference level for best performance of the detector, and to set the reference level low enough to be below the back-reflection tolerance. Some alternative interferometer topologies allow the reference path to be completely in fiber, allowing simple construction. If the reference path is completely in fiber then the sample path length can be varied instead (U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,501).
Non-reciprocal optical elements in the source arm [U.S. Pat. No. 6,657,727 issued to Izatt, et al.] have been used to divert the reflected light that would otherwise return to the source to a detector. While this protects the source and increases its longevity, non-reciprocal optical elements in the source arm add significant costs to the interferometer manufacture.
Interferometers with topology different from the common Michelson topology have been proposed for OCT (U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,501 FIG. 10, U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,608 issued to Mandella, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,992,776 issued to Feldchtein, et al.). Some of these designs route the reference light without retro-reflecting or otherwise reversing the reference light back toward the source. In such interferometer designs some light returned from the sample can reach the source, but this is less of a concern because in many applications only a small fraction (10−4 to 10−10) of the incident light is scattered from the sample and returned to the interferometer.
There has been a continuing effort in the industry to improve the existing OCT systems. For example, when measuring living tissue such as an eye, movement during the measurement period can cause a wide variety of difficulties. Efforts have been made to increase the speed of data collection to reduce the effects of motion of the subject. In addition, various approaches have been suggested to measure sample motion and then compensate for that motion.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography system


A portable intelligent stretching device for use by patients suffering from spastic and contractured joints and limbs. The intelligent stretching device has a motor and a motor shaft for rotating the joint or limb. The variable velocity and stretch distance of the device is determined by a torque sensor on the joint or limb that communicates information to a controller which subsequently instructs the motor as to the variable velocity and stretch distance.

