The invention provides novel adjuvants and pharmaceutical composition comprising of an adjuvant alone. The invention also provides novel vaccine compositions comprising of an antigen and a novel adjuvant. The novel adjuvant as per present invention is farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR) antagonist. The invention also relates to an adjuvant for variety of antigens. The adjuvant improves antibody production specific to incorporated antigen. The adjuvant also induces cell mediated immune response.

Antigen specific immune response is concerned with the recognition and ultimate disposal of the antigen/immunogen in a highly discriminatory fashion. Specific immune responses are mediated through two types of effectors mechanisms. One is mediated by antibody produced by lymphocytes (humoral response) and the other is mediated by specially sensitized lymphocytes themselves (cell mediated immunity). The humoral responses are mainly responsible for providing prophylaxis against disease (Prophylactic vaccine). Prophylactic vaccines are administered in anticipation of a disease. Cell mediated immune responses are characterized by release of cytokine from immunized cells on exposure to an antigen. Cell mediated immunity is desirable for management of active disease (Therapeutic vaccine). Therapeutic vaccines are administered in presence of an active disease. The vaccine includes antigen(s) in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
Antigens include immunogens, allergens. Antigens can be pathogens or varieties of material derived from pathogens like virus, bacteria, fungi, parasites. Tumor cells, mammalian cells and material derived from them can also be used as an antigen. The cells and organisms like virus, bacteria are used in the intact form e.g. Polio, BCG, Rabies etc. Chemical composition of antigen is widely variable and include peptides (of various kinds like plain peptide, poly peptides, Lipopetides etc), polysaccharides, polysaccharide congugates, lipids, glycolipids, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids or antigen encoded into nucleic acids.
Antigens are categorized in varieties of ways. Some of them are described below.
Immunogen—The substance that provokes the immune response when introduced into the body. An immunogen is always a macromolecule (protein, polysaccharide). Its ability to stimulate the immune reaction depends on its commonness to the host, molecular size, chemical composition and heterogeneity (e.g. similar to amino acids in a protein).
Allergen—An allergen is a substance that causes the allergic reaction. It can be ingested, inhaled, injected or comes into contact with skin.
(II) Antigens can be Classified in Order of their Origins.
Exogenous antigens—Exogenous antigens are antigens that have entered the body from the outside, for example by inhalation, ingestion, or injection.
Endogenous antigens—Endogenous antigens are antigens that have been generated within the cell, as a result of normal cell metabolism, or because of viral or intracellular bacterial infection. The fragments are then presented on the cell surface in the complex with class I histocompatibility molecules.
(III) Types of Antigen
Tumor antigens—Tumor antigens are those antigens that are present on the surface of tumor cells. These antigens can sometimes be presented only by tumor cells and never by the normal ones. In this case, they are called tumor-specific antigens and typically result from a tumor specific mutation. More common are antigens that are presented by tumor cells and normal cells, and they are called tumor-associated antigens. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes that recognize these antigens may be able to destroy the tumor cells before they proliferate or metastasize. Tumor antigens can also be on the surface of the tumor in the form of, for example, a mutated receptor, in which case they will be recognized by B cells.
Pathogen associated antigens—Antigens are derived from pathogens like virus, Bacteria, fungus, parasites e.g. rabies, Hepatitis B, mump, measles, tetanus, diphtheria etc.
Production of Antigen
Antigens can be produced by recombinant technologies, extraction methods, chemical synthesis, fermentation etc. It can be in the form of a compound or an organism which is natural or genetically modified or a fraction of an organism, which is naturally occurring or genetically modified. Nucleic acids are increasingly being developed and identified as antigens, as in DNA vaccines. Antigens can be administered in the form of naked antigens or encapsulated, coated form, conjugated, mixed, coupled and/or formulated with adjuvant.
Most of the vaccines when applied alone does not produce an adequate immune stimulus. Adjuvants are added to antigen in vaccine composition to enhance the body's immune response to specific antigens of the vaccine. Adjuvants are not necessarily immunogenic themselves. Adjuvants may act by retaining the antigen locally near the site of administration to produce a depot effect facilitating a slow, sustained release of antigen to cells of the immune system. Adjuvants can also attract cells of the immune system to an antigen depot and stimulate such cells to elicit immune responses. Adjuvant can also act by activating antigen presenting cells.
Adjuvants are used to,
Increase antibody response in magnitude or function (e.g. avidity)
Cell mediated immune response
Reduction in antigen dose
Time of mounting response (Faster response, sustained response etc.)
Induction of mucosal immunity
Improve seroconversion and/or seroprotection rates.
One of the approved adjuvants for human use is alum. The adjuvant activity of alum was first discovered in 1926 by Glenny (Chemistry and Industry, Jun. 15, 1926; J. Path. Bacterial, 34, 267). Aluminum salts (alum) have been useful for some vaccines like hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, toxoid etc., but not useful for others like rabies MMR, typhoid etc. It fails to induce cell-mediated immunity. Aluminum hydroxide and aluminum phosphate is collectively commonly referred to as alum. Reports indicate that alum failed to improve the effectiveness of whooping cough and typhoid vaccines and provided only a slight effect with adenovirus vaccines.
A wide range of other materials are also known to have adjuvant activity provokes potent immune responses to antigens. These includes but not limited to,
Saponins like QS21, ISCOMS
Saponins complexed to membrane protein antigens (immune stimulating complexes),
Pluronic polymers with mineral oil,
Killed Mycobacteria in mineral oil, a water-in-mineral-oil emulsion which contains killed/dried mycobacteria in the oil phase, a weaker formulation without the mycobacteria,
Freund's complete adjuvant,
Freund's incomplete adjuvant,
Bacterial products, such as muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), MPL as well as lipid A,
Liposomes, a membrane active glucoside extracted from the tree Quillia saponaria, nonionic block copolymer surfactants,
Non metabolised synthetic molecules which tend to bind proteins to cell surfaces; ISCOMS,
Infectious particles
Oil-in-water emulsions—MF59
CpG (Oligonucleotides)—TLR agonists
Other TLR agonists like imiquimod
Immunopeptides
Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) is a powerful immunostimulatory agent that has been successfully used with many antigens on an experimental basis. CFA includes three components: a mineral oil, an emulsifying agent, and killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Aqueous antigen solutions are mixed with these components to create a water-in-oil emulsion. Although effective as adjuvant, CFA causes severe side effects e.g. pain, abscess formation, fever etc. CFA, therefore, is not used in preparation of commercial vaccines.
Incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) is similar to CFA but does not include the bacterial component. It is a oil in water emulsion. However, evidence indicates that both the oil and emulsifier used in IFA can cause tumors in mice. Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) has been found to be the minimal unit of the mycobacterial cell wall complex that generates the adjuvant activity observed with CFA. e.g., Ellouz et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1974) 59:1317.
Several synthetic analogs of MDP have been generated that exhibit a wide range of adjuvant potency and side effects (Chedid et al., Prog. Allergy (1978) 25:63). Representative analogs of MDP include threonyl derivatives of MDP (Byars et al., Vaccine (1987) 5:223), n-butyl derivatives of MDP (Chedid et al., Infect. Imrriun. 35:417), and a lipophilic derivative of a muramyl tripeptide (Gisler et al., in Immunomodulations of Microbial Products and Related Synthetic Compounds (1981) Y. Yamamura and S. Kotani, eds., Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, p. 167). One lipophilic derivative of MDP is N-acetylmurarnyl-L-alanyl-D-isogluatminyl-L-alanine-2-(1′-2′dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-hydroxyphosphoryloxy)-ethylamine (MTP-PE). The MTP-PE itself is able to act as an emulsifying agent to generate stable oil-in-water emulsions. MTP-PE has been used in an emulsion of squalene with TWEEN 80, termed MTP-PE-LO (low oil), to deliver the herpes simplex virus gD antigen with effective results (Sanchez-Pescador et al., J. Immunol. (1988) 141:1720-1727), albeit poor physical stability.
Synthetic polymers are evaluated as adjuvants. These include the homo- and copolymers of lactic and glycolic acid, which have been used to produce micro-spheres that encapsulate antigens (see Eldridge et al., MoI. Immunol. 28:287-294 (1993)).
Nonionic block copolymers are another synthetic adjuvant being evaluated. Adjuvant effects are investigated for low molecular weight copolymers in oil-based emulsions and for high molecular weight copolymers in aqueous formulations (Todd et al., Vaccine 15:564-570 (1997)).
The adjuvants using whole cells like insect cells (S. frugiperda) U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,882 are known. The insects or the insect cells infected with some of the insect viruses/infectious agent or any other type of infection, also it is not yet possible to identify that which insect/insect cell is infected and which not hence the use of these can result in low production and a possible threat of transmission of disease to human (WHO report January 2005).
In an article published in Vaccine (1999) 17; 2446-2452, Bacillus of Calmette-Gue{acute over (η)}n (BCG) is used as adjuvant to rabies vaccination in mice. The experimental results show no improvement in serum neutralizing antibody titers in-group of mice immunized with BCG as adjuvant compared to plain vaccine.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,414 describes accmannan polysaccharide as adjuvant. U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,404 describes adjuvant & vaccine compositions of mono phosphoryl lipid A, sugar and optionally an amine-based surfactant. U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,859 describes saponin combination as adjuvant. Saponin adjuvants have high systemic toxicities, like haemolysis. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,068 describes interleakin-2 as adjuvant to vaccines. U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,256 describes QS-21 & IL-12 as adjuvants.
PCT application WO/2006/114680 discloses Mycobacterium w as adjuvant with pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and its uses. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,103,697, 6,228,373 & 6,228,374 describes peptides as adjuvants. JP 11106351, JP 9268130 & AU 780054 describe oil adjuvants. U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,498 discloses compositions of vaccine wherein Neuraminidase and galactose oxidase together are a vaccine adjuvant. U.S. Pat. No. 7,579,009 discloses an immune modulator composition and/or pharmaceutical composition comprising whole cell of a bacterium. U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,945 discloses adjuvant composition comprising a mixture of a saponin adjuvants and use of there compositions in prophylactic and therapeutic applications, particularly in vaccine including cancer vaccines. U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,404 discloses adjuvant and vaccine composition of monophosphoryl lipid. U.S. Pat. No. 7,488,490 discloses unmethylated CpG dinucleotide (CpG ODN) and a non-nucleic acid adjuvant. But in all these adjuvants are not demonstrated with wide variety of antigens and mammals.
The above mentioned adjuvants are at various stages of development. There is still a need to have novel adjuvants to provide novel vaccine with reduced antigen, reduced frequency, increased immunogenic potential. Currently available adjuvants are outcome of painstaking research in absence of a method to identify potential compound with adjuvant properties. It is long standing need of the industry to provide adjuvants that are free of above-mentioned side effects.

