Sliced specimens can be automatically and continuously prepared and burdens of an operator can be reduced while accuracy required for the sliced specimen is maintained. The sliced specimen is prepared by relatively moving a specimen block transfer section and a cutter, and when a slicing operation to adjust the height position of the specimen block is continuously performed so that the cutting surface of the specimen block is located at a sliceable position, the cutter is moved so that a contacting area of a blade edge of the cutter that firstly contacts the specimen block after the height position adjustment is sequentially changed, every time previously set number of times of slicing operation is completed. Thereafter, the height position of the blade edge of the cutter after the change is measured by a detector, and based on the measurement information of the detector, the sliceable position is corrected and the slicing operation is resumed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for preparing a sliced specimen used in physical and chemical sample analysis, microscopic observation of a biotic sample, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a microtome is generally known as an apparatus for preparing a sliced specimen used in physical and chemical sample analysis, microscopic observation of a biotic sample, and the like. The microtome is an apparatus for slicing a surface layer portion of a specimen block by using a manually-operated cutter, the specimen block being obtained by embedding a specimen such as a biotic sample in an embedding substance such as paraffin.
A thin slice sliced by the microtome is extremely thinly sliced, and therefore is in a curling state. In order to stretch this thin slice, the thin slice is put in a bath filled with a liquid for stretch, such as water or hot water, by using a brush or paper, for example. When the thin slice is stretched by the liquid in the bath, the thin slice in the bath is scooped by using the brush and paper, and is applied to a slide by using an adhesive liquid (such as water). Alternatively, the slide is put in the bath, the thin slice in the liquid is directly scooped and is applied to the slide.
The thin slice disposed on the slide tightly adheres to the slide by further stretching wrinkles and the like by heating the slide. The thin slice adhering to the slide becomes tightly fixed to the slide with evaporation of the adhesive liquid, and is used as a sliced specimen for tissue observation.
The preparation work of the sliced specimen by using the microtome as described above is conventionally performed manually by an operator, and requires much time and labor. Several days are usually required for processing several dozens of specimen blocks even by an operator skilled in using the microtome, and also this is a repetition of the same operation. Therefore, the operator has to bear an excessive burden physically and mentally. In addition, a plurality of slices are put in the bath, thus involving a problem of contamination between specimens through the liquid.
Further, although a thickness required for the sliced specimen is different depending on the specimen, an extremely thin slice in a range, e.g., from 3 μm to 10 μm is required, and high uniformity is also required. Meanwhile, in the conventional method using the microtome, height position aligning of the specimen blocks and position (height) adjustment of cutters are visually performed by the operator. Therefore, there is a variation in accuracy (thickness and uniformity) of the sliced specimens depending on the operator, and even in a case of the same operator, a variation in the accuracy of the sliced specimens occurs due to a fatigue degree of the operator. Therefore, an apparatus capable of reducing the burden of the operator and reducing deterioration of the accuracy of the sliced specimen is required.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-28910) discloses an apparatus for sticking a sliced specimen that sticks a specimen onto the surface of a slide, wherein the sliced specimen is obtained by slicing a specimen block in which a sample is embedded in paraffin and the like by a cutter, this sliced specimen is carried by a carrier tape, thereafter the carrier tape is run to send the sliced specimen to a front face of the slide, and next the carrier tape is made in tight contact with the surface of the slide, thereby sticking the specimen to the surface of the slide.
In this apparatus, the specimen block is transferred with a surface layer portion of the specimen block contacting a cutting blade of the cutter, and the surface layer portion of the specimen block is sliced, to thereby prepare the sliced specimen. In addition, this apparatus is operated in such a way that by controlling the running of the carrier tape, the slice carried by the carrier tape is moved to the front face of the slide coated with an adhesive liquid, thereafter the thin slice is stuck onto the slide by putting the carrier tape closer to the surface of the slide, and the slide is heated to stretch the wrinkles of the slice, which is then transferred to the outside of the apparatus.
Incidentally, in the aforementioned apparatus, the sample embedded in this specimen block is sliced along a transfer direction of the specimen block, and therefore face preparation for a top face of the specimen block is important. Namely, when the specimen block is inclined at a predetermined angle, the thickness of the sliced specimen is thereby influenced, thus making it impossible to prepare the sliced specimen with a uniform thickness.
Further, Japanese Patent No. 3656005 discloses a method of preparing a specimen by adjusting an inclination angle of the specimen when using a microtome. In this document, the surface of the specimen block formed with a flat surface in advance is pressed against a reference surface, and a face preparation for the specimen block is performed.
Generally, when the surface layer portion of a specimen block is sliced by a cutter, paraffin and the like is stuck to the blade edge of the cutter, thereby deteriorating the accuracy of slicing of the sliced specimen to be prepared next. Particularly, when the specimen block is continuously sliced by using the same area of the blade edge of the cutter, a cutting quality of this area of the cutter is gradually lowered, thus significantly deteriorating the accuracy of the sliced specimen.
In order to solve the above-described problem, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-153521 discloses a microtome by which a cutter is moved to automatically change the contacting area, so that the contacting area where the blade edge of the cutter firstly contacts the surface layer portion of a specimen block does not concentrate on the same area, when the surface layer portion of the specimen block is continuously sliced. According to the apparatus of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-153521, by moving the cutter so as to automatically and suitably change the contacting area, it is possible to reduce the burden of the operator, such as an replacing work of the cutter or a changing work of an attachment position of the cutter, and also it is possible to reduce the deterioration of the accuracy of the sliced specimen by constantly maintaining a good cutting quality of the cutter.
However, in the aforementioned apparatus of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-153521, a shift occurs in some cases in height position of the blade edge of the cutter that contacts the specimen block before and after the movement of the cutter, due to wear by friction between the cutter and a holder holding the cutter, caused by repeated movement of the cutter. Also, a difference occurs in height position of the blade edge of the cutter that contacts the specimen block, due to individual variability of the cutter and attachment adjustment of the cutter to the holder (for example, a fastening adjustment of a screw when the cutter is screw-fixed to the holder).
Therefore, in the aforementioned apparatus of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-153521, when the shift occurs during automatically and continuously slicing the sliced specimen, there occurs such a failure that missing in slicing operation of the cutter occurs, or the thickness of the sliced specimen becomes smaller or larger than the thickness required for the sliced specimen, or the blade sticks into the specimen block to damage the specimen block, thus deteriorating the accuracy of the sliced specimen. In order to solve such a defect, for example, the operator must always monitor the operation of the apparatus for preparing the sliced specimen, and when the accuracy of the sliced specimen is deteriorated or the shift occurs in the height position of the blade edge of the cutter that contacts the specimen block, the operator must perform the work such as stopping the apparatus and adjusting the height position of the cutter or the specimen block, and the operator's burden is further increased.
Further, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-28910 is adapted to transfer a thin slice to the outside of the apparatus every time one piece of the thin slice is stuck to the slide. Accordingly, when a large number of thinly sliced specimens are prepared, the number of slides are also increased, thus involving a problem that a drying space is increased and a cost is accordingly increased.
In addition, quantity of work of a staining work, being the next step, is large amount, thus involving a problem of inviting a wasteful amount of staining reagent and deterioration in efficiency of experimental evaluation.
Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described issues, a technical object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for preparing the sliced specimen, for automatically sticking the thin slice to the slide.

