The invention is directed to a photoresist-free method for depositing films composed of metals, such as copper, or its oxides from metal complexes. More specifically, the method involves applying an amorphous film of a metal complex to a substrate. The metal complexes have the formula MfLgXh, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Au, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Si, Sn, Li, Na, K, Ba, Sr, Mo, Ru, Pd, Pt, Re, Ir, and Os; L is a ligand of the formula (R2NCRxe2x80x22CRxe2x80x32O), wherein R, Rxe2x80x2 and Rxe2x80x3 are independently selected from H, CnHm, and CnHmAxBy, wherein A and B are independently selected from main group elements and f, g, h, n, m, x and y represent integers; and X is an anion independently selected from N3, NCO, NO3, NO2, Cl, Br, I, CN, OH, H and CH3. These films, upon, for example, thermal, photochemical or electron beam irradiation may be converted to the metal or its oxides. By using either directed light or electron beams, this may lead to a patterned metal or metal oxide film in a single step.

This invention relates to the use of metal complexes to deposit films of metals or metal oxides. Such films may be of use in a variety of applications, including but not limited to microelectronics fabrication.
Deposition of thin films using non-vacuum techniques normally comprises either sol gel or metal organic materials or comprises photochemical metal organic depositions. Films of inorganic materials are usually deposited by chemical or physical vapor deposition, although in some cases, sol gel or metal organic deposition has been used. The sol gel or metal organic depositions require the construction of films of precursors. These films are then heated to drive off the organic component, leaving a metal or more commonly, a metal oxide film. The photochemical deposition method differs from the above two methods in that the reaction which drives off the organic component is photochemically activated. Since none of these methods are able to form the patterned structures normally used in the construction of microelectronic devices or circuits, they must be employed with other processes in order to pattern films of materials.
Hybrid methods often use light as the energy source wherein the light used initiates a thermal rather than a photochemical reaction. These methods have the disadvantage that they do not directly result in the formation of patterned films but result in the unselective deposition of the films.
Additional disadvantages of the previously described deposition methods are that they require the use of expensive equipment and many of them require high temperature processing.
Because of the problems associated with possible contamination of clean room facilities, a single chemical which may be used for different deposition methods is desirable. Furthermore, the use of a single chemical for different deposition methods reduces the product development expense to the supplier.
Metals, such as copper, may be used as a conductor in electronic circuits. Other metal oxides, such as copper oxide, are semiconductors and have found use as a conductor in electronic circuitry. Accordingly there is much interest in developing methods of achieving the deposition of metals and the patterned deposition of metals or their oxides on various substrates.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,312 to Hill et al., incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for the deposition of a variety of metal and metal oxide systems using photochemical deposition. It will be appreciated that the approach discussed therein is a substantial improvement in the prior art. The current invention presents new types of metal complexes or precursors which are useful for thermal, electron beam, and photochemical patterning of copper containing materials and a method for depositing these complexes.
Prior art precursors used to deposit metal or metal oxide films, such as that shown below, and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,312, are known to fragment under photolytic conditions, leading to the loss of CO2. This fragmentation leaves the metal atoms unbound.
Complexes disclosed by Chung et al. in J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 1997, p. 2825-29, which is incorporated herein by reference, also comprise a pair of metal atoms bonded to bidentate organic ligands. The most general form of these complexes has the following formula.
In the above formula, the individual sites where substitution may be used to optimize the physical and chemical properties are shown. The organic ligand framework of these complexes shows no obvious site for fragmentation under, for example, photolytic conditions. Therefore, it is not clear that complexes of this formula should be suitable for photolytic deposition of metals or metal oxides. In fact it could reasonably be predicted that the photochemical reactivity should center about the groups X1 and X2 in the figure. Indeed, the published photochemistry for this complex (Chung et al., (1997) J. Chem. Soc. Dalton Trans., 2825) leads one of skill in the art to expect that photochemistry should yield a stable Cu(I) complex. Based on the prior art, one would not expect it to be possible to use these new precursors to deposit metal or metal oxide films at all. In an amorphous film comprising such a complex, however this is not the case and Cu metal is formed, a highly unexpected result.
It is therefore surprising that new precursors of the form shown above have been found that are useful in depositing films composed of a metal, such as copper, or its oxides. These new precursors exhibit an unexpected fragmentation site to yield the desired metal or metal oxide film. Preliminary mass spectral evidence suggests that the ligand in fact degrades during the photoreaction, a result that was not readily predicted.
The present invention is directed to a photoresist-free method for depositing films composed of a metal, such as copper, or its oxides from metal complexes. More specifically, the method involves applying an amorphous film of a metal complex to a substrate. The complexes of the present invention are generally of the formula, MfLgXh, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Au, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Si, Sn, Li, Na, K, Ba, Sr, Mo, Ru, Pd, Pt, Re, Ir, and Os; L is a ligand of the formula (R2NCRxe2x80x22CRxe2x80x32O), wherein R, Rxe2x80x2 and Rxe2x80x3 are independently selected from H, CnHm, and CnHmAxBy, wherein A and B are independently selected from main group elements and f, g, h, n, m, x and y represent integers; and X is an anion independently selected from N3, NCO, NO3, NO2, Cl, Br, I, CN, OH, H, and CH3. In a preferred embodiment, the metal is dinuclear copper, the ligand is 1-diethylaminoethan-2-ol, and the anion is selected from N3, NCO, and NO2.