Farnesoid-X-receptor antagonist as a vaccine adjuvant


A plastic film comprising a plastic resin having imprinted on one of its surfaces a microtyped marking is disclosed. The film, optionally in the form of a laminate with a film of polymeric material, paper or metal foil is useful as packaging material.

The present invention relates to films and is concerned with protective features that can be applied to the films in order to protect, in a simple way, the film or the goods packed in the film against unauthorized imitation.
The production and the sale of counterfeit goods is an everincreasing problem. Such counterfeit goods are frequently packaged in a deceptively similar manner to the genuine item in order thus to deceive potential purchasers and make them believe they are buying genuine items. This raises various problems. On the one hand, the producer of the genuine products loses business. On the other hand, the owner of the rights to the product is cheated out of his intellectual property. In many cases, still more important is the fact that the imitations are often of much lower quality and thus a not insignificant loss of image is inflicted on the producer. Furthermore, the lower quality may result in claims based on product liability, with the result that the producer of the authentic item is obliged to prove that the item responsible for the damage does not originate from him. For these reasons, it is desirable to mark authentic products in such a way that it is possible for the consumer to recognize the authenticity and that it is possible in the case of a claim to prove authenticity.
A very wide variety of goods, starting with foodstuffs and proceeding via consumer goods, such as compact discs and video cassettes, to replacement parts for cars or aeroplanes are nowadays sold in external packagings. Said packagings are frequently produced from plastic films, paper, cardboard or composites of said materials. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,887,714 and 4,844,962 describe such packagings.
The external packagings have already been used hitherto as carrier media for protective features in order to prove the genuineness of the packaged item. The packaged item itself does not therefore have to be provided with the feature and a plurality of products of a producer of brand articles can, for example, be provided with the brand-typical protective feature without it being necessary to intervene in the manufacturing process of every individual product.
EP 0 585 076 describes the introduction of a security feature into a package in the form of an adhesive strip.
A known type of genuineness protection is the use of so-called protective labels. Stamped holograms applied to the packaging are also used, as are protective features introduced by means of tear-off strips. The latter are not always desirable since packaging machines already in use are not always designed for the use of tear-off strips. Stamped holograms or protective labels have to be applied in a separate work step, which gives rise to additional expenditure and additional costs.
The object therefore arises of incorporating a protective feature into a packaging in a simple manner so that no new, additional work steps are necessary in producing the packaging.
The invention therefore relates to printed plastic films, optionally in combination with another material, characterized in that they are imprinted with a microtype. This imprinting of the microtype is a protective feature in the context of the object set.
Suitable as films are films made of polypropylene, polypropylene copolymer, polypropylene terpolymer, polyester, polyamide, polyethylene, polyethylene copolymer, polyethylene terpolymer, poly(vinyl chloride), vinyl chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride terpolymer, polystyrene, polystyrene copolymer, polystyrene terpolymer, polycarbonate, polyketone, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymers or cellulose (e.g., CELLOPHANE cellulose films). Preferably, biaxially oriented carrier films made of polypropylene, polypropylene copolymer, polypropylene terpolymer, polyester or polyamide are used.
Composite films made of these carrier films in any combination and also layer structures of said carrier films with other materials, such as, for example, another plastic or the same plastic, metal, in particular aluminium, or ionomers are also suitable as films. In this connection, the composites can be produced by adhesive lamination, coextrusion or vapour deposition, or a combination of said methods.
The films can also be laminated with paper as a composite packaging material, and the lamination can take place either before or after the imprinting. The paper may also be the print carrier provided with additional properties by a plastic film.
The invention furthermore relates to a method of producing an optionally laminated film of the plastic in which the film is imprinted with a microtype and optionally laminated with further films.
In accordance with the invention, imprinted packaging films are produced in such a manner that a carrier film is provided both with a standard printed image and with the protective feature in one operation. Thus, as a result of using suitable printing formes, it is possible to incorporate a protective feature within a work step that takes place in any case.
The printing can be performed either as direct printing or as transfer printing. In the case of composite films, the printing ink may also be disposed between the layers.
The carrier film may have a thickness of between 10 and 300 xcexcm and a width of between 20 and 2000 mm. Preferably, the thickness is between 15 and 60 xcexcm and the width between 600 and 1400 mm.
The imprinting of the carrier film may take place monochromatically or polychromatically. Any printing method usable for films is suitable. In particular, the printing takes place in typical packaging printing methods, such as offset, screen, flexographic, UV-flexographic or gravure printing. In particular, in offset or gravure printing, very particularly in gravure printing.
The microtypes are types whose letter size is less than 0.7 mm; particularly, those whose size is less than 0.3 mm; very particularly, sizes less than 0.26 mm. The types can be incorporated in any desired manner into the printed image.
Microtypes can be printed either in outline or reverse type. Outline types are obtained by printing out the lines of the letters and numerals. In the case of reverse types, on the other hand, the lines of the letters and numerals are not printed out, but, on the contrary, only the surroundings of the letters and numerals.
One embodiment has letters in normal size, i.e., greater than 0.7 mm, that are in turn made up of microtypes. If the xe2x80x9cnormalxe2x80x9d script is closely examined with a powerful magnifying glass or a microscope, the microtype becomes recognizable.
Products can advantageously be protected against counterfeiting by the packaging materials according to the invention. The purpose of the protective element is to be able to prove legally the lack of authenticity of counterfeits when they are encountered or, alternatively, also to make it possible for the consumer, a middle man or authorities, such as customs or police, to recognize the authenticity of a product with simple means.
Printing on one side of the carrier film can take place with known printing presses. In this connection, a printing unit is designed for the printing of the microtype.
As a result of the introduction of a protective element by means of printing methods it is possible, without additional manufacturing steps, to provide packaging materials with a protective element in a particularly simple and economical manner. The invention furthermore relates therefore to the use of the film according to the invention as packaging material.

Film with protective feature, a method of producing it and also its use as packaging material


A graphic image system comprising a video camera producing a first video signal defining a first image including a foreground object and a background, the foreground object preferably including an image of a human subject having a head with a face; an image position estimating system for identifying a position with respect to said foreground object, e.g., the head, the foreground object having features in constant physical relation to the position; and a computer, responsive to the position estimating system, for defining a mask region separating the foreground object from said background. The computer generates a second video signal including a portion corresponding to the mask region, responsive to said position estimating system, which preferably includes a character having a mask outline. In one embodiment, the mask region of the second video signal is keyed so that the foreground object of the first video signal shows through, with the second video signal having portions which interact with the foreground object. In another embodiment, means, responsive to the position estimating system, for dynamically defining an estimated boundary of the face and for merging the face, as limited by the estimated boundary, within the mask outline of the character. Video and still imaging devices may be flexibly placed in uncontrolled environments, such as in a kiosk in a retail store, with an actual facial image within the uncontrolled environment placed within a computer generated virtual world replacing the existing background and any non-participants.