The present invention relates to a device for stretching limbs and joints. More specifically, to a stretching device that allows precise stretching throughout the joint range of motion including the extreme positions where spasticity and contracture are most significant.
Neurological impairments including stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy are the leading causes of adult disability, resulting in spasticity and contracture as one of the largest lasting effects in patients. The hypertonus and reflex hyperexcitability disrupt the remaining functional use of muscles, impede motion, and may cause severe pain. Prolonged spasticity may be accompanied by structural changes of muscle fibers and connective tissue, which may result in a reduction in joint range of motion. For example, stroke patients may develop considerable ankle spasticity or contracture and walk with xe2x80x9cdrop-foot.xe2x80x9d An ankle-foot orthosis is often used to stabilize the ankle and correct the foot-drop. Though the ankle-foot orthosis helps support the ankle and provides toe clearance during the swing phase of a gait stride, it may force adaptive behavior on the patients by interfering with ankle plantarflexion and alter the need for muscles to contract at the appropriate time and intensity throughout the gait cycle. The latter may have significant adverse effects on the recovery of the patient""s motor control capability. Lack of mobilization may also risk development of contracture, changes in connective tissue length and the number of sarcomeres in muscle fibers.
Physical therapy has long been in use as a mode of rehabilitation for treating persons with spastic limbs or contractured joints. Most often people are afflicted with these types of disabilities from strokes, as discussed herein, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis, although affliction can be caused through other diseases and traumatic injuries as well.
Typically, a physical therapist uses physical modalities and physical manipulation of a patient""s body with the intent of reducing spasticity and contracture, thereby restoring limb and joint function. Unfortunately, the effects may not be long-lasting, partly due to the limited and sometimes infrequent therapy a patient may receive. Furthermore, the manual stretching is laborious and the outcome is dependent on the experience and subjective xe2x80x9cend feelingxe2x80x9d of the therapists. Patients may try to restore function to the limbs and joints themselves. Unfortunately, most of the time it is difficult for the patient to have controlled movement without the assistance of a therapist. In addition, it may be difficult for a patient with an impaired limb or joint to maintain continuous motion and resistance to the limb for the treatment to be effective. Of large concern for patients who attempt to rehabilitate on their own is the potential for an increase in injuries due to lack of knowledge or from overexcessive rehabilitation.
For both patients and therapists, there is a need for a device that can stretch and mobilize the joint accurately, reliably and effectively. Furthermore, there is a need for a device to reduce spasticity and contracture that is portable and one that patients can conveniently use in the comfort of their own home such that treatment will be more frequent and provide longer-lasting improvement for the patients.
A number of devices have been developed to exercise the joint and reduce joint spasticity and contracture. One example of the prior art, and one that is generally representative of such prior art devices, discloses serial casting which fixes the limb at a corrected position. This method has been used to correct and treat ankle plantar-dorsi-flexion contracture. Dynamic splinting and traction apply a continuous stretch to the joint involved through an adjustable spring mechanism. This continuous passive motion (CPM) device is widely used in clinics and in a patient""s home to move the joint within a pre-specified range, to prevent postoperative adhesion and to reduce joint stiffness. However, existing devices like the CPM machine move the limb or joint at a constant speed between two preset joint positions. Because the machine must be set between two preset positions, normally between the flexible part of the joint range of motion, the passive movement does not usually stretch the extreme positions where contracture and spasiticity are most significant. If a CPM machine is set too high, at a higher rate of speed or to stretch where the contracture and spasiticty are most significant, there is an increased potential of risking injury to the joints because the machine operates at a constant velocity without incorporating the resisting torque generated by the soft tissues. Obviously, significant damage can be done to the joint or limb if the CPM is set too aggressively. Therefore, a need exists for a device that can safely stretch the joint to its extreme positions with quantitative control of the resistance torque and stretching velocity. In addition, there is a strong need for quantitative and objective measurements of the impairment and rehabilitation outcome.
What is needed is a limb and joint therapeutic device to stretch a spastic or contractual joint repeatedly to the extreme positions until a pre-specified peak resistance torque is reached with the stretching velocity controlled precisely based on the resistance torque.
What is further needed is a limb and joint therapeutic device that will evaluate changes in the mechanical properties of spastic joints including changes in passive joint range of motion, joint stiffness and viscosity, and energy loss.
The present invention satisfies the need for a device that can safely stretch the joint to its extreme positions with quantitative control of the resistance torque and stretching velocity. The present invention provides for a limb and joint therapeutic device that changes velocity in relation to the resistance torque throughout the joint range of motion corresponding directly to a patient""s spasticity or contracture.
The present invention further satisfies the need for a limb and joint therapeutic device that is small and portable. Furthermore, the device satisfies the need for a stretching device that can stretch and mobilize the limb or joint accurately, reliably and effectively. Finally, the device satisfies the strong need for quantitative and objective measurements of the impairment of the patients"" spasticity or contracture while providing a means for reliably detailing the rehabilitation outcome.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, there is a limb and joint therapeutic device for use by both therapists and patients, whether at home or at a clinic. The limb and joint therapeutic device has a limb support, the limb support securing a limb such that the limb is rotatable with respect to a joint. The device has a motor and a motor shaft, the motor and shaft rotating the joint at a variable velocity. A controller communicates with a torque sensor and the motor such that as the resistance torque from the limb increases, the controller communicates to the motor to decrease the variable velocity.
The above advantages, features and aspects of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.


A bag fabricated of plastic film and particularly suited for holding pulverulent or granular food products, such as rice, is provided with a check valve which is also fabricated of plastic film. The check valve includes a filter surface located in the fluid flow path of the check valve. The check valve allows egress of air or other fluid from the bag and prevents ingress of air into the bag, while the filter serves to retain the bag contents within the bag.

