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Sync manager UI and updated API |
A system and method are provided for presenting a centralized display that allows a user to quickly and easily manage sync operations for multiple devices. The invention may also provide a layered sync display, in which each layer presents a user with successively more information. The layered sync display may ensure that a user is not presented with extraneous information, which simplifies management of sync operations and allows user to perform other tasks during sync operations. In implementations of the present invention, sync operations may occur without user input, so that the user may continue working on other tasks while a sync operation is taking place. The user may elect to enter input, such as input used to resolve conflicts or other input requested by the sync operation, at a later time that is convenient for the user. |
1. A method for displaying information related to at least one sync operation, the method comprising: displaying a first-layer graphical user interface presenting first information related to at least one sync operation; determining whether a user requests a second-layer graphical user interface; and if the user requests a second-layer graphical user interface, displaying a second-layer graphical user interface presenting second information related to at least one sync operation. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information comprises aggregate information relating to the status of the at least one sync operation. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first-layer graphical user interface comprises one or more first user-selectable options selectable to initiate a task related to the at least one sync operation. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second-layer graphical user interface comprises one or more second user-selectable options selectable to initiate a task related to the at least one sync operation. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more second user-selectable options are specified by a handler in accordance with a sync application program interface. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information displayed by the second graphical user interface is specified by a handler in accordance with a sync application program interface. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether a user requests a third-layer graphical user interface; and if the user requests a third-layer graphical user interface, displaying a third-layer graphical user interface presenting third information related to at least one sync operation. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third-layer graphical user interface comprises one or more third user-selectable options selectable to initiate a task related to the at least one sync operation. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more third user-selectable options are specified by a handler in accordance with a sync application program interface. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the third information displayed by the third graphical user interface is specified by a handler in accordance with a sync application program interface. 11. A system for displaying information related to at least one sync operation, the system comprising: at least one sync handler being implemented in accordance with a sync application program interface; and a sync user interface configured to receive sync operation information from a plurality of sync handlers, to display a first-layer graphical user interface presenting first information related to at least one sync operation, and to display a second-layer graphical user interface presenting second information related to at least one sync operation. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first information comprises aggregate information relating to the status of the at least one sync operation. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first-layer graphical user interface comprises one or more first user-selectable options selectable to initiate a task related to the at least one sync operation. 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the second-layer graphical user interface comprises one or more second user-selectable options selectable to initiate a task related to the at least one sync operation. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the second information displayed by the second graphical user interface is specified by the at least one sync handler. 16. The system of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether a user requests a third-layer graphical user interface; and if the user requests a third-layer graphical user interface, displaying a third-layer graphical user interface presenting third information related to at least one sync operation. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the third-layer graphical user interface comprises one or more third user-selectable options selectable to initiate a task related to the at least one sync operation. 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the third information displayed by the third graphical user interface is specified by a handler in accordance with a sync application program interface. 19. A sync user interface configured to receive information from a plurality of sync handlers and to display a tray icon presenting first information related to at least one sync operation. 20. The sync user interface of claim 19, wherein the first information comprises aggregate information relating to the status of the at least one sync operation. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Computer users in today's environment may use a number of different computing devices. For example, a computer user may use a stationary computer terminal, a laptop computer, and a blackberry or other mobile device. Often, these computing devices are used to store similar or related information. For example, a calendar storing a user's appointment schedule may be present on a stationary computer terminal, a laptop computer, and a mobile device. As another example, a document may be stored on a stationary computer terminal and then copied to a laptop computer, where a user may edit the document. After updating or altering information on one device, the user may wish to transfer the updated information to another device. In order to transfer information between devices, the user may choose to synchronize, or “sync,” two or more devices. One or more of the devices may contain a “sync manager,” which performs syncing operations. When two devices are synced, it is typically determined which device contains the most recent information. The device with the most recent information may, for example, transfer information to the other device. Syncing is also useful in networking applications. For example, two or more users may have access to the same document, calendar, or other information in a networked computing environment. Syncing may be used in such an environment to ensure that the most recent copy of the information is used. Conventionally, a user may connect a first device to a second device to begin a sync operation. For example, a user may rest a handheld device in a cradle which is connected to a computer