These films, upon either thermal, photochemical or electron beam stimulus may be converted to a metal or its oxides. By using either directed light or electron beams, this may lead to a patterned metal or metal oxide film in a single step. The metal (e.g., copper) or its oxide (e.g., copper oxide) deposited by this method is conductive. Accordingly, these metal precursors and the deposition of the metals or their oxides from such precursors is a useful invention.
The current invention describes the use of complexes of metals such as copper, to form films which may be activated by thermolysis, charged particles (such as electron beams), or photons to deposit copper containing films.
An amorphous precursor film comprising the complex is deposited onto a substrate using methods well known in the art, such as spin or dip deposition. This film is then exposed to electromagnetic radiation or electron or ion beams. This exposure results in the conversion of the exposed areas from the precursor material to the desired amorphous film of the metallic material. The precursor complexes of the present invention are generally of the formula, MfLgXh, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Au, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Si, Sn, Li, Na, K, Ba, Sr, Mo, Ru, Pd, Pt, Re, Ir, and Os; L is a ligand of the formula (R2NCRxe2x80x22CRxe2x80x320), wherein R, Rxe2x80x2 and Rxe2x80x2 are independently selected from H, CnHm, and CnHmAxBy, wherein A and B are independently selected from main group elements and f, g, h, n, m, x and y represent integers; and X is an anion independently selected from N3, NCO, NO3, NO2, Cl, Br, I, CN, OH, H, and CH3.
An example of such precursor complexes include dinuclear copper complexes with suitable bidentate ligands. Suitable ligands include: xcexc-aminopropan-2-olate, diethylaminoethan-2-olate, diethylaminobutan-2-olate, and the like. Related complexes are disclosed by Chung et al. in J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 1997, p. 2825-29. Such dinuclear copper precursor complexes are generally of the formula Cu2(R2NCRxe2x80x22CRxe2x80x32O)2X2, wherein R, Rxe2x80x2 and Rxe2x80x3 are independently selected from H, CnHm, and CnHmAxBy, wherein A and B are independently selected from main group elements and n, m, x and y represent integers; and X is an anion independently selected from N3, NCO, NO3, NO2, Cl, Br, I, CN, OH, H, and CH3.
Although dinuclear copper complexes with bidentate ligands are exemplified in the present disclosure, the present invention is not limited to copper complexes. Other suitable metals that can be used in the present invention include: Ti, V, Cr, Au, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Si, Sn, Li, Na, K, Ba, Sr, Mo, Ru, Pd, Pt, Re, Ir, Os and similar metals. One skilled in the art could determine the corresponding stoichiometry for the particular metal and the general ligand formulations provided above.
Presently, preferred metal complexes include Cu2(xcexc-Et2NCH2CH2O)2(N3)2, Cu2(xcexc-Et2NCH2CH2O)2(NCO)2, and Cu2(xcexc-Et2NCH2CH2O)2(NO2)2.
Typical films may be deposited on various substrates. These include materials as wide ranging as simple salts, such as CaF2, to semiconductor surfaces such as silicon. The nature of the substrate is not critical for the process although it may affect the method of deposition of the precursor film and the solvent for the deposition, if one is used. Applicable solvents include acetone, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylacetamide, 2-methoxyethanol and the like. The most commonly used substrate has been silicon but is not limited thereto. These silicon substrates may have been coated with other layers such as dielectric layers, photoresist or polyimide, metal oxides, thermal oxides, conduction materials, insulating materials, ferroelectric materials, or other materials used in the construction of electronic devices. These include single crystal wafers.
The precursor film may be deposited on the surface by spin coating the molecule from a solvent. In this procedure, the precursor is dissolved in a solvent to form a precursor solution. The substrate surface is then put on a surface which can be spun. The substrate may be held in place with a vacuum chuck, such as present in a commercial spin coater (e.g., from Headway or Laurell Corporation). The precursor solution is dispensed onto the surface of the substrate either before commencing spinning or while the substrate is spinning. The substrate is then allowed to spin, resulting in the deposition of a thin film of the precursor on the surface.
The film thickness obtained in this process can be varied by varying both the spin rate and the concentration of the precursor in the solvent. To obtain a suitable film, the spin speed may be changed during the spinning process.
The films may also be formed by other methods known to those skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, spray on coating, dip coating, and various inking methods. Additives may be included, for example, to improve the quality of the resultant film by preventing cracking or to enhance another film property. Examples of such additives include, but are not limited to, monoethanolamine and diethanolamine. One skilled in the art could determine other suitable additives to suit the particular purpose.
