Fluid pressure or flow in a human body may be adjusted with circulation or perfusion systems and methods. The system may include a first pump implantable in a chamber or vessel of the human body, and a plurality of struts connected to a housing of said first pump, wherein the struts secure the first pump in a desired location of the chamber or vessel. The system may also include one or more flow modification elements disposed on the first pump, where the flow modification elements direct flow to a desired organ or a desired vessel to adjust pressure or flow as desired.

Circulation and Perfusion Enhancement
Circulation of blood throughout the body and perfusion of end organs are basic functions in humans and most other animals. Many different problems and conditions result when this circulation is altered, obstructed, interfered with, or changed. Substantially all of the body is dependent on circulation for delivery of oxygen and nutrients and removal of waste products. If the pressure or flow rate of circulation to a certain organ or region of the body changes, that certain organ or region can experience loss of function, tissue death, or other impairment.
Some of the organs most dependent on optimal circulation are those that process the blood for the benefit of the entire body. For example, the kidneys, liver and spleen remove waste products or unneeded material from the blood. The small intestine transfers nutrients from consumed food to the blood. Changes to the circulation (also called perfusion) of these organs can have ill effects on the entire body.
Parts of the body that do not process blood for the benefit of the body also suffer from poor circulation. Peripheral vascular disease is characterized by poor circulation to the extremities. Symptoms include swelling, numbness, loss of function, pain, and tissue death. In serious cases, the affected limb or extremity can become gangrenous and amputation is required.
Methods for addressing poor circulation or perfusion include medications that increase the contractility of the heart (inotropes), reduce the fluid load on the heart to improve its function (diuretics), or open blood vessels to increase flow (vasodilators). These medications have disadvantages including, but not limited to, deleterious side-effects, habituation, partial effectiveness, or ineffectiveness. For example, inotropes can increase the risk of death. Diuretics and vasodilators interfere with some of the body's natural compensatory mechanisms, indicating their use involves some trade-off. For example, diuretics may reduce fluid load without actually addressing the underlying poor circulation that led to increased fluid load and vasodilators may increase flow but at reduced pressure (adequate perfusion requires adequate flow and pressure).
Mechanical devices are also used to improve circulation. Two classes of such devices are left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs). LVADs are pumps that are surgically implanted in the chest cavity and connected between the left ventricle of the heart and the aorta to augment the heart's output. IABPs are catheter based devices with a large balloon that inflates inside the aorta while the aortic valve is closed (i.e. during diastole) to force blood further into the circulatory system.
These mechanical devices have disadvantages also. LVAD implantation requires major open heart surgery in a well-equipped operating room and has a lengthy recovery period (forty days or more). Total cost for the procedure can range from a few hundred thousand to a million dollars or more. Additionally, serious complications (e.g. stroke or infection) from the procedure are common. IABPs are safer, but usually limited to short-term in-hospital use. In addition, the effectiveness of an IABP is directly related to the size of the balloon and larger balloons can extend past branches off the aorta (e.g. the phrenic, superior mesenteric, celiac, and renal arteries) that supply blood to several key organs. In this case, these organs may see only limited improvement (or even reduction) in circulation.
In addition to the disadvantages described above, medications, VADs, and IABPs provide systemic level circulatory support that is difficult or impossible to adjust in magnitude or limit to or localize in or focus on a particular organ, area, region, or part of the body. Drug therapy takes some time to have significant impact and is not practical for emergency or acute or short term improvement to circulation or perfusion. LVADs are also not practical for emergency or acute or short term improvement to circulation or perfusion due to the expense, invasiveness, planning, and time required for LVAD implantation.
One helpful context in which to judge, without limiting, the advantage of a system for creating specific enhancements to circulation and perfusion over blood pumps delivering non-specific systemic support is in the treatment of shock.
When a person's tissues are starved of oxygen rich blood over time, the person may enter a state of shock. Shock, usually caused by sepsis, hemorrhage, or acute heart failure, causes millions of deaths per year. Over half of shock patients die, usually as a result of multiple organ failure (MOF). The kidneys are at the root of multiple organ failure: poor perfusion of the renal arteries begins a dangerous feedback loop that can lead to damage of numerous organ systems.
For this reason, prevention of end organ failure is most often focused on supporting the kidneys. Traditional treatments include pharmacologic therapies, IV fluid optimization, vasopressors, and eventually renal replacement therapy (e.g. dialysis). Current therapeutic guidelines have not changed in decades, despite the fact that no pharmacologic treatment has been proven effective in clinical trials and excessive IV fluid burden can cause peripheral and pulmonary edema. Furthermore, the use of pressors to increase blood flow to the kidneys can cause acute and permanent ischemic damage to extremities and other organs.
Mechanical cardiovascular or circulatory support (MCS) to increase blood flow and pressure to the kidneys and/or other end organs is a novel approach to the treatment of shock. Current MCS treatment devices or methods are generally targeted at supporting the coronary vasculature during acute periods of cardiogenic shock, such as following a myocardial infarction or during percutaneous coronary intervention. Among these current approaches, a device that can be configured, without limitation, to deliver specific enhancements in circulation and perfusion, e.g., to improve renal clearance, would be an indispensable tool for cardiovascular or circulatory support.
The systems and methods discussed herein provide cardiovascular support, configurable flow and pressure management, and selective perfusion of specific targeted vessel(s) and end organ(s). Non-limiting examples of uses may include increasing renal perfusion to treat acute/chronic kidney injury; treating cardiogenic, septic, hypovolemic, or hemorrhagic shock; changing carotid perfusion to avoid ischemic stroke or balance the effect of downstream pumps; changing celiac/mesenteric perfusion to treat obesity or bowel ischemia; increasing liver perfusion to treat liver disease; improving perfusion of the heart itself by pulling blood from the coronary sinus, pushing blood into the coronary sinus, or pushing blood into the coronary arteries; and/or diverting flow away from sources of bleeding.

Systems and methods for fluid flows and/or pressures for circulation and perfusion enhancement


A haptic feedback device including a fluid viscosity-controlled brake that outputs high forces to the device user at low cost while maintaining inherent safety. An interface device includes a manipulandum physically contacted by the user. A sensor senses a position of the manipulandum and outputs a sensor signal. The interface device also includes a brake including a field-controlled fluid having a viscosity that can be controlled by controlling an electric current in a coil, where a resistive force or drag on the manipulandum is controlled by controlling the fluid's viscosity. The fluid can be an electrorheological fluid controlled by an electric field or a magnetorheological fluid controlled by a magnetic field. In one preferred embodiment, the resistive force is controlled by adjusting a degree of contact of the brake with the manipulandum based on the fluid's viscosity. Disclosed embodiments include fishing devices, bicycle simulators, and control knobs.

The present invention relates generally to the interfacing with computer devices by a user, and more particularly to devices used to provide input to computer systems and which provide force feedback to the user.
Humans interface with electronic devices in a variety of applications, and there is a constant need for a more natural, easy-to-use, and versatile interface device. One of those applications includes interacting directly with computer-generated environments. Interface devices are used extensively with computer systems in the implementation of computer-controlled games, simulations, and other applications very popular with the mass market of home consumers. In a typical implementation, a computer system such as a personal computer, home video game console, portable computer, stand-up arcade machine, etc., displays a graphical environment to a user on a display device. Users can interact with the displayed environment by inputting commands or data from the interface device. Popular interface devices include joysticks, "gamepad" button controllers, mice, trackballs, styluses, tablets, steering wheels, pressure spheres, foot or hand pedals, or the like, that are connected to the computer system controlling the displayed environment. The computer updates the environment in response to input signals from the interface device based on the user's manipulation of a moved manipulandum such as a joystick handle, wheel, or mouse. The computer provides visual feedback to the user using the display screen.
In some interface devices, tactile and/or kinesthetic feedback is also provided to the user, more generally known as "haptic feedback" herein. These types of interface devices can provide physical sensations to the user manipulating the physical object of the interface device. Typically, motors or other actuators of the interface device are coupled to the manipulandum and are connected to the controlling computer system. The computer system receives sensor signals from the interface device and sends appropriate force feedback control signals to the actuators in conjunction with host events. The actuators then provide forces on the manipulandum. The computer system can thus convey physical sensations to the user in conjunction with other visual and auditory feedback as the user is contacting the manipulandum. Commercially available force feedback devices include the Wingman Force joystick and Wingman Formula Force steering wheel from Logitech, Inc., and the Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro joystick from Microsoft Corporation.
Many types of actuators for generating computer-controlled forces are known, including DC and stepper motors, voice coils, hydraulic actuators, and pneumatic actuators. Some devices are active, such as motors, which means that the device provides an active force that has the ability to move an object or push back on the user. Other actuators are passive, such as brakes, which provide a resistance to motion generated by another source (such as the user) and cannot generate forces on their own. An advantage of active devices is their ability to simulate all kinds of force sensations. However, disadvantages of active actuators include instability: the actuators can settle into a feedback loop in which oscillating forces are output on the manipulandum, for example. Other disadvantages of active actuators include a high cost, and large size and weight. Passive actuators, on the other hand, while not able to output all the types of force sensations of active actuators, can provide relatively high magnitude forces and are inherently stable and safe, and are typically of low cost and weight. However, standard passive actuators can still be expensive for lower-cost devices and can still add significant weight to an interface device.