The present invention relates to an improvement of a bag for containing therein food which has to be stored under good conditions, For instance grains such as rice grains, and other pulverulent or granular foods liable to generate fluid such as gases during storage in the bag, and being able to discharge only Fluid such as excessive air From the bag and to prevent the outside air From entering into the bag.
In order to improve storge and minimize the bulkiness of the contained foods, there have been developed and proposed in the past varions kinds of food containing bags having a check valve and in which fluid such as air in the bag is discharged for lowering the pressure in the bag to a reduced pressure. The subject of such development, however, was directed solely to bag body and the function of the check valve was to simply discharge the fluid residing in the bag outside and to prevent outside air from entering into the bag.
Though it was possible, with such conventional food containing bags having a check valve, to discharge the fluid residing in the bag outside and to prevent outside air from entering into the bag by means of said check valve, there was a problem that it was unavoidable that a part of the contained food escapes out through a flow path in the check valve when inside fluid in discharged. This possiblity of escape of the food is remarkable when the food is pulverulent or granular.


The motor-actuable coupler is used for connecting workpiece grippers with a manipulating device, in particular a robot, which passes on workpieces from one stamping press to the next. The coupler consists of a fixed element (12, 66, 80, 38) on the drive side and a connecting element (10, 54) on the gripper side. Since normally a very large number of different workpiece grippers are employed and the connecting elements on the gripper side entail great costs, it is proposed that the fixed element of the coupler has a collet chuck (66, 74, 80, 38), and that the connecting element (10, 54) is a tube section, which can be centered in the fixed element (12, 66, 80) spaced apart from the clamping area (at 68, 76) located at the front end of the collet chuck. The tube section (10) is preferably centered by clamping faces (70, 78) and/or by cone surfaces (58) at its end which can be inserted into the collet chuck (14).

The workpiece grippers of manipulating devices, or respectively robots, must be individually matched to the workpieces. In connection with sheet metal parts, for example for motor vehicles, they normally have the form of a tube-shaped boom of, for example, 2 m length, with several boom extensions, to which suction grippers and/or clamping grippers are attached. Since the sheet metal parts are being deformed in several stamping presses, which are linked with each other, until they have their final shape, and since a specially designed workpiece gripper in accordance with the respective intermediate stage is required for a transfer to the next stamping press, 120 different workpiece grippers are required in order to produce 20 different sheet metal parts for a defined vehicle model on a line with, for example six stamping presses. So that the stocks of sheet metal parts can be kept as low as possible, the press tools are mostly exchanged in the course of only a few hours. Accordingly, in one work day it is often necessary to change the workpiece grippers of all transfer robots at the stamping presses ten times.
There are simple connections, which can be manually made by attachment screws, between the boom of a workpiece gripper and the portion of the robot supporting it, which is driven in a controlled manner. However, in view of the very high capital cost of a stamping press line per unit of time, a rapid exchange of the workpiece grippers must be relied upon. This requires quick acting couplers, which are motor-actuated when automatic gripper changing systems are used.
Such known couplers of this kind typically consist of a housing-like fixed element on the drive side, into which a matched connecting element coupled with the boom can be inserted and locked in place by means of interlocking connecting elements, for example stop bolts or hooks extending behind transverse pins. Since all workpiece grippers must be equipped with such a connecting element, considerable total costs result because of the multitude of grippers.

Coupler for connecting workpiece grippers with a manipulating device


Vehicle roof with a series of plates for selectively closing and at least partially opening a roof opening in a fixed roof surface. The plates abut one another in the closed position and form a flat interlocking system of plates within which each plate is guided on each side on two guide points, that are spaced from each other in a sliding direction, along a guiding device that is connected with the fixed roof surface so that, when the plates are displaced, the flat interlocking system of plates performs a translatory movement during which the interlocking system is separated in a plate-by-plate manner when the roof is opened and is reestablished when the roof is closed. At least the forward guide points of the plates interact with the same guideway, and both guide points of the plates are maintained in engagement with the guiding devices over their entire path of displacement. The guiding devices are constructed and arranged with respect to the fixed roof surface so that the plates, when the roof is opened, dip under the fixed roof part at a rear end of the roof opening.