The film is then exposed to a source of irradiation. Typically, the film may be exposed to light directed through an optical mask used to define a pattern on the surface. The mask consists of transparent and light absorbing regions. The mask may also include an optical enhancing feature such as a phase shift technology. Exposure of the film with this light results in a chemical reaction within the film which changes the film from precursor to the product.
The light does not necessarily have to be directed through a mask. For example, if it is not necessary to pattern the material, a flood exposure may be used. Alternatively, if patterning is desired, a direct writing approach may be used. In a common implementation of the direct writing process, a laser beam is directed in a serial fashion over the surface, resulting in exposure only of the areas where the beam was directed. Alternatively, near field optical systems allow selective exposure of some areas of the surface.
Normally, the atmosphere used for the exposure is air. It may, for a variety of reasons, be preferable to change the composition of the atmosphere present during exposure. One reason is to increase the transmission of the exposing light, if short wavelength light is used, because it may be attenuated by air. It may also be desirable to change the composition of the atmosphere to alter the composition or properties of the product film. For example, in air or oxygen, the exposure of a copper complex results in the formation of a copper oxide. By changing the humidity of the atmosphere, the amount of water in the film may be changed. By eliminating oxygen entirely from the atmosphere, a film consisting primarily of copper may be formed. By increasing the intensity of the light, it is possible to initiate a thermal reaction within the films to generate product films.
Exposure may also be carried out with ion or electron beams. These are normally directed in a serial write process. The ion or electron beam is directed onto the precursor film, causing a reaction to produce the product film in the exposed areas. The nature of the exposure systems for ion and electron beams is such that these are normally done within a vacuum. The deposit from such a process may, depending upon the conditions, be the metal which upon exposure to air is oxidized to form the oxide.
Thermal energy may also be used to convert the precursor films to copper based films. This may find specific use if some areas are patterned to form copper layers, then in a thermal reaction the remaining material is converted to copper oxide by thermolysis in air. Alternatively, the copper regions may be photo-patterned and the remaining areas may undergo unselective thermal reaction. It should be noted, however, that some oxidation of the deposited copper may occur and this film may be the preferred use of this process.

Method for depositing metal and metal oxide films and patterned films


A transactional logging service is provided to user-mode and kernel-mode log clients by utilizing a marshalling area to buffer a set of log records that a log client assembles into a log stream. Disk I/O (input/output) functionality is then separately brokered using a kernel-mode address space for a single dedicated physical log, or virtual logs multiplexed to a single log, which is written to stable storage that contains log records from across all of the log streams. Physical log writes are handled by a shared log flush queue and physical log reads are provided by a file system cache that underlies the service. A multi-level cache hierarchy is utilized when a log client needs to access a log record. A series of caches are queried in order of increasing latency until the targeted log record is located. The target log record is only read from disk in the event that it missed at each cache in the hierarchy.

Transactional logging involves maintaining a transactional log that durably records a time serial history of transactions in a system. The transactional log provides information for restoring a system to a particular state in time prior to a system failure. A transactional logging system must be able to reliably and accurately restore logging functionalities after such a system failure. Most conventional transactional logging systems implement a read cache in the user-address space to help reduce the latency of the round-trip to disk to read log records. Typically, read caches exploit the inherent sequential nature of logs and pre-fetch large amounts of data into their read caches. In many traditional systems multiple log clients (i.e., recipients of a logging service) exist and each log client consumes virtual memory and working set quota which equal the size of its read cache. In addition, because the read cache is stored in the application's address space it has to be replicated for every open instance of a log file or stored in user-mode shared memory.
While many current transactional logging systems are typically very robust and achieve a satisfactory performance level, the read caches utilized for multiple log clients can consume a significant amount of resources. Overall performance of the computing environment in which a multi-client transactional system is operating can be substantially impaired as a result of paying for the overhead and memory costs associated with the read caches.
This Background is provided to introduce a brief context for the Summary and Detailed Description that follows. This Background is not intended to be an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter nor be viewed as limiting the claimed subject matter to only those implementations that may solve any or all of the disadvantages or problems presented above.

Multi-level read caching for multiplexed transactional logging


A prosthesis delivery and deployment device includes an elongated and flexible outer catheter. The outer catheter has a tubular wall of layered construction, including a translucent inner liner running the complete catheter length, and three outer layers including a translucent distal layer, an opaque medial layer and an opaque proximal outer layer. The outer layers are adjacent one another and are bonded to the liner. A braid composed of helically wound metal filaments is disposed between the liner and the proximal and medial outer layers, and includes a distal portion between the liner and a proximal portion of the distal outer layer. The liner and distal outer layer provide a translucent distal region of the catheter that is adapted to constrain a radially self-expanding prosthesis in a radially reduced, axially elongated state. Because the stent constraining region is translucent, an endoscope can be used to visually monitor the stent when so constrained. Radiopaque markers can be mounted to the outer catheter and to an inner catheter used to deploy the prosthesis, to afford a combined visual and fluoroscopic monitoring for enhanced accuracy in positioning the prosthesis, both before and during its deployment.