The present invention relates to the field of video superposition devices, and more particularly to multiple image source windowed display generation systems.
A known video superposition system, known as xe2x80x9cchroma keyingxe2x80x9d employs a foreground image which is separated from an actual background by detection of a background screen chrominance value. Thus, for example, a person is presented in front of a blue screen. A video processing circuit detects the chrominance level, producing a signal when the key color is detected. This color is generally a deep blue, for two reasons. First, this color is generally uncommon in natural foreground scenes, so that artifacts are minimized. Second, this color represents an extreme, so that a single ended comparator may be used to produce the key signal.
When the key signal occurs, a video source switches a synchronized (genlocked) background video signal to the output. Thus, where the key level in the foreground is not detected, the foreground is output, while where the key color is detected, the background signal is output. This technology is well established, and many variations and modifications exist. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,200,890 and 4,409,618 relate to digital video effects systems employing a chroma key tracking technique. U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,266 relates to a chroma keying system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,016 relates to a chroma keyer with secondary hue selector for reduced artifacts. U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,275 relates to a chroma processor including a look-up table or memory, permitting chroma key operation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,075 relates to the use of analog chroma key technology in a computer graphics environment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,536 relates to an image editing system including masking capability, which employs a computerized hue analysis of the image to separate a foreground object from the background.
Computer generated graphics are well known, as are live video windows within computer graphics screens. U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,848 relates to the use of a chroma key system for generating animated graphics. U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,912 relates to a computer animated graphics system employing a chroma key superposition technique. U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,313 relates to an image editing system for taking a background and inserting part of an image therein, relying on image analysis of the foreground image. U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,517 relates to a virtual reality, integrated real and virtual environment display system employing chroma key technology to merge the two environments.
A number of spatial position sensor types are known. These include electromagnetic, acoustic, infrared, optical, gyroscopic, accelerometer, electromechanical, and other types. In particular, systems are available from Polhemus and Ascension which accurately measure position and orientation over large areas, using electromagnetic fields.
Rangefinder systems are known, which allow the determination of a distance to an object. Known systems include optical focus zone, optical parallax, infrared, and acoustic methods. Also known are non-contact depth mapping systems which determine a depth profile of an object without physical contact with a surface of the object. U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,373 relates to a position tracking system having a position sensitive radiation detector. U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,981 relates to a glove-type computer input device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,985 relates to a computer vision system for position monitoring in three dimensions using non-coplanar light sources attached to a monitored object. U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,554 relates to a virtual reality game method and apparatus employing image chroma analysis for tracking a colored glove as an input to a computer system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,482 relates to a system for deriving a studio camera position and motion from the camera image by image analysis. U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,129 relates to a method and system for controlling a computer-generated virtual environment with audio signals.
The present invention employs a live video source, a background image source, a mask region generator and an overlay device which merges the foreground with the background image based on the output of the mask region generator. Two classes of mask region generators are provided; first, an xe2x80x9cin-bandxe2x80x9d system is provided which acquires the necessary mask region boundaries based on the foreground image acquisition system, and second an xe2x80x9cout-of-bandxe2x80x9d system which provides a separate sensory input to determine the mask region boundary.
A preferred embodiment of the xe2x80x9cin-bandxe2x80x9d system is a rangefinder system which operates through the video camera system, to distinguish the foreground object in the live video source from its native background based on differences in distance from the camera lens. Thus, rather than relying on an analysis of the image per se to extract the foreground object, this preferred embodiment of the system defines the boundary of the object through its focal plane or parallax.
A preferred embodiment of the xe2x80x9cout-of-bandxe2x80x9d system includes an absolute position and orientation sensor physically associated with the foreground object with a predetermined relationship of the sensor to the desired portion of the foreground object. Thus, where the foreground object is a person, the sensor may be an electromagnetic position sensor mounted centrally on top of the head with the mask region defined by an oval boundary below and in front of the position and orientation sensor.
In a preferred embodiment, the foreground image is a portrait of a person, while the background image is a computer generated image of a figure. A position sensor tracks a head position in the portrait, which is used to estimate a facial area. The image of the facial area is then merged in an anatomically appropriate fashion with the background figure.
The background image is, for example, an animated xe2x80x9ccharacterxe2x80x9d, with a masked facial portion. The live video signal in this case includes, as the foreground image, a face, with the face generally having a defined spatial relation to the position sensor. The masked region of the character is generated, based on the output of the position sensor in an appropriate position, so that the face may be superimposed within the masked region. As seen in the resulting composite video image, the live image of the face is presented within a mask of an animated character, presenting a suitable foundation for a consumer entertainment system. The mask may obscure portions of the face, as desired. Manual inputs or secondary position sensors for the arms or legs of the individual may be used as further control inputs, allowing the user to both control the computer generated animation and to become a part of the resultant image. This system may therefore be incorporated into larger virtual reality systems to allow an increased level of interaction, while minimizing the need for specialized environments.
In practice, it is generally desired to mask a margin of the face so that no portion of the background appears in a composite image. Thus, the actual video background is completely obscured and irrelevant. In order to produce an aesthetically pleasing and natural appearing result, the region around the face is preferably provided with an image which appears as a mask. Thus, the background image may appear as a masked character, with the foreground image as a video image of a face within the mask region. The mask region may be independent of the video image data, or developed based on an image processing algorithm of the video image data. In the later case, where processing latencies are substantial, the composite output may be initially provided as a video image data independent mask which is modified over time, when the image is relatively static, for greater correspondence with the actual image. Thus, such a progressive rendering system will allow operation on platforms having various available processing power for image processing, while yielding acceptable results on systems having a low amount of available processing power.
It is not always possible to adjust the size and placement of an image mask for each user of the system. Thus, the preferred embodiment provides a background image which is tolerant of misalignments and misadjustments of the video image with the background image. In the case of a masked character background image, this tolerance includes providing an edge portion of the mask which merges appropriately with a variety of types of facial images, e.g., men, women, children, and possibly pet animals.
Because the system is not limited to a chroma key superposition system, the information from the position sensor and the video camera allow simple extraction of the image of an individual""s face in a more generalized computer graphic image, based on an estimate of its position. Thus, multiple individuals may be presented in a single graphic image, each interacting with his or her environment or with each other. While these individuals may be present in the same environment, for example, within the field of view of a single video camera, this ability to build complex images from multiple inputs allow individuals at remote locations within a computer network to interact while viewing each other""s faces. Therefore, personalized multiplayer xe2x80x9cvideoxe2x80x9d games become possible. This same technology my also have uses outside the fields of entertainment, including communications and video conferencing. This personalized representation separated from its native background also forms the basis for a new style of multi-user graphic interface system.
In implementation, the position estimation system preferably acts as an input to a computer generated animation as the background image figure. In one set of embodiments, the generation of the resulting combined image is performed through a chroma key system. Therefore, in such systems, the background figure image is provided with a key color in a facial region or desired superposed video image region(s) of the figure. In contrast to typical applications of chroma key technology, the chroma key appears in the presented background, with the live video image overlayed in the chroma key region. Of course, chroma key technology is not the only method for combining the various image information, and in fact the process may be performed digitally in a computerized system.
In one embodiment, the position sensor defines a predefined window, which is translated around the video space. Where further refinement is desired, the orientation and distance of the foreground object from the video camera may be compensated. The shape of the window may be a regular shape or an outline of a foreground image. Thus, with an image of a person as the foreground image, the image may be initially processed to determine the shape. Thereafter, the shape may be translated, resized or otherwise transformed as the window. In this latter case, the shape of the window may be periodically redetennined, but need not be recalculated in real time.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the live video image is an image of a person having a face, with a position sensor mounted on top of a set of headphones. An oval mask region is defined with respect to the position sensor, so that the position of the face within the video image is predicted to be within the oval mask region. The position sensor also serves as an input to a computer animation graphic image generator, which generates an animated body in appropriate position and orientation for combining with the face. Further position sensors may be provided on the arms of the person, as further inputs to the computer animation graphic image generator, allowing further control over the resulting image. The computer animation graphic image includes a chroma key portion in a region intended for the facial image. The live video image is then merged with the computer animation graphic image and presented as a composite.
