A method facilitates altering consciousness by transcranial stimulation to adjust the membrane potential duration of sensory cortex dendritic spine necks. Sensory cortex spine neck membranes are conscious. The method comprises the steps of placing electrodes on or near a scalp; applying electric fields to spine neck membranes in sensory cortex; adjusting stimulation parameters; and altering consciousness for a predetermined duration.

Brain Stimulation and Consciousness
Brain stimulation is performed with electrodes that are implanted into the brain, attached to the brain surface, or placed outside the skull. Stimulation is electrical or magnetic which both create electric fields in the brain, and also is ultrasonic. Brain structure targets are both cortical and subcortical. Regions of interest include amygdala, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, cingulate, BA25, motor and sensory cortex. Also called neuronal stimulation and transcranial stimulation, brain stimulation is used to treat neurological and psychiatric diseases and to research brain function. The term is distinguished from high-voltage stimulation such as electroconvulsive, electrosleep, or cranial electrotherapy. Brain stimulation creates electric fields around neurons whereby neuronal firing rates are increased or decreased. The electric field around the neuron cell body modulates its firing rate (action potential frequency) during the stimulation and for a period of time after stimulation. Depending on the depth and radius from the stimulating electrode, different brain regions are targeted for the purpose of adjusting firing rates whereby they persist beyond the duration of stimulation. Transcranial stimulation affects the action potentials, postsynaptic potential, and the resting membrane potential. Action potentials are optimally modulated if the electric field is longitudinal to the axon's length from soma to synapse. Along the axon, the action potential duration is 1-2 milliseconds. The postsynaptic potentials arrive as waves down the dendrites to the soma where they are summated at the axon hillock section of the cell body (soma). When the membrane potential at the axon hillock reaches its threshold, an action potential is fired by rapid opening of membrane channels for positively charged calcium, sodium, and potassium ions, and negatively charged chloride ions. The action potential propagates by jumping to the nodes of Ranvier between sections of insulating myelin. Brain stimulation is thought to influence dendritic polarization, soma summation, axonal propagation and synaptic processes. It can evoke a behavioral response or not. The thresholds have been determined empirically. For example, with direct cortical stimulation at progressively longer pulse trains, the threshold for sensory perception, i.e., when the patient reports conscious perception, occurs at about 250 milliseconds; the perception threshold does not change with longer trains. Evoked potentials are observed below the sensory perception threshold. No motor responses are observed at that level of stimulation. The thresholds are the same in the visual cortex. After peripheral stimulation for 20-30 milliseconds, evoked potentials recorded from the primary somatosensory area are present whether or not the stimulus is consciously perceived. Somatosensory evoked responses are not unconscious.
Detection of direct stimulation of the brain is slower than when the stimulation is peripheral front target receptors. For example, stimulation of the sensory strip is detected more slowly than when the stimulation is coming from the peripheral receptors using haptic (grasping touch) stimuli from the fingers. Stimuli arrive in the primary sensory cortex 20 milliseconds after application to the hand. Reaction time for tactile perception is 210 to 400 milliseconds. Visual and auditory reaction time is 200 milliseconds ranging from 150 to 350 milliseconds depending on age. Visual stimulus recognition time is 53 milliseconds; movement initiation time is 80 milliseconds; detection time is 120 milliseconds. The standard movie film frame rate of 30 frames per second is 33 milliseconds.
Ultrasound, including functional ultrasound, has also been used on the cerebral cortex, as both a monitoring and stimulating method.
Intermittent photic stimulation is a component of the routine clinical EEG. A strobe light is flashed in the patient's eyes while observing the EEG for neuronal responses, typically provoked at 15-20 Hz (50-70 milliseconds). The origin of alpha, beta, theta and gamma EEG remains controversial.
Summaries of Prior Art on Brain Stimulation and Consciousness
U.S. Pat. No. 10,589,118 (Schneider, 2020) claims a method of transcranial magnetic stimulation over deep brain regions comprising one or more of thalamus, cingulate, putamen, caudate nucleus, hippocampus, ventral striatum, and amygdala, and using a plurality of electromagnets positioned to achieve spatial summation of signals—action potentials—at the deep brain region, for treating depression, addiction, or pain. The transcranial magnetic stimulation is applied to the predetermined cortical region.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication No. 2019/0247654 (Alyagon, 2019) claims a transcranial magnetic stimulation device for use with EEG (electroencephalography) for treating attention deficit disorder.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication No. 2019/0,201,707 (Stubbeman, 2019) claims a therapeutic or diagnostic device for stimulating peripheral and central nervous systems at theta frequencies, from 3 to 28 Hz.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,335,606 (Pell et al., 2019) claims a transcranial magnetic stimulation method for modulating the blood brain barrier by providing a series of magnetic pulses at frequencies ranging from 0.2 Hz to 2 Hz, and amplitudes 120-130% of the resting motor threshold amplitude for treatment of intracranial tumors and administration of pharmaceutical substances. to temporarily change permeability of the blood brain barrier for a period of at least 1, 3, and 5 minutes.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication No. 2019/0,105,517 (Tyler, 2019) claims an ultrasonic method for adjusting brain activity and monitoring the brain activity with any one of photoacoustic tomography, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography (EEG), for thalamo-cortical oscillations. The target brain regions are one of: hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, cerebellum, striatum, entorhinal cortex, auditory cortex, perirhinal cortex, entorhinal cortex, cerebral cortex, prefrontal cortex, auditory cortex, visual cortex, somatosensory cortex, motor cortex, locus coeruleus, hypothalamus, brainstem, cingulate cortex, olfactory region, proprioceptive region, afferent or efferent regions, or combination thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,118,038 (De Ridder, 2018) claims a treatment for a neurological disorder by adjusting functional connectivity between at least two neural networks, and further claims to stimulate the reward system with a burst or clustered firing or noise stimulation, to stimulate at least one site from the list consisting of: amygdala, dorsal anterior cingulate, insula, and to stimulate a lateral habenula nucleus for dys- or anti-reward.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,029,113 (Zangen et al., 2018) claims a method for transcranial magnetic stimulation with two electromagnetic coils that induce electric field pulses at a threshold level which is high enough to produce an action potential in the brain region. Embodiments include series of pulses at different repetition rates or different durations wherein the providing current does not stimulate the brain region. In another embodiment the positions and design of the coil are configured to approximate a path of a neuronal bundle.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,227,056 (Heldman et al., 2016) claims a therapy for movement disorders providing a low dose anodal direct electrical current to stimulate an area of the subject's brain at a predetermined duty-cycle while the subject is sleeping.