terminal, may connect a laptop computer to a stationary computer terminal, or the like. The sync manager then begins to reconcile the different versions of files stored in the two devices. In some instances, the sync manager may reconcile versions of the files without user input, such as by determining which version of information has been most recently edited. In other instances, the sync manager requests input from the user in determining which version(s) of a file to keep. While a sync operation is being performed, the user is typically presented with information detailing the status of the sync operation. For example, the user may be presented with a dialog box indicating that a sync operation is being performed, and containing a status bar indicating the progress of the sync operation. In addition, the user interface presented to a user during a sync operation is typically prominent and may require input from the user during the sync operation. A user may not wish to be presented with a large, bulky display during a sync operation, for example, because the user may wish to perform other tasks. Furthermore, a user wishing to perform multiple sync operations may be required, for example, to connect and sync each device in turn. Because the user may be required to sync each device in turn and provide input for each sync operation, syncing more than one device may prove to be a lengthy and cumbersome process. Furthermore, each device may provide its own display presenting the user with information regarding sync operations. A user may therefore be required to access multiple displays to obtain sync information. For example, a user wishing to determine whether all sync operations were completed successfully may be required to access a laptop sync display, a Palm Pilot sync display, and a BlackBerry sync display. There is therefore a need in the art for a centralized display that allows a user to quickly and easily manage sync operations for multiple devices. There is a further need in the art for a lightweight sync display that allows a user to perform other tasks during a sync operation. |
<SOH> BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Embodiments of the present invention include a method for displaying and managing information related to at least one sync operation. The method may include displaying a first-layer graphical user interface presenting first information related to at least one sync operation, determining whether a user requests a second-layer graphical user interface, and, if the user requests a second-layer graphical user interface, displaying a second-layer graphical user interface presenting second information related to at least one sync operation. In a further aspect of the invention, a system for displaying information related to at least one sync operation may include at least one sync handler being implemented in accordance with a sync application program interface. The system may further include a sync user interface configured to receive sync operation information from a plurality of sync handlers, to display a first-layer graphical user interface presenting first information related to at least one sync operation, and to display a second-layer graphical user interface presenting second information related to at least one sync operation. In still further aspects of the invention, a sync user interface is configured to receive information from a plurality of sync handlers and to display a tray icon presenting first information related to at least one sync operation. The foregoing systems and methods may provide a centralized display that allows a user to quickly and easily manage sync operations for multiple devices. The invention may also provide a layered sync display, in which each layer presents a user with successively more information. The layered sync display may ensure that a user is not presented with extraneous information, which simplifies management of sync operations and allows user to perform other tasks during sync operations. In implementations of the present invention, sync operations may occur without user input, so that the user may continue working on other tasks while a sync operation is taking place. The user may elect to enter input, such as input used to resolve conflicts or other input requested by the sync operation, at a later time that is convenient for the user. |
Electrical enabling device |
There is provided an electrical enabling device that comprises a transmitter for transmitting a control signal, a receiver for receiving the control signal, and a switching apparatus for selectively closing an electrical circuit for a time window to initiate operation of an electrical apparatus in response to the control signal and for opening the electrical circuit after the time window. The switching apparatus is unresponsive to the control signal during the operation of the electrical apparatus. |
1. An electrical enabling device comprising: a transmitter means for transmitting a first control signal; a receiver means for receiving the first control signal; and a first switching means for selectively closing a first electrical circuit for a time window to initiate operation of a first electrical apparatus in response to the receiver receiving the first control signal and for opening the first electrical circuit after the time window, said first switching means being unresponsive to the first control signal during the operation of the first electrical apparatus. 2. The electrical enabling device of claim 1, wherein the first switching means comprises: a switch driver; a switch responsive to the switch driver; a timing circuit responsive to the first control signal from the receiver means and providing a switch signal to the switch driver during the time window; and a latching circuit responsive to a supply of electrical energy through the first electrical circuit to provide a latching signal to the switch driver; the switch driver being responsive to the switch signal and the latching signal to activate the switch to close the first electrical circuit when the switch signal or the latch signal are applied to the switch driver. 3. The electrical enabling device of claim 2, wherein the switch comprises an electro-mechanical relay. 4. The electrical enabling device of claim 2, wherein the switch comprises a solid-state relay. 5. The electrical enabling device of claim 2, wherein the switch comprises a solid state switch. 6. The electrical enabling device of claim 5, wherein the solid state switch comprises a MOSFET device. 7. The electrical enabling device of claim 2, wherein the timing circuit comprises a multivibrator circuit responsive to the first control signal and configured to generate the switch signal as a one-shot signal. 8. The electrical enabling device of claim 2, wherein the latching circuit comprises a resistor and a capacitor, the resistor being responsive to an electrical signal from the first switching means to store a charge on the capacitor and the charge on the capacitor providing the latching signal. 