The position tracking system is, for example, an Ascension position tracking system mounted centrally on a bridging portion on a set of headphones, worn by a person. The person is present within the image of a video camera, and the system calibrated to locate the position tracking system unit within the field of view of the video camera. The face of the person is estimated to be within an oval area approximately 10 inches down and 8 inches wide below the position tracking system sensor, when the person is facing the camera. Since the preferred position tracking sensor senses movement in six degrees of freedom, the window is altered to correspond to the expected area of presentation of the face in the image. The border between the live video image of the face and the animated character need not be presented as a simple oval region, and may include images which overlay the face, as well as complex boundaries.
By employing a separate position tracking sensor, the preferred embodiment avoids the need for sophisticated image analysis, thereby allowing relatively simple and available components. Further, known types of position sensors also provide orientation information which may be useful for providing control inputs into the background image generation system and also to control the position and shape of the mask region to compensate for skew, profile, tilting and other degrees of freedom of the object. The computer generated animated image responds to the position tracking sensor as an input, allowing the animation to track the movements of the person.
While one preferred embodiment employs an Ascension tracking system, which, while of high quality, is also expensive, another preferred embodiment employs an acoustic sensor to determine location in three or more dimensions. This system is similar to the known xe2x80x9cpower glovexe2x80x9d accessory for video games. Other types of position sensors may also be used.
Thus, the present invention avoids the need for a defined background for a foreground image when electronically superimposing video images by providing a position sensor to provide information for determining a location of the desired foreground image in a foreground video stream. The position sensor thus minimizes the need for analysis of the foreground image stream, allowing relatively simple merging of the video streams.
In systems where the facial image is captured and electronically processed, rather than genlocked and superimposed, the use of the position sensor to define a mask region in the video image substantially reduces a computational complexity required to extract a facial portion from a video image, especially as compared to a typical digital image processing system. As noted above, the margin of the face need not be determined with high precision in many instances, and therefore the background image which is generated to surround the facial image may be provided to include a degree of tolerance to this imprecision, such as a wide edge margin and avoidance of structures which should be precisely aligned with facial features. Where the image is to be transmitted over a computer image, and where the facial portion of the image is the most important component of the image, the use of the present system allows transmission of the masked portion of the image only, reducing the amount of information which must be transmitted and thus compressing the image data.
A known paradigm for user interaction with computers is known as an xe2x80x9cAvatarxe2x80x9d, a computer generated representation of a user, which is generally wholly animated. These Avatars may be transmitted through a computer network system, for example the Internet, to allow a user to interact with a graphical environment of a system. According to the present invention, these Avatars need not be completely computer generated, and may therefore include a real time video image of a face. This system therefore allows, with reduced computational requirements and limited bandwidth requirements, the personalization of Avatars. Thus, the present invention provides a new type of graphical user interface in which a user is represented as an actual image within a computer graphic space. Multiple users may therefore interact while viewing actual images of each other, even where the users are separated over nodes of a computer network.
As stated above, an in-band mask region determining system may operate based on the foreground video input device. Thus, the position sensing system need not include physically separate hardware. Likewise, the video signal superposition system need not be an external chroma key superposition system, and may be integrated with the animation generation system
In a first image analysis embodiment, an outline of a major foreground object is determined, and the outline used to define a mask. In a second image analysis embodiment, the foreground object is irradiated with an unobtrusive radiation, e.g., infrared, which is detected by a special video camera or optical sensors. Thus, the infrared contrast of the foreground image defines the foreground object, and a corresponding mask provided. In a third embodiment, an optical transmitter, e.g., one or more LEDs, preferably including a blue LED, is mounted on the headphones, visible to the video camera. The presence of an illuminated spot is detected, and a mask defined in relation to the position of the spot. If distance and orientation information are desired, a plurality of LEDs may be mounted, in a configuration sufficient to allow estimation of position and orientation. Thus, it can be seen that the position detecting system may operate through the video feed without requiring rigorous image analysis, which often cannot be performed in or near real time.
The resulting image of the method according to the present system and method may be presented on a video monitor, transmitted over a video network for rendering at a remote site, or stored on a video storage medium, such as video tape. In the latter case, the opportunities for complex background generation become apparent. Where the image is not simply transient, a higher level of detail in the background image may be preferred, because the stored image may be reviewed a number of times. Further, since the background is computer generated, it need not be constant. Thus, for example, the foreground image and control signals, e.g., position and orientation signals, may be stored on a CD-ROM, with the background image generated in real time on reproduction of the images on a computer system. Since the video image and the control parameters are stored, the reproduced image sequence need not be fixed, and may therefore vary based on a set of background parameters.
An alternative set of embodiments provide different processing systems to capture the facial image presentation. For example, the location of the image of the face may be identified, with the facial image texture mapped onto a computer generated image. Thus, the boundary between the foreground image and background image need not be a discrete edge, and the present invention therefore allows a more subtle merging of the images.
The location of the foreground image need not be determined with a typical position sensor, and other systems may be used. Advantageously, the focal plane of the foreground object, e.g., person, differs from the background. In this case, the boundary of the foreground object may be determined by detecting a focal plane boundary. This technique offers two advantages. First, it allows redundant use of the focus control system found in many video camera systems, eliminating the need for a separate position sensing system. Second, it allows imaging of irregular-shaped objects, e.g., a person wearing a hat, without being limited by a predefined mask shape.
A rangefinder system may be used to obtain a depth map of a face in realtime, with the resulting data used as control parameters for a computer generated character""s face. This rangefinder information allows use of facial expression as a control input, while reducing the need for strict image analysis. This depth information may also be employed to assist in texture mapping the video image information on the background. Likewise, other objects or images may be tracked and used as control inputs.
It is noted that, while many embodiments according to the present invention employ a computer generated graphic image, the background image need not be computer generated. Thus, the background image may also represent a video feed signal. In one embodiment, the background image is a video image of a robot or computer automated mechanical structure, which, e.g., responds to the position and orientation inputs from the foreground input to provide coordination. The merging or foreground and background images in this case may be through the use of typical chroma key technology.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a graphic image system comprising a source of a first signal representing a first image including a moving human subject having a head with a face; an image position estimating system for estimating the instantaneous position of said head of said human subject; a source of a second signal representing a second image including a character having a head with a mask outline; and means, responsive to said position estimating system and to said first and second signals, for dynamically defining an estimated boundary of said face of said human subject in said first image and for merging the face in said first image, as limited by said estimated boundary, with the second image within the mask outline.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a video system comprising a video input, receiving a video signal representing an image having a movable foreground object; a position tracking system for tracking a position of said movable foreground object; and means, responsive to said position tracking system, for dynamically defining an estimated boundary of said moveable foreground object in said image.
It is a further object to provide a video system having ground video image and a video superposition control for superposing the foreground object of said image within said estimated boundary on said background video image.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a video system wherein said background video image is responsive to said position tracing system.
It is another object of the invention to provide a video superposition control having a chroma key video superposition unit. The background video image preferably comprises a computer generated animated image stream.
According to various objects of the invention, the position tracking system may be a radio frequency field sensor, an electro-acoustic transducer or an optical position sensing system The position tracking system may have various degrees of freedom, for example two, three or six The position tracking system may include a physical transducer mounted on the foreground object.
According to the present invention, the mask or estimated boundary may be geometric in shape, for example oval, round or having multiple discontinuous geometric segments.
The position tracking system produces a position, and optionally orientation of the foreground object within the field of view of the video camera.
According to another object of the invention, the position tracking sensor determines a position and orientation of the foreground object, and is used to control a size, shape and position of the mask region.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.