Apparatus and method for preparing sliced specimen


A system and method for a reverse mounted light array. In one method embodiment, the present invention couples a reverse mounted light-generating source with a substrate. Additionally, the present invention couples an electrical portion of the reverse mounted light generating source with a conductive trace coupled to the reverse side of the substrate, wherein the coupling of the conductive trace with the substrate and the reverse mounted light generating source forms a reverse mounted light array.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are devices that use a semiconductor diode that emits light when charged with electricity. LEDs provide light in a wide array of electronic devices. For example, LEDs are used as on/off indicators in electronic devices, are used to provide LCD or keypad backlighting in handheld devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cellular telephones, and are used for digital display readouts, such as electronic signs. Typically, LEDs are manufactured into an electronic chip (e.g., LED chips) that provide for easy integration into electronic devices.
Moreover, LEDs have found their way into lighting applications, photo-therapeutic applications, and other applications where a compact, low voltage, rugged, and high efficiency light source is advantageous. In many such applications, a number of LEDs are arranged into an array or other pre-determined arrangement having similar or dissimilar LED types.
However, one problem associated with LED illumination array in a phototherapy context is the surface mount of the LED with respect to the substrate. That is, the LED or light source is mounted on top of the flexible substrate and the connections (including wiring, solders, etc.) for the light source are also on top of the flexible substrate.
FIG. 1 illustrates one prior art embodiment that has a substrate 10, an LED 12, and an interface comprising a solid layer 14 of light-diffusing and heat-insulating material. One example of material for the layer 14 is silicone having glass bubbles distributed randomly throughout. Another example of material for the layer 14 is silicone having Titania distributed throughout. Alternatively, or in addition, the layer 14 may be silicone having a matte finish on the skin contact surface 16. The skin contact surface may have a pattern, for example, a printed pattern, effective to scatter and diffuse light.
The backing comprises a solid layer 18 of light-reflective, heat-conductive material including a solid layer of light-diffusive, heat-conductive material. In addition, the backing includes a back cover spaced from a substrate 10 with a secondary spacer having gaps or channels therein directly across the substrate 10 from each of the LEDs 12. The backing also includes a back cover 24 spaced from the substrate 10 with a secondary spacer 25. In this case, the secondary spacer 25 is provided directly underneath each of the LEDs 12, and preferably is made of a highly heat conductive material. Heat thus flows from the LED 12 through the substrate 10 to the secondary spacer 25, which is cooled on either side by the gaps 26.
In the surface mount configuration, a silicone (or other insulating) coating 14 is necessary to stop any fluids or contaminants from contacting the surface of the flexible substrate and having deleterious effects on the circuitry and/or the light source mounted on the substrate surface. Additionally, in the surface mount configuration, the dissipation of heat from the light source can be extremely difficult thereby resulting in a decrease in the light producing capabilities of the light source to ensure that a user is not burned.

Method, system and device for delivering phototherapy to a patient

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


An apparatus for maintaining copy information pertaining to data frames received by a multiport switch that forwards received data frames to plural output ports includes a random access storage area and a control logic, both of which are located on the switch. The random access storage area stores a copy number that indicates the number of output ports that have not yet transmitted their copy of a designated data frame. The control logic addresses specific fixed locations within the random access storage area using frame pointers that identify where the received data frames are stored in an external memory. The information maintained in the random access storage area is accessible to all components of the multiport switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication systems, and more particularly, to an apparatus that allows random access to information pertaining to the number of output ports that have transmitted copies of designated data frames.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern communication systems, such as computer networking systems or communication networks, provide constant transmission of data between end stations and/or intermediate stations such as routers and signal amplifiers. Computer networking systems, such as packet switched networks (e.g., Ethernet networks), often require transmission of data to a single end station or to multiple end stations within the network. The data originates from a user program and is segmented into multiple data frames, and subsequently transmitted in order to simplify processing and minimize the retransmission time required for error recovery. For example, in a conventional e-mail system, a user may desire to send the same e-mail message to four different users that are connected to the e-mail system. Accordingly, the identical data would be directed to multiple end stations.
Packet switched computer networks typically employ a network switch that receives and forwards data frames to individual and/or multiple end stations. The network switch makes forwarding decisions upon receipt of data frames based on information contained in a header of the data frame. For example, if a received data frame is to be transmitted to a number of end stations, the switch must make the forwarding decision to forward the data frame to the ports of the correct end stations. Depending on the specific implementation and/or characteristic of the networking system (i.e., data transfer rate, traffic intensity, etc.), buffers must be provided for temporary storage of the data frames, received by the switch, until forwarding decisions can be made. The buffers used to store the data frames are often implemented as first in, first out (FIFO) queues.
Buffering the data as it is received allows, for example, robust error checking to be performed on the data frames, and also permits rate matching between transmitting and receiving ports. When data frames arrive at a network switch, only buffers that are currently available (i.e., xe2x80x9cfreexe2x80x9d) may be used to store the data frames, in order to prevent overwriting of a first data frame by a second data frame prior to transmission.
In systems that employ multiple buffers to store a single data frame, the network switch monitors the transmission of all data frames. In addition, it is often necessary to transmit multiple copies of the same data frame to different network stations. Such situations require that the network switch closely monitor the system to ensure that all copies of the data frame have been either transmitted or accounted for. The network switch may also include various components that maintain information regarding the number of copies of data frames that have been successfully transmitted. Therefore, it is necessary to continually update the status of all data frames that must be transmitted by multiple output ports. Depending on the specific implementation of the system, updating the status of such data frames can often be very time consuming, particularly when multiple components of the network switch maintain or use information pertaining to the number of output ports that have completed transmission of their copy of the data frame.
Based on the foregoing, a primary disadvantage associated with current methods of transmitting multiple copies of the same data within communication systems, such as a packet switched computer networking system, is the amount of time required to update multiple components of the switch with copy number information for multicast data frames.
There is a need for an arrangement that allows various components of a network switch to quickly obtain information regarding the number of copies of a received data frame remaining to be transmitted by various output ports of a network switch.
These and other needs are addressed by the present invention, wherein a multiport switch maintains copy information, pertaining to the number of copies of a received data frame that have been transmitted, in a random access storage area that may be accessed by various components of the multiport switch.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for maintaining copy information pertaining to data frames received by a multiport switch that forwards received data frames to plural output ports comprises: a random access storage area and a control logic, both of which are located on the chip. The random access storage area stores a copy information that indicates the number of output ports that have not yet transmitted their copy of a designated data frame. The control logic addresses locations within the random access storage area using frame pointers that identify where the received data frames are stored in an external memory. Each frame pointer includes at least two portions that are used by the control logic to address a specific row location and specific column location of a cell within the random access storage area where the copy number value of a designated data frame is stored. Depending on the specific implementation, the random access storage area can be configured to provide read access to all components of the multiport switch, while additionally providing write access to the control logic. The present arrangement advantageously minimizes the amount of time required to update copy number information for the multiport switch by storing the information in a random access storage area.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the random access storage area is physically configured as a matrix containing 1,024 rows, and 8 columns that are 4-bits wide. In addition, each frame pointer is thirteen (13) bits long. The control logic uses the ten (10) most significant bits of the frame pointer to address the specific row location of cells within the random access storage area, and the three (3) least significant bits to address specific column location of cells within the random access storage area.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of randomly accessing copy information for received data frames from a random access storage area of a multiport switch comprises the steps: retrieving a frame pointer that identifies the location of a designated data within an external memory area; decoding the retrieved pointer to indicate a specific row and specific column of the decoded cell of the random access storage area where a copy number value for the designated data frame is stored; and reading the copy number value stored in the decoded cell of the random access storage area. The present arrangement provides an efficient method for any and all components of the multiport switch to determine copy information regarding multicast data frames.
Additional advantages and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Method and apparatus for maintaining randomly accessible copy number information on a network switch


Techniques for enhanced microfluidic impedance spectroscopy include causing a core fluid to flow into a channel between two sheath flows of one or more sheath fluids different from the core fluid. Flow in the channel is laminar. A dielectric constant of a fluid constituting either sheath flow is much less than a dielectric constant of the core fluid. Electrical impedance is measured in the channel between at least a first pair of electrodes. In some embodiments, enhanced optical measurements include causing a core fluid to flow into a channel between two sheath flows of one or more sheath fluids different from the core fluid. An optical index of refraction of a fluid constituting either sheath flow is much less than an optical index of refraction of the core fluid. An optical property is measured in the channel.