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,067,052 (Moses et al., 2015) claims a transcranial magnetic stimulation method of rotating electric fields for axonal excitation.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication 2015/0174418 (Tyler et al., 2015) claims a method of transcranial stimulation with spatiotemporal patterns to decrease peak current in order to stimulate a target brain region based on cognitive and physiological assessments and measurements. The method incorporates pulsed electrical stimulations with a phase shift between pulses from different sets of electrodes of less than 10 milliseconds.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication No. 2015/0238762 (Pal et al., 2015) claims a method of modifying a user's cognitive state using a neurostimulator worn on the user's head. The user selects an EEG waveform and adjusts the perceived intensity of stimulation. One claim comprises the user temporarily modifying the application of the waveform ensemble for a predefined timer period. Another claim comprises a configuration to evoke a phosphene, and another transiently decreases then increases the perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication No. 2014/0207224 (Simon, 2014) claims a method of improving motor and/or memory function with an electrical impulse through an electrode to a target region in the motor cortex sufficient to modulate neurons and improve patient function.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,090,446 (Fowler et al., 2012) claims an electrical stimulation therapy using a plurality of electrodes sufficient for a desired purpose.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication No. 2005/0070971 (Fowler, 2005) claims a system for applying electrical stimulation to the cortical surface with an implantable pulse generator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,117 (Beck, 1987) claims a voltage generator apparatus attached near the subject's retina to produce visual sensations called phosphenes for entertainment or to help a blind person to locate nearby objects. In a subsequent patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,508, Beck, 1990) the device uses external inputs derived from music. Beck describes phosphenes as visual sensations experienced in the absence of normal visual stimulus. Such sensations may be induced by mechanical pressure on closed eyelids, by impact to the body, by various diseases or drugs, and by electrical stimulation of the nervous system. The inventor describes in detail his own and prior work. The types of phosphenes vary with pulse frequency and duty cycle. For example, at 20 Hz (50 millisecond pulse width) there is a definite progression of sensation types with increasing pulse duty cycle. At pulse ratios of 1:1 the patterns are round or flower-like. As the ratio decreases, i.e., as the pulses become narrower, the patterns change to lines, both straight and wavy. At very low values, such as 1:14, the pattern becomes radial or star-like. At other ratios there are pointillistic patterns. The sensation types bear a fixed within-subject relationship to frequency and pulse duty-cycle—the correlation was reproducible over six months, but between-subject correlations were insignificant. The inventor describes use of the method to induce phosphenes during hallucinogen administration.
International patent Publication No. WO 2013/173875 (Fitzgerald et al., 2013) claims a method of transcranial magnetic stimulation using a magnetic coil in varying stimulation parameters including coil orientation, current level, pulse frequency and/or pulse width and monitoring prefrontal cortex brain activity using near infra-red spectroscopy, EEG, EMG (electromyography), and/or fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging).
Neuronal Correlates of Consciousness
The brainstem (the top part of the spinal cord) is responsible for loss of consciousness when compressed by swelling or when twisted by a knock-out punch to the jaw. The brainstem pathways and physiology are known including those of sleep and dreaming. Dreams are sometimes conscious events. The brainstem causes loss of consciousness by inhibiting the pathways to and from the cortex. Brainstem activity is not conscious. Thus there is consensus that consciousness arises in sensory cortex. On the other hand, cortex and subcortex abnormalities do not cause generalized loss of consciousness, but instead localized losses of conscious sensations. A stroke in the sensory cortex causes discrete losses of (conscious) vision, hearing, touch and language comprehension in contrast to the global loss with brainstem dysfunction. Cortical blindness and parietal neglect are examples of unusual cortical strokes. After a parietal stroke for example a patient may not be conscious of a visual object shown on one side of the body but is nevertheless able to demonstrate use of the object. The neurologist tests for neglect by stimulating both sides of the body simultaneously and observing if the patient notices both sensations. Loss of awareness of one side or a region is called neglect or extinction and is tested in the laboratory with a procedure called masking. In a masking experiment, electric pulses are applied to both finger tips with a brief interval between. When the masking stimulus is presented shortly after the target stimulus the subject is not conscious of it. This backward mask at 50-100 milliseconds is more effective in blocking awareness of the target than masking presented at the same time as or before the target stimulus. Masking stimuli following the target by 500 to 750 milliseconds oppositely affects signal detection, enhancing perception. It has been proposed that extinction is mediated by inhibition of midbrain-thalamic-cortical neural assemblies, is modulated by gamma EEG activity that begins 85-100 milliseconds post-stimulus, and is required for (conscious) perception. There is delay in time before a stimulus becomes conscious. The controversies about whether activity in the primary sensory cortex is directly accessible to (conscious) perception persist. A direct role of thalamocortical interactions in the neural mechanisms of conscious awareness has been postulated including a role for the intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus. Current theory proposes that stimuli undergo initial subconscious processing in the primary somatosensory area and thalamo-cortical circuits or networks, before reaching consciousness somewhere in the cortex.
Nobel Prize winner Francis Crick, after discovering with James Watson the structure of DNA and the mechanism of cell reproduction, moved to California to study consciousness. As he describes in The Astonishing Hypothesis, his search for "the neuronal correlates of consciousness" (NCC) began with the prime thesis of cognitive neuroscience: neuronal firing rates are necessary and sufficient for brain functions including consciousness. The brain's firing rates and rhythms are the target of research on brain function and therapies for cognitive and psychological disorders. The analysis of focal activation/deactivation of, and functional (synchronous) connectivity between, collections of neurons is based on monitoring directly or indirectly, variations in firing rates. Based on firing rates, concepts of coding, computing, signalling, and processing are used to model brain function. Crick believed that (conscious) visual features such as facial features are "coarse coded" from firing patterns. He pointed out that a single action potential cannot single-handedly activate even one of its own postsynaptic target neurons. If every visual feature had its own 'grandmother" neuron, there would not be enough neurons in the whole cortex. Crick tentatively proposed that consciousness is created when the prefrontal cortex is stimulated by the visual cortex V4 region, up-stream from V1. Crick concluded that the neuronal correlates of consciousness remained unknown.