Force feedback devices using fluid braking


A generator includes a rotor structure having a rotor frame that supports field turns and a rectifier assembly. The rotor frame includes an opening, and a bus bar passes through the opening and electrically connects the field turns and the rectifier assembly. A grounding bushing electrically connects the bus bar to the rotor frame.

This disclosure relates to a generator rotor and its rotor circuit.
A generator includes a stator fixed relative to a housing and a rotor rotatable about an axis relative to the stator. The rotor includes a rotor frame carrying a rotator circuit that includes field turns and a rectifier assembly, which has diodes. Rotation of the rotor relative to the stator induces an alternating current in the field turns, which is converted to a DC voltage by the rectifier assembly.
Generators can experience rectifier assembly failures due to damaged diodes. One failure mode results from an electrical static discharge event from the rotor frame to the isolated rotor circuit. Typically, the rotor frame has an opening through which a bus bar extends. The bus bar, which is electrically connected to the rotor circuit, is electrically insulated from the rotor frame with an insulator bushing. The isolated rotor circuit builds up a high voltage potential to the rotor frame under some operational parameters. The parasitic capacitances within the isolated rotor circuit discharges to the rotor frame. The voltage across the diodes in the rotor circuit exceeds the diode voltage rating during the discharge event. The reverse bias on the diode breaks down and shorts when the voltage exceeds the avalanche voltage characteristic of the silicone die, thus damaging the rectifier assembly.


A system for processing phone calls comprising a network of servers positionable in communication with telephonic communication devices and each comprising a memory and a processor and a distributed database system comprising an ordered set of PBX Feature definitions. Each server may execute at least one PBX Feature definition of the ordered set of PBX Feature definitions comprised by the distributed database system. The ordered set of PBX Feature definitions may evaluate the current state of a phone call to generate an evaluated state of the phone call. A PBX Feature definition of the ordered set of PBX Feature definitions may perform a respective PBX Feature task responsive to the evaluated state of the phone call. Each PBX Feature definition of the ordered set of PBX Feature definitions may define and store a new state of the phone call upon performance of the PBX Feature task.

Previous Business PBX Programming systems can be separated into two categories: those that use menus and forms to modify a pre-defined set of standard configurations or programming templates, and those that use a complex scripting or "dial plan" coding language. The former category is what could be described as "easy to use", but is limited with regard to flexibility. The latter category offers much more flexibility, but requires extensive training and experience to use effectively.
Additionally, previous PBX programming systems have required one-to-one association between a given PBX system and a server associated with and dedicated to that system. Accordingly, as the computational demands of a PBX system change, the server must be replaced, particularly in the instance of increasing the processing capability of the server, in order to accommodate the increased demands of the system. Such replacement is costly and requires a certain amount of down time during replacement, which is disadvantageous for operating businesses. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a telephonic processing system, such as a PBX system, that can dynamically increase the processing resources available to a given PBX system while avoiding any outage of service.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Feature-based software system for a business PBX


A clog type shoe which includes a sole and an upper attached to the sole. The upper includes an opening through which a foot is placed. A drawstring tunnel is formed to encircle the opening and a drawstring is threaded through the drawstring tunnel. The drawstring can be tightened so that the opening of the upper is secured to a wearer's foot. Such footwear may also include a locking unit for locking a desired tension on the drawstring. A padded flap may also be attached to an underside of a forefoot portion of the opening and the upper may also include a lip portion formed at a heel of the sole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a clog type shoe which includes features for ensuring that a foot is securely and comfortably placed within the clog type shoe.
2. Discussion of the Background
Clog type shoes are known. Such clog type shoes may have a sole, which may be formed of wood or a hard resin plastic, and uppers attached thereto. The uppers may be made of leather, suede, nylon, etc. Further, the uppers may be single unitary elements which are attached to the sole. In this way, such background clogs are two piece elements featuring a sole and an upper attached to the sole.
Such background clogs also have a structure in which the upper does not extend to the back of the sole, so that a wearer's foot can be easily slid into and out of the clog. This provides a drawback in such background clogs that the background clogs do not securely hold a wearer's foot, i.e., the wearer's foot can easily slip out of such background clogs.
Further, such background clogs typically contain uppers which do not have any added comfort features.


Disclosed is a PET detector assembly in a combined PET/CT scanner system having a backplane structure for supporting two or more PET detector rings that provides substantially balanced load on the gantry backplane while accommodating the varying number of PET detector rings between short axial PET FOV system as well as long axial PET FOV system.

In medical imaging, a computed tomography (CT) scanning modality can be used to provide images of the internal structures of a human body, such as the bones. In addition, a positron emission tomography (PET) scanning modality can be used to provide images of the functional aspects of the body, usually corresponding to the metabolic uptake of an internal organ or tissue. It is frequently desirable to combine the CT and PET modalities to provide a co-registered image or series of images to assist in non-invasively studying physiological processes and structures within the body.
In a CT scan, an x-ray source is passed around a patient. Detectors around the patient then respond to an x-ray transmission through the patient to produce an image of the area of study. In a PET scan, a short-lived radioisotope is injected into a patient. For example, one such radioisotope is fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). During the PET scan, the patient is positioned in a tunnel within a PET scanner gantry. The radioisotope undergoes positron emission decay and emits a positron. The positron encounters and annihilates with an electron to produce a pair of gamma rays moving in approximately opposite directions. The gamma rays are then detected by a plurality of PET detectors (a.k.a. gamma detectors) arranged around the circumference of the tunnel.
A representative layout of a combined PET/CT scanner system 500 is shown in FIG. 1. The PET/CT scanner system 500 includes a PET scanner portion 510, a CT scanner portion 520, and a patient bed 530. One metric of such PET/CT scanner system's capability is its ability to acquire serial images, in which, field-of-view (FOV) of both modalities are maximized. The extended stroke of the patient bed 530 defines the FOV of the CT scanner 520. The PET FOV, however, because it is positioned farther from the patient bed 530, inherently has a FOV scan that is much shorter than that of the CT scanner 520. The co-scan, the effective overlapping scan area of the combined modalities PET and CT, is largely dependent on three parameters: (1) the extension length of the patient bed 530; (2) the FOV separation distance 550 as taken from the center C1 of the CT FOV and the first plane P1 of the PET FOV; and (3) the axial length 560 of the PET FOV.
The spatial arrangement of the three components introduces a couple of challenges to the system design. In certain CT embodiments, the CT FOV is shifted to the patient side of the CT scanner 520, assisting in interventional therapy. This accommodation increases the separation between the CT scanner 520 and the PET scanner 510, thus increasing the FOV separation distance 550.
Another challenge arises most often in newer PET/CT scanner system designs where a common PET gantry is tasked with structurally supporting both the short and long PET FOV axial length 560 designs.
In a conventional PET detector assembly 10 used in PET/CT scanner systems shown in FIG. 2, the rings 20 of PET detectors 12 are mounted on and supported by a gantry backplane 14. Generally, a PET modality includes more than one detector rings but in FIG. 2, only one PET detector ring 20 is shown. The PET detector ring(s) 20 are all mounted on one side of the gantry backplane 14. For the purposes of discussion, a neutral or vertical plane 16 of the gantry backplane 14 is defined and identified as the center of the gantry backplane 14 in the axial direction of the PET/CT scanner when viewed from the side as shown in FIG. 1. Because all of the PET detector ring(s) 20 are mounted on one side of the gantry backplane 14, the PET detector rings 20 are on one side of the neutral vertical plane 16. The PET detectors 12 are configured such that they extend from a face 18 of the backplane 14 in a cantilevered arrangement. The center of mass of such cantilevered PET detector ring 20 is positioned to one side of the neutral vertical plane 16 of the gantry backplane 14. This results in a moment load W being on one side of the neutral vertical plane 16 as noted in FIG. 1. Therefore, when the PET/CT scanner system design calls for a long PET FOV axial length 560, that requires more number of PET detector rings to cover the longer PET FOV axial length. This also produces a greater moment load W on the gantry backplane 14. In turn, that requires more structurally robust gantry backplane 14 which increases the cost of the PET/CT scanner system.
In the conventional PET/CT scanner systems, the FOV separation distance 550 in a system is kept constant for design simplicity regardless of the axial length 560 of the PET FOV, for example, between a 3-ring PET detector system and a 4-ring PET detector system. This compromise was acceptable in the past because the difference in the PET FOV axial length 560 was on the order of 4-6 cm. With the advent of more modern PET/CT scanner systems, however, the trend has been toward longer PET FOV axial lengths, on the order of 16-40 cm, which requires many more cantilevered PET detector rings being mounted on the gantry backplane 14 with greater moment load W.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved PET/CT scanner system's PET detector assembly.