An impedance-based microfluidic flow cytometer uses a small channel in combination with control of the flow of fluid streams in that channel to guide cells or other particles between two or more electrodes that measure electrical impedance in the vicinity of each electrode or between pairs of electrodes. This principle has been applied in various embodiments, including several published micro flow cytometers. Note that the term flow cytometer is used loosely herein, as the apparatus can be used for the characterization of the impedance of a large variety of particles, not only cells.

Enhanced microfluidic electromagnetic measurements

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


An air release stock stop for detecting the end of a bar stock during a machining process on a turning machine. The air release stock stop includes a pivot member hingedly connected to a base member by a shaft, an activation member adjustably connected through the pivot member and a valve unit activated by the pivot member within the base member. The base member fastens to the body of a turning machine such that the connected pivot member and activation member align with the spindle(s) on the turning machine. Preferably a bar stock end fixed within the spindle(s) comes in contact with the activation member as the bar stock is fed out to be machined. The force applied by the bar stock as it contacts the activation member causes the pivot member to rotate about the shaft, activating the valve unit to indicate proper feed for the machining process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to stock stops and more specifically it relates to an air release stock stop for detecting the end of a bar stock during a machining process on a turning machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Stock stops have been in use for years. Typically, stock stops utilize a mechanism that activates a switch device after an engaging member on the mechanism comes in contact with the bar stock being machined. The mechanism can electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically control the stopping action of the turning machine by halting the bar stock feeding function of the machine. Unfortunately, stock stops currently used today are operated with mechanisms utilizing many parts that cannot withstand the repetitive operations performed and are difficult to repair when failure does occur.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for detecting the end of a bar stock during a machining process on a turning machine. Current stock stops are not able to withstand the repetitive machining operations performed by the lathes or turning machines.
In these respects, the air release stock stop according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of detecting the end of a bar stock during a machining process on a turning machine.


A communication apparatus comprises a storage unit for storing a first network list indicating plural networks; a receiving unit for receiving a second network list indicating plural networks from an outside by using a first authentication protocol; an operation unit for executing an AND operation by using the first network list and the second network list to create a transmission-use network list; and transmission unit for transmitting the transmission-use network list to the outside.

The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, program and method enabling selection of a network at the time of authentication.
At present, 802.1X authentication is used as a function of limiting a communications by a user to a network. In the 802.1X authentication, an authentication switch or the like (Authenticator) authenticates a user terminal (Supplicant) in combination with an authentication server. The "Authenticator" and the "Supplicant" are terms used in the 802.1X; however, in the description below, are termed as the "authentication switch" and the "user terminal", respectively.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a conventional procedure of user authentication processing in the 802.1X authentication. First, a user terminal 102 that is a computer or the like transmits a connection request to an authentication switch 104 by using an identification number (ID), a password, and the like. Upon receiving the connection request, the authentication switch 104 requests an authentication server 106 to authenticate the user terminal 102 that has transmitted the connection request. Upon receiving the authentication request from the authentication switch 104, the authentication server 106 authenticates the user terminal 102. The authentication server 106 notifies the user terminal 102 of an authentication result via the authentication switch 104. Then, it is made possible for the user terminal 102 to connect to the network.
Further, provided as an optional function to the 802.1X authentication is a function (Dynamic VLAN) of dynamically assigning a virtual LAN (VLAN) to each user terminal in the case of the user authentication. The dynamic VLAN function is a function in which the authentication server 106 assigns the VLAN to the authentication switch 104 by referring to a correspondence table between a user name registered in the authentication server 106 and the VLAN ("EAP Success" and "Radius Access Accept" of FIG. 22).
Further, as known technologies in which the authentication server selects authentication data under conditions designated by the user, the following are cited.
Patent document 1 discloses an authentication system that includes plural authentication modes, and allows selection and execution of the authentication mode according to attribute information other than a user name and a password which are inputted by the user.
Patent document 2 discloses a user authentication system that integrates user authentication systems for different services for use, thus enabling the user to enjoy various services by one ID and one password.
Patent document 3 discloses a user authentication system that shares the authentication server 106 and confidential information between a network A and a network B, and allows transmission of an authentication for the network B through the network A using the IEEE 802.1X and having high security.
[Patent document 1] JP 11-175476 A
[Patent document 2] JP 2003-132022 A
[Patent document 3] JP 2004-72631 A

Communication apparatus, program and method


A syringe for sampling bodily fluids, such as blood and the like, from a patient, comprises a first sleeve member and a second sleeve member disposed for relative shifting. The first sleeve member includes a first receiving chamber, and the second sleeve member includes a second receiving chamber. A needle mount is disposed on the first sleeve member for holding a needle in operative connection with the first receiving chamber so that bodily fluids can pass from the needle into the first receiving chamber. A filter is disposed in at least one of the first and the second sleeve members for permitting gas flow but prohibiting bodily fluid flow therethrough. The first receiving chamber communicates with the second receiving chamber through the filter so that relative shifting of the sleeve members causes gas within the first receiving chamber to flow through the filter into the second receiving chamber, thereby causing bodily fluid to flow into a first receiving chamber.