Prior Art on Neuronal Correlates of Consciousness
U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,899 (Gall, 1992) claims a method for altering the state of consciousness using EEG brain waves. Systems are described to stimulate specific brain wave rhythms for inducing a range of altered consciousness including heightened awareness, a hypnotic state, sleep, learning, researching, inventing, and concentrating. The patent emphasizes the utility of consciousness in work and daily life.
Anesthesia and Consciousness
General anesthesia is the gold standard for altering and losing consciousness globally. It is also dangerous. How general anesthetics cause unconsciousness is unknown. It is not mediated by the brainstem which would be a bottom-up mechanism. Current theory is that unconsciousness is caused by a reduction in the neuronal signaling from higher-order brain regions to lower order brain regions. Consciousness according to current theory, is suppressed when the anesthetic disrupts cortical to cortical, top-down, processing. One proposal places the proposed top-down effect on the dendrites that are suppressed by inhibitory neurotransmitters. Attention has focused on the neurotransmitter receptors' synthesis and density on postsynaptic neurons; a leading pharmaceutical strategy targets the NMDA receptor on the postsynaptic membrane, the NMDA spikes, spikes at the main bifurcations of apical dendrites, and dendritic calcium channels. Bottom-up axons from the thalamus terminate predominantly in cortical layer 4. Axons running in the Layer 1 canopy provide top-down connectivity from frontal to parietal, temporal, and occipital cortices, as well as top-down connectivity with the lower Layers. According to these theories, anesthesia-induced unconsciousness is caused by suppressing top-down signals at the level of the apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons in the sensory cortices, and disrupting working memory perceptual predictions.
Summary of Prior Art on Anesthesia and Consciousness
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication No. 2014/0316217 (Purdon, 2014) claims a system and method for monitoring loss of consciousness and recovery using low frequency physiological sensors while administering a chemical such as Propofol, Etomidate, Barbiturates, Thiopental, Phenobarbital, Methohexital, Benzodiazepines, Midazolam, Diazepam, Lorazepam, Dexmedetomidine, Ketamine, Sevoflurane, Isoflurane, Desflurane, Remifenanil, Fentanyl, Sufentanil, and Alfentanil.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,272 (Orr, 2009) claims a method for facilitating emergence of a subject from inhaled anesthetic. Emergence is an anesthesia term for the return to wakefulness from the effects of the pharmacologic agent that rendered the patient unconscious. Altered consciousness, loss of consciousness, recovery from loss of consciousness refer to the same phenomena and brain function. Once the anesthetic concentration in the brain reaches a sufficient level, the threshold level, which depends upon a variety of subject-specific factors, including the size and weight of the subject, the subject becomes anesthetized. The subject remains anesthetized so long as the concentration of the anesthetic agent in the brain of the subject remains above the threshold level. Once the surgery is completed, it is usually desired to reverse the effects of the general anesthetic as soon as possible for better cognitive function for elderly patients immediately following surgery and enabling patients to protect their airway sooner.
Sensory Cortex Dendritic Spines and Consciousness
There are 300 trillion synapses in the cortex, divided amongst motor and sensory cortex, and amongst the six cortical layers. Several trillions are primary sensory cortex neurons. In the sensory cortex the primary sensory neuron is the pyramidal neuron, see FIG. 1. This neuron is the first cortical neuron to receive direct excitatory sensory stimuli, via the thalamus, from sensory receptors responding to the surrounding environment in the present moment. The first synapse for visual receptors in the eye is the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. The LGN has 21,000 neurons that terminate in the primary visual cortex (V1, BA17). In addition, the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus has 31,000 neurons that terminate in the rest of the visual cortex, V2, V3, V4, and in the parietal lobe. External receptors for the other senses also terminate in the thalamus. Thalamic second-order relaying axons terminate on the sensory cortex dendritic spine postsynaptic membrane of pyramidal neurons in their respective sensory cortical regions.
Pyramidal neurons are surrounded by a fan-like spread of dendrites, including characteristic apical dendrites that travels from the cell bodies in Layer IV to Layer I where cortex-to-cortex two-way action potential signals connect the entire cortex and are presumed to engage in top-down computational processes.
The dendrites of the pyramidal neuron are studded with spines, protrusions along the dendrite membrane like thorns along a branch. Said neurons have thousands of dendrites and dendrites have thousands of spines. The head or tip of the spine is the location of the postsynaptic side of the synapse, containing the neurotransmitter receptors, including NMDA receptors. N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) is an amino acid derivative that acts as a specific agonist at the NMDA receptor mimicking the action of glutamate, the neurotransmitter which normally acts at that receptor. The number of NMDA receptors and actin skeleton molecules in the spine are increased with memory and long term potentiation. The spine neck extends outwards to the spine head from the dendritic membrane. Said spine neck diameter and length are modified by synaptic activity.
Summary of Prior Art on Sensory Cortex Dendritic Spines and Consciousness
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication No. 2011/0110942 (Kallop et al., 2011) claims a method of increasing the number of dendritic spines along dendrites (density) by injecting an immunological receptor protein into spinal fluid in the cerebral ventricles in mice. DR6 is a membrane receptor protein found especially in immune cells and dendrites. The patent proposes to treat patients with cognitive or psychiatric disorders and for enhancing cognition.
Excitatory neurotransmitters, secreted from the presynaptic axon bouton, bind to postsynaptic receptors on the spine head, causing the spine membrane to open channels for electrically charged sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride ions. The change in membrane potential spreads outwards from the postsynaptic spine head, through the spine neck into the dendrite main channel, where local membrane potentials are amplified along the dendritic membrane including at bifurcations of dendrite branches; these membrane changes are referred to as dendritic summation, dendritic signaling, and apical dendrite amplification. The excitatory postsynaptic potential, EPSP, is longer in the neck than in the dendrite, soma, or axon. The spine neck's length and diameter create electrical resistance relative to surrounding membrane regions of the neuron. Electric resistance in the spine neck prolongs the membrane potential. Longer and narrower spine necks produce EPSPs of longer duration. EPSPs are prolonged by capacitive discharge during their falling phase. EPSP standardization relies on spine morphology and the associated spine neck resistance that links synapses on spine heads with dendrites, independent of location on neurons' antenna-like dendrites. Spine neck resistance amplifies membrane depolarization up to 45-fold. The neuronal membrane time constant is shorter in somatosensory pyramidal cells than prefrontal pyramidal cells. It has been proposed that EPSPs in dendritic spines may standardize local EPSP properties throughout the dendritic tree, thereby allowing neurons to use similar voltage-sensitive postsynaptic mechanisms at all dendritic locations.