PET detector assembly for a combined PET and CT imaging system


A stereotactic breast biopsy apparatus and system that may comprise an x-ray source, a digital imaging receptor, and a biopsy specimen cassette, wherein the x-ray source is provided with a means for displacing the beam axis of the x-ray source from a working biopsy corridor beam axis to permit an unobstructed illumination of the biopsy specimen and thereby produce biopsy x-ray images directly in the procedure room for immediate analysis. Some examples of the benefits may be, but are not limited to, a more rapid analysis of biopsy specimen digital images, post-processing image capability, and decreased procedure time and diminution of patient bleeding complications and needle discomfort.

Stereotactic breast biopsy has become the method of choice for the non-surgical diagnosis of many forms of breast cancer. Many breast cancers are discovered by the presence of microcalcifications visible on a screening mammogram. Yet, these microcalcifications do not have a corresponding palpable abnormality. Therefore, an image-guided needle biopsy technique must be utilized to determine if early, pre-invasive breast cancer is present. Currently, stereotactically guided needle biopsy procedures represent the state-of-the-art for the common situation outlined above.
However, though very safe and minimally invasive, stereotactic breast biopsy can be laborious, time-consuming and uncomfortable for the patient. The procedure requires the patient to be prone. In order to immobilize the breast, physical compression must be applied to the breast during the procedure, and the patient must remain motionless. Procedure times are typically between 30-45 minutes, despite recent advances in vacuum-assisted biopsy needle technology. A significant component of procedure time continues to be consumed by the film development cycles required for specimen radiograph production.
A specimen radiograph is an ex-vivo x-ray picture of the biopsy samples or specimen "threads" retrieved from the breast. Under conventional circumstances, this radiograph must be performed outside the procedure room on a standard mammography x-ray unit. This picture is required to assure that sufficient quantities of microcalcifications are removed from the groups of calcium targeted within the breast. This process proves that the biopsy procedure will be adequate for subsequent analysis by surgical pathology. The process of performing specimen radiography is standard-of-care for stereotactic breast biopsy. Each specimen radiograph cycle can last 5-10 minutes, thereby adding 20-30% additional procedure time. If the original specimen radiograph demonstrates a paucity of microcalcifications, additional biopsy samples must be harvested, and the specimen radiograph cycle must be repeated.

System and apparatus for rapid stereotactic breast biopsy analysis


Embodiments of the present disclosure may include receiving, at one or more computing devices, the electronic circuit design, wherein the electronic circuit design includes at least one Unified Power Format file. Embodiments may further include generating, using the one or more computing devices, a schematic of a power supply network, based upon, at least in part, the at least one Unified Power Format file, the schematic including one or more power supply network components.

Unified Power Format ("UPF") is the popular name of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard (IEEE 1801) for specifying power intent in power optimization of electronic design automation. Generally, an IEEE 1801 compliant file format may include a verbose ASCII file description of power domains and supply networks. In many instances, the power supply network may include 1000's of lines of code spread over multiple files. Connections may be created using multiple commands in multiple locations within these files, however, following connections in an ASCII form is difficult. Understanding the relationships between power switches, power nets and power supply sets feeding into power domains is impossible to understand using the low power input. This makes debugging of problems in simulation caused by improperly specified power switch networks impossible to understand. Manual creation of files is prone to user error especially with cut and paste operations. Further, the power supply network is outside of the hardware description language ("HDL") code and existing visualization for HDL does not cover non-HDL code. Moreover, the power supply network and HDL have very few connection points so it is often difficult to visualize where the power supply network and the HDL interact.

System, method, and computer program product for power supply network visualization


A brow pad for the headband of a protective helmet or similar headgear is ultrasonically welded or similarly joined to itself through openings defined through the headband. By joining the brow pad to itself through the headband, the brow pad remains secured to the headband even after extensive usage. Furthermore, the openings defined through the headband provide some measure of ventilation and evacuation of accumulated moisture from the brow pad. Finally, by joining the brow pad to itself and through the headband, there are pockets of air that are trapped between the joined portions of the brow pad, which serve as air-filled “pillows,” providing some measure of comfort to the wearer.

The present invention relates to a brow pad for the headband of a protective helmet or similar headgear.
Protective helmets are commonly worn in the industrial workplace to prevent or reduce the likelihood of head injuries. The hard hat is the most common and well-recognized protective helmet. A hard hat consists of three primary components—a shell, a headband, and a suspension system—which cooperate to reduce the potential for injury by attenuating some translational energy of the force of an impact to the helmet.
With respect to the construction and protection afforded by a hard hat, the American National Standards Institute ("ANSI") promulgates minimum performance requirements for protective helmets and further classifies helmets based on their ability to reduce the forces of impact and penetration, as well as their ability to protect against high voltage electric shock. See, for example, ANSI Z89.1-1997 (R1998), American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection.
As mentioned above, a hard hat or similar protective helmet is comprised primarily of: a shell, a headband, and a suspension system. These primary hard hat components cooperate to provide the requisite level of protection. The hard hat shell itself causes any force of impact to be spread across the surface area of the shell. The hard hat suspension separates the wearer's head from the shell such that there is an air gap between the shell and the wearer's head that provides for further attenuation of the force of an impact to the shell. Specifically, when an object strikes the shell of the hard hat, the shell itself flexes inward and the straps of the suspension system will stretch. The air gap accommodates the flexing of the shell and stretching of the straps, but, under normal conditions, prevents the wearer's head from contacting the hard hat shell.
Of course, for a hard hat to provide the appropriate level of protection, it must fit snugly on the wearer's head. In this regard, it is common for the headband of a hard hat to be adjustable to provide for such a snug fit. In this regard, a headband typically has one of two common sizing mechanisms, a pin-lock arrangement or a ratchet mechanism. Regardless of the chosen sizing mechanism, the headband is commonly a flexible, one-piece member that has overlapping rear end portions. With a pin-lock mechanism, a first of the rear end portions of the headband is provided with a pin, and the second of the rear end portions is provided with series of holes at spaced intervals. As such, the pin of the first rear end portion can be inserted through one of the holes of the second rear end portion, thus forming a loop of a selected circumference to fit snugly around the wearer's head. With a ratchet mechanism, lateral movement of the overlapping rear end portions of the headband is effectuated through a rack and pinion arrangement or similar gear arrangement.
As one example of a ratchet mechanism, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,831 issued to Oleson, a patent that is incorporated herein by this reference. As described in the '831 patent, a preferred ratchet mechanism is often a rack and pinion arrangement which operates within elongated overlapping slots defined by the rear end portions of the headband, each of said slots defining a series of teeth of a rack gear. The rack and pinion arrangement and the overlapping rear end portions of the headband are housed between a pair of adjoining arc-shaped housing sections which generally conform to the contour of the wearer's head. The rear end portions of the headband are seated for slidable, lateral movement within the arc-shaped housing sections.
For another example of a rack and pinion arrangement, reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/899,467, which is also incorporated herein by reference. Again, the rack and pinion arrangement and the overlapping rear end portions of the headband are housed between a pair of adjoining arc-shaped housing sections which generally conform to the contour of the wearer's head. The rear end portions of the headband are seated for slidable, lateral movement within the arc-shaped housing sections. Furthermore, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/899,467, the arc-shaped housing sections have an inherent flexibility that provides for better fit of the headband and increased comfort to the wearer.
In any event, the focus of the present invention is on the brow pad, which is commonly secured to a front portion of the headband so that it contacts the wearer's forehead, providing increased comfort to the wearer and also serving to absorb perspiration. In securing the brow pad to the headband, a common technique is to provide the headband with integral tabs or cleats which are then inserted into corresponding holes through the brow pad. However, as the brow pad becomes worn, it may stretch or tear, and thus, become disengaged from the headband. Another common technique is to sew the brow pad directly to the headband. However, removing such a brow pad from the headband may prove difficult, if not impossible. Specifically, if an attempt is made to tear the brow pad from the headband, some of the brow pad fabric will undoubtedly remain, and furthermore, damage to the headband itself may result.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a brow pad for the headband of protective headgear that is secured to the headband in a manner that ensures that it will remain secured to the headband even after extensive usage, but still allows for removal and replacement of the brow pad if desired.
It would also be desirable to provide a brow pad for the headband of protective headgear that assists not only in absorbing perspiration, but also to draw perspiration and moisture away from the forehead of the wearer.

Brow pad for the headband of protective headgear


The present invention discloses a device and method for data matching and a device and method for network intrusion detection. The method for data matching includes: searching in a regular expression set one or more complex regular expressions causing a sharp increase in number of states generated based on a regular expression during interaction; constructing a corresponding simplified expression for each complex regular expression; compiling a simplified state machine; compiling one or more substate machines, wherein each of the one or more substate machines is compiled based on a corresponding one of the one or more complex regular expressions; and matching data based on the simplified state machine and the one or more substate machines. The present invention further discloses a device for data matching employing the method for data matching and a device and method for intrusion detection employing the device and method for data matching.