The invention relates to a vehicle roof with a series of plates for alternatively closing or at least partially opening a roof opening in a solid roof surface, and in which the plates, in the closed position, abut one another and form a flat interlocking system of plates, within which each plate is guided on both sides, on two guide points lying at a distance from one another in the sliding direction, along guiding devices integral with the roof such that, when shifting the plates, the flat interlocking system of plates performs a translation movement during which the interlocking system is released at its rear end, plate by plate, when the roof is opened, or is reestablished when the roof is closed, and at least the forward guide points of the plates interact with a guideway allocated jointly to the plates.


An apparatus and related method for conveying information associated with containers. The apparatus comprises a container supporting modification means which when selectively altered effectively changes the appearance of the container such that a unique visual communication is produced. The related method comprises selectively altering the modification means supported by the container thereby providing a unique visual communication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to containers and container labels, and more particularly, to containers and container labels which can be conveniently modified to provide simple and effective ways for users to visually personalize, distinguish, mark or communicate information via the containers themselves, or their associated labels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical construction and labeling of containers does not provide means for visually communicating unique or identifying information. Users of a container often have the need to visually distinguish their container from another of the same brand and name, for example, to prevent accidental consumption of a beverage by someone other than the user of a container, or to indicate the owner of a container to avoid misidentification; to record information regarding the contents of the container, for example date of purchase, date container was first opened, volume of the container's contents consumed or remaining, amount of solute or solvent in the container; and to effect other visual signals, for example to indicate to a bar tender or server that the container is empty or near empty and another full container having the same contents is desired.
Traditional means used to visually personalize, distinguish, mark or communicate information via a container or its associated label involve the permanent physical marking or destruction of the container label. This way of communicating is both inconvenient and inconsistent, as a device for marking the container is required and uniformity of marking location is non-existent. Alternate means, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,144 to Groth and U.S. Design Pat. No. 412,938 to Kesselring et al., require the affixation of an identification tag to the container. Such traditional marking means are typically expensive and do not permit convenient customization by the end user.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a method and apparatus for effecting easy visual communication by modifying the appearance of a container or container label.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for conveying unique visual communication


A spar of a rotor blade having moderate depth transitions to a relatively much deeper shank over a relatively short distance. This rapid transition enables a low-weight blade root that is structurally efficient, offers a high moment capability, and enables high Mach number axial flow. A transition could advantageously reduce section depth by at least 15%, 20%, 30%, or even 40% over at most 5%, 6%, 10%, or 12% of a total length of the rotor blade. Such a transition could advantageously be accomplished using a cuff, which has interfaces with each of the spar and the shank. The rotor blade shank has a generally circular cross-section which allows for a rotary attachment to a hub, where the attachment may advantageously comprise a mechanical or elastomeric bearing. Preferred embodiments have a spar with a generally rectangular cross-section.