Apparatus and methods of transcranial stimulation to adjust sensory cortical dendritic spine neck membrane potentials for altering consciousness


The system and method establish a communication with a first party. A first emotion is detected during a first step during the communication. Steps in the communication can include: establishing a call, waiting in a queue, talking with an agent, communicating with an IVR system, and the like. A second emotion is detected at a different step in the communication. Alternatively, the first and second emotions are detected in two different but related communications. The detection of the first and/or second emotion determines how to process the communication. Examples of processing a communication can include routing the communication differently, selecting a different script for an agent, selecting a different agent, and the like. In addition, the communication can also be processed differently based on other additional parameters.

Contact center systems routinely route customer contacts based on pre-existing knowledge of customer attributes such as business value, previous contacts, age, sex, location, etc. Much-less common are systems that route contacts based on more-dynamic attributes of the customer, such as the party's emotional state or state-of-mind. Yet, such systems provide a significant advantage for determining how and when to route a contact, what type of agent should handle the contact, or what should be attempted or avoided when the contact has been routed and the interaction begins. Examples of when knowing the customer's emotional state is advantageous include when deciding whether the contact-center agent should attempt to close a sale, attempt to cross-sell or upsell, or wait for another time when the customer might be in a more-receptive emotional state.
There is a considerable amount of prior art in the area of emotion-detection technology. Emotion detection uses audible, visual, and/or tactile measures to determine the emotion of a person—either the customer, the agent, or anyone else—that participates in a communication. The most common technique of emotion detection is to monitor the volume and pitch of speech of a person involved in a phone call.
Call-center prior-art that uses emotion detection includes monitoring of customer-agent interaction and using emotion detection to determine what action to take. Examples of actions include recording the interaction for later analysis, bridging a supervisor onto the call, placing an outbound conciliatory call from a supervisor to the customer, and providing different treatment to the customer the next time that the customer communicates with the contact-center. One such system is the Perform™ interactive-capture system from NICE Systems, which detects emotion during an interaction between a customer and an agent, detects problem calls by monitoring the caller's tone, pitch, and tempo, and notifies supervisors of problem calls, who may then decide to join the call or give the customer a call-back. Another such system is the Customer Data Controlled Routing from Avaya Inc., which uses emotion-detection capabilities during the flow of a call to decide whether or not to give alternative call treatment to the customer's next call. Other art of interest in this context includes the following.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,872 of Flockhart et al., titled "Prediction of a Caller's Motivation as a Basis for Selecting Treatment of an Incoming Call," uses historical information, such as the number of times that a customer has called in the last 24 hours, or real-time information, such as that the customer is calling from a geographical area that is experiencing a problem, to determine the motivation of a caller, and then uses the determined motivation to select the treatment that it provides to the caller. No emotion detection is used.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,731 of Flockhart et al., titled "Arrangement for Improving Retention of a Call Center's Customers," uses historical information, such as the number of times that a customer has abandoned from hold, the number of times that the customer has been transferred by an agent, whether the customer experienced excessively-long wait times, etc., to determine if the business relationship with this customer is at risk. This information is used to provide alternative treatment and routing to future calls of the customer. No emotion detection is used. No real-time information is used from the segmentation or queuing stages of the call to determine call treatment, routing, matching, or scripting.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,362 of Cooper et al., titled "Personal Virtual Assistant," is not in the area of contact center technology, but it describes a computer-based personal assistant that monitors the emotional state of a user, and then adapts its speed, verboseness, and terminology based on this information about the user. This patent also does not cover determining the emotional state of a user during call segmentation and queuing, nor does it change the way that a customer contact is routed, matched to a specific agent, or handled by an agent script.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/525,452 of Coughlan, filed on Sep. 22, 2006, and titled "Method and Apparatus for Measurement of Alertness of Call Center Agents," uses auditory and visual monitoring to measure alertness of agents in a call center during customer-agent interactions. In cases where lack of alertness is detected, agents may be given unscheduled breaks. The emotional state of customers is not determined, nor is the routing or treatment of customer contacts changed based on emotional state.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,120,880 of Dryer et al., titled "Method and System for Real-Time Determination of a Subject's Interest Level to Media Content," detects what visual information a subject is attentive to via gaze detection and tracking, and detects the level of interest by measuring gaze duration and level of arousal. Arousal level is determined via head and facial gesture detection and analysis and voice content and prosody detection and analysis.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,005 of Yacoub et al., titled "System and Method for Prioritizing Contacts" detects a caller's emotional state and generates a priority score. The priority score is used in conjunction with other criteria to prioritize a call in a call queue.
U.S. patent application publication 2007/0003032 Batini et al., titled "Selection of Incoming Call Screening Treatment Based on Emotional State Criterion" allows a caller to enter their emotional state at an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. The call is then screened using the entered emotional state.
The problem with existing systems is that they only detect an emotional state of the caller in a communication at one point in the communication or that they analyze the emotional state after completion of the communication. During a communication, the emotional state of the caller can change over time. As the communication is transferred between queues, IVR Systems, and different agents, a change in the emotional state of the caller is not monitored between the various stages/steps of the communication. As a result, existing systems fail to detect the change in emotion of the caller as the communication progresses through a contact center. This sometimes results in poor decisions by the contact center in determining on how to process/route the communication in the call center.

System and method for detecting emotions at different steps in a communication


A method include a configuration definition creation step of writing configuration information on a primary site into a storage subsystem; a data transfer step of copying the configuration information, which is written into a storage device, to a storage subsystem in a secondary site over a network; a data reception step of receiving the transferred configuration information and storing it in the storage subsystem in the secondary site; and a configuration definition step of reading the stored configuration information and settings up a server in the secondary site.