The present invention relates to medical devices for delivering endoprostheses to predetermined treatment sites within body cavities or lumens, and further deploying the endoprostheses at the selected sites. More particularly, this invention relates to such devices that are capable of enabling or facilitating a tracking of the endoprostheses during deployment.
A variety of patient treatment and diagnostic procedures involve the use of prostheses inserted into the body of a patient and intraluminally implanted. Percutaneous translumenal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and other vascular treatments frequently involve implanting prostheses such as stents to maintain vessel patency or grafts to shunt blood. Similar implantations are used in non-vascular procedures, e.g., enteral, billiary, and esophageal applications.
There is a need to accurately characterize the intended implant site to facilitate proper placement of the prosthesis. There is a further need, just before deployment and during deployment, to ascertain the location of the prosthesis relative to the intended placement site. One known approach to such characterizing and monitoring is angiography, which involves supplying a radiopaque contrast fluid to the cavity or lumen, then radiographically viewing the lumen. This approach, however, provides only a monochromatic, two-dimensional image showing a profile but no depth of field.
According to another approach, radiopaque markers can be placed on the delivery/deployment device. Before deployment, the position of the prosthesis within the device is known, and determining the device position in effect accurately determines the prosthesis position. This advantage is lost during deployment, however, and again the image offers neither distinctions in color nor depth of field.
According to yet another approach, the prosthesis can be fabricated at least in part using a radiopaque material. For example, the filaments of a stent can be formed of, or may incorporate a core formed of, platinum, tantalum or another radiopaque material. This approach likewise lacks the capacity for distinction among colors, and imposes limitations upon the materials used to form the prosthesis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,016 discloses an intravascular balloon catheter having a lumen containing an angioscope. A distal portion of the catheter shaft, surrounded by the dilatation balloon, is transparent, and index markers are provided along the balloon. Thus, objects against which the balloon wall is pressed when the balloon is inflated can be quantified. This structure requires viewing the lumen through the catheter wall and the balloon wall, and does not address the need for monitoring the position of a prosthesis with respect to its delivery device during deployment. This need is particularly apparent in connection with radially self-expanding prostheses, which are constrained in radially reduced configurations during delivery, and must be released from their confining devices during deployment to permit radial self-expansion.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a prosthesis delivery and deployment device that substantially surrounds a prosthesis to retain the prosthesis during delivery to a treatment site, yet facilitates an optical viewing of the prosthesis before and during its deployment.
Another object is to provide a prosthesis delivery device particularly well suited to negotiate tortuous intraluminal pathways in the body, that incorporates a translucent carrier segment through which a prosthesis carried within the device can be optically viewed.
A further object is to provide a process for deploying a radially self-expanding prosthesis within a body lumen in which an optical viewing device is advantageously used to view at least a proximal portion of the prosthesis to visually monitor a location of the prosthesis during its deployment.
Yet another object is to provide a catheter or other device for intraluminal delivery of a prosthesis, that incorporates a prosthesis confining wall sufficiently light transmissive to enable a viewing of the prosthesis through the wall, so that an optical instrument positioned within a body lumen outside the catheter can be used to observe the prosthesis contained in the delivery device, as well as tissue surrounding the delivery device.
To achieve these and other objects, there is provided a prosthesis delivery and viewing device. The device includes an elongate, flexible catheter having a tubular catheter wall defining a catheter lumen. The catheter, along a distal end region thereof, is adapted to substantially surround a body insertable prosthesis and thereby releasably retain the prosthesis within the catheter lumen. The catheter wall, at least along the distal end region, is translucent to allow an optical viewing of the body insertable prosthesis through the catheter wall when the prosthesis is so retained.
Most preferably, the distal end region of the wall is substantially transparent, i.e., highly transmissive of wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Satisfactory viewing is achieved, if the distal end region wall merely is translucent; more particularly, sufficiently light transmissive so that at least about 25% of light impinging directly upon one side of the catheter wall is transmitted through the wall to the other side. A polyether block amide, for example as sold under the brand name Pebax, has been found to be well suited as a catheter wall material, not only due to its relative transparency, but also because it provides a ductile or flexible catheter wall that bonds well with other polymeric material. Certain nylons also can be used, although they are not as ductile as the Pebax material.
The device is advantageously used as part of a system that also includes an optical viewing device positionable proximate the distal end of the catheter to facilitate an optical viewing of the prosthesis and surrounding body lumen or cavity. An endoscope is suitable as such viewing device.