The present invention generally relates to a novel sampling device for sampling blood, or the like. The invention more specifically relates to a novel blood sampling syringe for sampling or drawing blood from a patient which provides significant improvements over the blood sampling syringes of the prior art.
Many techniques and devices have been developed over the years for sampling blood and other bodily fluids from a patient. One such method is utilization of a standard hypodermic syringe. With this method, a hypodermic needle is attached to the syringe, with a piston of the syringe being in a collapsed position. The needle is then inserted through the skin and into a patient's blood vessel. To draw blood from the patient's vascular system, a technician must shift the piston into an extended position, thereby generating a negative pressure within the syringe which, when applied to the vascular system through the needle, draws blood into the syringe. The technician must be careful to shift the piston without removing the needle from the blood vessel while drawing blood in order to avoid injuring the patient.
While effective, this method presents some drawbacks which make it cumbersome to use. For example, to shift the syringe piston into the extended position, the technician often must grasp the syringe with two hands: one hand holding the main body of the syringe while the other shifts the piston.
In an effort to reduce these complications, other devices have been developed. One such device employs a substantially hollow housing upon which a hypodermic needle can be mounted, and a sealed pre-evacuated blood-receiving tube insertable into the housing for operative connection to the needle. In use, the needle is attached to the housing and is inserted into the patient's blood vessel. A portion of the needle extends through the housing and terminates in the hollow interior thereof. A pre-evacuated tube is inserted into the hollow interior such that the terminal end of the needle pierces the seal of the tube. Negative pressure present within the tube is applied through the needle to the patient's blood vessel, thereby drawing blood therefrom into the tube. When the tube is sufficiently full, the tube is removed from the hollow interior, thereby breaking the connection between the needle and the tube, and removing the negative pressure from the blood vessel.
While this device is effective, it also presents drawbacks in some instances which make it incompatible with some patients. Specifically, while the technician need not use both hands to draw blood into the tube, as opposed to the syringe method discussed hereinabove, use of both hands is required when inserting the pre-evacuated tube and removing the filled tube so that the needle will not be dislodged from the blood vessel.
Utilization of the pre-evacuated tube itself can present other problems. Because the tube has been pre-evacuated, the negative pressure applied to the patient is applied rapidly and is not regulated, and the technician lacks control of the rate of blood drawn from the patient's vascular system. For elderly or infant patients who may have delicate or fragile blood vessels, or those who suffer from a vascular disease, their blood vessels may collapse because of the application of unregulated negative pressure, resulting in serious harm to the patient. The pre-evacuated tube also prevents reversal of the blood draw, which may be necessary in some circumstances.
Another improvement in devices for sampling blood is disclosed in the patent to Downey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,433, viz. a different construction for a sampling syringe. This syringe generally comprises a hollow tube bifurcated diametrically along an axial length thereof by a partition wall to form two substantially half-cylindrical chambers. A semi- circular piston is shiftably disposed within one chamber which communicates with the other, to which a hypodermic needle is connected, through an aperture in the partition wall. In this manner, as the piston properly shifts within one chamber, a negative pressure is generated in the other chamber, thereby drawing blood into that chamber from the patient.
While this device is also effective, it too presents certain drawbacks. Because this device is also basically a syringe, it has the same two-handed operational requirements and limitations discussed in detail hereinabove. Furthermore, the bifurcated structure of the syringe is cumbersome and expensive to manufacture and difficult to mold from a plastic material. These manufacturing difficulties result in the syringe having an increased cost, thereby reducing the economic disposability thereof. In addition, it is relatively difficult to form and maintain a seal around the semicircular piston required with this design, which further increases the cost of the syringe, as well as making it more complicated to operate.
The novel blood sampling syringe of the present invention is intended to solve some, if not all, of the problems presented by the blood sampling methods and devices of the prior art discussed above. Specifically, the blood sampling syringe of the invention provides for one-handed, controlled negative pressure blood draw from a patient. This syringe allows a technician to gently apply negative pressure to a patient's vascular system. The technician can regulate negative pressure application while also being able to reverse the blood flow in the syringe, if necessary. This novel syringe comprises relatively few parts, is relatively easily and inexpensively molded and manufactured, and is therefore economically disposable.


A rewrite determining unit acquires, for every servo frame recorded on a magnetic disk, an amplification degree, i.e., a gain of an amplifier circuit by which a read signal read from the magnetic disk is amplified to a predetermined output, determines a rewrite sector count based on the amplification degree, and performs data rewriting according to the rewrite sector count.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data rewriting technique, and particularly relates to data rewriting control when a write fault occurs.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional magnetic disk apparatus, if a write fault occurs while data is being written, data is rewritten in a predetermined number of sectors located before the sector where the write fault has occurred. A conventional technology has been disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H5-207789.
The reason for rewriting the data in the sectors located before the sector where the write fault occurs is as follows. Due to intermittent nature of servo sampling for detecting an offtrack position, if a write fault occurs due to the offtrack position or the like, it is probable that data in sectors between a previous servo frame (where it is assumed that data is written at a normal track position) of a servo frame where the offtrack position is detected and a servo frame where the offtrack position is detected is written off track. Therefore, it is necessary to rewrite the data in the sectors between the two servo frames to a center of a track. Thus, the number of sectors in which data is to be rewritten should include the sector including the servo frame where the write fault is detected.
Generally, a magnetic disk is divided into zones from an outer periphery to an inner periphery to increase a recording density of the magnetic disk. The number of sectors varies in every track from the outermost track to the innermost track in a zone. However, the number of servo frames of all the tracks in a zone is the same to keep the servo sampling constant.
More sectors are present between any two servo frames towards the outer periphery, and smaller sectors are present between any two servo frames towards the inner periphery. However, the maximum number of sectors between two frames in the outermost track is generally set as a fixed value for the number of sectors in which the data is to be rewritten.
However, in the conventional technology, the rewrite sector count is determined based on a variation in the head in a radial direction, that is, an offtrack amount without taking into account a variation in a levitation amount of the head, that is, a movement of the head in a vertical direction. Consequently, the writing process is completed with unstably written data recorded on the magnetic disk.
Thus, the rewrite sector count possibly only covers those areas where the variation in the head movement takes place in the radial direction and not those areas where the variation in the head movement takes place in the vertical direction. As a result, if a reading process for reading the data thus written is to be performed in the future, the reading process can become unstable.
In other words, it is imperative to rewrite data in sectors with unstably written data by taking into account the levitation amount of the head in addition the offtrack amount. Particularly, the magnetic disk apparatus installed in a portable apparatus (such as a portable data tool or a portable music player) likely to be carried on a train, plane or when walking, or during hiking, etc, is constantly at risk of being subjected to continuous jolts. The magnetic disk apparatus is easily affected by the usage environment of the portable device. It is, therefore, essential to ensure successful rewriting of data in the magnetic disk apparatus.

Control apparatus, storage apparatus, and computer product


A recyclable cellular telephone is disclosed having an inner rigid cellular electronics supporting frame member surrounded by a replaceable outer cover. The telephone is acquired having a limited period of use. The electronics of the telephone operate to disable the telephone following expiration of the period of use. Following expiration of the period of use, the telephone is returned for refurbishment where the outer cover is stripped and replaced and the electronics tested before being recycled with a new period of use for an another acquisition. The cellular network supporting telephone operation also monitors the period of use, disabling telephone access to the network following expiration. Directory numbers are selectively assigned to the recyclable telephones from a pool of available numbers, with assigned numbers returned to the pool after expiration of a predetermined period or telephone deactivation for re-use by another recyclable telephone. The recyclable telephones are activated and deactivated in a number of ways, including through the use of a separate activation and deactivation station which communicates with the telephones over a radio frequency communications link.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cellular telephones and, in particular, to the provision and support of a recyclable cellular telephone for use within a cellular telephone network.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable telecommunication instruments, and specifically cellular telephones, provide convenient communication capability, even from most remote areas. However, cellular telephones are currently produced and marketed for sale to the public in such a manner as to require the user to commit to a contract (subscription) for service before being able to activate the phone and originate or receive calls. The initial cost and long-term financial commitment associated with such subscriptions discourage many potential users from purchasing cellular telephones and services. Enticing customers to enter into a subscription contract by dramatically discounting the price of the cellular telephone instrument itself has not been an entirely successful marketing technique for encouraging service purchases. In this regard, many potential cellular telephone service users decide that they will not use the service to the degree justifying the cost and term of the service contract. These persons thus unfortunately choose to have no service at all. It is further recognized that some persons make efficient use of the service to such a limited extent (for example, during a business or pleasure trip, or during nights and weekends) that it would not justify the expense of a full time cellular service subscription.
As to alternatives, rental phones are available for limited time use, for example on a trip, but do not completely address the foregoing and other problems and concerns. First of all, there is still a requirement for a contract to guarantee payment and return of the rented cellular telephone. Furthermore, there is no way for the customer to know how much cost is incurred for the cellular services used until the billing statement arrives. Thus, it is possible that the renter may unwittingly incur substantial cellular use fees. Rental cellular telephones also suffer from the drawback that they must be physically and personally returned to the rental agency following the expiration of the rental period. Often times, this proves to be inconvenient to the renter.
Attempts have been made to make the acquisition, use, payment for and return of rental cellular telephones as easy and convenient as possible. These solutions have not, however, been completely successful. For example, it is known in the art to provide an automated vending station from which a cellular phone may be dispensed for renting and thereafter used and returned. The charges for such rental use are calculated after return of the phone and are billed to the credit card of the renter. No limitations are placed on the use of the phone, and no running or total cost information is provided to the renter until after return of the telephone. Also, it is mandatory that the renter return the phone to a vending machine, which may be inconvenient or impossible to do in a timely manner if the user travels to an area remote from the vending machine.
Those who choose to enter into cellular telephone service subscription agreements are not immune while traveling to the concerns, problems and limitations with respect to having access to cellular telephone service. First, cellular telephones adapted for operation on one type of cellular system are generally not usable in an incompatible type of cellular telephone system. For example, a cellular telephone configured for operation in accordance with the European Global System for Mobile (GSM) Communications cannot be used in the Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS or D-AMPS) established within the United States. Thus, even though they are a party to a subscription agreement, the subscriber may not be able to use their cellular telephone while traveling. Secondly, even in those instances where the telephone is system compatible, billing agreements between service providers addressing inter-system roaming mobile stations, especially in the international context, may not be established. This forces the cellular telephone user to manually register in the visited system and guarantee payment for calling charges using a credit card. Furthermore, subscribers may be unwilling to use the service when roaming due to incurred roaming charges. One alternative for such travelers is to abandon use of their cellular telephone in favor of a pay phone. For obvious reasons, this alternative is not particularly appealing to the person who is used to having and using their own cellular telephone. Rental cellular telephones again provide a solution, but the contractual, financial, convenience and practical concerns discussed above remain a barrier to use.
Also, there is often a need for cellular telephone service for relatively short periods of time within a limited geographical area. One example of such a need arises during a family, or other group, visit to a theme or amusement park. During such visits, it is not unusual for individuals within the family or group to have different interests, want to see different events, or ride on different rides in the park. In order to meet everyone's needs, the groups often split up and later find it difficult to reestablish contact. Through use of cellular telephones, it is possible for separated families or groups to communicate with each other to solve the separation problem and coordinate joint activities. However, a deterrent to that solution is the need for at least two cellular telephones, i.e., one phone for each body of the group. Under current practices, each cellular telephone has its own service contract and expenses associated with the contract. Although one member of the family or group may already have a cellular telephone, there exists a need for temporary use of a second or third cellular telephone to meet the group needs.
There is a need then for a system to provide access to cellular telephone service for those persons not wishing to enter into long term service subscription agreements. There is further a need to provide access to cellular telephone service for travelers and others requiring cellular telephone service for only a relatively short period of time. In either case, it is important that the acquisition of such service be as easy and convenient as possible.