The present invention relates to a recovery system in which data is transferred between storage subsystems for the purpose of preserving data in case of a disaster.
A technique for adding a new computer to a network is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-278769. The disclosed technique is particularly applicable to a case where a second computer is added to a network system that comprises a first computer, a first storage subsystem in which an operating system (hereinafter OS) is stored, and a second storage subsystem in which a copy of data stored in the first storage subsystem is stored. According to the technique, the first computer modifies the settings of the second storage subsystem, and it assigns the second storage subsystem to the second computer so that the OS stored in the second storage subsystem can be installed in the second computer.
Moreover, a method for setting up a high-availability system, which employs a common disk, in a storage subsystem is disclosed in "VERITAS Cluster Volume Manager and VERITAS Cluster File System: a new VERITAS volume management and file system technology for a cluster environment (http://www.veritas.com/jp/products/pdfs/cvm_cfs_wp.pdf)". According to this method, a slave computer detects a common disk included in a storage subsystem, and it reads volume information from the common disk so as to define a common volume to be assigned to a slave computer included in a high-availability configuration. Consequently, the slave computer included in the high-availability configuration autonomously recognizes the volume.
According to the technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-278769, after the second computer is added, the first computer modifies the settings of the second storage subsystem. In this case, if a fault occurs in the first computer, the second computer cannot use the second storage subsystem. Moreover, if the network system is used as a disaster recovery system, both the first and second computers are mandatory. Therefore, an inexpensive disaster recovery system cannot be provided.
Moreover, according to the technology disclosed in "VERITAS Cluster Volume Manager and VERITAS Cluster File System: a new VERITAS volume management and file system technology for a cluster environment," the slave computer can recognize the common volume autonomously. However, the master computer and slave computer must share the same storage subsystem. Therefore, the technology cannot be adapted to a disaster recovery system as it is. The adaptation of the technology disclosed in "VERITAS Cluster Volume Manager and VERITAS Cluster File System: a new VERITAS volume management and file system technology for a cluster environment" to a disaster recovery system will be discussed.
As far as a disaster recovery system is concerned, an entity of a disk drive is often different between a primary site and a secondary site. The consistency in an emulation type that is a category to which a disk drive belongs when assigned to a computer or in a storage capacity of a disk drive between the primary and secondary storage systems is not guaranteed. In this situation, the computer in the secondary site cannot recognize a volume autonomously.
Moreover, when an application, such as a database application that runs in the primary site, is to be continuously run in the secondary site, the settings of the secondary site must be determined manually. It is therefore impossible to continuously and swiftly run the application.


An X-ray imaging system element (3) includes two compression elements (8a, 8b), which are movable relative to one another. An object (10) is introducible and compressible between the compression elements. At least one of the compression elements is adapted to alter its geometrical shape and/or alignment relative to the other during compression. At least one partly X-ray opaque marker element (24) is provided on one of the compression elements, which marker element is adapted to allow detection of an alteration of the geometrical shape of the respective compression element (8a, b).

Mammography is the modality of choice for screening for early breast cancer. In mammography, preferably low energy X-rays are employed for examining an object, e.g. human breast tissue, as a diagnostic and screening tool. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer, typically through detection of characteristic masses and/or micro-calcifications.
In this regard, determining breast density is an important indicator for a cancer risk. With the large amount of images generated in mammography screening programs, it is beneficial to have a reliable automatic breast density assessment (BDA) in order to support the user, e.g. a radiologist.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a mammography system. Imaging system 2 comprises X-ray source 4 as well as an X-ray detector 6. X-ray detector 6 also doubles as a second compression element 8b, while a first compression element 8a, e.g. a compression paddle, is arranged between X-ray source 4 and X-ray detector 6. The first and second compression element 8a,b are movable relative to one another, in particular, the first compression element 8a is movable relative to the second compression element 8b/X-ray detector 6.
X-ray source 4 is exemplarily rotatable about an axis for obtaining horizontal/parallel as well as oblique image information. In standard mammography, the surface of the detector 6 is regularly always orthogonal to the line connecting X-ray detector 6 and X-ray source 4. For oblique mammographic views, the entire system 4,6,8 is rotatable, as indicated by the circular arrow in FIG. 1. Angulations of X-ray source 4 with respect to a fixed position of the X-ray detector 6 may be used for tomosynthesis applications.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary mammography screening. An object 10, e.g. human breast tissue, is arranged between the first and second compression elements 8a,b, in particular compressed between the first and second compression elements 8a,b.
The first compression element 8a is attached to a movable arm element 18 allowing a relative movement of the first compression element 8a relative to the second compression element 8b/X-ray detector 6. By moving the first compression element 8a with force F acting in an object distal region 22, object 10 is compressed between the first and second compression element 8a,b. Object 10 is generating a counterforce F′ in an object proximal region 20 of the first compression element 8a. Since forces F, F′ do not coincide, resulting forces are acting on the first compression element 8a. In particular, a tilt about tilt axis 14 is conceivable as well as, in case the first compression element 8a is not made of an infinite rigid material, a deflection 16 by bending the first compression element 8a. Accordingly, a known distance x between the first and the second compression element 8a,b at the object distal side 22 results in a distance x+Δx at the object proximal side 20 due to counterforce F′.
For determining breast density, precise information about the force F applied to the first compression element 8a as well as the distance x between the first and the second compression element 8a,b is required. Thus, a precise measurement of breast thickness, i.e. distance x, further taking into account additional tilt and deflection of a compression element resulting in Δx is of importance when automatically determining volumetric or mammographic breast density, from image information of digital mammograms. This procedure is also referred to as breast density assessment (BDA). Due to tilt and deflection of a compression element, the actual distance x+Δx may show deviations of Δx=5 mm from the true thickness up to even Δx=15 mm. However, even small errors of 1 to 2 mm may be considered to have a large impact on the breast density assessment, resulting in a significant misjudgement of the density.

Image-based determination of compression element deflection


A device for writing, reading or erasing a record carrier has a coil with a winding arranged between an objective lens and the record carrier. Optical radiation is focused to a spot, the converging beam passing through the coil opening. A core of a transparent material, having an index of refraction which significantly decreases vergence of the focused beam, is placed in the winding opening. As a result the diameter of the coil can be reduced, and permit increase of the generated magnetic field.