The invention relates to a cosmetic composition, containing a four-layered interference pigment comprising an innermost layer of mica, a first outer layer of a colored pigment, a second outer transparent layer, and an outermost layer of a colored pigment, combined with a traditional interference pigment. The compositions, when applied to a facial or body surface, emphasize the contours of the surface, creating greater depth and dimension. The compositions are particularly useful as lip products, to create a fuller, plumper look to the lips.

The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions. More specifically, the invention relates to cosmetic compositions that can provide a shadowing effect that emphasizes the contours of the lips and other facial features.
The purpose of most cosmetics is to enhance the appearance of facial or body features. To extreme cases, the cosmetic acts to completely cover or eliminate from the sight of the casual observer a feature that the user considers unattractive, for example, concealment of dark shadows under the eyes, so as to enhance the overall appearance of the eyes. In other cases, however, the cosmetic is intended to cause a particular feature to become noticeable. The practice of emphasizing facial features, in particular by bright coloration, goes back several thousand years, when it was common to add powdered colored ores, such as red ochre(iron oxide) directly to the face to color the cheeks, or kohl(galena, a lead ore) to line the eyes.
The art of cosmetics has advanced significantly since prehistoric times. While the purpose is largely still enhancement, the trend is toward a more natural look, and emphasizing good features with more subtle strategies. To this end, a considerable focus has been devoted to development of cosmetics with unusual optical effects, i.e., that persuade the observer""s eye to see a more perfect image of the face, e.g., one having no lines or blemishes, than actually exists, without the use of large quantities of heavy opaque pigments to cover flaws. Examples of cosmetics said to achieve such an effect are described for example in Nishikata et al., Cosmetics and Toiletries 112: 39-55, 1997; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,690,916, and 5,082,660; and PCT US99/13240.
An extension of this approach is to make more or less prominent a particular feature that does not comport with the perceived ideal appearance of that feature. It has been common for many years for cosmetics users to xe2x80x9ccontourxe2x80x9d a feature by the application of two different shades of makeup, one light, one darker, to a less than perfect facial feature. The light makeup is placed on the area to be highlighted and the darker makeup placed on the area to be de-emphasized, resulting in a shadowing effect that can make the feature, for example cheekbones, appear more dimensional than they would ordinarily appear. This approach, however, typically also relies on the use of traditional heavily pigmented makeup, and necessarily requires the use of two different makeup products and considerable skill on the part of the user.
There thus continues to be a need for a cosmetic product that will allow the user to contour various features of the face, or other parts of the body, to emphasize or create the appearance of dimension and depth where it does not naturally occur. The present invention now provides such a product.
The invention provides a cosmetic composition, containing a four-layered interference pigment comprising an innermost layer of mica, a first outer layer of a colored pigment, a second outer transparent layer, and an outermost layer of a colored pigment, combined with a traditional interference pigment. The composition, when applied to various skin surfaces, and particularly the lips, creates a shadow effect which in effect serves to highlight one portion of the treated surface. Thus, for example, when applied to lips, it can make the prominent portions of the lips appear fuller by shadowing the less prominent portion of the lip.
The compositions of the invention provide a unique appearance to the skin surface to which they are applied, by highlighting the natural relief of the face and body""s contours. An essential feature of the composition is a unique interference platelet having four distinct layers: an inner core of mica, a first outer layer of a colored pigment, a second outer transparent layer, and a third, outermost layer of a colored pigment. Such pigments, hereinafter referred to as a xe2x80x9cshadow pigmentsxe2x80x9d, are known in the art to provide a xe2x80x9ccolor-flopxe2x80x9d effect, which means that, depending on the angle at which the cosmetic containing the pigment is viewed, the viewer will see a different color, which in practical application results in a shift from light to dark, causing a shadowing effect on the treated surface. The shadowing thus emphasizes whatever relief there may be on the treated surface, making an otherwise flat feature appear to have greater dimension.
To the best of Applicants"" knowledge, there is only one type of such pigment now publicly available; the commercially available form comprises a mica core, surrounded by a first pigmented red layer comprising a iron oxide, a second layer of transparent silica and an outermost yellow pigmented layer comprising an iron oxide combined with titanium dioxide. The overall effect of this combination is that the pigment appears yellow when viewed at the specular reflection angle, and reddish at other angles of reflection. This combination produces an overall orange-brown color, which is useful when trying to mimic skin color; indeed, the only known previous use of this pigment is for foundations or facial powders. which in use would bring out the relief of the cheekbones, or slenderize the appearance of the nose. Notwithstanding its apparent benefits, however, the color of the material makes it difficult, if not impossible, to create other shades that might also be desirable, for example, pinks or blue-reds, that would be useful in other types of makeup products such as lipsticks or blushes.
What would seem to be an easy solution to this limitation would be to combine the unique interference pigment with other standard pigments, such as additional metallic oxides of different colors, so as to modify or dilute the orange color. However, when this combination is made in amounts sufficient to alter the color accordingly, it has the result of neutralizing the contrast between the two colors of the interference pigment, thereby resulting in a loss of the color-flop effect. Similar disappointing results have also been observed when the shadow pigment is combined with transparent dyes or stains. Thus, to date, the yellow-red pigment has had little practical value beyond its use in facial makeup intended to mimic natural skin color.
It has now been unexpectedly discovered, however, that it is possible to combine the unique interference pigment with one or more standard interference pigments to obtain a variety of different shades, including reds, blues and pinks, without altering the desired light-to-dark shift effect. The resulting compositions can now be used in a variety of different forms, particularly as lipsticks, in order to emphasize the contours of different areas of the face and body, rather than just the cheeks or nose.
Thus, the compositions of the invention comprise the unique shadow pigment in combination with at least one traditional colored interference pigment. Traditional interference pigments, for purposes of the present specification and claims, are defined as thin platelike layered particles having a high refractive index, which, at a certain thickness, produce interference colors, resulting from the interference of typically two, but occasionally more, light reflections, from different layers of the plate, but which do not contain the four-layered arrangement of the shadow pigment. The most common examples of traditional interference pigments are micas layered with about 50-500 nm, films of TiO2, Fe2O3, or Cr2O3, or combinations thereof. Such pigments are often pearlescent, and may be uncoated or coated. Coatings include, but are not limited to, silica, nylon or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The interference pigments used in the present invention can have a white base color with a pearlescence that may or may not be colored; alternately, they may have a colored base, with a pearlescence that may or may not be colored. Preferred are interference pigments having a white base with a colored pearlescence. A number of such pigments are commercially available, for example, under the trade names Timiron (Rona) or Flamenco (Englehard). Preferably, to counteract the orange/brown of the preferred shadow pigment, the colored pigment is blue, violet, gold or green, or combinations thereof, although small quantities of other colored interference pigments can also be used. Generally, the interference particle size is from about 1 to about 200xcexc, preferably is about 3 to about 100xcexc, and more preferably is between about 5 to about 50xcexc. In a formulation of the present invention, the standard interference pigment is preferably used in an amount of from about 1-20%, more preferably about 5-15%, by weight of the composition.
The shadow pigment, when used in combination with the standard interference pigment, is present in an amount of from about 1-20%, preferably about 5-15% by weight. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the amounts of shadow pigment and traditional interference pigment are approximately equal. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the shadow pigment known as xe2x80x9cColor Reliefxe2x80x9d, distributed by Presperse (South Plainfield, N.J.). As noted above, this material is a platelet comprising a core of mica, with a first outer layer of iron oxide, a second outer layer of transparent silica, and an outermost layer of titanium dioxide and iron oxide, which when applied gives a color-flop effect from yellowish to reddish. The preferred ratio of these components is 61:15:9:(14.3+0.7) mica:iron oxide:silica:(titanium dioxide+iron oxide).
Although these components in the designated ratios are preferred, it is possible to employ similar platelets with different pigment components, for example, each pigmented layer can be composed of different pigments, such as different combinations of inorganic pigments, i.e., red, brown, black or yellow iron oxides, titanium dioxide, ferric ammonium ferrocyanide (blue), manganese violet, ultramarine blue, chrome oxide (green), talc, lecithin modified talc, zeolite, kaolin, lecithin modified kaolin, or zinc oxide. Alternately the pigmented layers may comprise organic pigments, such as phthalocyanine blue and green pigment, diarylide yellow and orange pigments, and azo-type red and yellow pigments such as toluidine red, litho red, naphthol red and brown pigments. Also useful are lakes, which are pigments formed by the precipitation and absorption of organic dyes on an insoluble base, such as alumina, barium, or calcium hydrates and stains, such as bromo dyes and fluorescein dyes. It will be understood that a combination of organic and inorganic pigments in the pigmented layers is also possible. Moreover, it is possible to employ a different transparent layer: although silica is particularly preferred for cosmetic purposes, other transparent materials, such as aluminum oxide or magnesium fluoride, can also be used.
Although, as noted above, using standard non-interference pigments individually in the way they are ordinarily used in color cosmetics reduces or eliminates the color shift observed with the shadow pigment, it is possible to incorporate small amounts of pigment grind into the formulation, at much lower levels than would ordinarily be used. Typically, pigment is present in a formulation in an amount of at least about 3 to about 8%. For the present purposes, inorganic pigments, particularly metal oxides, as well as organic pigments, can be used in an amount of up to about 5% total, but more preferably constitute no more than about 1 to about 3% total of the entire product. It is within the skill in the art to adjust the amounts of different pigment types to achieve the desired shade.
The combination of shadow pigment and interference pigment can be added to any type of vehicle ordinarily used in preparing makeup, either liquid, solid, or powder. The combination can be used, for example, in a foundation, blush, lipstick or gloss, bronzer, or eyeshadow, and the combination is incorporated into the formulation in the same way any other pigment component would be added. The combination can also be used in body products, to emphasize the contours of well-developed musculature, such as on the upper arms or thighs.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pigment combination is used in a wax-based product, for example, a stick foundation or blush, or preferably, a lipstick, that comprises greater than about 5%, and preferably from 10% to about 30% by weight, of wax. It has been unexpectedly discovered that the incorporation of the novel combination in a wax-based product actually appears to enhance the color shift observed. It is not unknown in the art to create color shift in, for example, a lipstick by incorporation of traditional interference pigments; however, in such cases, the shift in color confers no other effect but that, i.e., there is simply a change in color depending upon the angle of viewing. In contrast, with the combination of the present invention, upon application to the lips, the product creates a shadow effect on the lip surfaces, i.e., a shift from light to dark rather than a simple color shift. The shift from light to dark adds depth and definition to the lips. Consequently, the lips appear plumper and more dimensional at various angles of viewing than with other lip products or without the lipstick at all. In a preferred formulation, the lipstick comprises from about 1 to about 20% of shadow pigment, about 1 to about 20% interference pigment, and less than about 5%, more preferably less than about 3% of traditional pigments(metal oxides and organics), in a standard wax lipstick base.
In connection with the wax base, the term xe2x80x9cwaxxe2x80x9d will be understood to encompass any organic component that is solid at room temperature, which component can be used to solidify the liquid components of the product when all are heated together, then cooled to room temperature. This definition includes waxes in the traditional sense, i.e., those plant, animal or mineral waxes containing primarily esters of higher fatty acids and alcohols, free higher acids and alcohols, and saturated hydrocarbons; examples of such traditional waxes include, but are not limited to, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, beeswax, synthetic wax, shellac wax, spermaceti, lanolin wax, ozokerite, bran wax, ceresin wax, bayberry wax, paraffin, rice wax and jojoba wax. However, it also includes other non-traditional wax-like materials, including, but not limited to, various fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty esters, polyethylenes, polyethylene glycols, and sterols as well as synthetic resinous products having a wax-like, i.e., hard, brittle, relatively non-greasy, texture, such as silicone waxes.
The wax based product will also comprise one or more oils or oil-like emollients. Any cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable oil may be used in the wax base, the selection only being limited by the necessity for successfully wetting out pigments, a technique well known in the art. Examples of suitable oils or oil-like emollients can be found in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook, CTFA, 1996, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Useful materials include, but are not limited to, castor oil, coconut oil, corn oil, jojoba oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, walnut oil, wheat germ oil, sunflower seed oil, palm kernel oil, calendula oil, C8-18 triglycerides, lanolin and lanolin derivatives, illipe butter, shea butter; esters, such as isodecyl neopentanoate, tridecyl octanoate, diisostearyl malate, cetyl palmitate, cetyl octanoate, cetyl stearate, cetyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate, dipentaerythrityl hexahydroxy stearate/stearate/rosinate, polyglyceryl-2-isostearate, neopentyl glycol distearate, isodecyl oleate, decyl isostearate, diisopropyl sebacate, PEG-4 diheptanoate, dioctyl malate, and isohexyl neopentanoate; fatty alcohols, such as lanolin alcohol or oleyl alcohol; and silicone oils, such as cyclomethicone, dimethicone, cetyl dimethicone, lauryl trimethicone, and dimethiconol. The oil component comprises from about 20-70%, more preferably about 50-70%, of the total weight of the wax-based product. Preferred formulations contain a combination of at least one oil in an amount of about 15-40%, a C8-C18 triglyceride in an amount of from about 5 to about 20%, at least one ester, preferably at least two esters, each in an amount of about 1 to about 10%, more preferably about 2 to about 8%, and a synthetic wax in an amount of about 1 to about 10%.
The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.