According to one particularly preferred construction, the catheter includes an elongate, flexible translucent inner tubular body. A flexible, translucent first outer tube surrounds and is integral with a distal end region of the inner tubular body. An elongate, flexible second outer tube surrounds the inner tubular body, is integral with the inner tubular body, and is disposed proximally of the first outer tube. If desired, a flexible third outer tube is disposed between the first and second outer tubes, and contacts the other outer tubes to provide a substantially continuous profile composed of the three outer tubes. This construction allows a tailoring of the catheter, to provide a balance between two somewhat conflicting needs: sufficient flexibility to negotiate serpentine pathways; and sufficient columnar strength along the catheter length to provide the necessary axial pushing force.
In particular, such tailoring can involve selecting materials of different durometer hardness for the outer tubes. One highly preferred example uses a 63 Shore D durometer Pebax material in the first outer tube, and a 72 Shore D durometer Pebax material in the second, proximal outer tube which comprises most of the catheter length. To provide further columnar strength and resistance to kinking, a support structure can be interposed between the inner tubular layer and at least the second outer tube. A preferred structure is a braid of helically wound metal filaments, e.g., stainless steel or a cobalt-based alloy such as that sold under the brand name Elgiloy. If desired, the wire braid can extend distally beyond the second outer tube, and thus reside between the inner tubular layer and a proximal portion of the first outer tube, up to about one-half of the first outer tube length. When a third, medial outer tube is employed, it is preferably composed of a material having a 63 Shore D durometer hardness.
The delivery device further can include a prosthesis release component mounted moveably with respect to the catheter to effect a release of the prosthesis from within the catheter lumen. For example, an elongate flexible member, which can be a tube if desired, is disposed inside the catheter lumen and either abuts the proximal end of the prosthesis, or is surrounded by the prosthesis along its distal portion. In many cases the latter arrangement is more desirable, because it enables a retraction of the prosthesis after it is partially deployed, if repositioning is deemed necessary.
The delivery device is particularly well suited for use in a process for deploying a radially self-expanding prosthesis within a body lumen, including:
a. disposing a radially self-expanding prosthesis in a radially compressed state within a catheter, surrounded by a tubular wall of the catheter along a distal end region of the catheter;
b. moving the catheter intraluminally to position the distal end region of the catheter near a selected prosthesis deployment site within a body lumen;
c. with the catheter distal end region so positioned, initiating a release of the prosthesis from the catheter, and during the release, using an optical viewing device to optically view at least a proximal portion of the prosthesis through the catheter wall, to visually monitor a location of the prosthesis; and
d. after completing the release of the prosthesis, proximally withdrawing the catheter to leave the prosthesis disposed within the body lumen.
Thus in accordance with the present invention, a prosthesis can be optically viewed both before its release to insure an accurate positioning within a body lumen, and during its release to monitor its position both with respect to the lumen, and with respect to the delivery/deployment catheter. An endoscope or other suitable optical device can provide an image that enables the user to distinguish among colors, which can be beneficial in recognizing properties of the tissue at the treatment site. Optical images also afford depth of field. The capability of optically viewing the lumen and prosthesis when still contained within the catheter, combined with fluoroscopic imaging of the catheter and the prosthesis, provides particularly effective monitoring of the deployment and positioning of the prosthesis.

Prosthesis deployment device with translucent distal end


A shower door assembly includes a swingable door panel mounted to a stationary side enclosure panel by a pair of hinge assemblies that are transversely adjustable to correct for out-of-plumb conditions. The hinge assemblies include pocketed stationary hinges capping the ends of the side panel and moveable hinges mounted to the door panel in a slidable slot and pin connection. The side panel is mountable to an enclosure wall by an upright wall jamb defining a track in which can slide a jamb pin disposed through the side panel. The wall jamb is shorter than the side panel and mounts accessory attachments at its upper end, such as a robe hook and a razor holder.

The present invention relates to shower (e.g. shower/tub) enclosure door systems, and in particular to adjustable hinges and accessory mounting systems for use therewith.
Shower/tub enclosures typically have a back wall, end walls, and an opening therebetween. To prevent water from splashing onto the bathroom floor when showering, the opening is ordinarily closed by a curtain or door(s). For some of these systems, two or more doors slide transversely relative to each other (by-pass door systems). See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,394. In other systems, one or more doors pivot open via hinges along their side. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,272.
Premade plastic enclosures leave openings of standard dimensions. However, various other enclosures are created using room walls that are tiled or otherwise protected. Such constructions may leave a non-standard size opening, or opening with sides that are not precisely parallel to each other, or are out-of-plumb.
Some shower door systems have been developed that allow the doors to be mounted in shower enclosure openings within a range of dimensions. See e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,286,343; 5,033,132 and 5,822,810. However, the systems described in these patents are most suitable for use with collapsible screens or curtains, rather than rigid door panels (either pivoting or by-pass).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,957 provides a shower door system with a frame that can be adjusted to support a pivoting door panel. The upper and lower cross-members have telescoping profiles that can be moved relative to each other as needed to vary the overlap between a fixed panel and the pivoting door panel. However, this system requires a relatively heavy frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,638 discloses a hinge assembly for pivotable shower door panels, providing out-of-plumb adjustment for the door panel. This assembly is rather complex, and requires the hinge to be fastened directly to the enclosure wall once in the desired position.