The invention relates to device for scanning a magneto-optical recording layer, comprising a radiation source and an objective system for forming a radiation beam focused to a scanning spot on the recording layer, and a magnet coil comprising a winding with a core arranged between the objective system and the recording layer for generating a magnetic field at the location of the scanning spot. The core of a coil is meant to be the central part of the coil inside the winding.
Magneto-optical record carriers can be written and read by means of such a device. There are two writing methods. In the first method there is a constant magnetic field at the location of the scanning spot, while the radiation intensity of this scanning spot is modulated, dependent on the information to be recorded. In the second method the intensity of the scanning spot during writing is constant or modulated at a fixed frequency and the polarity of the magnetic field changes in dependence upon the information. The second method yields a greater information density than the first method and it is possible to overwrite prerecorded information directly with new information. However, it is a problem to realise the required power and the rapid changes of the field at the location of the scanning spot.
A device of the type described above is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,781,905. In this device the magnetic field is generated by a coil arranged between the objective system and the record carrier. The coil has an air core through which the focused radiation beam passes. A drawback of the known coil is that the core is relatively large so that a large electric power is necessary to generate the required magnetic field. This in turn leads to inadmissable heating of the coil. A further drawback of the known coil is that its height makes it difficult to arrange it in the small space which is available between the objective system and the record carrier.

Magneto-optical scanning device with small coil


A method of preparing a thin film includes coating a thin film-forming composition on a substrate, and heat-treating the coated thin film-forming composition under a pressure less than 760 Torr. The thin film includes a compact layer having a thickness in a range of greater than 50 Å to about 20,000 Å and a refractive index in a range of about 1.85 to about 2.0.

1. Field
Some example embodiments relate to methods of preparing thin films, thin films, apparatuses for preparing the thin films, and/or electronic devices including the thin films, and more particularly, to methods of preparing thin films that include heat treating a thin film-forming composition under reduced pressure, thin films, apparatuses for preparing the thin films, and/or electronic devices including the thin films.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, thin film transistors (TFTs), and the like are used in various applications. In particular, TFTs are used as a switching and driving device in flat panel display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display devices, electrophoretic displays, and the like.
These electronic devices include semiconductor thin films, which may be generally formed using a method, e.g., chemical vapor deposition. However, such a deposition method incurs high manufacturing costs and has complicated processes.

Method of preparing thin film, thin film, apparatus for preparing thin film, and electronic device including thin film


Devices and techniques for hybridization of nucleic acids and for determining the sequence of nucleic acids. Arrays of nucleic acids are formed by techniques, preferably high resolution, light-directed techniques. Positions of hybridization of a target nucleic acid are determined by, e.g., epifluorescence microscopy. Devices and techniques are proposed to determine the sequence of a target nucleic acid more efficiently and more quickly through such synthesis and detection techniques.

The present invention relates to the field of nucleic acid analysis, detection, and sequencing. More specifically, in one embodiment the invention provides improved techniques for synthesizing arrays of nucleic acids, hybridizing nucleic acids, detecting mismatches in a double-stranded nucleic acid composed of a single-stranded probe and a target nucleic acid, and determining the sequence of DNA or RNA or other polymers.
It is important in many fields to determine the sequence of nucleic acids because, for example, nucleic acids encode the enzymes, structural proteins, and other effectors of biological functions. In addition to segments of nucleic acids that encode polypeptides, there are many nucleic acid sequences involved in control and regulation of gene expression.
The human genome project is one example of a project using nucleic acid sequencing techniques. This project is directed toward determining the complete sequence of the genome of the human organism. Although such a sequence would not necessarily correspond to the sequence of any specific individual, it will provide significant information as to the general organization and specific sequences contained within genomic segments from particular individuals. The human genome project will also provide mapping information useful for further detailed studies.
The need for highly rapid, accurate, and inexpensive sequencing technology is nowhere more apparent than in a demanding sequencing project such as the human genome project. To complete the sequencing of a human genome will require the determination of approximately 3.times.10.sup.9, or 3 billion, base pairs.
The procedures typically used today for sequencing include the methods described in Sanger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1977) 74:5463-5467, and Maxam et al., Methods in Enzymology (1980) 65:499-559. The Sanger method utilizes enzymatic elongation with chain terminating dideoxy nucleotides. The Maxam and Gilbert method uses chemical reactions exhibiting base-specific cleavage reactions. Both methods require a large number of complex manipulations, such as isolation of homogeneous DNA fragments, elaborate and tedious preparation of samples, preparation of a separating gel, application of samples to the gel, electrophoresing the samples on the gel, working up of the finished gel, and analysis of the results of the procedure.
Alternative techniques have been proposed for sequencing a nucleic acid. PCT patent Publication No. 92/10588, incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, describes one improved technique in which the sequence of a labeled, target nucleic acid is determined by hybridization to an array of nucleic acid probes on a substrate. Each probe is located at a positionally distinguishable location on the substrate. When the labeled target is exposed to the substrate, it binds at locations that contain complementary nucleotide sequences. Through knowledge of the sequence of the probes at the binding locations, one can determine the nucleotide sequence of the target nucleic acid. The technique is particularly efficient when very large arrays of nuleic acid probes are utilized. Such arrays can be formed according to the techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,854 issued to Pirrung et al. See also U.S. application Ser. No. 07/805,727, both incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
When the nucleic acid probes are of a length shorter than the target, one can employ a reconstruction technique to determine the sequence of the larger target based on affinity data from the shorter probes. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,231 to Drmanac et al., and PCT patent Publication No. 89/10977 to Southern. One technique for overcoming this difficulty has been termed sequencing by hybridization or SBH. For example, assume that a 12-mer target DNA 5'-AGCCTAGCTGAA is mixed with an array of all octanucleotide probes. If the target binds only to those probes having an exactly complementary nucleotide sequence, only five of the 65,536 octamer probes (3'-TCGGATCG, CGGATCGA, GGATCGAC, GATCGACT, and ATCGACTT) will hybridize to the target. Alignment of the overlapping sequences from the hybridizing probes reconstructs the complement of the original 12-mer target:
TCGGATCG - CGGATCGA - GGATCGAC - GATCGACT - ATCGACTT - TCGGATCGACTT
While meeting with much optimism, prior techniques have also met with certain limitations. For example, practitioners have encountered substantial difficulty in analyzing probe arrays hybridized to a target nucleic acid due to the hybridization of partially mismatched sequences, among ocher difficulties. The present invention provides significant advances in sequencing with such arrays.

Method of Identifying a Base in a Nucleic Acid


A synchronous SRAM module comprises first and second SRAM chips. Each SRAM chip has three chip enable inputs. A module enable and memory selection circuit is coupled to the two SRAM chips to perform the dual tasks of (1) selectively enabling or disabling both SRAM chips and (2) choosing either the first or second SRAM chips for access. The SRAM module can also be placed in a pipelining mode where external signals from a microprocessor are ignored to facilitate internal operation, such as burst reads. A synchronous burst SRAM device employed in the SRAM module is also described.