The invention is a dietary supplement for animals, especially dogs, for treating arthritis and joint discomfort. A biscuit form of the supplement may be in the form of a conventional carrier composition of, for example, typical dog biscuit materials including cereal grains, vegetables or animal meat, fat and by-products. Typically, the biscuit contains about 89-97 weight percent (wt. %) of the conventional carrier composition. Optional vitamins and minerals may also be added to the carrier material, typically in about the 1-5 wt. % range. Importantly, the biscuit of the present invention contains about 3-7 wt. % of an arthritis-treating combination, namely, glucosamine sulfate, vitamin C and an array of intracellular ions namely potassium, sodium and iodine. The glucosamine component is present by weight at approximately the same level as the vitamin C, and at approximately 10 (ten) times the level of the sum of the above-named intracellular ions. The biscuit is formulated so that its composition is approximately:

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to animals and animal nutrition. More specifically, this invention relates to treating arthritis and joint discomfort in dogs by use of dietary supplements.
2. Related Art
Degenerative joint diseases or arthroses are conditions where degenerative changes in cartilage lead to a breakdown in the integrity of the structural matrix of cartilage or tendinous tissues. Conventionally referred to as arthritis, the complaints associated with the degenerative changes occur most frequently in aged individuals.
Arthritis is much more common in dogs than other domesticated pets. Arthritis is a terrible disease, as it causes pain and restricts mobility. Any dog can be afflicted with arthritis, although older dogs and larger breeds can be more susceptible. Active dogs, like work or hunting dogs, may also be at greater risk because of their increased activity levels.
Arthritis affects primarily the weight bearing joints (hips, knees, etc.) and the joints of the toes. Symptoms include early morning stiffness, stiffness following periods of rest, pain that worsens on joint use, and loss of joint function.
Arthritis can take one of several forms.
1. Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip sockets that allows excessive movement in the joint, causing chronic inflammation and thus furthers breakdown and the deposition of calcium.
2. Dislocation of the kneecap is a malformation of the leg bones such that the kneecap is repeatedly pulled out of position, thus slipping back and forth and causing continuous low-grade inflammation. This is a condition seen in small breeds and is related to low-quality food and poor breeding.
3. Degeneration of the shoulder joint involves the breakdown of cartilage in this joint, leading to inflammation and pain on movement. This is a condition often seen in medium to large breeds.
4. Arthritis of the elbow is a condition that is caused by improper bone formation and is considered by many in the field to be hereditary. It is generally seen in German shepherds. Nutrition, however, may be a more significant factor than generally understood.
5. Swelling and pain in the leg joints is a condition seen in young dogs (a few months in age) of the large breeds that is apparently due to inadequate formation of vitamin C and is the result of heredity and poor nutrition.
Cartilage provides the cushion and frictionless mobility of joints. Comprised of two key components, collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAG), cartilage is constantly under a process of natural repair and regeneration. Because of overuse, injury or other causes, many individuals overwhelm their body""s ability to keep up with the natural process of repair. The result is cartilage which becomes increasingly dry and inflexible leading to pain and eventual joint restriction.
The pathogenesis of arthroses is by no means an inevitable phenomenon of aging, as a healthy joint is capable of functioning for a lifetime. In medical science, a differentiation is made between primary and secondary arthroses. Secondary arthroses develops from known precedent diseases, whereas primary arthroses is not known to develop from any determinable basic disease. Rather, cases of primary arthroses disease manifest in an imbalance between mechanical stress and mechanical resistance of the joint cartilage.
A predisposition to arthritis can be passed to a dog during its fetal development. Many of the more common joint health problems can be avoided by providing adequate nutrition for females throughout their pregnancy. Adequate fetal nutrition can help offset the expression of genetics.
For most dogs, age-related concerns of use and overuse are more common than genetic factors. If one considers the activity level of most dogs, the wear and tear on their joint tissues can be exceptional. Although the body has natural mechanisms for repairing joint tissues as well as cartilage, age and excessive wear can exceed the pet""s repair mechanisms. Once damage exceeds repair, there is often an increase in inflammation and a vicious cycle is set into play, further restricting repair.
Although many drugs can be used to treat the symptoms of arthritis, the only sure-fire way to break the cycle of damage is to support the pet""s natural cartilage repair systems. This can be accomplished by supplementing the dog with additional nutrition targeted at supporting cartilage repair and joint health.
The conservative treatment measures in the cases of coxarthroses and gonarthroses, and operative measures such as artificial joint prosthesis, are sufficiently known.
Steroids such as corticosteroids, and other anti-inflammatory materials such as nonsteroidal anti-immflamatories (NSAIDs) and high doses of aspirin, are widely used for the treatment of these ailments (Pharmocol. Res. Commun. 10 557-569 (1978) by Vidal et al). While these materials often relieve the pain and swelling associated with maladies arising from connective tissue problems, they offer no support for repair processes. Furthermore, NSAIDs may also inhibit the body""s own natural healing processes, leading to further deterioration of the connective tissue.
The activity of chondrocytes (cartilage cells) is regulated by factors including the level of intracellular ions. Up-regulation of chondrocytes, in combination with the presence of GAG building blocks, produces repair of cartilage tissues under normal and arthritic conditions.
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a rigid form of connective tissue that constitutes most of the skeleton of higher vertebrates. The intercellular matrix of bone contains an organic component, chiefly collagenous fibers, and an inorganic component that accounts for approximately two thirds the weight of bone. The inorganic component are the salts responsible for the hardness and rigidity of the tissue. The collagenous fibers contribute greatly to the strength and resiliency of bone.
It is the object of the present invention to provide agents for the treatment of arthroses that as much as possible have alleviating and curing effects on arthroses, while they are well compatible and readily received in the form of a nutritional biscuit.
To that end, a unique therapeutic composition comprising nutritional elements important to the repair and regeneration of joint and connective tissues is proposed. Further, a supplemental ratio of ionic nutrients is offered as a mechanism for promoting and supporting the use of aforementioned nutritional elements in cartilage repair and reconstruction. This unique blend of nutritional elements is supplied in a convenient biscuit format.
The most important supplemental nutrient for the treatment of arthritis is glucosamine. Glucosamine is a building block for cartilage itself. A naturally occurring compound, glucosamine is used to construct one of the structural elements of cartilage called glycosaminoglycans.
Supplemental glucosamine can help to reverse the cycle of damage and help to support the dog""s natural cartilage repair mechanisms. The best news about glucosamine is that it not only treats arthritis, but it can also be used preventively to help support and maintain joint health. This is especially true for large breeds of dogs, hunting or work dogs, and any dog that has a predisposition to joint health problems.