A lift generating blade has been a key component in aircraft propulsion since the inception of powered flight. As with most aircraft structures, performance and structural margins are thin, and therefore blade structures are usually designed to provide the highest practical strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios within bounding airfoil profiles. Blade structures, chosen for efficiency in blade bending, commonly take the form of a simple I-beam or box beam centered at the thickest portion of the blade airfoil profile. In some more advanced designs the box beam may be multi-celled to help prevent buckling while allowing for minimum thickness box upper and lower surfaces (often referred to as the beam caps). In addition to the demanding requirements on the blade to act as an efficient beam in bending, many rotor and propeller blades must rotate about their long axis (termed blade feathering axis or blade pitch axis), to provide variable thrust or lift. This necessitates that the airfoil shape of the blade transition to a circular shape or that the blade be mechanically fastened to a rotating member. This circular beam root shape is less effective than a comparably sized (in terms of area) box beam or I-beam in bending. The inefficiency of the circular shape is compounded by the characteristic of cantilevered beams to have a maximum moment at the root of the beam, thus making the beam root region the most important for beam stiffness.
Across the spectrum of aircraft applications for lift-generating blade structures there are a wide variety of configurations that create different demands on the blade structure. Although strength, weight and stiffness are important for most blade structures, several other factors are involved that are application specific and vary between aircraft configurations. A blade structure in a vertical lift application such as that found in a conventional helicopter rotor has very different constraints compared to those of a horizontal flight vehicle such as a propeller aircraft.
In the case of a conventional helicopter rotor blade, the root of the blade is often hinged, and thus there are little or no bending moments present at the root of the blade structure. The blade is kept radially extended and somewhat stiffened by the centrifugal force as the blade spins around the center axis. This centrifugal force helps to relieve bending in the blade beam and the presence of a hinge at the root eliminates the build up of bending loads from the tip to the root of the blade. The airflow through the rotor disk in a hovering helicopter (commonly termed axial flow) and the edgewise airflow in helicopter forward flight near the rotor axis of rotation are relatively slow, and thus the aerodynamic shape of the blade of a conventional helicopter near the root is not critical to rotor performance.
A typical prior art helicopter rotor blade root and rotor hub attachment can be seen in FIG. 1, adapted from U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,309 to Class, et al. This and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. In FIG. 1 the blade root 100 comprises an inboard blade aerodynamic portion 120, an unfaired structural root portion 110, and a hub attachment 130. The rectangular box shape in the blade structure 110 continues through to a pinned or otherwise mechanically fastened joint to the hub assembly, which allows the blade to feather or pitch about the blade long axis. In this configuration both the structural beam bending requirements and the aerodynamic constraints due to axial and edgewise flow are relatively low. Thus it can be seen that the structure is not faired, and the blade beam is not optimized for bending.
In the case of an aircraft propeller; the system of blades is moving in the axial direction at a much greater speed than a helicopter (as high as Mach 0.75). Due to these high axial flow rates, the aerodynamic profile of the blade root is critical to the high speed performance of the propeller system. However, unlike helicopter blades, the propeller blade does not support the weight of the aircraft in vertical flight, and is usually of a much smaller overall diameter. Thus the moment loads at the root of the propeller blade are relatively low, and the blade-to-hub attachment depth can be much thinner. As can be seen in FIG. 2, adapted from U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,784 to Carter, a prior art propeller assembly 200 comprises a blade aerodynamic lifting surface portion 210, a blade structure or spar portion 220, a blade shank and rotation portion 230,  and a spinner fairing portion 240. It can be seen the transition from the lifting surface portion 210 to the blade shank and rotation portion 230, can be rapid and still provide propeller aerodynamic efficiency without undue weight.
FIG. 3, adapted from U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,167 to Spoltman, et al., shows a prior art propfan rotor propulsion system 300. Such a system is designed for very high axial speeds of Mach 0.7 to 0.8, and a resulting blade 310 is very thin even at the root section, where it abruptly terminates at a circular turntable 320, used for feathering the blade 310. Such a thin blade has a low capacity for carrying root bending moments.