Synchronous SRAMs are a type of SRAM that is registered and accessed in accordance with externally generated clock signals. The clock signal provides for synchronous operation of the SRAM.
In memory design evolution, memory devices commonly increase in size by a factor of four from one generation to the next. For example, the next generation memory device after a 256K bit memory device is a 1M bit device. Following the 1M device is the 4M device, and so on. This fourfold generational jump in memory size leaves a significant gap in memory depth between generation sizes. For example, suppose that a 32K.times.36 memory device and a 128K.times.36 memory device are available, but a designer wants to implement an intermediate memory size, such as a 64K.times.36 memory device. The ability to achieve intermediate memory sizes is desirable because it affords system design flexibility without the drawback of over or under utilizing memory capacity.
One common technique for achieving memory depth expansion is by stacking two or more memory devices together and adding external logic to control them. This is not a favorable alternative, however, because it complicates system level design. It is more desirable to provide the intermediate memory device size without introducing external logic.
To avoid the use of external logic, another prior art approach employs two separate SRAM devices, where each device is equipped with an active low and an active high chip select. The two chip selects are internally logically combined so that one signal is used to selectively access one of the two synchronous SRAMs. One of the drawbacks in this design, however, is that there is no ability to operably disable both devices simultaneously or operate the devices in a pipelining mode (discussed below).
One specific type of synchronous SRAMs is a synchronous burst SRAM which is designed in systems to achieve higher SRAM performance. Synchronous burst SRAMs have an internal counter which facilitates internal addressing of typically two to four addresses for each externally generated address that is loaded into the memory device. The internal "burst" addresses can be generated more rapidly in comparison to externally generating the same addresses and then loading them into the memory device using conventional techniques. Accordingly, the burst SRAMs operate faster and achieve higher performance.
It is desirable and advantageous for synchronous burst SRAMs to facilitate a microprocessor-related function known as "address pipelining". In general, a microprocessor attached to the synchronous burst SRAM outputs an address and data strobe signal each time a new address is ready for input into the SRAM device. On occasions, it may be desirable to delay execution of that new address. For example, in a synchronous burst SRAM, it might be desirable to continue the burst addressing operation before accepting the next external address. Accordingly, the synchronous burst SRAMs must be capable of blocking or delaying operation on the new address (as indicated by the address and data strobe signal from the microprocessor) until the burst operation is completed.
It is also worth noting that achieving intermediate sizes in memories can be costly. The economies are best realized through the fourfold generational size increase. There is a continuing need to design intermediate memory sizes that are also inexpensive to manufacture.
The synchronous SRAM of this invention overcomes the above drawbacks by providing an intermediate memory depth without use of external logic. The novel synchronous SRAM also includes a pipelining mode and a power down mode without expensive components or circuitry.

Synchronous SRAMs having multiple chip select inputs and a standby chip enable input


An image-forming apparatus that generates print image data for a printing apparatus including a printing unit for each color, on which, as the printing unit, at least a low-resolution printing unit having a relatively low resolution and a high-resolution printing unit having a relatively high resolution are mounted, includes: a color conversion processing unit that converts colors of an original image into color data for the printing apparatus; a rasterizing unit that generates data about a shape corresponding to a resolution of the printing unit from the original image; and an adjustment processing unit that generates overwriting image data about an overwriting-side object by synthesizing the color data generated by the color conversion processing unit and the data relating to the shape generated by the rasterizing unit, and generates the print image data by performing an overwriting process of overwriting base image data with the overwriting image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an image-forming apparatus that forms a print image for a printing apparatus on which print heads having different resolutions are mounted.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to obtain a high-quality print image, a resolution of a printing unit has been enhanced. In some cases, from among printing units mounted on a printing apparatus, printing units for all colors are not configured to be high-resolution printing units, but only printing units for specified colors are configured to be high-resolution printing units and printing units for the other colors are configured to be normal-resolution printing units. This is because it is sometimes more appropriate to configure only the printing units for the specified colors to be high-resolution printing units due to apparatus costs or printing speed.
As a technique related to a printing apparatus on which printing units having different resolutions are mounted, for example, a printing apparatus that reads resolution information from a printing unit and performs a printing process corresponding to the read resolution is proposed (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-149640).

Image forming apparatus for adjusting boundary data


A cam adjustable shim assembly includes a bushing defining a bushing opening. The bushing opening extends longitudinally along a bushing axis to define a bushing bore. The cam adjustable shim assembly further includes a cam disposed in the bushing bore. The cam defines a cam bore extending longitudinally along a first cam axis offset relative to the bushing axis such that the cam bore is eccentric relative to the bushing bore. The cam adjustable shim assembly further includes a bolt at least partially disposed within the cam bore along a first cam axis. The bolt is engaged with the cam bore such that rotation of the bolt about the first cam axis causes the cam to rotate within the bushing about the bushing axis.

Vehicle suspension systems sometimes include a plurality of control arms. The control arm operatively couples a wheel to a vehicle body, while allowing relative movement between the vehicle body and the wheel. Specifically, the control arm serves as a link to establish proper wheel alignment in relation to the vehicle body.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A liquid transport apparatus including an elongated liquid vessel for transporting compressible liquids, such as LPG. One or more longitudinal conduits having lower solid surfaces in the vapor space of compressible liquid are positioned within the liquid vessel. The compressible liquid within the conduits dissipates or eliminates the water hammer pressure resulting from the impact and prevents the walls of the liquid vessel from failing. The conduits can be in the form of one or more longitudinal pipes in the upper vapor space of the vessel with rupture discs at one or both ends thereof. A plurality of spaced apertures can be formed along the pipes. Further, a longitudinal baffle can be secured inside the vessel beneath the vessel top wall. The baffle can be used with or without the pipes, and if used with the pipes, it is positioned directly beneath them.