Another problem with door systems for shower enclosures arises with partially tiled enclosure walls or one-piece tub and shower surround units having walls that do not extend the full height of the enclosure. When the upright wall jambs of conventional shower door systems are mounted flush against such tile or surround unit walls, the upper end will extend beyond the top of the tile or surround unit. This creates an unsightly gap. In such cases, the gap has to be filled in some way, such as by building out the wall or bending the jamb.
In conventional bathrooms, robe hooks are typically mounted on the bathroom wall, thus disturbing the wall, and making repainting or changing of wall papering more difficult. Razors that are used in a shower also require a suitable place for their storage. Currently, they are either stored in a drawer or closet between uses (relatively inconvenient locations), or they are hooked on relatively unstable xe2x80x9cshower caddiesxe2x80x9d that are hung from the shower outlet pipe. Thus, an improved shower door system, and an accessory mounting system for used therewith, is needed.
In one aspect the invention provides a shower door assembly. There is a pivotable door panel, a side enclosure panel, an upper connector hinge element, a lower connector hinge element, an upper transversely movable hinge element, and a lower transversely movable hinge element. Two of the hinge elements are mounted to the pivotable door panel, and the other two of the hinge elements are mounted to the side enclosure panel. One of the upper hinge elements is on an upper portion of one panel, the other of the upper hinge elements is on an upper portion of the other panel, and the upper hinge elements are pivotably connected to each other. Similarly, one of the lower hinge elements is on a lower portion of one panel, the other of the lower hinge elements is on a lower portion of the other panel, and the lower hinge elements are pivotably connected to each other. The shower door panel is pivotably mounted relative to the side enclosure panel so it can pivot about an essentially vertical axis relative to the side panel.
In the most preferred form, the connector hinge elements are both on the side enclosure panel and the transversely movable hinge elements are both on the shower door panel. Adjustment of the transversely movable hinge element can correct for out of plumb conditions, or variances in the size of the enclosure.
In another preferred form at least one of the transversely moveable hinge elements is in the form of a sub-assembly of a T-nut, a backing plate, and a hinge body having a pivot pin receiver and a T-cross section slot closed at one end and open at an opposite end. There can also be a cover for concealing the backing plate, and a pair of pivot pins, one of the pivot pins cooperating with the upper hinge elements, and the other of the pivot pins cooperating with the lower hinge elements. Each of the hinge elements has recesses for receiving a pivot pin.
Both of the connector hinge elements can have a vertically extending pocket for receiving an edge of the side enclosure panel. Also, preferably, the side enclosure panel and door panel at least partially overlap.
The assembly can also have an upright wall jamb mountable to a wall of a shower enclosure. The wall jamb extends to a height less than the side enclosure panel, and preferably has at least one accessory mounted adjacent an upper end of the wall jamb on the wall jamb. The accessory has an end matable with an inner profile of the wall jamb. In an especially preferred form the accessory has a robe hook extending in a first direction relative to the wall jamb, and a razor holder extending in an essentially opposed direction relative to the wall jamb.
In yet another form, the wall jamb has an upright track and the side enclosure panel has an opening in which is disposed a jamb pin slidably engaging the track.
The invention can also be viewed as providing a wall jamb for a shower door assembly. The jamb has a vertically extending main body region having an upper end, a hook mounted to the jamb adjacent its upper end so as to extend in a first direction, and a holder mounted to the jamb adjacent its upper end so as to extend in a second direction essentially opposite the first direction. The hook and holder are thus mounted in a compact back-to-back relationship to each other on the wall jamb, without the need to mount anything relating to the accessory to the shower outlet or bathroom walls outside the enclosure area.
The present invention thus provides a shower door assembly that can be mounted in enclosure openings of various widths (by modifying the amount of panel overlap). In this regard, the hinge assemblies allow for adjustment of the door panel with respect to the side panel throughout the adjustment range defined by the length of the slots in the hinge bodies and backing plates.
Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a shower door assembly that can be adjusted to correct for out-of-plumb installations. The hinge assemblies are independently adjustable.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a shower door assembly that can be installed in enclosures with partially tiled walls or one-piece shower/tub surround modules which are shorter than the full height of the enclosure opening. The wall jamb is shorter than the panels and conventional surround units, and thus can be fastened directly to the tile or shorter surround units without creating a gap, or requiring bending of the jamb.
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a unique location for mounting accessories, particularly multiple accessories.
The assembly is also easy to install quickly. The door assembly can be mounted by fastening the upright wall jamb to an enclosure wall and sliding the jamb pin into the track. No tools are necessary to mount the side panel.
These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings.