9. The electrical enabling device of claim 1, wherein the first switching means comprises: a self-latching relay having a first relay terminal, a second relay terminal and a relay control input, the segment of the first electrical circuit being between the first relay terminal and the second relay terminal; and said electrical enabling device including a timing circuit responsive to the first control signal from the receiver means to provide a relay signal during the time window and the relay control input being responsive to the relay signal to short the first relay terminal to the second relay terminal and to thereby close the first electrical circuit. 10. The electrical enabling device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter means is an RF transmitter. 11. The electrical enabling device of claim 2, wherein the receiver means is an RF receiver. 12. The electrical enabling device of claim 1, wherein the receiver means is programmed to operate with the transmitter means. 13. The electrical enabling device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter means transmits a second control signal and the receiver means receives the second control signal, and wherein the device further includes a second switching means for selectively closing a second electrical circuit to operate a second electrical apparatus in response to the receiver receiving the second control signal, the second switching means opening the second electrical circuit when the receiver means stops receiving the second control signal. 14. The electrical enabling device of claim 13, wherein the second switching means comprises: a switch driver; a switch responsive to the switch driver; the switch driver being responsive to the second control signal to activate the switch to close the second electrical circuit when the second control signal is applied to the switch driver. 15. The electrical enabling device of claim 13, wherein the second electrical apparatus comprises a car horn. 16. The electrical enabling device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter means comprises a first RF transmitter for transmitting the first control signal and a first RF receiver for receiving a second control signal, and wherein the receiver means comprises a second RF receiver for receiving the first control signal and a second RF transmitter for transmitting the second control signal, the receiver means transmitting the second control signal when the first electrical apparatus is operated and the transmitter means transmitting the first control signal to the receiver means upon receiving the second control signal. 17. In combination, an electrically enabling device, an electrically operable apparatus and an electrical power source, the electrically enabling device comprising: a control signal transmitter; a control signal receiver; a switch between the power source and the electrically operable apparatus; a timing circuit between the control signal receiver and the switch; and a latching circuit between the electrically operable apparatus and the switch. 18. A method of protecting a vehicle from theft comprising the steps: opening a segment of an electrical circuit in the vehicle, thereby disabling the vehicle from being started; transmitting a control signal to close the segment of the electrical circuit for a time window, thereby enabling the vehicle to be started during the time window; and opening the segment of the electrical circuit if the car is not started during the time window and thereby disabling the vehicle from being started. 19. The method of claim 18, including the step, after the vehicle is started, of disabling the ability of the control signal from the transmitter from opening the segment of the electrical circuit thereby turning off the vehicle. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further includes the steps of: opening the segment of the electrical circuit after the vehicle is turned off; and enabling the ability of the control signal from the transmitter to close the segment of the electrical circuit thereby enabling the vehicle to be started. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical enabling device for enabling an electrical circuit to operate, and is useful in particular, but not exclusively, to allow electrical circuits in vehicles to operate in order to start the vehicle. The device of the present invention can thus be used as an anti-theft system for vehicles. 2. Description of the Related Art A conventional electrical enabling device for a vehicle is triggered by an RF signal to enable a vehicle to be started. If, however, the vehicle is not started, the electrical enabling device does not automatically disable the vehicle from being started. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,787 issued on Jul. 24, 2001 to Richard T. Downey, an anti-theft system for a vehicle is disclosed which responds to a remote control to selectively provide power to an ignition coil. Each time the remote control is actuated, the anti-theft system toggles a switch from a previous state to either open or close the switch. It is a disadvantage of this prior art electrical enabling device that, after the electrical enabling device has enabled the vehicle to be started and the vehicle has not been started, the electrical enabling device does not automatically disable the vehicle from being started after a time period. It is a further disadvantage of previous electrical enabling devices that, after a vehicle has been started and the vehicle is being operated, the electrical enabling device can toggle the state of a switch, thereby turning off the vehicle. This is potentially hazardous when the vehicle is being driven and the electrical enabling device is disabled by a rogue RF signal. |
<SOH> BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel electrical enabling device that enables a vehicle to be started and once started the electrical enabling device can not turn off the vehicle, but rather the vehicle must be turned off in the normal manner to activate the electrical enabling device again. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical enabling device that comprises a transmitter for transmitting a control signal, a receiver for receiving the control signal, and a switching apparatus for selectively closing an electrical circuit for a time window to initiate operation of an electrical apparatus in response to the control signal and for opening the electrical circuit after the time window. The switching apparatus is unresponsive to the control signal during the operation of the electrical apparatus. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a combination of a vehicle and an electrical enabling device. The electrical enabling device comprises a transmitter for transmitting a control signal, a receiver for receiving the control signal, and a switching apparatus for selectively closing an electrical circuit for a time window to initiate operation of an electrical apparatus in response to the control signal and for opening the electrical circuit after the time window. The switching apparatus is unresponsive to the control signal during the operation of the electrical apparatus. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of protecting a vehicle from theft comprising the steps of opening a segment of an electrical circuit in the vehicle, thereby disabling the vehicle from being started, transmitting a control signal to close the segment of the electrical circuit for a time window, thereby enabling the vehicle to be started during the time window, and opening the segment of the electrical circuit if the car is not started during the time window and thereby disabling the vehicle from being started. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided in combination, an electrically enabling device, an electrically operable apparatus and an electrical power source. The electrically enabling device comprises a control signal transmitter, a control signal receiver, a switch between the power source and the electrically operable apparatus a timing circuit between the control signal receiver and the switch, and a latching circuit between the electrically operable apparatus and the switch. It is an advantage of this invention that, when used with an insured motor vehicle, you can obtain a discount on the motor vehicle insurance. The device of the present invention can be used as an anti-theft deterrent device in motor vehicles. It is another advantage of this invention to prevent unintentional switch state transitions by disabling the device from responding to rogue RF signals once the electrical apparatus is started. It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide only a time window in which to initiate operation of the electrical apparatus, thereby preventing unintentional enabling of the electrical apparatus. |
Method of determining variable-length frame for speech signal preprocessing and speech signal preprocessing method and device using the same |
Disclosed are a device and a method of determining a variable-length frame for speech signal preprocessing, which can improve performance of speech signal processing during a speech signal preprocessing procedure, and a speech signal preprocessing method and device using such a preprocessing method. The preprocessing method includes the steps of converting the input speech signal into a digital speech signal, varying a frame length of the speech signal and simultaneously calculating an LPC residual error from frame length to frame length, and determining a length of the current frame by taking a frame length at which the LPC residual error is minimal. The speech signal preprocessing method and device use the processing method uses a variable-length frame. These methods and device can extract a more accurate feature vector, thereby preventing lower recognition in performance during speech signal processing. |
1. A frame processing method for dividing a speech signal into a plurality of frames in order to extract a feature vector of an input speech signal, the method comprising the steps of: (1) converting the input speech signal into a digital speech signal; (2) varying a frame length of the speech signal and simultaneously calculating a Linear Prediction Coefficient (LPC) residual error from frame length to frame length; and (3) determining a length of the current frame by taking a frame length at which the LPC residual error is minimal. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (2) is repeatedly performed from a predetermined minimum frame length to a predetermined maximum frame length. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame length is determined in a range of 20 ms to 45 ms. 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: (4) multiplying the frame length determined at step (3) by a weighting value wi as defined below by Equation (4): w i = t - th frame length maximum frame length . Equation ( 4 ) 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a starting point of the current frame of which the LPC residual error is calculated at step (2) is set to a midpoint of the previous frame. 6. A speech signal preprocessing method for extracting a feature vector of a speech signal, the method comprising the steps of: (1) converting an input speech signal into a digital signal; (2) performing pre-emphasis filtering for emphasizing a high-frequency band of the speech signal; (3) varying a frame length of the speech signal and simultaneously calculating a Linear Prediction Coefficient (LPC) residual error from frame length to frame length; (4) determining a length of each frame by taking a frame length at which the LPC residual error is minimal; and (5) extracting a feature vector of the speech signal from each frame. 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein step (3) is repeatedly performed from a predetermined minimum frame length to a predetermined maximum frame length. 8. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: (6) multiplying the frame length determined at step (3) by a weighting value wi as defined below by Equation (4): w i = t - th frame length maximum frame length . Equation ( 4 ) 9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein at step (5), the feature vector is expressed by a delta Cepstrum as defined below by Equation (9): Δ c ( n ) = [ ∑ t = - M t = M c ( n + t ) l n ( t ) - 1 2 M + 1 ∑ t = - M t = M l n ( t ) ∑ t = - M t = M c ( n + t ) ] [ ∑ t = - M t = M l n 2 ( t ) - 1 2 M + 1 ( ∑ t = - M t = M l n ( t ) ) 2 ] Equation ( 9 ) where, Δc(n), c(n) and ln(t) denote a delta Cepstrum of the n-th frame, a Cepstrum of the n-th frame and a distance between the n-th frame and (n+1)-th frame, respectively. 10. A speech signal preprocessing device comprising: an analog-to-digital converter for converting an input speech signal into a digital signal; a pre-emphasis filter for performing pre-emphasis filtering which emphasizes a high-frequency band of the speech signal; a framing processor for varying a frame length of the speech signal and simultaneously calculating a Linear Prediction Coefficient (LPC) residual error from frame length to frame length, and determining a length of each frame by taking a frame length at which the LPC residual error is minimal; and a feature vector extractor for extracting a feature vector from each frame. 11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the framing processor is constructed such that it calculates the LPC residual error from a predetermined minimum frame length to a predetermined maximum frame length. 12. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the framing processor is further constructed such that it multiplies the determined frame length by a weighting value wi as defined below by Equation (4): w i = t - th frame length maximum frame length . Equation ( 4 ) 13. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the feature vector extractor is constructed such that it derives the feature vector using a delta Cepstrum as defined below by Equation (9): Δ c ( n ) = [ ∑ t = - M t = M c ( n + t ) l n ( t ) - 1 2 M + 1 ∑ t = - M t = M l n ( t ) ∑ t = - M t = M c ( n + t ) ] [ ∑ t = - M t = M l n 2 ( t ) - 1 2 M + 1 ( ∑ t = - M t = M l n ( t ) ) 2 ] Equation ( 9 ) where, Δc(n), c(n) and ln(t) denote a delta Cepstrum of the n-th frame, a Cepstrum of the n-th frame and a distance between the n-th frame and (n+1)-th frame, respectively. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a device for speech signal processing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of determining a variable-length frame for speech signal preprocessing, which can improve the performance of speech signal processing during a speech signal preprocessing procedure, and a speech signal preprocessing method and device using such a determining method. 