Recyclable cellular telephone and method and apparatus for supporting the use of a recyclable cellular telephone within a cellular telephone network


Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide for the selective enablement and disablement of tags, such as control/process tags, in controller area network (CAN) networks, such as power generation systems, including fuel cell systems connected by a CAN bus. The selective enablement and disablement of tags, such as control/process tags, according to the various embodiments may enable management of CAN traffic such that CAN bandwidth may not be exceeded in CAN networks, such as fuel cell systems connected by a CAN bus.

A controller area network (CAN) bus allows for controlling, communicating, and monitoring complex equipment and systems, such as solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems. However, CAN buses are limited as to the number of CAN messages that can be sent at a time over the CAN buses by the bandwidth of the CAN buses. CAN messages sent over CAN buses are of a set size, thereby limiting the number of CAN messages that may be monitored by the bandwidth of CAN buses.
SOFC systems include various hardware subsystems and controllers of each of these subsystems of SOFC systems can generate control/process tags to be monitored and/or displayed on a user interface of a SOFC system that may operate as the Human Machine Interface (HMI) between the user controlling the operation of the SOFC system and the SOFC system's hardware subsystems. The control/process tags from all subsystems of a SOFC systems can be transmitted in CAN messages across a CAN bus connecting the SOFC subsystems to a monitoring station. However, the number of CAN messages sent across a CAN bus in SOFC systems may overload the CAN bus when the amount of CAN traffic exceeds the CAN bus bandwidth.

Method and apparatus for handling controller area network (CAN) messages in a fuel cell system


In a recording head, in which a strip form resistor is arranged over comb-shaped electrode leads of common electrode leads from strip form common electrodes and individual electrode leads, a distance between electrode leads positioned at the center of the strip form resistor is shorter than at other portions. As a result of this, fluctuation of print dot size can be made smaller, fluctuation of printing color development density is reduced and improvement of tone printing performance can be achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of a recording head to be employed in thermal recording or a liquid ejection (ex. inkjet) recording.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 29 is a plan view showing a portion of a heat generating resistor portion of a thick film thermal head as the conventional recording head disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Hei 01-150556, for example. In FIG. 29, 1 denotes a strip form common electrode, 2 denotes a plurality of common electrode leads extending from one edge of the strip form common electrode 1 in a comb-like fashion, 3 denotes a plurality of individual electrode leads respectively having one end positioned between two common electrode leads, and 4 denotes a strip form resistor formed by applying a resistor paste, such as that composed of ruthenium oxide and a glass component, over the common electrode leads 2 and the individual electrode leads 3 and drying and sintering the same. Each of the individual heat generating resistors 6 consists of two heat generating resistors 61 and 62 disposed between the common electrode leads 2 and the individual electrode leads 3. The interval between the leads is uniform at L. Also, the individual electrode leads 3 are connected to elements to perform switching according to printing information, at a not shown position. It should be noted that a protection layer and so forth which cover the heat generating resistors 6 to provide wear resistance and anti-oxidation purpose are not shown.
Next, description will be given of the operation of the conventional thermal head. By selectively driving one of the individual electrode leads 3, one thermal resistor unit 6 constituted by the heat generating resistors 61 and 62 is heated. The thermal resistor unit 6 is pressed onto a thermal paper as a recording paper (not shown) to cause color development by heating of the thermal resistor 6. The temperature distribution of the thermal resistor 6 is such that it has two elliptical high temperature portions with the highest temperature at the central portions HL and HR of the heat generating resistors 61 and 62, as shown in FIG. 30A. FIG. 30B is a section taken along line A-B of the plan view of FIG. 30A and shows that the cross-section of the strip form resistor 4 has a barrel-shaped configuration. This configuration results from formation of the strip form resistor 4 by application of the resistor paste.
The resistance value of the thermal resistor unit 6 is the value resulting from the parallel combination of the heat generating resistors 61 and 62. However, the resistance value may fluctuate in each of the heat generating resistors to a certain extent. A lower resistance value results in a greater current value with respect to the same voltage and results in a greater color development area. For performing high quality printing, it is necessary for the color development areas of respective heat generating resistors to be uniform. Therefore, the heat generating resistors have to be formed to have uniform resistance values.
As a method for unification of the resistance values of the heat generating resistors, there is a pulse-trimming method as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,202. The proposed method permits manufacturing under a standard with the average resistance of respective heat generating resistors being within a range of .+-.3% and non-uniformity of the individual heat generating resistors being within a range of .+-.15% (standard deviation within .+-.2%).
Hereinafter, a brief explanation will be given of the pulse trimming method.
FIG. 31 shows variation of the resistance value when a pulse having a voltage higher than that of normal use is applied to the heat generating resistor. In FIG. 31, when a pulse having a voltage greater than V0 is applied, the resistance is lowered. In order to adjust the resistance to a desired value Rx, a pulse having a voltage Vx may be applied. However, the pulse voltage is not necessarily applied as a single pulse. It is possible to sequentially apply a pulse with a lower voltage a plurality of times.
Namely, a sequential pulse is applied, and the effect of each pulse is accumulated as thermal energy. FIG. 32 shows a relationship between a number of pulses and the resistance value in the case where the voltage is applied by dividing it into a plurality of pulses. The case where relatively low voltage pulses are applied is shown by a solid line and the case where relatively high voltage pulses are applied is shown by broken line.
As shown in FIG. 32, while application of low voltage pulses may result in a long period for adjustment of the resistance, it may be advantageous for permitting delicate adjustment of the resistance.
Since the conventional thermal head is constructed as set forth above, uniformity of the resistance of the heat generating resistor 6 can be achieved. However, one problem still remains which cannot be solved by the method set forth above. Namely, what is unified by the pulse trimming is the resistance value of the thermal resistor unit 6, specifically the parallel combination of the heat generating resistors 61 and 62. In other words, there may still be a deviation of the resistance values between two heat generating resistors 61 and 62. As a result, a problem of inclination of the configuration of the color development dot due to a difference of the resistance values of the heat generating resistors 61 and 62 remains which limits improvement of the uniformity of the color development by the pulse trimming method. Due to the high voltage pulse which is applied, the lowest resistance portion of each of the heat generating resistor 61 and 62 produced by pulse trimming method may flucture with respect to specified value resistance. This may be influenced by particle distribution of the resistor material component and insulation material component in the paste of the ruthenium oxide as the resistor material. Accordingly, it becomes impossible to make the heat distribution of the thermal resistor 6 uniform which causes a problem of non-uniformity of the configuration and size of the color development dots.
As improvements for the configuration of the color development dots in the thick film thermal head, there are known prior arts disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Publications (Kokoku) Nos. Hei 5-18144, Hei 5-181145 and Hei 5-181146. Even in such cases, it is not possible to unify the heat distribution when resistance trimming for the heat generating resistor is performed. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 2-243360 discloses to provide a higher resistance for one of the common electrode lead or the individual electrode lead for improving color development distribution of the thick film thermal head. However, a difficulty is encountered in unification of high resistance in production.