In the field of network intrusion detection, a regular expression is frequently used to detect whether network data includes malicious data in a specific format so as to judge whether a network intrusion occurs. Since the regular expression has features of flexibility and good expression ability, it is widely used in the field of network intrusion detection.
In order to use the regular expression to match data, a regex engine generally needs to be constructed based on the regular expression. There are currently two types of regex engines, Non-deterministic Finite Automaton (NFA) regex engines and Deterministic Finite Automaton (DFA) regex engines. However, because the backtracking feature of NFA can not be changed, the matching speed of NFA can not be significantly improved. Therefore, the DFA regex engine is widely used currently. However, DFA itself has a problem of state expansion of a state machine.
Basic working principles of a DFA regex engine are as follows: firstly, pre-compile a regular expression (or all regular expressions in a regular expression set), according to specific rules, into a deterministic finite state machine; use a character string to be checked as an input of the finite state machine to induce state transitions of the finite state machine; and check whether the character string has been matched with a specific regular expression during a state-transition process of the state machine. Each state in the finite state machine includes two basic elements: (1) a match list and (2) a state transition array. The match list includes a serial number of the regular expression, if the match list is not null, it indicates that the input data stream has matched with the regular expression corresponding to the serial number when the state machine runs to this state; otherwise, no matching occurs. As to the state transition array, the current state is required to be able to decide which state to jump to according to an input character; the length of the state transition array is just the number of all possible input characters; the indices of the state transition array are just all the possible input characters; and a value of the state transition array is just the serial number of a state to jump to when a character corresponding to the index is input under the current state.
The state transition array is the cause of state expansion of a DFA engine. Supposing that an input character set is an American standard code for information interchange (ASCII) table, the state transition array of each state is just an int type or short type array with a length of 256, and occupies a memory of 1K or 512 B. Due to complexity of the network intrusion, in practical network intrusion detection, a plurality of complex regular expressions may be applied to the same segment of network data for matching, and thereby the state number of the DFA state machine obtained by compiling may reach an order of magnitude of 104 to 105, which will lead to memory exhaustion of a system.
Three solutions are available to the state expansion problem of the DFA regex engine currently:
1. A method for reducing the number of state transitions of a DFA state machine is disclosed in the article "Algorithms to accelerate multiple regular expressions matching for deep packet inspection[c]" Proceedings of the 2006 Conference on Applications, Technologies, Architectures and Protocols for Computer Communications. New York: ACM press, 2006: 229-350 by KUMAR S, DHARMAPURIKAR S, YU F, et al in 2006, the article "Advanced algorithms for fast and scalable deep packet inspection[c]" Proceedings of the 2006 ACM/IEEE Symposium on Architecture for Networking and Communication Systems. New York: ACM Press, 2006: 81-92 by KUMAR S, YURENER, WILLIAMS J., et al in 2006, and the article "An improved DFA for fast regular expression matching [J]" ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, 2008, 38(5):29-40 by FACARA D, ESTAN C, J H A S., PROCISSI G, et al in 2008 (the contents of the above articles are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety). The method for reducing the number of state transitions of the DFA state machine saves memory by adding "edge"; however, the method has following problems: A transition path of the state machine is longer due to the introduced "edge", so that matching efficiency of the regex engine is lowered. In addition, the method is lack of universality, and "edge" may not be added for all states. The memory-saving effect of the method depends on a ratio of states capable of adding "edge" to all the states, and thereby ultimately depends on the regular expression. That is, for some regular expressions, the method can better save the memory; whereas, for some other regular expressions, the memory saving effect will be poor. This method is not suitable for a network intrusion detection system that needs to use a large number of regular expressions.
2. A method for reducing the number of states of a DFA state machine is disclosed in the article "Xfa: Faster signature matching with extended automata[c]" Proceedings of the 2008 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. Washington, D.C.: IEEE, 2008:187-201 by SMITH R, ESTAN C, J H A S, et al in 2008, and the article "Memory-efficient regular expression search using state merging[c]" INFOCOM 2007: 26th IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications. Washington D.C.: IEEE, 2007:1064-1072 by BECCHI M and CADAMBI S in 2007 (the contents of the above articles are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety). The method for reducing the number of states of the DFA state machine compresses the states in the DFA state machine by introducing a state bit so as to reduce the number of states. However, the method for reducing the number of states of the DFA state machine also has the following defects: firstly, a memory occupied by additional information (state bits) introduced by the method can not be ignored when the DFA state machine is comparatively complex; secondly, the method is also lack of universality, for example, the method may better solve a problem of state expansion of a regular expression .*ab.*cd|.*ef.*g, but can not solve a state expansion caused by a regular expression .*ab[^\n]*cd|.*ef[^\n]*gh.
3. A method for alphabet compression is disclosed in the article "An improved algorithm to accelerate regular expression evaluation[c]" Proceedings of the 3rd ACM/IEEE Symposium on Architecture for Networking and Communications Systems. New York: ACM Press, 2007: 145-154 by BECCHI M and CROWLEY P in 2007 (the contents of the above article are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety). The method for alphabet compression shortens the length of state transition array of each state in the state machine by compressing the alphabet, so as to reduce memory consumption of a DFA state machine. However, the method has following defects: the length of the state transition array is shortened by adopting the method for alphabet compression, but mapping between a compressed alphabet and a complete alphabet needs to be performed during an actual state transition process, which will reduce matching efficiency of the DFA state machine; moreover, the method is only suitable for a situation that the same target state can be reached when characters are received in different source states, and an application scope of the method is very limited.
It can be seen from the above that, although various solutions are proposed to solve the state expansion problem of the DFA regex engine, these solutions still have obvious defects. A novel technical solution capable of better solving the state expansion problem of the DFA is needed.

Device and method for data matching and device and method for network intrusion detection

NSFOCUS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Disclosed is a system and method that provides rate controlled insertion of asynchronous data into a synchronous stream in a broadcast system. A calculation of the transmission time for an asynchronous data file is determined from the file size, available data transfer rate, redundancy transmission factor, bandwidth scale factor and connect time latency. Transmission time may be employed to schedule transmission of asynchronous data for use at a predetermined time. Transmission time for multiple files may be combined to determine a transmission start time for a first file such that a last asynchronous file is transmitted by a predetermined time.

a. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the transmission of metadata in conjunction with a broadcast stream and more specifically to a method and system of managing asynchronous data insertion into a synchronous stream.
b. Description of the Background
Broadcast television programs may be enhanced through the display of metadata in conjunction with a displayed program. Metadata is data associated with an audio/video stream, and need not be aural or pictorial in nature. Metadata may comprise scores for sporting events, text information for news programs, Internet links to additional information, or other information. For example, displaying statistics for a particular car or driver when the televised image shows the car or driver may enhance an automobile race.
Standards such as the Enhanced Content Specification from the Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF) provide a foundation for HTML enhanced television. The specification employs triggers in a broadcast stream to initiate presentation of metadata. Receivers must be able to cache one megabyte of information comprising enhanced content and audio/video stream data. Enhanced content is transferred to the receiver prior to receipt of the trigger. Enhanced content may be contained in the broadcast stream or transferred over a separate network such as the Internet, for example.
Two transport types are defined in the ATVEF Enhanced Content Specification. Type A transport employs an independent communication path to request and receive enhanced content information. Type B transport contains enhanced content information in the broadcast stream. As such, transport type B can run on TV broadcast networks without Internet connections, unlike transport type A.
The bandwidth of type B transport is shared between program content, enhanced content, and other information, such as control information or captioning, for example. Type B transport systems may provide an isochronous channel (minimum constant data rate) for enhanced content metadata transfer.
In type A transport, a network connection may be permanently connected, currently connected, or not connected. Permanently connected network connections may include cable modem and DSL connections. Currently connected and currently not connected networks may comprise dial up connections. Type A transport network connections exhibit bandwidth and latencies that may vary with type of connection, speed of connection, number of users and other factors.
Transmission of enhanced content to a receiver must be initiated at a time sufficiently in advance of the associated trigger to allow transfer and storage of the enhanced content information. The interval of time required to transfer the enhanced content may vary depending on available bandwidth, size of the metadata file, and redundancy of transmission, plus other factors. A metadata file may be transmitted more than once to reduce the likelihood of errors in the stored file.
The number of enhanced content events that may occur can be maximized by starting transfers of metadata at a time such that data is stored 'just in time' in the receiver cache for utilization in response to a trigger.
Alternatively, if there are a predetermined number of triggers for a broadcast program, providing a method of transfer wherein metadata arrives just in time for utilization allows maximum data size for each trigger event. Increased data size may be employed to offer higher quality images and graphics.
In order to maximize the number of enhancement events that may be produced with a predetermined bandwidth, or to maximize the data size that may be transferred for a trigger event, a new method of managing transfer of metadata is needed.