2. Description of the Related Art Digital speech signal processing is generally used in various application fields such as speech recognition for causing a computer device or a communication device to recognize analog human speech, Text-to-Speech (TTS) for synthesizing sentences into human speech through a computer device or a communication device, speech coding and so forth. Such a speech signal processing is now in the spotlight as an elemental technology for a Human Computer Interface, and its application is being gradually extended to various fields to make human life easier, including home automation, communication equipment, such as speech recognition mobile phones, and speaking robots. Digital speech signal processing requires a preprocessing procedure for extracting a speech signal characteristic, and this preprocessing procedure plays an important role in controlling the quality of the digital speech signal. Such a speech signal preprocessing procedure is usually carried out as described below. In the speech signal preprocessing procedure, an analog speech signal is converted into a digital speech signal, and the converted speech signal is subjected to pre-emphasis processing to emphasize a high-frequency band component thereof. Thereafter, framing processing for dividing the speech signal into a plurality of frames each having a constant time intervals is performed, hamming window processing is performed so as to minimize any discontinuous section of each divided frame, and then a feature vector representing a speech signal characteristic is extracted. In the aforementioned preprocessing procedure, the framing processing is performed on the assumption that the speech signal has a constant frequency characteristic within a short interval, and the feature vector is extracted every frame divided at constant time intervals. However, when the feature vector is extracted using the fixed-length frame as stated above, there is a drawback in that an inaccurate feature vector may be extracted due to a spectrum resolution problem, which causes lowering in performance of speech signal processing using such a feature vector. That is, in the conventional speech signal processing technique, the framing processing is performed by dividing a speech signal into frames having a fixed length selected from a range of 20 ms to 45 ms, where the speech signal is generally considered to have a constant frequency characteristic, because it is difficult to exactly separate individual frame intervals phoneme by phoneme. In this case, a longer frame has an advantage of reducing the amount of calculation, but may deteriorate spectrum resolution and thus lead to a considerable error in a voiceless sound section. On the contrary, a shorter frame may increase spectrum resolution, but cannot accurately extract a spectrum feature vector in a long section such as a voiced sound section as compared with a longer frame having a constant frequency characteristic. In other words, when a fixed-length frame is used for the framing processing, an inaccurate feature vector may be extracted due to the spectrum resolution problem, which results in a lower performance of speech signal processing. To conclude, it is very important to extract an accurate feature vector and thus an efficient speech signal preprocessing scheme for developing such a scheme is strongly desired. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of determining a variable-length frame for speech signal preprocessing, which can improve the performance of speech signal processing. A further object of the present invention is to provide a speech signal preprocessing method and device using a variable-length frame, which enables an accurate feature vector to be extracted by dividing a speech signal into variable-length frames. To accomplish the former object of the present invention, there is provided a frame processing method for dividing a speech signal into a plurality of frames in order to extract a feature vector of an input speech signal in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the method comprising the steps of (1) converting the input speech signal into a digital speech signal; (2) varying a frame length of the speech signal and simultaneously calculating a Linear Prediction Coefficient (LPC) residual error from frame length to frame length; and (3) determining a length of the current frame by taking a frame length at which the LPC residual error is minimal. To accomplish the latter object of the present invention, there is provided a speech signal preprocessing method for extracting a feature vector of a speech signal, the method comprising the steps of (1) converting an input speech signal into a digital signal; (2) performing pre-emphasis filtering for emphasizing a high-frequency band of the speech signal; (3) varying a frame length of the speech signal and simultaneously calculating a Linear Prediction Coefficient (LPC) residual error from frame length to frame length; (4) determining a length of each frame by taking a frame length at which the LPC residual error is minimal; and (5) extracting a feature vector of the speech signal from each frame. To accomplish the latter object of the present invention, there is also provided a speech signal preprocessing device comprising an analog-to-digital (AD)converter for converting an input speech signal into a digital signal; a pre-emphasis filter for performing pre-emphasis filtering which emphasizes a high-frequency band of the speech signal; a framing processor for varying a frame length of the speech signal and simultaneously calculating a Linear Prediction Coefficient (LPC) residual error from frame length to frame length, and determining a length of each frame by taking a frame length at which the LPC residual error is minimal; and a feature vector extractor for extracting a feature vector from each frame. |
Signal reception device, signal transmission device, radio communication system, and signal reception method |
A signal reception device is disclosed that is able to improve interference cancellation capabilities even when signals having different center frequencies exist on the same frequency band. The signal reception device includes an interference suppression unit to generate replicas of plural signals in the received signal and separate the signals by suppressing interference signals. The interference suppression unit includes a signal phase rotator to rotate phases of the signal candidates at preset respective rotational frequencies, the preset rotational frequencies being related to respective center frequencies of the signals in the received signal; a rotational frequency controller to set the preset rotational frequencies; and a replica generator to generate the replicas of the signals by using the phase-rotated signal candidates. |