A fishfinder is provided for identifying with high precision a single fish under the ship and for measuring the length of the fish precisely. An operator of the fishfinder is assisted to grasp the depth and the length of the fish. A fishfinder transmits an ultrasound pulse having a high carrier frequency and an ultrasound pulse having a low carrier frequency by means of a pulse transmission and reception device at predetermined time intervals. A single fish echo is determined and tracked for a plurality of transmission intervals of ultrasound pulses emitted into the water. A target strength of single fish is measured based on the signal strength of a low carrier frequency echo signal from the single fish. The length of the fish is measured based on the target strength. A fish mark is displayed on the screen of an indicator, with the size of the fish mark depending on the fish length.

The present invention relates to a fishfinder for identifying a single fish and for measuring the length of a fish.
In general, there have been used in fishing vessels fishfinders displaying echo signals in colors depending on the signal strength of received echo signals on the two-dimensional screen of an indicator having two mutually perpendicular axes with one axis representing an elapsed time or a vessel travel distance and with the other axis representing water depth. An operator of a fishfinder looks at echo images displayed two-dimensionally on the screen of an indicator to grasp the signal strength of received echo signals respectively in relation to water depths thereof.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H04-339288 discloses a fishfinder for displaying fish-like mark representing a fish school with its mark size depending on the signal strength of a fish echo signal, as superposed on echo images. U.S. Pat. No. 6,628,569B1 discloses a fishfinder for displaying a fish-like mark and for indicating a numerical value representative of the water depth of a fish school in the proximity of an echo image thereof. When these displays presented by the fishfinders disclosed in the patent publications, an operator can instantly grasp the water depth at which a fish school is. However, these display methods could not display signal strengths of received signals precisely. The signal strength is determined based on Target Strength which is peculiar to each target and numbers of the targets. The length of a single fish can be estimated based on Target Strength thereof. Japanese Patent No. 2,883,679 discloses a fishfinder for measuring more precisely the target strength of a single fish. The fishfinder is comprised with a transmission and reception device having a narrow angle radiation characteristics and another transmission and reception device having a radiation characteristics a portion of which has a substantially equal sensitivity characteristics. There is used echo signals resulting from an ultrasound pulse transmitted in a narrow angle beam pattern to judge whether a target directly under the hull of a ship is a single fish or not. With a single fish determined, there is used an echo signal resulting from an ultrasound pulse emitted by the transmission and reception device having a radiation characteristics having a substantially equal sensitivity characteristics, which is in synchronism with the single fish echo signal resulting from an ultrasound pulse emitted by the transmission and reception device having a narrow angle radiation characteristics. The transmission and reception device having a substantially equal sensitivity characteristics in the radiation characteristics is complicated in construction and large in size. There is used only an ultrasound pulse transmitted from the transmission and reception device having a narrow angle radiation characteristics to distinguish a single fish. It will not be possible to determine whether a detected fish is directly under the hull of a ship or is horizontally away from a vertical imaginary plane passing through a straight line connecting the bow and the stern of the ship. There have been misinterpretations in determining a single fish of a school of fish. The fishfinders described in these patent documents obtain target strength of a single fish based on echo signals received by a special ultrasound transducer having a substantially equal sensitivity characteristics in the radiation characteristics requiring no error corrections. However, with the fishfinders described in the above patent publications, it has been necessary for an operator to distinguish a single fish and to estimate the length of a fish which requires sophisticated knowledge and many experiences. The applicant filed a Japanese patent application about a fishfinder for identifying a single fish and measuring the length of a fish (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-249398). With this fishfinder, it collects statistics about a plurality of fishes in an area selected by an operator, and a histogram in terms of fish lengths is drawn. The display has enabled an operator to grasp fish length distribution of single fishes in the area selected.
In distinguishing a single fish or in measuring target strength or in measuring the length of a single fish, prior art fishfinders have mistaken, in some cases, a fish school for a single fish and vice versa. In such cases, there has not been measured with high precision target strength of a single fish or the length of a single fish. Further, in order to measure target strength of a single fish or the length of a fish without having sensitivity adjustments made, it has been necessary to use a special transmission and reception device complicatedly constructed and being large in size and having an equal sensitivity directional pattern over an azimuthal range. The conventional display method displays fish length distribution of single fishes in each area. It has been difficult to grasp a fish location and a fish length instantly.


An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to monitor on-die device power grid. A sensor circuit generates a ground reference (GR) signal and N power reference (PR) signals forming a ladder according to a programmable configuration. The GR signal tracks a device ground signal of a device and the PR signals track a device power signal of the device. A comparator circuit compares the GR signal with the N PR signals to provide N comparison output signals, the N comparison output signals indicating position and time that the GR reference signal moves across the ladder.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of microprocessors, and more specifically, to on-die monitoring.
2. Description of Related Art
As microprocessor architecture becomes more and more complex to support high performance applications, circuit design of high frequency devices has become a challenge. To facilitate the testing and verification of circuits, it is useful to be able to observe or monitor switching phenomena in the presence of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) noises.
Existing techniques to address the problem of device monitoring have a number of disadvantages. One technique calls for probing the device by inserting probes at various test points. This technique is intrusive because it requires the device to be opened and exposed to the environment. It is tedious, cumbersome, and not flexible to accommodate different device processes. Other techniques may provide signals indicating if a certain threshold has been exceeded. These techniques do not provide useful information regarding the nature of the problem and the quantification of the parameters of interest.


The present invention relates to a process for the purification of Sucralose of formula (I) which comprises acetylation of substantially impure Sucralose to its penultimate intermediate 4,1′,6′-trichloro-4,1′,6′-trideoxy galactosucrose penta-acetate (TOPSA) of formula (VI) followed by purification of TOPSA and then deacetylation of purified TOPSA.