In the case of a tilt-rotor aircraft both hover and forward flight regimes are possible. When a tiltrotor aircraft operates in airplane cruise mode, the propeller or proprotor operates in substantially high axial flow, (above Mach 0.45). A tiltrotor aircraft usually also has the capability of operating as a helicopter, where axial flow rates are low. Known prior art flying tiltrotor aircraft have what is termed a gimbaled rotor, which allows the rotor to pivot about its center, thus substantially preventing the transfer of high blade root moment loads to the fixed-system hub or mast. In such assemblies, the blade root is typically kept faired close to the hub fairing so that in forward flight the propeller is aerodynamically efficient. However, because moment loads are low in the gimbaled rotor blade, the root structural shape is usually a round spar, structurally inefficient, but simpler in geometry and manufacture for the transition from blade lifting surface portion to blade shank and rotation mechanism.
Hingeless rotor helicopters are known in the prior art. In these designs the rotor blade is cantilevered at the root both in blade bending up-down (termed flap) and in forward-aft (termed lag) while supported on mechanical or elastomeric feather bearings. Such a rotor can be configured to provide rotor control moments for aircraft roll and pitch that are not possible with conventional gimbaled helicopters. In this case, a rotor blade root moment is developed, but as in other helicopters, the axial flow rate is low, and thus again the root aerodynamic profile is not critical to rotor performance. An exemplary hingeless rotor system for a helicopter is that of the Optimum Speed Rotor, U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,298 to Karem and implemented on the Boeing™ Hummingbird A160 helicopter.
Some advanced technology composite propeller blades have been manufactured using braided pre-forms or composite winding machines. Composite materials can be tailored to place material in directions only as needed to carry prevailing loads on a structure. In the case of a braided pre-form, a number and direction of fibers is determined for the composite structure and a woven "sock" is created, containing only the fibers required for the loads. This sock is placed dry over a mold, and then infused with resin to make the final composite blade part. A similar manufacturing method is composite winding of structures. The prior art all-composite blade of the Airbus™ A400M transport aircraft is manufactured on a winding machine, carrying all the fiber strands (tows in the industry vernacular) and interweaving them on the part essentially simultaneously.
Both woven performs and wound structures have the drawback that the weave by nature creates a slight bend or kink in the fiber as it moves above or below the crossing fiber. These bends reduce the overall strength of the material in tension and compression. A preferred method to reduce this fiber kinking is to create the structure using unidirectional tapes of fibers. Layering these tapes one on top of the other creates an uninterrupted stronger structure, but can be labor intensive to manufacture. Advances in automated fiber placement machines make it possible to wrap unidirectional composite tapes over large complex parts.
The blades of high speed or high efficiency hingeless or rigid rotors or propellers can greatly benefit from achieving high ratios of strength to weight and stiffness to weight within the thin airfoils required for efficiency at substantial axial or edgewise speed. The use of a combination of a rigid rotor and a tiltrotor aircraft as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,365 to Karem provides several advantages. That lightweight hingeless rotor system allows for variable rotor speed, increasing efficiency in both of the two disparate hover and aircraft flight regimes. In both helicopter and airplane modes, a stiff hingeless rotor provides rotor control moments not achievable in the current gimbaled tiltrotor aircraft. However, in this configuration the rotor blade root is subject to two demanding criteria: The blade root must carry large moment loads during hover, as the entire vehicle is lifted by a large diameter unhinged rotor, and in airplane flight mode the blade root must have low aerodynamic drag as the vehicle could see axial flow rates through the rotor disk approaching Mach 0.65. Therefore, it is apparent that a blade structure optimized for high structural root moment capability at low blade root weight and  aerodynamic efficiency at high speed axial flow is still required in the field of hingeless tiltrotor aircraft, and will also substantially benefit hingeless rotor helicopters and compound helicopters with high edgewise speed.
Designs for metal composite blade retention systems have been suggested as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,642 to Dixon et al. which suggests one method wherein a composite blade is bonded to an external titanium cuff structure which is in turn bolted to a bearing to allow feathering of the blade. In this design, a backup internal cuff acts as a redundant load path in the case of bond failure on the first cuff to composite interface. A conical flair of the blade root and cuff forces a wedging action between the inner cuff structure and the composite in the event of a primary bond failure. FIG. 4, adapted from the Dixon patent, illustrates a blade root and attachment 400 design comprising a blade spar 410, cuff 430, and attachment to a hub 420. It is important to note that in the Dixon patent and other known prior art designs, the blade spar 420 and cuff 430 both have circular cross sections.