Rate controlled insertion of asynchronous data into a synchronous stream


A system for monitoring railroad cars comprising a hatch cover assembly including a cover body, a sensor, a wireless transmitter for transmitting data received from the sensor, a wireless receiver for receiving the data from the wireless transmitter, and a satellite transmitter for transmitting the data to a satellite. The wireless receiver and the satellite transmitter are attached to the hatch cover assembly. In one embodiment, the sensor is a pressure sensor having a sensing unit situated in the plenum of a vented hatch cover. In another embodiment, the sensor is an air flow sensor having a sensing unit situated in the plenum of a vented hatch cover. In another embodiment, the sensor is a chain tension sensor attached to a handbrake chain. In another embodiment, the sensor is a hatch cover position attached to the hatch cover assembly.

The present invention relates to systems for monitoring railroad cars. More specifically, it relates to a system for monitoring railroad cars that includes a satellite transmitter.
Railroad hopper cars carrying bulk particulate matter, such as grain or plastic pellets, are typically unloaded by applying a vacuum conveying line to an outlet gate positioned at the bottom of each car compartment. The primary air flow for the vacuum conveying line is obtained from the exterior of the car. However, the rate of content removal results in reduction in pressure above the lading. The top of the car compartment must be vented to compensate for material drawn out the bottom of the compartment. Failure to vent the top of the compartment would reduce the efficiency of the vacuum unloading process and even risk damage to the car structure.
Vented hatch covers are known. They represent a successful solution to the prior deficiencies associated with non-vented hatch covers. Such vented hatch covers are available from Salco Products Inc., Lemont, Ill. These configurations are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,819,830 and 5,064,089 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/610,421, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Some of the embodiments of the present invention incorporate a satellite transmission system attached to a vented hatch cover of the type in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,819,830 and 5,064,089 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/610,421.
Once the hopper cars arrive to their destination, the loaded hopper cars may remain in the railroad yard for several days, or even months, until they are ready to be unloaded. It is typical for the buyer to pay the seller for the cargo only after it has been unloaded from the hopper car. Therefore, when the cargo was unloaded from the hopper car is important to both the seller and the buyer. Since the seller is not involved in the unloading process, the seller would need to rely solely on the buyer to provide him with the date on which the carge was unloaded. Some of the embodiments of the present invention provide the seller with the benefit of receiving a report when the hopper car is being unloaded.
Railroad cars are typically equipped with handbrakes which can be set or engaged when the cars are held in the railroad yard. Occasionally the operator forgets to disengage the handbrake and the railroad car is dragged with the handbrake remain engaged. With the handbrake engaged, the car wheels skid rather than roll. This may cause a flat spot on the wheels and/or ruin the brake shoes. Some of the embodiments of the present invention provide the car owner with the benefit of monitoring the status of the handbrake engagement of the car.
Railroad cars frequently require security mechanisms to preserve the integrity of the contents of the car compartments. Often it is desirable to be aware of instances of unauthorized opening of or entry into such car compartments through the hatch opening. This is particularly true in those situations where theft or contamination of the contents of the compartments is otherwise difficult to ascertain. Such situations exist, for example, where the contents of the car compartment is in bulk or infrequently inventoried, or where even small amounts of certain contaminants are unacceptable. Comprehensive testing for contaminants is usually impractical or prohibitively expensive. Some of the embodiments of the present invention provide the car owner with a security system which monitors the position of the hatch cover and sends a report that the hatch cover has been opened.


An integrated mount duct includes a load ring for mounting a turbomachine to a flight vehicle, wherein the load ring has a cylindrical shape with a flange edge and a stepped edge, and comprises one or more mechanical attachment members disposed on an outside surface of the load ring, the mechanical attachment members configured to mate with a strut.

The present invention generally relates to airborne ancillary turbomachinery, and in particular to a method and device for mounting such equipment to flight vehicle structures.
A typical flight vehicle, such as an aircraft, may include a turbomachine such as an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) 10, partially shown in FIG. 1, used to provide electrical and pneumatic power to various parts of the aircraft (not shown) for environmental control, interior lighting, electronic power, and starting a main engine.
The conventional APU 10 may be mounted to the aircraft by means of struts or links attached to an APU gearbox pad 19. As shown in FIG. 2, a standard cloverleaf strut mounting assembly 11 (here shown in an exploded view) may include a finger mount 13, a stud adapter 23, a first vibration isolator 27, and a second vibration isolator 29. The stud adapter 23 may be removably attached to the conventional APU 10, typically by using mechanical fasteners. The finger mount 13 may be configured for removable attachment to proximate ends of a strut 15 and a strut 17. The distal ends of the struts 15 and 17 may be secured to the aircraft so as to provide support to the conventional APU 10.
A cloverleaf 21 may be configured to bear against the APU gearbox pad 19 and to mate with the stud adapter 23. The finger mount 13 may be mechanically secured to a stud 25 on the stud adapter 23 with a first vibration isolator 27 provided between the finger mount 13 and the stud adapter 23, and a second vibration isolator 29 and a washer 31 under a nut 33 threaded onto the stud 25.
Because there are a large number of flight vehicles currently in worldwide service which make use of the above standard cloverleaf strut mounting assembly 11 to install ancillary equipment, there exists a large, worldwide manufacturing base producing the standard mounting components. The relatively low cost and ready availability of these mounting components makes it desirable, when designing new ancillary aircraft equipment, to provide mounting pads compatible with the cloverleaf configuration. Accordingly, the present manufacturing base continues to produce the standard mounting components for new equipment as well as for the conventional equipment still in service.
Certain new ancillary equipment in the present state of the art is designed to be lighter and less costly, having fewer conventional hard pickup points for structural support and mounting. For example, a new auxiliary power unit may be designed without a gearbox to save weight and, consequently, would not have available a mounting surface, such as the APU gearbox pad 19, for attaching the standard mounting hardware. Such new equipment cannot utilize the standard mounting hardware and associated components described above, even though it remains economically feasible to continue using these components, even for new designs, and specialized mounting methods are used.
For example, an alternative mounting system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,223 issued to Cornax which discloses a first radial ring attached to an engine cowl and a second radial ring attached to an engine by a plurality of bolts. Outwardly extending tabs in the second ring mesh with grooves in the first ring to allow relative movement of the rings and thus provide for radial expansion as the engine heats up during operation. The mounting system disclosed by Cornax '223 is thus not compatible with standard mounting components. U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,448 issued to Manteiga et al. discloses a system for mounting an aircraft engine which includes mounting features disposed on the engine, such as on the combustor casing. The mounting features may be attached to a mounting frame that is bolted to a pylon. However, the mounting system disclosed by Manteiga et al. '448 also includes specialized supporting struts and mounting features for securing the radial rings to the aircraft structure and does not utilize standard mounting components.
There continues to be a need for a mounting apparatus for mounting ancillary equipment to a vehicle, wherein the mounting apparatus is capable of using standard struts, cloverleaf mounting components, and finger attachments.

Integrated mount duct for use with airborne auxiliary power units and other turbomachines