Research on glucosamine is extensive and its use in humans for the treatment of osteoarthritis speaks not only to its efficacy, but also its safety. Dosing for glucosamine may be accomplished by the body weight of the dog.
The activity of chondrocytes is regulated by factors including the level of intracellular ions. Up-regulation of chondrocytes in combination with the presence of GAG building blocks produces repair of cartilage tissues under normal and arthritic conditions.
This invention seeks to introduce a novel and unique composition aimed at providing not only the building blocks of cartilaginous repair, in the form of glucosamine sulfate, but also nutritional elements designed to increase the activity of cells responsible for carrying out repair, known as chondrocytes.
The invention is a dietary supplement for animals, especially dogs. The supplement is for treating arthritis and joint discomfort by means of a preferable tasty and nutritious biscuit. The preferred biscuit of the present invention comprises a conventional carrier composition made of, for example, typical dog biscuit materials including cereal grains, vegetables or animal meat, fat and by-products. Typically, the biscuit comprises about 89-97 weight percent (wt. %) of such a conventional carrier composition. Also, optional vitamins and minerals may also be added to this carrier material, typically in about the 1-5 wt. % range. Also, the biscuit of the present invention comprises about 3-7 wt. % of an arthritis-treating combination, namely glucosamine sulfate, vitamin C and an array of intracellular ions, namely potassium, sodium and iodine. The glucosamine component is present by weight at approximately the same level as the vitamin C, and at approximately 10 (ten) times the level of the sum of the above-named intracellular ions. The biscuit is formulated so that its composition, dosed according to body weight of the animal to be treated, is approximately:
Glucosamine component, 5 mg to 5,000 mg;
Vitamin C component, 5 mg to 5,000 mg;
Potassium component, 50 mcg to 150 mg;
Sodium component, 50 mcg to 150 mg; and
Iodine component, 25 mcg to 100 mg.
The invention is a dietary supplement for animals, especially dogs. The supplement is for treating arthritis and joint discomfort in dogs. The supplement is preferably in the form of a specially-formulated biscuit, designed as a treat for dogs.
The preferred biscuit comprises a conventional carrier material, comprising, for example, cereal grains, vegetables, animal meat, fat and by-products. Blends and mixtures of these materials, as well as other conventional carrier materials for dog biscuits, may also be used. If the biscuit is being designed for an animal different from the dog, then the carrier material may be adjusted to be tasty for the animal. For example, for horses the carrier material may be mostly grass or hay.
Typically, the carrier material comprises about 89-97 wt. % of the biscuit. This wt. % range may be adjusted up or down, depending upon whether other, optional ingredients are added. For example, conventional vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, vitamin E, and calcium may be added to the biscuit without reducing its efficacy. Typically, these vitamins and minerals may be added to amount to about 1-5 wt. % of the biscuit. However, this wt. % range may also be adjusted up or down, depending upon the total number of optional ingredients, and the total weight of each optional ingredient.
Also, the biscuit comprises about 3-7 wt. % of an arthritis-treating combination, namely glucosamine sulfate, vitamin C and an array of intracellular ions, namely potassium, sodium and iodine.
So, the carrier material and the optional vitamins and minerals of the biscuit of the present invention may be made from conventional raw materials or purchased from conventional sources. Also, the biscuit of the present invention may be formulated and manufactured by conventional techniques.
Also, the subject dietary supplement may be formulated as a grainy meal with a component composition similar to the biscuit. Also, the subject dietary supplement may be formulated as a formed tablet, containing about 80-85 weight percent of the arthritis-treating combination, with the balance being binder and/or carrier material. Also, the subject dietary supplement may be formulated as a powder containing about 100 weight percent of the arthritis-treating combination. The powder may be free-flowing, or packaged in digestible gelatin capsules, for example.
The arthritis-treating combination is what makes the present invention unique. First, a glucosamine sulfate is provided in combination with a vitamin C component, in approximately equal amounts within the stated ranges. Effective glucosamine components include glucosamine, its precursors and derivatives, like glucosamine hydrochloride, for example, other amine sugars, as well as salts and esters of these components, and including mixtures thereof. These components are well known in the nutrition industry, and may be made from conventional raw materials or bought from conventional sources.
The vitamin C component is ascorbic acid or ascorbate and/or esterified versions thereof, including mixtures thereof. These components are also well-known in the nutrition industry, and may be made from conventional raw materials or bought from conventional resources.
In addition, the biscuit of the present invention comprises an array of intracellular ions, namely potassium (K+), sodium (Na+) and iodine (I3+). The sum of the amount of these ionic components is typically about one-tenth ({fraction (1/10)}) times the level of the glucosamine component and the level of the vitamin C component. Within the array of these ionic components, typically the amount of the potassium is approximately equal to the amount of the sodium, and the individual amounts of each of these components is about twice the amount of the iodine.
In biscuit compositions wherein an unusually high level (more than twice the typical conventional background level) of any of these arthritis-treating components is provided by the carrier material or by added optional vitamins and minerals, then the composite amounts of the arthritis-treating materials may be adjusted downwardly according. For weight-percent amounts and calculations herein, the amount of the individual component, and not its entire compound, or complexed species, is considered.
Analytical methods for determining the amount of components in the composition of the present invention are conventional.
Glucosamine equivalent dosage for animals: 10 mg per pound of body weight
The preferred embodiment of the therapeutic composition is a biscuit providing 1,000 mg of glucosamine in a six (6) biscuits daily dosage for dogs over 75 pounds and over. For dogs 50 to 75 pounds, five (5) biscuits per day. For dogs 25 to 50 pounds, four (4) biscuits per day, and for dogs under 25 pounds, three (3) biscuits per day.
The additional nutritional ingredients comprising the composition may be dosed according to the following: Vitamin C is present by weight at approximately the same level as glucosamine, and at approximately 10 times the weight of the intracellular ions potassium, sodium and iodine.

Treating arthritis in animals with dietary supplements

Abstract: Vitamin C component, 5 mg to 3,000 mg;

Abstract: Potassium component, 50 mcg to 150 mg;

Abstract: Sodium component, 50 mcg to 150 mg; and

Abstract: Iodine component, 25 mcg to 100 mg.

Abstract: The biscuit is dosed at approximately 10 mg glucosamine component per pound of body weight of the animal per day.


A three dimensional imaging device is presented which uses a single pulse from a pulsed light source to detect objects which are obscured by camouflage, fog or smoke but otherwise enveloped by a light-transmitting medium. The device simultaneously operates in two modes, light reflected from the nearest object is processed to form a three-dimensional image by an array of pixels. This first image is based upon the light-pulse transit time recorded in each pixel. Each pixel also contains a high-speed analog memory that sequentially stores reflected signals at a repeated time interval. The first reflection acts as a time base that controls when the analog memory begins or ends the storage sequence. The first return could be from a camouflage net and the amplitudes of the return signals, after the first return, would then be from objects behind the net. Computer processing these amplitudes reveals the three-dimensional nature of the obscured objects.