A portable carbonator includes a built-in CO.sub.2 supply system which operates on disposable gas generating cartridges. The system requires no electrical power and is self-sufficient and automatic. CO.sub.2 gas is generated by a chemical reaction between reagents which carbonates and/or propels the water. Whenever carbonated water is drawn, the reagents react and generate more CO.sub.2 so as to maintain a constant pressure of the carbonated water.

The present invention relates to a carbonator assembly which requires no electrical components and includes a CO.sub.2 gas generator module which generates the gas by a chemical reaction.
The water carbonator, in combination with the conventional CO.sub.2 -cylinder, comprises a system, which is an essential part of those beverage dispensers which use syrup and water to produce a finished carbonated beverage. Conventional carbonator systems require complex controls firstly to ensure the correct degree of carbonation and secondly to provide a constant water pressure while dispensing. The latter is essential- for providing good control of the water-syrup dispensing ratio and a constant carbonation level while water is being drawn. Furthermore the conventional CO.sub.2 supply comprises heavy, high pressure CO.sub.2 cylinders which are necessarily returnable, refillable packages, are inconvenient to use, and require pressure controls and safety devices.
In home-dispensing, a non-pressurized or low-pressure CO.sub.2 package is important, since it simplifies distribution through normal retail channels and provides qreater convenience foi the non-professional user. In addition, a conveniently designed carbonator for home-dispensing is one which is portable, can be filled at the user's sink, and be replaced into the dispenser after filling. Home dispensers are essentially simple devices, with few controls, and in the future some may be fitted into refrigerators, eliminating the need for separate cooling. This in turn implies the need for simple mechanical controls of the carbonation process. However, both the actual carbonation and the generation of gas for dispensing purposes should occur automatically, with minimum user manipulation. Otherwise, the advantages of simplicity and cost-effectiveness are counter-balanced by the lack of essential convenience.


A printer of bit map type provides a first information processor for analyzing data received from an external data processor to transform them into intermediate codes and a second information processor for imaging bit images on a bit map memory according to intermediate codes. The first and second information processors are interconnected by a memory means so as to be able to work asynchronously with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image generating method and apparatus for printing bit images according to data input from a data processor such as a host computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, data sent from a data processor to a printer is comprised of image data for bit map images to be printed out and control data for controlling the print method and mode of a print engine of the printer. In conventional systems, a single processor or controller is used to transform image data into bit map images to be printed out and to send the bit map images to the print engine. In a conventional controller, a memory buffer which is controlled so as to form a First-in First-out (FIFO) memory by software is used for internal data flow in order to synchronize data input from the data processor with data to be outputted to the print engine.
Data input from an external data processor is stored in a register buffer temporarily and the stored data is read out by the controller. The controller executes so called packet processing asynchronously from the input of data in order to memorize packet data into the FIFO memory.
In the packet processing, protocol analysis, pre-editing of image data, transformation of data into packets (intermediate codes) according to the result of pre-editing which makes imaging of bit images onto a bit map memory easier and memorizing intermediate codes into a memory are carried out sequentially. During the pre-editing of image data, respective print positions of individual image data are determined according to the result of the protocol analysis. Accordingly, intermediate codes representing image data include pattern codes of image data and addresses for imaging individual bit images on the bit map memory. Upon output by the controller, the controller transforms intermediate codes into bit images and writes them on the bit map memory.
In a system wherein data processing in the FIFO memory is controlled according to software programmed in a CPU, the efficiency of data processing is increased as a whole, but the data processing is still too time consuming to apply it to a faster printer.
As a conventional controller, there has been known a controller comprised of one CPU or comprised of multiple CPUs which are connected to a common RAM.
In those systems, packet processing of received data and imaging of the received data are executed by one CPU. Since these procedures are executed in a time-division mode by the one CPU, they are executed intermittently. This slows down the data processing.
In a conventional controller having one CPU, a ring buffer is used as an internal memory and a FIFO memory is formed as software by controlling the ring buffer with use of control programs provided therefor. However, in the controller of this type, it is difficult to speed up the data processing since it takes a relatively long time to control the ring buffer.
Furthermore, even in a conventional controller comprised of multiple CPUs which possesses the common RAM used commonly in the time-division system, fast transmission of data of a large volume is impossible since data access has to be done synchronously with time-division clocks.