Sucralose is a potent sweetener having sweetness several hundred times that of sucrose. It is chemically known as 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-β-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α-galactopyranoside and having formula is C12H19Cl3O8 and molecular weight 397.64. Sucralose is used as sweetner in beverage, as coating tablet, chewing gum and other food products. It is marketed by McNeil under tradename Splenda®.
It is also chemically known as 4,1′,6′-trichloro-4,1′,6′-trideoxygalactosucrose, (hereinafter referred to as "Sucralose") involves the substitution of chlorine atoms in the sucrose molecule in one of the five secondary hydroxyl positions and in two of the three primary hydroxyl positions. This particular selection of positions usually means that any synthetic route must involve the preparation of an intermediate sucrose derivative having the required positions available for chlorination while the other positions are blocked. In particular, the reactive 6-position must not be chlorinated, while the 4-position must be rendered available for chlorination.
A process for preparing Sucralose is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,869. This process converts sucrose through a number of steps into Sucralose. This process describes the sequential steps of (1) tritylation of sucrose to block the three primary alcohol groups; (2) acetylation of the five secondary alcohol groups as acetates; (3) detritylation of the three primary alcohol groups to deblock them; (4) acetyl migration from the 4-position to the 6-position; (5) chlorinating the desired alcohol groups at positions 4,1′, 6′; and (6) deblocking the remaining five alcohol groups by deacetylation thereby yielding Sucralose.
The schematic representation is as given below (Scheme I)

However, in this patent the purification of Sucralose is not mentioned.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,460 and WO2005090374 disclose the process of purification of Sucralose by silicagel chromatography or other chromatographic methods. However, purification of Sucralose by chromatographic method is commercially not feasible and cumbersome on large scale.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,700, U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,526, U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,860, U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,254 and GB2224504 disclose the process of purification of Sucralose by recrystallization from ethylacetate. This process provides Sucralose having some impurities which are difficult to remove even after repeated crystallization. Further, repeated crystallization would result in a loss of yield of the final product.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,476, U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,463 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,551 disclose the process of purification of Sucralose by crystallization from aqueous solution i.e. from water. However, there is substantial yield loss as Sucralose is highly soluble in water.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,709 and U.S. Application No. 20030171575 disclose the process of purification of Sucralose by crystallization from ethylacetate followed by recystallization from water. This process also requires repeated purification from different kind of solvents which may result in low yield.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,809,198 discloses the process of purification of Sucralose by cystallization from aqueous solution in controlled pH condition at pH 5.5 to 8.5 using buffer solution. This process requires regular monitoring of pH. It also requires special kind of industrial apparatus for the purification process. These drawbacks make the process cumbersome at an industrial scale.
U.S. Application No. 20030171574 discloses the process of purification of Sucralose by extractive method which involves repeated extraction from first solvent (i.e. water), second solvent (i.e. ethylacetate) and third solvent (i.e. ethylacetate).
This process also requires special kind of industrial apparatus to perform the purification. Moreover, this kind of process which requires repeated extraction is tedious and laborious to perform.
It is therefore, there is a need to develop a process for purification of Sucralose which not only overcomes the aforementioned problems but also provide a process which is simple, easy to handle and feasible at commercial production.
The final Sucralose is always contaminated with several unwanted polar impurities because of the nature of product which contains three hydroxy groups having similar solubility. These impurities can not be removed by repeated recrystallization of Sucralose even using different solvents. The present inventors have directed their research work towards developing a new process for purification of Sucralose which provides highly pure Sucralose without repeated recrystallization of substantially impure Sucralose.
Surprisingly, the present inventors have found that by converting substantially impure Sucralose to its penultimate intermediate i.e. TOPSA and then crystallizing it from an organic solvent significantly removes the impurities which were present in Sucralose. After purifying TOPSA, it can be converted to Sucralose by deacetylation. Unexpectedly the Sucralose obtained by this method is highly pure.


An improved food package comprises a cook-in film encasing an in situ aqueous medium cooked meat product. The film has a polymeric olefin containing inner surface in adhering relation to the cooked meat product. The film inner surface is treated by a cold plasma in a confined region which has been evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure and to which a selected process gas other than air and containing less than 30% nitrogen has been added which results in a gas plasma that reacts with a film surface during cold plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the film to more than 44 dynes/cm and provide a film that is both heat sealable to the package with an acceptable bond strength for sealing the package, and capable of adhering in a uniform and well controlled manner to the cooked meat product during cook-in without purge. The polymeric olefin containing inner surface can be formed of linear low density polyethylene, for example, to provide a relatively low cost food package from material whose meat adhering and heat sealing properties have an excellent shelf life. The plasma treating gas is preferably pure oxygen or a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen containing less than 30% nitrogen.