The present disclosure relates to a method to determine the phase of a signal when transmitter and receiver circuits use separate clocks. A discrepancy between the separate clocks is determined, as is a correction factor between the separate clocks. The phase is determined using a measured time of arrival of the signal, the determined discrepancy, and the determined correction factor. A drift factor and an expected start time of a pulse sequence may be used to determine the discrepancy. A start time of a pulse within the pulse sequence is determined and used to determine the correction factor. The method works by either absolute synchronization of the separate clocks, or by making the measurements independent of clock synchronization.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to the logging of subsurface formations surrounding a wellbore using a downhole logging tool, and particularly to making measurements with a modular logging tool while drilling, and using those measurements to infer one or more formation properties.
2. Background Art
Logging tools have long been used in wellbores to make, for example, formation evaluation measurements to infer properties of the formations surrounding the borehole and the fluids in the formations. Common logging tools include electromagnetic tools, nuclear tools, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tools, though various other tool types are also used.
Early logging tools were run into a wellbore on a wireline cable, after the wellbore had been drilled. Modern versions of such wireline tools are still used extensively. However, the need for information while drilling the borehole gave rise to measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tools and logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools. MWD tools typically provide drilling parameter information such as weight on the bit, torque, temperature, pressure, direction, and inclination. LWD tools typically provide formation evaluation measurements such as resistivity, porosity, and NMR distributions (e.g., T1 and T2). MWD and LWD tools often have components common to wireline tools (e.g., transmitting and receiving antennas), but MWD and LWD tools must be constructed to not only endure but to operate in the harsh environment of drilling.
Electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation in a medium is characterized by the magnetic permeability of the medium (μ) and the complex dielectric permittivity (∈*) given by,
                              ɛ          *                =                              ɛ            r                    -                      ⅈ                                      σ                              ϖɛ                0                                                                                and                                              (        1        )                                μ        =                              μ            r                                                        μ              0                        .                                              (        2        )            ∈r and μr are the permittivity and permeability of the medium relative to their corresponding values in free space (∈0=8.8 10−12, and μ0=1/(4π 10−7)), ω is the angular frequency, and σ is the conductivity. Those parameters affect the wave vector k, given by,
                    k        =                              ϖ            c                                                                        μ                r                                                          ɛ                r                                                                        (        3        )            where c, the speed of light in vacuum, is given by,
                    c        =                              1                                                            μ                  0                                                                  ɛ                  0                                                              .                                    (        4        )
Most rocks of interest are non-magnetic and therefore μr equals one. An EM measurement from a resistivity logging tool is related to k, which in turn is related to ∈r and σ. The real and imaginary parts of ∈* have different frequency dependencies. For example, the conductivity is typically constant until the frequency is above about 1 MHz, after which it increases slowly. The permittivity of rocks, on the other hand is very large (e.g., ˜10) at sub-Hz frequencies, and decreases as the frequency increases, but eventually flattens out at frequencies around a GHz. The frequency dependence of permittivity is 1/f for frequencies up to approximately 104 Hz, but between 104 and 108 Hz, it varies as 1/(fα), where α is approximately 0.3. Since the imaginary part of ∈* has an explicit 1/f dependence, the imaginary part dominates at low frequency and the real part dominates at high frequencies.
Most prior art low frequency resistivity tools have concentrated on the conductivity term of the complex permittivity and ignored the real part (which is known as the dielectric constant). As such, those tools only measure the amplitude of the received signal, which is sufficient to solve for the conductivity. However, if the phase of the received signal is also measured, one can additionally solve for the real and imaginary part of the complex permittivity. There is increasingly more interest in the dielectric constant since it contains information on the micro-geometry of the rock matrix.
Physics-based models explaining the frequency dependence of permittivity (and specifically the dielectric constant) attribute the variation with frequency to three effects, each of which operates in a particular frequency range. At high frequencies, where the permittivity is essentially frequency independent, the permittivity of the rock, which is a mixture of the solid matrix, water, and hydrocarbons, can be calculated using the "complex refractive index method" (CRIM), shown by Equation (5) below,√{square root over (∈*rock)}=(1−φ)√{square root over (∈matrix)}+Swaterφ√{square root over (∈*Water)}+(1−Swater)φ√{square root over (∈hydrocarbon)}.  (5)This is a simple volumetric average of the refractive index (that is, the square root of the permittivity) of the components. Any slight frequency dependence in this range is the result of the frequency dependence of the water permittivity.
The intermediate range, where the permittivity varies as the (−α) power of frequency, is attributed to the geometrical shape of the rock grains. The insulating grains, surrounded by conductive water, form local capacitors that respond to the applied electric field. The permittivity in this range has been described by several models, one of which, for a fully water-filled rock, is given by,
                    ϕ        =                              (                                                            ɛ                  rock                  *                                -                                  ɛ                  matrix                                                                              ɛ                  water                  *                                -                                  ɛ                  matrix                                                      )                                                        (                                                ɛ                  water                  *                                                  ɛ                  rock                  *                                            )                        L                                              (        6        )            where L is the depolarizing factor describing the average grain shape. For example, L is ⅓ for spherical grains, and it deviates for more realistic, spheroidal grain shapes, though it remains between 0 and 1. This equation can be easily modified to include partial water saturation and the effect of hydrocarbons on the measured complex permittivity. As mentioned above, the intermediate frequency range starts at approximately 100 kHz, which is the operating frequency of most propagation and induction tools, so this expression is very applicable to the measurements from these tools and leads to a complex permittivity of water from which water salinity can be determined. The expression also provides a measure of grain shape that has further application.
At frequencies below 100 kHz, the permittivity has a 1/f dependence. This is attributed to the double layer effects caused by surface charges on the surfaces of the rock grains. The surfaces of the rock grains are charged either by the nature of the minerals at the surface, or, more importantly, by the varying amounts of clay mineral at the surface. These minerals have surface charges in contact with a cloud of oppositely charged counter-ions, forming an ionic double layer. The counter-ions respond to the applied electric field and cause a large permittivity. The permittivity in this frequency range is a clay indicator and can be used to estimate the clay concentration or cation-exchange capacity (CEC). Thus, any resistivity tool that measures the amplitude and phase of the received signal below 100 kHz can determine the conductivity and permittivity of the rock and can provide an estimate of the shale content. In addition to shale estimation, phase measurement may be used to determine a phase conductivity in addition to the traditionally measured amplitude conductivity. It has been shown that those two responses have different depths of investigations, and their combination provides a very good bed boundary indicator.


The present invention relates to a method for preparing a nickel-based catalyst for steam carbon dioxide reforming (SCR) of natural gas using steam and carbon dioxide, more particularly to a method for preparing a nickel-based catalyst represented by Ni/η-Al2O3, which is prepared by supporting nickel on a spherical η-alumina support having many acid sites at high density by repeating impregnation and drying tens of times.

(a) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a nickel-based catalyst for steam carbon dioxide reforming of natural gas using steam and carbon dioxide.
(b) Background Art
With the recent increase in oil price, there has been a growing interest in alternative energy. In particular, preparation of synthetic fuels using natural gas buried in stranded gas fields is becoming more important as a new energy source. The reforming reaction for preparing synthesis gas from natural gas is achieved by reforming of methane, which is the main component of natural gas.
The reforming reactions for preparing synthesis gas from natural gas can be classified into steam reforming (SR), partial oxidation (POX), autothermal reforming (ATR), carbon dioxide reforming (CDR), steam carbon dioxide reforming (SCR), tri-reforming (TriR) or the like.
{circle around (1)}Steam reforming (SR): CH4+H2O→3H2+CO
{circle around (2)}Partial oxidation (POX): CH4+0.5O2→2H2+CO
{circle around (3)}Autothermal reforming (ATR): CH4+0.5O2+H2O→3H2+CO2
{circle around (4)}Carbon dioxide reforming (CDR): CH4+CO2→2H2+2CO
{circle around (5)}Steam carbon dioxide reforming (SCR): 2CH4+H2O+CO2→5H2+3CO
{circle around (6)}Tri-reforming (TriR): 3CH4+H2O+0.5O2+CO2→7H2+4CO
At present, various methods have been attempted for preparing synthesis having variously controlled H2/CO molar ratios through reforming of methane. Among them, CDR using steam and carbon dioxide is drawing much attention.
As a catalyst for SCR, a nickel-based catalyst wherein nickel (Ni) is supported as an active component on a Ce/Mg—Al or Ce—Zr/Mg—Al support is commonly used [Korean Patent Registration No. 991,263]. The catalyst disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 991,263 is for use under a low-pressure condition around the atmospheric pressure and is known to exhibit very low catalytic activity at high pressures of 20 bar or above.
Thus, the inventors of the present invention have made efforts to develop an improved method for preparing a nickel-based catalyst which exhibits superior catalytic durability when used in steam carbon dioxide reforming (SCR) conducted under harsh conditions of high temperature and high pressure.

Process for preparing nickel based catalysts for SCR of natural gas

Abstract: The catalyst prepared according to the present invention exhibits superior catalytic activity when used in steam carbon dioxide reforming reaction (SCR) even under harsh conditions of high temperature and high pressure and hardly exhibits carbon deposition due to superior durability.

KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


An intraocular surgical tool for removing material from an eye of a patient. The tool is provided with a cutting assembly and an aspiration apparatus to remove a portion of vitreous from the eye for inspection and testing. The tool is also fitted with a mechanism for replacing the removed vitreous with saline or similar fluid. The tool makes an incision small enough so that sutures are not required. The tool is portable having a housing and battery pack releasably coupled to one another. The cutting assembly is releasably secured to the housing. Accordingly, the housing may be removed and the cutting assembly discarded so that the housing may be sterilized before performing a vitrectomy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vitrectomy tool and, more particularly, to a sutureless vitrectomy cutter having a cutting assembly small enough to allow the eye to heal without sutures.
Vitreous inflammatory diseases are often associated with a poor prognosis for the patient. Accurate diagnosis and early treatment of endophthalmitis and other acute forms of vitritis is essential. Traditionally, two options have been available for managing a patient with endophthalmitis. The first option is a vitreous tap which may be performed in a doctor's office or operating room. The second option is a pars plana vitrectomy which, due to the required equipment and complexity of the operation, is performed in an operating room.
While vitreous taps may be safely performed in an office setting, as well as in the operating room, many times it is difficult to aspirate liquid vitreous. This is due to the density of the vitreous cavity and the gauge of the needle (eighteen to twenty gauge) required to aspirate the vitreous. The vitreous tap has the advantage of rapid diagnosis and treatment. The major disadvantages of the vitreous tap include, but are not limited to, vitreous traction, retinal tears and/or retinal detachments.
Pars plana vitrectomy can overcome some of the problems associated with vitreous tap. Pars plana vitrectomy provides a larger vitreous sample for analysis, which may increase the diagnostic yield of organisms. It also may facilitate intraocular antibiotic penetration and allow better clearance of the toxins. The major disadvantage of the pars plana vitrectomy is that it is traditionally performed in an operating room. Operating room scheduling, rooms set-up, equipment set-up and patient admitting and testing may cause delays. Since time is of the essence with endophthalmitis, any delays in diagnosis and treatment can have devastating effects. Additionally, pars plana vitrectomy is a more difficult procedure involving several steps, and is associated with the possibility of more complications, than the vitreous tap.
After a pars plana vitrectomy is performed, it is often necessary to suture closed the opening made in the eye to perform the vitrectomy. Suturing typically involves additional problems such as increased time in the operating room and increased cost for the sutures. Sutures also increase the possibility of infection in and along the suture tract. To overcome the problems associated with suturing an eye after a vitrectomy, it is known in the art to use a vitrectomy instrument with a cutting assembly small enough to be used through an incision small enough so as not to require sutures.
These prior art sutureless pars plans vitrectomy instruments are very large, typically weighing fifty pounds or more with their transport carriage occupying five cubic feet or more of operating room space.
The size of these instruments is typically governed by the power source required to run and the need for stability during the vitrectomy procedure itself. Due to the size of these instruments, however, moving them out of the way, transporting them from room to room, or transporting them in a vehicle is cumbersome. It would therefore be desirable to provide a smaller, portable vitrectomy instrument which could be used in a doctor's office and which could be easily transported and stored.
Although the above-described techniques are adapted to provide a vitreous sample for testing, as noted above, both the vitreous tap and the pars plana vitrectomy have drawbacks for the patient. Neither technique combines the ease of the vitreous tap with the safety of the pars plana vitrectomy in a portable apparatus. The difficulties encountered hereinabove are sought to be eliminated by the present invention.