1. A signal reception device, comprising: an interference suppression unit configured to generate replicas of plural signals in a received signal and separate the signals by suppressing interference signals; wherein the interference suppression unit includes a signal phase rotator configured to rotate phases of the signals in the received signal at predetermined respective rotational frequencies, said predetermined rotational frequencies being related to respective frequencies of the received signals; a rotational frequency controller configured to set the predetermined rotational frequencies; and a replica generator configured to generate the replicas of the signals in the received signal by using the phase-rotated signal candidates rotated by the signal phase rotator. 2. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interference suppression unit further includes a frequency difference detector configured to detect frequency differences between center frequencies of the signals in the received signal and a detection reference frequency; and the rotational frequency controller controls the predetermined rotational frequencies so as to be equal to the frequency differences detected by the frequency difference detector. 3. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the interference suppression unit further includes a channel estimator configured to estimate the channel impulse responses of the signals in the received signal; and a frequency offset estimator configured to estimate frequency offsets between the predetermined rotational frequencies and the frequency differences. 4. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the frequency difference detector adjusts the frequency differences detected by the frequency difference detector so that the mean square values of the frequency offsets becomes a predetermined value. 5. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotational frequency controller changes the rotational frequencies; and the frequency difference detector detects the frequency differences by searching for rotational frequencies that cause the frequency offsets to be a predetermined value. 6. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotational frequency controller changes the rotational frequencies; and the frequency difference detector detects the frequency differences by searching for the rotational frequencies that causes a mean square value of the residual signal, which is obtained by subtracting the replica signals generated by the replica generators from the received signal, to be a predetermined value. 7. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the interference suppression unit further includes a signal separator configured to separate a received signal into a data signal and the information of the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies of signals transmitted from signal transmission devices, and extract the information of the center frequencies; and the frequency difference detector detects the information of the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies separated by the signal separator, and calculates frequency differences between the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies and the detection reference frequency. 8. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the interference suppression unit further includes a frequency information storage unit configured to store values of the center frequencies to be used by signal transmission devices; the frequency information storage unit selects one of the stored values of the center frequencies; and the frequency difference detector calculates a frequency difference between the selected value of the stored center frequencies and the detection reference frequency. 9. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interference suppression unit further includes a rotation speed detector configured to detect the phase rotation speed of the estimated channel impulse responses of the signals in the received signal; and the frequency information storage unit selects the selected value of the center frequencies again when the rotation speed is higher than a predetermined value. 10. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the frequency information storage unit selects the selected value of the center frequencies again depending on whether the detected rotation speed is positive or negative. 11. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frequency difference detector extracts the information of the center frequencies or carrier frequencies of signals transmitted from signal transmission devices, and detects frequency differences between the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies and the detection reference frequency when varying the rotational frequencies in a predetermined range around the center frequency or the carrier frequency. 12. The signal reception device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the interference suppression unit further includes a reception quality estimator configured to estimate the reception quality of the signals in the received signal; and the frequency difference detector sequentially detects the frequency differences between the center frequencies and the detection reference frequency based on the estimated reception quality of each signal in the received signal. 13. A signal transmission device, comprising: a frequency information generation unit configured to generate information of the center frequency or the carrier frequency of a transmission signal; and a frequency information transmission unit configured to include the generated information of the center frequency or the carrier frequency in a predetermined signal, and transmit the predetermined signal to a signal reception device. 14. The signal transmission device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined signal is transmitted through channels common to the signal transmission device and other signal transmission devices, said signal transmission device and other signal transmission devices sharing a part of or the whole frequency band. 15. A wireless communication system, comprising: a plurality of signal transmission devices; and a plurality of signal reception devices communicating with the signal transmission devices; wherein the signal transmission devices generate predetermined signals including the information of the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies of each signal, and transmit the predetermined signals; each of the signal reception devices includes an interference suppression unit configured to generate replicas of plural signals in the received signal and separate the signals by suppressing interference signals; the interference suppression unit includes a replica generator configured to generate replicas of the signal in the received signal by using the center frequencies or carrier frequencies, whose information is extracted from the predetermined signal; and the signal reception devices separate the signals in the received signal by using the replica signal generated by the replica generator. 16. A signal reception method for suppressing interference signals by generating replica of the signals in the received signal and separating the signals when demodulating the received signal, said method comprising the steps of: rotating the phases of signal candidates at the predetermined rotational frequencies, said predetermined rotational frequencies being related to respective center frequencies or carrier frequencies of the signals in the received signal; generating the replica signals by using the phase-rotated signal candidates; and separating the signals in the received signal using the generated replica signals. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal reception device, a signal transmission device, a radio communication system, and a signal reception method used in mobile wireless communications and fixed wireless communications. 2. Description of the Related Art In a wireless communication system, in order to achieve efficient utilization of limited frequency resources, it is desirable that signals use the same frequency as much as possible. As achievement of research and development in response to this requirement, for example, an interference canceller is attracting attention as a technique able to increase capacity of a communication system. FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an interference canceller of the related art. The interference canceller 200 as illustrated in FIG. 25 , which is installed in a signal receiver of a wireless communication system, generates a received signal replica by combining the replicas of signals in a received signal, separates a desired signal from other signals (namely, interference signals), and extracts the desired signal. Such an interference canceller 200 is called “replica generation type interference canceller”. Below, operations of the replica generation type interference canceller 200 are described with reference to FIG. 25 . For convenience of description, it is assumed that there are two received signals (signal SIG 1 and signal SIG 2 ). In the replica generation type interference canceller 200 , a channel estimator 218 estimates channel impulse responses of the signals in consideration of the time spread of transmission paths of the desired and the interference signals. Coefficient variable filters 214 and 215 generate the replica signals of the desired and interference signals for all possible symbol sequence candidates of the desired and the interference signals by taking convolution of the estimated channel impulse responses (estimated values of the channels) and the symbol sequence candidates. An adder 216 sums the signal replicas of the desired and the interference signals, and generates a received signal replica. A maximum likelihood sequence estimator 220 selects a symbol sequence candidate of the desired and the interference signals, whose received signal replica is the closest to the actually received signal, and outputs a symbol sequence candidate of the desired signal as the estimation result of the received signal, thus effectively canceling the interference signals. By adaptively canceling the interference signals in the received signal in this way, it is possible for many signals to use the same frequency at the same time, and to improve frequency utilization efficiency. Additionally, in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 2000-252958, it is proposed to estimate characteristics of channels in each path corresponding to a user so as to compensate for phases of signals, and to cancel interference by using the compensated signals. With this technique, by using a frequency offset estimated at a final stage, it is possible to precisely estimate characteristics of channels, and as a result, it is possible to improve quality of demodulated data. However, although the above interference cancellers of the related art are capable of effectively suppressing interference signals by generating the desired and the interference signal replicas, when center frequencies of the desired and the interference signals are different, it is observed that signals at the receiver after detection rotate at high speeds. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a problem of the related art when signals having different center frequencies are superposed on the same frequency for transmission. In FIG. 26 , it is assumed that a transmission device T 1 and a reception device R 1 communicate with each other, and the transmission device T 1 transmits a wide band signal SIG 1 having a center frequency f c1 and a bandwidth BW 1 . In addition, it is assumed that a transmission device T 2 and a reception device R 2 communicate with each other, and the transmission device T 2 transmits a narrow band signal SIG 2 having a center frequency f c2 and a bandwidth BW 2 . Under these conditions, focusing on signals received by the reception device R 1 , as shown in FIG. 26 , the reception device R 1 receives not only the wide band signal SIG 1 from the transmission device T 1 , but also the narrow band signal SIG 2 from the transmission device T 2 . In other words, as illustrated in the upper part of a portion (a) of FIG. 26 , signals having different center frequencies exist on the same frequency band. If these received signals are expanded in an IQ plane, as illustrated in the lower part of the portion (a) of FIG. 26 , it is observed that the received signal rotates at high speeds corresponding to the difference of the center frequencies. As a result, when the interference cancellers of the related art are used in such an environment, the channel estimation algorithm cannot follow the high speed rotation, resulting in great degradation of performance in the interference cancellation. Further, for wireless signals partially sharing or completely sharing the same frequency, if the bandwidths of the wireless signals are different from each other, the difference of the center frequencies of the desired and the interference signals is the major cause of the great degradation of performance in interference cancellation. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to solve one or more problems of the related art. A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a signal reception device, a signal transmission device, a radio communication system, and a signal reception method able to improve capability in interference cancellation even when signals having different center frequencies exist on the same frequency band. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal reception device, comprising an interference suppression unit configured to generate replicas of plural signals in a received signal and separate the signals by suppressing interference signals, wherein the interference suppression unit includes: a signal phase rotator configured to rotate phases of the signals in the received signal at predetermined respective rotational frequencies, said predetermined rotational frequencies being related to respective frequencies of the received signals; a rotational frequency controller configured to set the predetermined rotational frequencies; and a replica generator configured to generate the replicas of the signals in the received signal by using the phase-rotated signal candidates rotated by the signal phase rotator. As an embodiment, the interference suppression unit includes a frequency difference detector configured to detect frequency differences between center frequencies of the signals in the received signal and a detection reference frequency; and the rotational frequency controller controls the predetermined rotational frequencies so as to be equal to the frequency differences detected by the frequency difference detector. As an embodiment, the interference suppression unit includes: a channel estimator configured to estimate the channel impulse responses of the signals in the received signal; and a frequency offset estimator configured to estimate frequency offsets between the predetermined