A hemodialysis catheter comprising a dual lumen tube with a bullet nose bolus at its distal end. A venous port is formed in one side of the bolus adjacent the bullet nose of the bolus. An arterial port is formed in the bolus circumferentially displaced 180xc2x0 around the catheter from the venous port. The bolus contains a venous passage which transitions from a smaller diameter D-shaped cross-section to a larger diameter circular cross-section. The bullet nose is thinner than the tube but is inclined on an angle to the axis of the tube so that a portion of its outer periphery is substantially tangent to a hypothetical cylinder containing the trailing edge of the venous port.

This invention relates in general to hemodialysis. It relates, more particularly, to hemodialysis catheters.
Hemodialysis, as practiced today, normally employs one of two types of catheter to remove blood from the patient for processing and return processed blood to the patient. Most commonly, a catheter tube containing two lumens is used, each lumen having a generally semi-cylindrical or D-shape configuration. This type of catheter is frequently referred to as a dual lumen catheter. Alternatively, two tubes, each with a full cylindrical configuration, are used separately to remove blood for dialysis and return the processed blood.
Flow rates possible with conventional dual lumen catheters are usually lower than those achievable where separate tubes are used to remove blood from a vein for dialysis and then return processed blood back to the vein.
Thus, the use of two tubes has become more and more popular as the capacity (maximum flow rate) of hemodialysis membranes has increased.
Hemodialysis membranes are now able to process blood at over 500 ml of flow per minute. Even higher processing rates are foreseeable. However, problems occur with both the line introducing purified blood back into the vein (the venous or outflow line) and the line removing blood for purification (the arterial or intake line) at flow rates above 300 ml per minute. A high flow rate from the venous line may cause whipping or xe2x80x9cfirehosingxe2x80x9d of the tip in the vein with consequent damage to the vein lining. A corresponding high flow rate into the arterial line may cause the port to be sucked into the vein wall, resulting in occlusion. It should be understood, of course, that both lines normally access the superior vena cava and the designations are used for differentiation purposes.
Speed of flow through a catheter lumen, whether it be in a single lumen or a dual lumen catheter, is controlled by a number of factors including the smoothness of the wall surface, the internal diameter or cross-sectional area of the tube lumen, and the length of the tube lumen. The most important factor is the cross-sectional area of the tube lumen. The force or speed of the fluid flow in a tube lumen for a given cross-sectional area is controlled by the external pumping force, of course. This is a positive pressure pushing processed blood through the venous lumen and a negative (suction) pressure pulling unprocessed blood through the arterial lumen.
Problems encountered in providing for a high flow rate through a catheter are magnified in a dual lumen catheter construction. Because each of the lumens in a dual lumen catheter normally has a D-shape, it has been assumed that flow rates are limited. Furthermore, such dual lumen catheters are, to a great extent, catheters with a main port which opens at the end of a lumen substantially on the axis of the lumen. Thus, xe2x80x9cfirehosingxe2x80x9d frequently results. Fire-hosing may damage the vein wall, triggering the build-up of fibrin on the catheter tip. Fibrin build-up may result in port occlusion.
There are dual lumen catheters which utilize side ports for both outflow and inflow. An example is the catheter disclosed in the Cruz et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,093. However, such catheters have not been entirely successful in solving problems related to hemodialysis with dual lumen catheters, e.g., high incidences of catheter port occlusion as well as some degree of fire-hosing.
Catheters of almost all types are also pliable so that they do not damage body tissue when they are in-situ. Pliability can create a problem during insertion, however, because the catheters can kink when they meet resistance. Thus, there is often a need for a certain amount of stiffness so that the catheters can be directed within body vessels or cavities. There are currently two methods of providing this stiffness; stylets and guide wires.
A stylet can be a single or a twisted wire with a blunt end that is inserted into the catheter to make it stiff. The stylet is often used with bullet nose catheters and maintains its position within the catheter as the catheter is inserted. The stiffened catheter is advanced into the blood vessel with the stylet.
In contrast, guide wires are used to both stiffen the catheter and to provide a guide for the insertion. Commonly, the guide wire is inserted into the blood vessel before the catheter. The catheter is then inserted into the blood vessel over the wire, and follows the wire as it travels inside the vessel. Guide wires are most often utilized with catheters that are inserted deep into the body, such as with central venous catheters that are inserted into the heart. The thin guide wire more easily makes the bends and turns necessary for this type of placement.
In guide wire insertion where the catheter must be inserted over the guide wire, catheters with open ends are normally utilized to permit passage of the guide wire. These catheters are more likely to cause damage to body tissue during insertion than bullet nose catheters, for example, because of their flat ends and side edges. Open ended catheters are also more likely to damage tissue than bullet nose catheters while in-situ. Nevertheless, the need for deep catheter insertion has heretofore made guide wire insertion of open-ended catheters the accepted procedure in spite of the disadvantage of their flat or blunt end design.
As an alternative, bullet nose catheters have occasionally been used with guide wires in some applications by incorporating a small hole through the nose for the wire to pass through. This approach has generally been found undesirable, however, because the hole in the bullet nose can later collect particulate matter and be a focal point for infection.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved dual lumen hemodialysis catheter.