The present invention relates to fluid transport vessels such as rail tank cars adapted to transport hazardous liquids. It further relates to systems for eliminating the water hammer effect resulting from vessel wrecks and derailments and thereby protecting the vessel end walls from failing.
One of the concerns in the transportation of liquified materials and particularly liquified hazardous materials in tank cars and tank trailers is the failure of the vessel during collisions or derailments. One of the modes of failure of any pressure vessel is the so-called "water hammer" effect. Water hammer is a transient pressure peak developed by sudden deceleration of a mass of fluid. The pressure developed is a direct function of the vessel's change in velocity and, therefore, is directly proportional to the velocity of the liquid and inversely proportional to the time during which deceleration occurs. Since the velocity of pressure wave propagation is about four thousand feet per second, the maximum pressure head (in feet of fluid) developed is roughly equal to: a times D divided by g, or 125.times.D, where "a" is the velocity of pressure wave propagation in the system, "D" is the change in velocity in feet per second, and "g" is a dimensional constant of 32.17 (pounds) (feet)/(pound force) (seconds times seconds).
The peak value of the pressure developed is further reduced if the time of deceleration can be made greater than the time required for the pressure wave to travel from the point of stoppage (impact) to the point of reflection (the length of the vessel) and back. Since the velocity of wave propagation is about four thousand feet per second, this period is typically about one eightieth to one fiftieth of a second in a transport vessel. Limiting the speed of travel of such vessels is about the only way in which the initial velocity of the liquid can be reduced. However, changes in the vessel design can be made to extend the minimum time for deceleration or to absorb the pressure spike with a dramatic effect on the maximum pressure developed.
The primary cause of significant water hammer pressure in a transport vessel are head-on collisions of the vessel with immovable and inflexible objects, such as rock faces or concrete abutments, which impact the head of the vessel and thereby bring the vessel to a sudden stop. The fluid in the vessel continues to travel in the original direction and at the original speed for a very short period of time before the entire space at the head of vessel is filled with the relatively incompressible liquid. At this time, the kinetic energy of the moving liquid must be converted to pressure and dissipated thereby doing "work" on the walls of the vessel and on the liquid itself.
This pressure can as much as several thousand pounds per square inch in a tank car of a liquid, such as water, traveling at, for example, sixty miles per hour (eighty-eight feet per second). This is equal to about 5,000 psig, which is calculated as follows: 88.times.125=1,100 feet of head, or about 5,000 psig. This pressure can be enough to burst the end wall of the vessel. The peak pressure can be reduced by increasing the elasticity or compressibility of the system and by increasing the time allowed for deceleration.
The prior art has occasionally dealt with the water hammer problem in transportation vessels by increasing the wall thickness, and therefore its strength, sufficient to resist the water hammer pressures. Increasing the thickness of the walls is of limited practical value today, however, since at today's high transportation speeds extremely thick walls are required to resist pressures of several thousands pounds per square inch. The frequency of water hammer induced failures is fortunately low primarily because the probability of a wreck resulting in a nearly "instantaneous" stop of a massive pressure vessel is extremely low. Typically in such wrecks a considerable period of time, in fractions of seconds, is expended as the vessel crushes its way through soft rock, dirt or debris. This time can even extend to several seconds if the vessel rebounds, bounces, tumbles, slides or rolls during its deceleration. Another known design in light wall tanks, such as gasoline trailers, provides internal baffling to impede the flow the liquid from one end of the vessel to the other during controlled stops. This is shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,005, whose entire contents are hereby incorporated by reference.
In piping systems, the water hammer problem is addressed in one of two basic ways. First, the minimum time for deceleration is extended by means of slow operating valves. Second, a means of absorbing or relieving the pressures developed is provided. This means can include placing pressure relief valves near the point of stoppage. Another means is by placing gas filled chambers or dampeners near the point of stoppage to expend the kinetic energy of the slowing liquid in compressing the gas of the dampener.
Additionally, containers, such as bumpers, bags or drums, filled with fluids, such as water, oil, gas or sand, are used by highway safety engineers to expend the kinetic energy of a highway collision over considerable distance, and therefore time, to mitigate the forces developed in the collision.

Vapor space water hammer eliminator system for liquid transport apparatuses


The present invention is related to a bracelet irradiating anion and far infrared rays, comprising metal where anion-radiating material layer and gold plate layer are sequentially coated on the surface of a “C” shape core (10) with a connecting arm (20) and a clasp assembly including magnetic coupling clasps. This bracelet looks very elegant because of the gold plate on the exterior of the bracelet, and static electricity occurs due to the friction between the bracelet and the human hand, and it can irradiate anion and far infrared rays more effectively through sunlight, and by supplying the far infrared rays to the skin, the ion balance of the cell can be controlled, and it can change the electric potential of the skin to normal value, and can promote blood circulation and metabolism, complex biorhythm, and body cell is activated and blood pressure is lowered, increasing the tissue regeneration capacity, preventing the aging phenomena.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a bracelet that radiates anion and far infrared rays, those use of which purifies blood, activates body cells, increases immunity, stabilizes nerves, enhances respiratory and internal organs, reduces fatigue, assists in maintaining health and promoting the activation of body cells.
2. General Background and State of the Art
As health issues get more attention, a substantial number of health-related products are being released in the market such as for example a product that cures shoulder problems by facilitating the blood circulation with magnetic energy or far infrared rays.
As another example, Japanese Patent Publication SHO 10-295830 discloses an adhesive, for adjusting bodily ions, installed in between a metal with a positive charge on the one side and a negative charge on the other side. This adhesive is claimed to generate ions effectively, provide electric stimulus to the spots on the body suitable for acupuncture by the effect of minus ions and local fine current; to transfer to the autonomic nerve through neurons; to promote the body function of the sympathetic nerve or parasympathetic nerve, and to increase the blood flow by enlarging the capillary vessels of the diseased or ailing body part.
However, this adhesive has the drawback that it is hard to get an effective potential difference between the positive and negative electric potential, and the ion generation function is not sufficient. In addition, the effect is limited to the spot where it is applied, and if wider treatment on an area is needed, a larger sized adhesive is required, making the movement of the body difficult.
Accordingly, to allow the body to move freely yet maintain ion generation devices in contact with the skin, various accessories are being developed such as bracelets, necklaces, and rings in order to enhance health by supplying ions to the surface of the body.
Korean Patent Publication No. 96-28107 reveals a bracelet on which a magnet is installed to control biorhythm by balancing anion and cation that flows in the human body. Likewise, Korean Utility Model Publication No. 95-24281 discloses a ceramic bracelet radiating far infrared rays where the ceramic is installed on the back side of the bracelet. But magnets or ceramics that radiate infrared rays often became detached from the bracelet, and the effect on the body was not satisfactory.

Bracelet that radiates anion and far infrared rays