It is known to provide a flexible plastic container which is conformable to a meat product such as poultry, ham, beef or bologna contained therein and whose inside wall portions are meat adherent during cook-in of the product in the package as for pasteurization, for example. The meat adherency of the inside wall portions enhances yields of the cook-in package meat product by minimizing and preferably substantially preventing cook-out, also referred to as purge, of fluids from the meat product in the plastic container in which the meat product is cooked. Examples of such containers include a stuffable type container wherein meat is initially compacted against the walls of a somewhat resilient container member such as a tubular casing or the like, and a container which has heat shrinkable characteristics such that the container shrinks at cooking temperatures for bringing the container in its sealed configuration into a close conforming condition relative to the meat contained therein so that meat product configuration changes during the cook-in process are compensated for by the container shrink characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,919 to Thompson discloses cook-in of packaged meat using an energetic radiation treated, meat adherent inner container surface comprising a polymeric olefin. U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,922 to Schirmer teaches using an irradiation treated ionomer layer as the meat adherent inside surface of a meat cook-in container. U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,223 discloses a multi-layer plastic film provided with an innermost layer of polyolefin resin which has been treated by corona discharge to improve its meat adhesion.
Such known meat adhering cook-in packages, particularly in certain use circumstances, display several disadvantages. These include that when the meat package encases meat having a retained skin, such as turkey or other poultry meat, the meat adherent interior surface of the package film can be so aggressively adherent to the skin as to result in undesirable delamination and separation of the skin from the cooked meat at the time when the package is removed from the meat following cook-in. Thus, as explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,804 to Hoffman, even though the problem of purge or cook-out of fluids has been overcome, the resulting separation of skin from meat is considered to be commercially disadvantageous.
Another problem with the known cook-in packaging art involving a plastic container is that it is difficult, and apparently in some cases impossible, to correlate the amount of irradiation or corona discharge treatment or even ozone treatment uniformly given to a plastic surface with the subsequent degree of meat or other high protein adherence thereto. In such cases, the degree or extent of meat adherence does not appear to be regulatable by the amount of uniform surface treatment which is preliminarily given to the meat contacting surface portions of the intended cook-in container to be used for meat processing (preferably without purge).
Hoffman also states in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,804 that a further problem in cook-in packaging art is that uniform surface treatment of the intended interior surface portions of the cook-in container, which treatment is carried out for the purpose of improving the capacity of highly proteinaceous foods to adhere thereto, appears to detract from the ability of the treated surface to adhere by heat sealing to similarly treated surfaces of plastics having even an identical composition. Hoffman explains that this is important because filled cook-in plastic containers are typically sealed before being exposed to cooking temperatures by heat sealing adjacent inner wall surface portions together as at the mouth or lip region of the container. Since steam and/or liquid pressures within the sealed container can develop, for example, in the cooking of beef at about 200.degree. F., or in cooking ham or turkey breast at 165.degree. F. for several hours, for example, unless durable container seals are formed, they tend to open during cooking with undesirable effects.
Hoffman reports that where the interior surface portions are treated with corona discharge, gamma radiation, ozone, etc., slight alteration in treated surface composition results. The chemical nature of this alteration is not known, but it is believed to involve at least some oxidation (perhaps partially oxidized) surfaces brought together and heat sealed, the resulting seal tending to be weaker than the corresponding seal formed between untreated surfaces. This effect thus presents a problem in providing containers for cook-in of meat and other highly proteinaceous foods when the container inside walls are to be both adherent to such foods in order to achieve, for example, a purge free cooked-in product package, and heat sealed together in formation of the package prior to cook-in. This problem can be avoided by using metal clips to close the package ends rather than heat sealing the package. However, when both good adhesion of the plastic film of the package to highly proteinaceous food and heat sealability of the film to itself or similar material for closing the package prior to cook-in are required, in the past one common practice has been to use a special, higher cost plastic film having both characteristics as discussed hereinafter, or to use a lower cost material such as a polymeric olefin for the film whose surface energy (wettability) is increased by a corona discharge treatment of the film in air so as to compromise the contradictory increase in adhesion and the decrease in heat sealability of the treated film to an amount sufficient for both meat adherence and heat sealing.
As an example, it is known to employ a relatively low cost, polymeric olefin film, particularly linear low density polyethylene film, in a heat sealable cook-in package for poultry by corona discharge treating the film in air to increase its initial surface energy from about 29 dynes/cm to about 42 dynes/cm to improve the meat adhesion characteristic of the film while still retaining a heat sealing capability. However, because of this compromise the package is not totally satisfactory in that it has a limited adhesion which makes it unsuitable to prevent purge for some meat formulations including ham, for example. If the surface energy of the film is increased to greater than 44 dynes/cm by the treatment, the film becomes impossible to heat seal and there is a tendency for the material to stick or adhere to itself on a roll to prevent or block unwinding the film from a roll.
A proposed solution to these problems as presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,804 to Hoffman is to selectively surface treat the plastic materials in a patterned manner with the corona discharge. The preferred pattern has relatively small repeating units of treated and non-treated areas. Respective contacting surfaces heat sealed together with heat seals are obtained which display overall improved bond strengths. The selective surface treatment variations (corresponding to the treatment patterns) are such that areas of non-treatment in one surface align with other areas of non-treatment in the adjacent contacting surface intermittently along the length of an elongated sealed region formed by heat sealing. Hoffman states that the configurations associated with a treatment pattern can be used to enhance the increased bond strengths achieved in the heat sealed regions. In a disclosed embodiment in the patent, an engraved steel applicator roll is employed to provide the desired pattern of corona discharge treatment on the plastic film.
More recently, Wilhoit et al. proposed a cooked food product package, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,705, wherein an EVA-containing film surface is both irradiated and subjected to corona discharge treatment to provide an improvement in purge reduction and food adherence even through there is no commensurate increase in wetting tension of the treated surface over a corona discharge treated, but nonirradiated film. Starch particles are preferably dispersed across the meat contacting surface which is both irradiated and subjected to corona treatment. However, this and the aforementioned other proposed solutions to the above-referred to problems have not been totally satisfactory. For example, as noted above, corona discharge treatment of the film surface lowers heat sealability in the case of a polymeric olefin such as linear low density polyethylene. Corona discharge treated plastic film also has a relatively short shelf-life in that it loses its good properties of meat adhesion within a period of approximately 90 days. When stored longer than this the film must be retreated by corona discharge before use in cook-in packaging.
As mentioned before, special plastic films have been developed for overcoming these problems. Surlyn, a trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. for a group of ionomer resins, is an example of such materials. These materials are generally more costly and not always totally satisfactory. Some Surlyn materials, for example, can lose their meat adhesion property over an extended period of time such as twenty months. The expense of treatment equipment such as electron beam accelerators for irradiating plastic film also poses a difficulty, along with safety concerns as to the high-levels of radiation doses employed in the use of such equipment.
Cold plasma treatment of plastic films is, per se, known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,610 to Baird, et al., discloses examples of treating polymeric materials in air and helium cold plasmas to improve their wettability and ink adhesion in preparation for printing. Thompson, in his aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,919 refers to the patent to Baird, et al. as being of general interest in disclosing one of various oxidative treatments including corona discharge, flame, plasma, and ultraviolet light treatment contemplated by Thompson for use in improving the meat adherence of plastic film for cook-in packages. However, the examples disclosed by Thompson are limited to the highly energetic radiation treatments of irradiation by electron beam from an electron beam accelerator and corona discharge treatment, both being conducted in the presence of air. Disadvantages and drawbacks associated with making cook-in packages using such treatments and films have been referred to above.
Cold plasma treatment, also referred to as low temperature, 50.degree.-120.degree. C., plasma treatment has been employed to increase the tensile strength of polymer film as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,271 to Collins. Collins states that several modes of modification of the film properties by the cold plasma treatment include etching, cross-linking and coating of the film surface, depending on the treatment gas employed. Numerous possible organic and inorganic treatment gases are referred to by Collins in this regard. Other cold plasma process variables identified in the patent include the concentration of the treatment gas, absolute pressure during treatment, film exposure time to the reactive medium, and electrical power, voltage and current employed to excite the treatment gas. The patent to Collins does not relate to cook-in packages and does not address the aforementioned problems encountered in providing an improved cook-in package having a surface which has both well controlled, uniform meat adhesion and good heat sealability.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,348 to Hirokawa et al. discloses a method of making a gas barrier laminate of a thermoplastic layer and a layer of saponified copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate coextruded or thermally bonded to one another. The laminate is stated to be useful for forming containers or as a packaging film or sheet for food products, beverages and pharmaceutical products. The surface of the thermoplastic layer to be laminated with the layer of saponified copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate is pretreated with a low temperature plasma in a gaseous atmosphere of air, argon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, helium or a mixture of those gases, to permit lamination of the two layers. The thermoplastic layer is polyethylene terephthalate in a disclosed embodiment in the patent but according to the patentees it can be a thermoplastic film or sheet of a member selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chloride, polyolefins, polystrene and polyacrylonitrile, or a laminated film or sheet having at least one layer of one of said members. Hirokawa et al. are not concerned with nor do they suggest providing a cook-in package having an inner surface for contacting a proteinaceous food product such as a meat product, the inner surface having both a well controlled, uniform adherence to the food product and a good heat seal strength when heat sealed to a like surface for sealing the package before cooking.
Thus, there is a need for an improved cook-in package and a method of making the same which avoid the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the known cook-in packages and methods of making the same. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cook-in package and method of making the cook-in package which solve these problems. More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved cook-in package comprising a cook-in film having a surface preferably formed of a relatively low cost polymeric olefin containing plastic material, which is both heat sealable to the package with an acceptable bond strength for sealing the package, and is capable of adhering in a well controlled and uniform manner to a highly proteinaceous food product such as meat cooked therein, wherein the improved cook-in package has a relatively long shelf-life with respect to retaining these characteristics as compared with the shelf-life of conventional packages.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cook-in package and a method of making the same wherein meat adhesion of the film of the package is well controlled and uniform to prevent delamination and separation of the skin from the cooked meat where the meat has a retained skin, and to prevent overly aggressive adhesion of the film to itself when wound on a roll or to the meat after cook-in while still preventing purge during cook-in of various food products including ham, this being accomplished in a relatively safe, quick and inexpensive manner, without requiring the use of special, relatively expensive film material for the package.

Cook-in package and method of making same