Another object is to provide a dual lumen hemodialysis catheter which accommodates flow rates substantially as high as the latest separate lumen catheters.
Still another object is to provide a dual lumen hemodialysis catheter which is capable of returning processed blood to the patient at high flow rates without harmful firehosing of the catheter tip.
Yet another object is to provide a dual lumen hemodialysis catheter which permits high flow rates while minimizing trauma and potential red cell damage so as to substantially avoid clotting.
A further object is to provide a dual lumen hemodialysis catheter which substantially reduces the incidence of port occlusion.
Still a further object is to provide a dual lumen hemodialysis catheter in which occlusion of the return line port is substantially avoided regardless of the flow rate.
Still a further object is to provide a dual lumen hemodialysis catheter which facilitates reversal of the venous and arterial lines to relieve port occlusion without increasing the potential for mixing of dialyzed blood with blood being removed for dialysis
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bullet nose bolus for use on catheters ranging in size from 3 French to 22 French in any medical application.
A further object is to provide a bullet nose bolus that protects the leading edge of the catheter outflow or inflow port from rubbing against the vessel wall.
Another object is to provide a bullet nose bolus for a catheter that will not kink during insertion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved catheter for use with a guidewire.
Still another object is to provide a bullet nose bolus for a catheter which is compatible with a guide wire yet does not require an axially extending hole through the nose.
Another object is to provide a bullet nose bolus for a catheter that can be inserted simultaneously with a guide wire through a flexible introducer sheath that is essentially the same size as the catheter itself.
Another object is to provide a bullet nose bolus for a catheter that follows a guide wire through bends in a patient""s vein and turns without causing increased resistance to passage through the vein.
Another object is to provide a bullet nose bolus that always presents a rounded surface to the vein wall, even when the catheter is following a guide wire around a bend.
Another object is to provide a bolus with a nose which is designed to flex away from the guide wire in only one direction.
The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the present invention by providing a dual lumen hemodialysis catheter including a bullet-nose bolus having a radially opening outflow or venous port and a radially opening intake or arterial port The arterial port is circumferentially displaced 180xc2x0 around the bolus from the venous port.
The venous port opens radially through the bolus immediately behind its bullet nose. The D-shape venous lumen in the catheter tube communicates with a corresponding D-shape venous passage in the body of the bolus. That D-shape venous passage transitions into a circular cross-section venous passage before reaching the venous port, while increasing in cross-sectional area from the D-shape passage to the circular passage.
The arterial port is axially displaced from the venous port and opens radially through the bolus immediately behind the venous port, albeit 180xc2x0 displaced therefrom. The arterial port communicates directly with a corresponding D-shape arterial passage in the body of the bolus.
In front of the arterial port and opposite the venous port, the profile of the bolus curves in an arc toward the side of the bolus in which the venous port is disposed, creating a stiffening arch in the passage section opposite the venous port. From the trailing edge of the venous port forward, the passage section and the nose section are effectively inclined to the longitudinal axis of the bolus and tube, and toward the venous port side of the bolus. The bullet nose of the nose section is thus offset from the axis of the bolus toward the venous port.
The opposite side surfaces of the bolus, proceeding forward from the mid-point of the venous port, also taper inwardly in converging arcs to the bullet nose section. Thus, the bolus nose section is both narrower in width and thinner in height than the trailing remainder of the bolus and the catheter tube itself.
Where the passage section joins the nose section of the bolus, on a plane extending transversely through the bolus in front of the venous port, the nose section has a maximum thickness in the plane on a line passing through the bolus axis and the center of the venous port. The thickness of the nose section is 20% to 25% less than the diameter of the catheter tube itself. The plane is inclined forwardly away from the port at an angle corresponding to the angle of inclination of the curving passage section toward the bolus axis.
The nose section of the bolus, being not as thick as the rest of the bolus but displaced radially to the venous port side of the longitudinal axis of the bolus passage section and catheter tube, is in a position wherein a portion of its outermost periphery is tangent to an imaginary cylinder containing the outer surface of the bolus passage section at the trailing edge of the venous port. This offset nose configuration prevents the vein wall from wrapping around the trailing edge of the port and being abraded thereby.
The stiffening arch defined in the bolus opposite the venous port inhibits folding of the bolus at the venous port during insertion of the catheter. Immediately opposite the arterial port, another stiffening arch is also formed in the bolus. The arch extends along that side of the bolus from a point radially aligned with the trailing edge of the arterial port to the trailing edge of the venous port. This arch inhibits folding of the bolus around the arterial port.
The catheter of the invention, with its novel bolus, lends itself ideally to insertion in a patient""s vein over a guide wire. When inserted through the vein the bullet nose section flexes radially outwardly in a plane passing through the bolus axis and both ports under the influence of the guide wire. Because the nose section has a smaller thickness in that plane than the rest of the bolus and the tube, however, it is not forced outside the imaginary cylinder of the catheter. This makes for ease of insertion.

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