The present invention relates to the use of 5-HT1 agonists in pharmaceutical compositions, compounds and methods for treatment of movement disorders related to neurological dysfunctions. The invention is particularly relevant for treatment of patients suffering from tardive dyskinesia, Parkinson's disease and associated disorders thereof. Kits of parts comprising the 5-HT1 agonist compounds or pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention, as well as methods of preparation are also provided by the present invention.

Movement disorders are a group of diseases that affect the ability to produce and control body movement, and are often associated with neurological disorders or conditions associated with neurological dysfunction. Movement disorders may manifest themselves in abnormal fluency or speed of movement, excessive or involuntary movement, or slowed or absent voluntary movement. Akathisia for example, is a movement disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations of "inner" restlessness, mental unease, or dysphoria that results in inability of a patient to sit still or remain motionless. Patients typically have restless movement, including rocking from foot to foot and walking on the spot when standing, shuffling and tramping the legs, rocking back and forth, or swinging one leg on the other when sitting. In severe cases, patients constantly pace up and down in an attempt to relieve the sense of unrest, since the restlessness is felt from wakeup in the morning to sleep at night. Some patients have described the feeling as a sense of inner tension and torment or chemical torture.
Another example of a movement disorder is dyskinesia which characterized by various involuntary movements, which can affect discrete body parts or can become generalized and severely disabling. Tardive dyskinesia is one example of dyskinesia which is characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements, such as grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing of the lips, and rapid eye blinking. Involuntary movements of the fingers may appear as though the patient is playing an invisible guitar or piano.
Often, the neurological disorder or condition which causes the movement disorder is associated with dysfunction of the basal ganglia. The dysfunction may be idiopathic, induced by certain drugs or infections, or caused by genetic defects.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is an example of a neurological disorder associated with dysfunction of the basal ganglia. PD results in movement disorders and is characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, postural abnormalities, gait abnormalities, a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia) and in extreme cases a loss of physical movement (akinesia). The disease is caused by progressive death and degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta and a dysfunctional regulation of dopamine neurotransmission. In order to replace the lost dopamine, PD is currently treated with Levodopa (L-DOPA, a precursor of dopamine), with dopamine agonists or other agents that act by increasing the concentration of dopamine in the synaptic cleft. PD is a common disease and affects 1% of persons above 60 years of age.
Unfortunately, the treatment of PD with L-DOPA often gives rise to dyskinesia (diminished voluntary movements and presence of involuntary movements) in advanced PD patients with impaired regulations of DA levels. This specific type of dyskinesia is called L-DOPA Induced Dyskinesia (LID) and is caused by excessive dopamine levels in the synapses (Jenner: Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008; 9(9): 665-77; Del Sorbo and Albanese: J Neurol. 2008; 255 Suppl 4: 32-41). About 50% of patients treated with L-DOPA develop LID, which severely limits optimal treatment and reduce quality of life.
Movement disorders induced by drug therapy can also be related to treatment of other neurological or psychiatric diseases. Examples of these are tardive dyskinesia and akathesia, which are commonly developed as a side effect of long term treatment with neuroleptics for instance in patients suffering from e.g. schizophrenia.
Tardive dyskinesia may persist after withdrawal of the drug for months, years or can even be permanent. The primary prevention of tardive dyskinesia is achieved by using the lowest effective dose of a neuroleptic for the shortest time. If tardive dyskinesia is diagnosed, the therapy with the causative drug is discontinued. Both of these approaches cause difficulties for the therapeutical use of neuroleptics.
Shortly after the introduction of antipsychotic drugs in the 1950's, akathisia was recognized as one of the most common and distressing early onset adverse effects. Estimates of the prevalence of akathisia in neuroleptic-treated people range between 20% and 75%, occurring more frequently in the first three months of treatment. Akathisia is not only related to acute administration of a neuroleptic, but also to a rapid dosage increase. Unfortunately, akathisia may be difficult to distinguish from psychotic agitation or anxiety, especially if the person describes a subjective experience of akathisia in terms of being controlled by an outside force. Therefore, the dosage of the drug which causes the movement disorder may even be further increased after symptoms of akathisia.
Movement disorders are frequently caused by impaired regulation of dopamine neurotransmission. Dopamine acts by binding to synaptic dopamine receptors D1, D2, D4, and D5, and the binding is controlled by regulated release and re-uptake of dopamine. Impaired regulation of dopamine release or up-take can result in excess dopamine in the synapses, which lead to the development of movement disorders.
As mentioned above, PD is an example of a movement disorder associated with dysfunctional regulation of dopamine neurotransmission, which is caused by progressive degeneration of dopamine neurons. Tardive dyskinesia is another example of a movement disorder associated with dysfunctional regulation of dopamine neurotransmission. Neuroleptics act primarily on the dopamine system and are drugs which block D2 dopamine receptors, to prevent conditions associated with increased dopamine levels. Tardive dyskinesia has been suggested to result primarily from neuroleptic-induced dopamine super sensitivity in the nigrostriatal pathway, with the D2 dopamine receptor being most affected. Older neuroleptics, which have greater affinity for the D2 binding site, are associated with higher risks for tardive dyskinesia.
Dopamine release and re-uptake is regulated by a number of neurotransmitters, including serotonin (5-HT). Other neurotransmitters that directly or indirectly regulate dopamine neurotransmission are the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and excitatory amino acid glutamate.
Serotonin acts by binding to different serotonergic receptors. These include the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, 5-HT1E, 5-HT1F, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C, 5-HT3,5-HT4, 5-HT5, 5-HT6, and 5-HT7 for which both agonists and antagonists have been found. The serotonin receptors 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, 5-HT1E, 5-HT1F are located both post-synaptically and pre-synaptically and on the cell body. Serotonin neurotransmission is regulated by these receptors and by re-uptake mechanisms (Filip et al. Pharmacol. Reports, 2009, 61, 761-777; Ohno, Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2010, 10, 148-157).
Agonists and antagonists of some serotonergic receptors have been investigated for treatment of some movement disorders. Several serotonin 5-HT1A agonists have been shown to ameliorate extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) associated with treatment with neuroleptics and to improve cognition in patients suffering from schizophrenia. (Newman-Tancredi: Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 2010, 11(7):802-812).
Modulators of serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission have been shown to ameliorate or prevent LID. One example thereof is sarizotan, which is a 5-HT1A agonist and a dopamine receptor antagonist (Grégoire et al: Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2009; 15(6): 445-52). In a phase 2A study and in an open labeled study sarizotan reduced LID. However, in several large phase 2b studies no significant effects of sarizotan compared to placebo could be shown. The lack of effect is suggested to be due to lack of efficacy of the drug, or worsening of the Parkinson symptoms caused by the dopamine receptor antagonistic effects of the compound.
The effects of buspirone on Parkinson's disease have been studied in a small open study (Ludwig et al: Clin Neuropharmacol. 1986; 9(4):373-8). It was found that doses (10-60 mg/day), which are normally used to treat patients suffering from anxiety, did not have any effects on Parkinson's disease or dyskinesia. At higher doses (100 mg/day) it was observed that buspirone reduced dyskinesia but with a significant worsening of disability ratings. This showed that high doses of buspirone could worsen the akinesia associated with Parkinson's disease.
Methods to treat LID using other 5-HT1A agonists have also been suggested in US 2007/0249621. It has further been shown in a case study that perospirone, which is a 5-HT1A agonist, could reduce involuntary movement of a patient suffering from Huntington's disease. (Roppongi et al: Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2007; 31(1):308-10).
Recently it has been shown that a combination of a 5-HT1A and a 5-HT1B agonist increased efficacy in reducing L-DOPA induced dyskinesia can be obtained in animal models (e.g. Muñoz et al: Brain. 2008; 131(Pt 12): 3380-94; Muñoz et al: Experimental Neurology 219 (2009) 298-307). 5-HT1B agonists have potential to reduce LID via several mechanisms. However, 5-HT1B receptors are found in the heart and it has been proposed that modulators of these receptors can be involved in development of valvular heart disease and other cardiac disorders associated with the use of modulators of serotonin receptors and serotonin reuptake (Elangbam et al: J Histochem Cytochem 53:671-677, 2005).
The combined 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B agonist eltoprazine [1-(2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-5-yl)piperazine has also recently been suggested for treatment of LID (WO2009/156380). Eltoprazine is estimated to be equipotent in terms of activation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors, and in addition has 5-HT2C antagonistic effects. The long term effects of the use of the compound for treatment are unknown.
However, 5-HT1A agonists given in high doses can lead to the development of serotonin syndrome or serotonin toxicity a form of poisoning. The syndrome or toxicity is caused by increased activation of the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors. Serotonin syndrome, by definition, is a group of symptoms presenting as mental changes, autonomic nervous system malfunction, and neuromuscular complaints. Patients may present with confusion, agitation, diarrhea, sweating, shivering, hypertension, fever, increased white blood cell count, incoordination, marked increase in reflexes, muscle jerks, tremor, extreme stiffness, seizures and even coma. The severity of changes ranges from mild to fatal. Because of the severity of serotonin syndrome, it is therefore important to maintain a low exposure of the 5-HT1A agonist.