This invention relates to a laser radar vision apparatus capable of producing three-dimensional images of distant targets located behind reflective or absorbing but penetrable barriers such as camouflage and obscuring smoke. In particular, this invention relates to a multiple pixel, electronic apparatus for capturing three-dimensional images of distant targets, within obscurants, at high-spatial and high-range resolution in the atmosphere or in space with a single laser pulse, using a laser-reflection generated trigger.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/665,738, Filed Jun. 19, 1995, 3D Now U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,989 which is a CIP of Ser. No. 08/015,623, Now U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,529 Imaging Laser Radar. Laser radars (ladars) determine range in the atmosphere by measuring the transit time of a laser pulse from the transmitter/receiver to a partially or fully reflective target and dividing by twice the velocity of light in the atmospheric medium. If there are more than one return pulse, only the first return pulse is used in the range processing. Range resolution in such devices is related to the accuracy of the transit time measurement. In the atmosphere, ranges are typically measured in kilometers, where range resolution can be smaller than 30 cm. A 3-D target image can be obtained with a conventional laser radar by rastering the laser beam across the target and measuring the transit time, pulse by pulse, where each pulse corresponds to a point on the target. The distance between points on the target determines the spatial resolution of the rastered image and defines the picture element (pixel) size; the number of pixels at the target determines the pixel-array size; the range resolution determines resolution in the third target dimension. Rastering is a slow process, particularly for large pixel-array sizes, and it requires cumbersome mechanical scanners and complex pixel-registration computer processing. In addition, if the first laser-pulse return is from a partially reflective obscurant, which is hiding the target, then the 3-D image does not reveal the nature of the real target.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/665,738, Filed Jun. 19, 1995, by the present inventors disclosed a lightweight, small-size, multiplexing laser radar receiver, the LR-FPA, that could image an entire target, in the atmosphere or in space, at high-spatial and high-range resolution with a single laser pulse. Thus the necessity of laser rastering or using a multitude of laser pulses to obtain a three-dimensional image is avoided. The reflected laser pulse, from different portions of an object, stop independent clocks located in a two-dimensional array of pixels. The times at which the clocks are stopped are related to the third dimension of the object by the velocity of light and are stored in the pixels along with peak signal data. The time data and peak signal data is read out from the array between laser pulses and used to construct the three-dimensional image. Processing the peak signal amplitude with the time data increases the range resolution accuracy. More than one reflected pulse for each pixel is accommodated by separately storing the return time and peak signal of each reflection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,529, issued Aug. 29, 1995 to the present inventors discloses a lightweight, multiplexing laser radar receiver (3DI-UDAR) that can generate a three-dimensional image of an entire object, in a light conducting medium, such as water or the atmosphere, with a single laser pulse. The imaging is accomplished by integrating and storing the reflected signals from a multitude of range resolution intervals (range bins), independently for each of a two-dimensional array of pixels; each range bin across the two-dimensional array corresponds to a range slice in three dimensions. After reading the range bin data out between laser pulses, the time of laser pulse returned from the object is determined for each range bin in the two dimensional array, by means of the integration clock and the start of integration. The three-dimensional image is constructed by the knowledge of the return time of each two-dimensional slice. Because there is return pulse amplitude information as a function of time rather than just the peak of the return pulse, more information can be derived concerning the character of the target. The first range bin begins storing information in response to a signal from the invention""s drive electronics rather than from an external signal such as the first reflection from the light conducting medium (the surface of the water for example).
There is only a finite storage capacity for each of the pixels (typically 30 to 200 storage bins) in the 3DI-UDAR. For high spatial resolution in a medium that does not attenuate the light appreciably, the effective depth from which the information is coming from is only a small proportion of the entire range. For example, for 30 cm range resolution, 200 storage bins may only correspond to a depth of 60 m whereas the absolute range or the ladar may be many tens of kilometers. Turning on the range bin integration at the optimum range position (the target position) could involve a trial and error process requiring more than one laser pulse or another system which first finds the time delay to the target and then transfers that time delay to the drive electronics.
In the present invention a reflected laser pulse from one or more targets, or from an obscured target are integrated and stored in a sequence of range bins, independently for each of a two-dimensional array of pixels. The range bin integrations are turned on automatically, including a possible programmed delay, as the first reflection arrives at the receiver of the invention. Alternatively the integrations are occurring continuously, with the storage bins being filled by new data until the first reflection arrives. Storage then proceeds until a predetermined but adjustable number of storage bins are filled allowing the option of obtaining data prior to the first reflection and/or after it to be stored. By processing this data, preferably between laser pulses, one or more three-dimensional images of single or multiple targets or targets within obscurants can be generated.
A preferred embodiment of the sensor of the invention is a hybrid of two chips, an array of detectors (or collectors) directly connected to an array of processing-electronics unit cells. Each detector/collector, on one chip, is connected to its own processing-electronics unit cell, on the other chip, and defines a pixel in the image. Each processing-electronics unit cell, on the array, contains an identical and unique integrated circuit which can store the first reflected-pulse transit time, the first reflected peak amplitude and/or a sequence of range bins which contain amplitude information about the first reflected pulse and subsequent reflected pulses or amplitude information only about subsequent reflected pulses. Transit-time and pulse amplitude information for all pixels is read out preferably between laser pulses. Laser photons interact directly with the detector array generating a signal or laser photons are converted to electrons that then generate the signal in different embodiments of the invention.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a device for three dimensional imaging of obscured or unobscured objects using a single laser pulse, in transparent or semi-transparent media by a sequence of measurements on the returned pulse amplitude and to overcome the problems of prior systems associated with the need for first determining the range of the target. The device comprises a pulsed light source, means for projecting the light towards the object, optics for collecting the reflected light, improved sensors for detecting the reflected light, drive and output electronics for timing and signal conditioning of data from the sensors and a computer and software for converting the sensor data to a three dimensional image.
It is further the object of the present invention to provide improved sensors which detect and store laser-pulse, target-reflected, transit-time and/or target-reflected laser pulse amplitude information on a processing-electronics unit cell array from which the ranges and 3-D shape of multiple targets or obscured targets can be accurately determined.
Other objects of the invention will be disclosed in the detailed description or the preferred embodiments that follow and from the claims at the end of this disclosure.

Abstract: The device consists of the pulsed light source, optics for collecting the reflected light, a sensor for detecting the light and converting it to electrical data, drive and output electronics for timing and signal conditioning of data generated by the sensors and a computer for processing the sensor data and converting it to a three dimensional image. The sensor collects and processes the light data in a unique manner, first converting it to electricity by a number of alternate detector technologies and then using integrated circuit chips which consist of a two dimensional array of electronic pixels also called unit cells. The two dimensional array defines two dimensions of the image. Stored within each unit cells is data associated with the third dimension, ranges of targets, and amplitudes of target reflections. This data is read out of the integrated circuit chip in the time interval between laser pulses to a processing computer. The processing computer corrects the data and, by means of computer algorithms specific to the device, converts the data to a three-dimensional image of one or more targets. This image may be viewed or processed electronically to isolate targets.


A communications system includes nodes and terminals capable of being involved in a telephony session. Telephony cookies may be created in telephony sessions between a calling terminal and a called terminal. The telephony cookies may be created by the called terminal and sent to the calling terminal for storage. Contents of the telephony cookie may include identifiers of the calling terminal and the called terminal. Other contents may include the date and time the cookie was created, expiration data and time of the cookie, and a data field that can store other types of information relating to telephony sessions.

The invention relates to storing information about telephony sessions.
Data networks are widely used to link various types of nodes, such as personal computers, servers, gateways, network telephones, and so forth. Networks may include private networks, such as local area networks and wide area networks, and public networks, such as the Internet. The increased availability of such data networks has improved accessibility among nodes coupled to the data networks. Popular forms of communications across such data networks include electronic mail, file transfer, web browsing, and other exchanges of digital data.
With the increased capacity and reliability of data networks, voice and multimedia communications over data networks have become possible. Such forms of communications include telephone calls over the data networks, video conferencing, and distribution of multimedia data (such as by multicast). Voice communications over data networks are unlike voice communications in a conventional public switched telephone network (PSTN), which provides users with dedicated, end-to-end circuit connections for the duration of each call. Communications over data networks, such as IP (Internet Protocol) networks, are performed using packets or datagrams that are sent in bursts from a source to one or more destination nodes. Voice and multimedia data sent over a data network typically share the network bandwidth with conventional non-voice data (e.g., data associated with electronic mail, file transfer, web access, and other traffic).
Various standards have been proposed for voice and multimedia communications over data networks. For example, a multimedia data and control architecture has been developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The protocols that are part of the IETF multimedia data and control architecture include the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) for reserving network resources; the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) for transporting real-time data and providing quality of service (QoS) feedback; the Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) for controlling delivery of streaming media; the Session Announcement Protocol (SAP) for advertising multimedia sessions by multicast; the Session Description Protocol (SDP) for describing multimedia sessions; and the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which establishes, maintains, and terminates multimedia sessions or calls.
Conventionally, mechanisms have not been provided to describe telephony sessions. Thus, in conventional telephony systems, whether circuit-switched or packet-switched systems, a newly established telephony session proceeds without the benefit of a description of a prior telephony session. A need exists for a method and apparatus to store information describing telephony sessions.
In general, according to one embodiment, a method for use in a telephony communications system includes establishing a telephony session between a first terminal and a second terminal and determining if a record of a prior telephony session between the first and second terminals exist. Information stored in the record is accessed for use in the current telephony session.
Some embodiments of the invention may have one or more of the following advantages. By storing information about a telephony session or sessions in one or more records, the information in the records may be used in subsequent telephony sessions. User convenience may be enhanced and calls may be expedited. For example, user options, account names, passwords, and so forth may be stored in a record so that such information may not need to be re-entered in a subsequent telephony session. Another example is the ability to store notes about a prior call in the record so that a party in a subsequent telephony session may learn about what transpired in a prior call.

Storing information about a telephony session