Image generating apparatus having a memory for storing data and method of using same


The present invention provides methods and devices for monitoring physiological data such that a health care provider is able to effectively monitor a patient's health status, including, for example, blood flow characteristics, without having to maintain constant visual contact. In one embodiment of the present invention, a physiological data monitoring system measures at least one physiological characteristic wherein the physiological data monitoring system comprises a sensor unit and a monitoring unit in data communication with the sensor unit. The monitoring unit has a sonification module that comprises one programmable sound generator module to produce a plurality of signals indicative of a physiological parameter and a memory module for storing a plurality of control parameters for managing the programmable sound generator module, wherein the plurality of signals produced have a plurality of frequencies modified in accordance with at least one physiological data value. More specifically, the present invention provides a pulse oximetry sonification system that generates fixed frequency singular and/or combined amplitude-adjusted dual audio tones corresponding to predetermined transition and/or intermediate points over a range of SpO2 measurements.

In certain applications, a user may need to monitor the status of an activity, function, variable, or other data by relying on auditory, as opposed to visual, indicators. For example, in many situations requiring physiological monitoring, such as in the course of surgery, providing anesthesia, or tracking critical vital signs, a user needs to visually focus on tasks other than monitoring and, therefore, is unable to visually monitor the physiological data for important changes or variations. In such cases, the monitoring of physiological data may best be achieved through the sonification of physiological data. Sonifying data generates auditory indicators by expressing received information as humanly perceptible sound patterns.
An exemplary physiological data monitoring device is a pulse oximeter. Pulse oximeters are used to monitor and report on blood flow characteristics including, but not limited to, the level of arterial blood saturation, the volume of individual blood pulsation supplying a tissue, and the rate of blood pulsation corresponding to each heartbeat. Where important changes or variations occur in blood flow characteristics, it would be valuable to indicate such changes or variations using auditory indicators such that health care providers, including doctors, nurses, technicians, and other persons, can be warned of a patient's health status without having to constantly visually monitor the pulse oximeter.
Oximeters typically comprise monitoring units that incorporate modules for generating audible alarm signals when a particular physiological parameter varies beyond certain safe limits. These oximeters use well-defined audio signaling techniques for the limited purpose of conveying alarm situations. For example, an existing oximeter generates a tonal signal that has a pitch proportional to the ratio of oxygen saturation and a sequential repetition proportional to pulse.
However, a continuous variation of audio pitch with the level of oxygen saturation (SpO2) does not allow a user to effectively associate a particular tone with a certain SpO2 reading. Also, prior art oximeters use special-purpose monitor units that incorporate audio generation circuitry, often implemented in hardware, that offer limited scope for manipulation of various acoustic variables governing an audio signal.
Therefore, an approach to physiological data monitoring is needed whereby audio signals are generated that represent predetermined transition points over a range of physiological data measurements, such as a range of SpO2 measurements. It is further needed to implement a sonification system in software such that the alarm signals can be programmed or manipulated by a user and such that the sonification system can be used on any general-purpose computing device such as a PC, PDA or a laptop computer.

Auditory alarms for physiological data monitoring


In a method for processing electronic documents, an indication of a plurality of electronic source documents is received with one or more computing devices that each have a processor executing at least a portion of an electronic document processing application and a memory coupled to the processor to store associated data. An indication of an electronic destination location is received. An indication of particular source document content is received. An indication of one or more processing actions to be performed with respect to the particular source document content is received. One or more occurrences of the particular source document content within the plurality of electronic source documents are detected. The one or more processing actions are performed so as to generate the electronic output content, without presenting contents of the plurality of electronic source documents to a user. The electronic output content is written to the electronic destination location.

An organization may maintain numerous electronic documents that are used for a variety of purposes, including contractual purposes. For example, an organization may maintain electronic documents pertaining to Statements of Work (SOWs) that the organization has entered into, or is to enter into, with its customers and/or providers. Such electronic documents may include completed SOWs, SOW templates, electronic documents containing content that may need to be inserted into one or more SOWs, etc.
In some cases, electronic documents, including those pertaining to SOWs, are required to be updated in response to changes in business requirements, changes in governing agreements with customers or providers, and other factors.

System and method for automatically replacing information in a plurality electronic documents