Combinations of serotonin receptor agonists for treatment of movement disorders


In the case of the cost-effective method according to the invention for fabricating a power transistor arrangement, a trench power transistor arrangement (1) is fabricated with four patterning planes each containing a lithography step. The power transistor arrangement according to the invention has a cell array (3) with cell array trenches (5) each containing a field electrode structure (11) and a gate electrode structure (10). The field electrode structure (11) is electrically conductively connected to the source metallization (15) by a connection trench (6) in the cell array (3).

The invention relates to a method for fabricating a power transistor arrangement and a mask for carrying out the method. Moreover, the invention relates to a power transistor arrangement.
Transistor arrangements fashioned as MOS (Metal Oxide semiconductor) power transistors are provided for controlling switching currents having high current intensities (up to several tens of amperes) by means of low control voltages. The dielectric strength of such power transistors may be as much as several 100 V. The switching times are usually in the region of a few microseconds.
MOS power transistors take the form of trench MOS power transistors, for example. A trench MOS power transistor is formed in a semiconductor substrate having, in at least one active cell array, in each case a plurality of trench transistor cells arranged next to one another.
Depending on the fashioning of the trench transistor cells, it is possible to realize for example normally on and normally off p-channel and n-channel trench MOS power transistors.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional power transistor arrangement 1 embodied as a trench MOS power transistor with a schematic illustration of the source, drain and gate connections, which is embodied as an n-channel MOSFET with a vertical double-diffused trench structure (VDMOSFET, vertical double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor). In this case, a drain metallization 231 connected to the drain connection is arranged on a rear side of a semiconductor substrate 16. An n++-doped drain layer 23 adjoins the drain metallization 231 in the semiconductor substrate 16. A drift zone 232 adjoins the drain layer 23 opposite to the drain metallization 231. The drift zone 232 is generally formed from a weakly n-doped semiconductor substrate 16 that generally comprises silicon applied epitaxially. A space charge zone forms in the drift zone 232 during off-state operation of the trench MOS power transistor, the extent of said space charge zone essentially determining the maximum reverse voltage.
In a cell array 3, cell array trenches 5 are arranged in the semiconductor substrate 16. The cell array trenches 5, which are illustrated in cross section, in this example extend parallel in a direction perpendicular to the cross-sectional area. Gate electrode structures 10 and field electrode structures 11 are arranged in the cell array trenches 5. The field electrode structure 11 is insulated from the semiconductor substrate 16 by an insulation layer 18, which may comprise a field oxide, for example. The gate electrode structure 10 is insulated from the field electrode structure 11 and the semiconductor substrate 16 by a gate insulation layer 20, which may be a silicon oxide, for example. The drift zone 232 of the semiconductor substrate 16 is adjoined by p-doped body zones in regions between the cell array trenches 5, said body zones approximately being situated opposite the gate electrode structures 10. n++-doped source regions 8a are provided between the body zones and a substrate surface 17. The field electrode structures 11 reduce a parasitic capacitance between the gate electrode structures 10 and the drift zone 232. A source metallization 15 is electrically conductively connected to the source regions 8a by means of source contact trenches 8. The source metallization 15 is electrically insulated with respect to the gate electrode structures 10 by an intermediate oxide layer 22. The material both of the gate electrode structures 10 and of the field electrode structures 11 is heavily doped polysilicon, for example. The conductivity of the gate electrode structure 10 may be improved for example by an additional layer in the gate electrode structure 10, for instance a silicide layer. The cell array trench 5 with the gate electrode structure 10 and the field electrode structure 11 forms, together with the adjoining doped regions of the semiconductor substrate 16, a trench transistor cell 2 extending as far as the drain layer 23.
If a positive potential is applied to the gate electrode structure 10 in such an active trench transistor cell 2, then an n-conducting inversion channel forms in the p-doped body zone from the minority carriers (electrons) of the p-doped body zone that have accumulated there.
In an edge region 4 of the power transistor arrangement 1 formed as a trench MOS power transistor, on the one hand the field electrode structures 11 arranged in the cell array trenches 5 are contact-connected to the source metallization 15, and on the other hand the gate electrode structures 10 arranged in the cell array trenches 5 are contact-connected to a gate metallization 14. Furthermore, an example of a shielding electrode 12 is illustrated in the edge region 4.
By way of example, the field electrode structures 11 arranged in the cell array trenches 5 are contact-connected in a cross-sectional plane VII parallel to the cross-sectional plane VI. In the cell array trenches 5, running perpendicular to the cross-sectional plane VI, the gate electrode structures 10 do not extend over the entire length of the cell array trenches 5, so that the respective field electrode structure 11 is contact-connected in a connection region of the cell array trenches 5, as shown in the plane VII. Each field electrode structure 11 pulled over the substrate surface 17 is electrically conductively connected to the source metallization 15. Moreover, a shielding electrode 12 extending above the substrate surface 17 is formed.
In a further cross-sectional plane VIII extending between the first cross-sectional plane VI and the second cross-sectional plane VII parallel thereto, the gate electrode structures 10 are electrically connected to an edge gate structure 13. The edge gate structure 13 is electrically conductively connected to the gate metallization 14. The edge gate structures 13 and the shielding electrodes 12 are generally formed from doped polysilicon. The source metallization 15, the gate metallization 14, the edge gate structure 13, the shielding electrode 12, and also the semiconductor substrate 16 are mutually insulated from one another in each case by an insulation layer 18, an intermediate oxide layer 22 and also a further insulation layer 18.
In order to fabricate a complex structure, such as the power transistor arrangement described in FIG. 1, in which both the gate electrode structure and the field electrode structure are led out into the edge region and connected there in each case to a gate metallization, and a source metallization, respectively, at least five to seven patterning planes are employed in the present-day fabrication methods. A patterning plane generally comprises a lithographic imaging of structures that are predefined on an exposure mask onto the semiconductor substrate to be patterned and subsequent etching, deposition or growth and planarization steps.
The at least seven patterning planes for fabricating a power transistor arrangement such as has been described in FIG. 1, for example, contain a trench patterning, during which cell array and edge trenches are introduced into the semiconductor substrate, a patterning of deposited polysilicon for formation of the field electrode structure, a patterning of a gate insulation layer (gate oxide), a patterning of a second deposited polysilicon layer for formation of the gate electrode structure, a patterning of body and source regions, a patterning of contact holes, and a patterning of a metal plane.
A major cost factor in each patterning plane is the lithographic imaging, since the requisite devices are technically very complicated and cost-intensive. Moreover, the entire imaging process requires a high precision and is thus highly susceptible to error. For the reasons mentioned, it is endeavored to reduce the number of lithographic imagings and thus also the number of patterning planes.
A fabrication method with only five patterning planes has already been proposed. In the method, the body and source patterning and also gate electrode patterning planes are eliminated. Lithographic imagings are then not used any longer either for body patterning, source patterning or for gate electrode patterning. The remaining five patterning planes comprise the trench patterning, the field electrode patterning, the patterning of the gate insulation layer, the contact hole patterning and the patterning of the metal plane.
The present invention is based on the object of providing a cost-effective method with a further reduced number of patterning planes for fabrication of a power transistor arrangement. Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a mask for carrying out the method. The object further encompasses a power transistor arrangement fabricated by the method.
This object is achieved by means of a method having the features of patent claim 1 and by means of a mask for carrying out the method in accordance with patent claim 14. Furthermore, the object is achieved by means of a power transistor arrangement in accordance with patent claim 23. Advantageous developments of the invention emerge from the respective subclaims.

Power transistor arrangement and method for fabricating it