rotational frequencies and the frequency differences. As an embodiment, the frequency difference detector adjusts the frequency differences detected by the frequency difference detector so that the mean square values of the frequency offsets becomes a predetermined value. As an embodiment, the rotational frequency controller changes the rotational frequencies; and the frequency difference detector detects the frequency differences by searching for rotational frequencies that cause the frequency offsets to be a predetermined value. As an embodiment, the rotational frequency controller changes the rotational frequencies; and the frequency difference detector detects the frequency differences by searching for the rotational frequencies that causes a mean square value of the residual signal, which is obtained by subtracting the replica signals generated by the replica generators from the received signal, to be a predetermined value. As an embodiment, the interference suppression unit includes a signal separator configured to separate a received signal into a data signal and the information of the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies of signals transmitted from signal transmission devices, and extract the information of the center frequencies; and the frequency difference detector detects the information of the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies separated by the signal separator, and calculates frequency differences between the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies and the detection reference frequency. As an embodiment, the interference suppression unit includes a frequency information storage unit configured to store values of the center frequencies to be used by signal transmission devices; the frequency information storage unit selects one of the stored values of the center frequencies; and the frequency difference detector calculates a frequency difference between the selected value of the stored center frequencies and the detection reference frequency. As an embodiment, the interference suppression unit includes a rotation speed detector configured to detect the phase rotation speed of the estimated channel impulse responses of the signals in the received signal; and the frequency information storage unit selects the selected value of the center frequencies again when the rotation speed is higher than a predetermined value. As an embodiment, the frequency information storage unit selects the selected value of the center frequencies again depending on whether the detected rotation speed is positive or negative. As an embodiment, the frequency difference detector extracts the information of the center frequencies or carrier frequencies of signals transmitted from signal transmission devices, and detects frequency differences between the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies and the detection reference frequency when varying the rotational frequencies in a predetermined range around the center frequency or the carrier frequency. As an embodiment, the interference suppression unit includes a reception quality estimator configured to estimate the reception quality of the signals in the received signal; and the frequency difference detector sequentially detects the frequency differences between the center frequencies and the detection reference frequency based on the estimated reception quality of each signal in the received signal. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal transmission device, comprising a frequency information generation unit configured to generate information of the center frequency or the carrier frequency of a transmission signal; and a frequency information transmission unit configured to include the generated information of the center frequency or the carrier frequency in a predetermined signal, and transmit the predetermined signal to a signal reception device. As an embodiment, the predetermined signal is transmitted through channels common to the signal transmission device and other signal transmission devices, said signal transmission device and other signal transmission devices sharing a part of or the whole frequency band. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication system, comprising a plurality of signal transmission devices; and a plurality of signal reception devices communicating with the signal transmission devices; wherein the signal transmission devices generate predetermined signals including the information of the center frequencies or the carrier frequencies of each signal, and transmit the predetermined signals; each of the signal reception devices includes an interference suppression unit configured to generate replicas of plural signals in the received signal and separate the signals by suppressing interference signals; the interference suppression unit includes a replica generator configured to generate replicas of the signal in the received signal by using the center frequencies or carrier frequencies, whose information is extracted from the predetermined signal; and the signal reception devices separate the signals in the received signal by using the replica signal generated by the replica generator. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal reception method for suppressing interference signals by generating replica of the signals in the received signal and separating the signals when demodulating the received signal, said method comprising the steps of: rotating the phases of signal candidates at the predetermined rotational frequencies, said predetermined rotational frequencies being related to respective center frequencies or carrier frequencies of the signals in the received signal; generating the replica signals by using the phase-rotated signal candidates; and separating the signals in the received signal using the generated replica signals. According to the present invention, because the replicas of signals in the received signal having different center frequencies are generated, even for the interference signals having different center frequencies, the channel estimation algorithm is capable of following the high speed rotation due to the frequency offset between the center frequencies and the detection reference frequency; hence, it is possible to use signals having different center frequencies on the same frequency band. Therefore, even when plural signals having different center frequencies exist on the same frequency band, it is possible to separate and extract these signals, and improve capability in interference cancellation. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings. |
Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus and magnetic recording medium |
The burst pattern shape in a discrete medium is set to a shape (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) having substantially trapezoidal shapes in a track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, and a predetermined relationship is satisfied among W1, W2, Tp, and Wr where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to the surface of a convex magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to the lower surface of the convex magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of a data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of a magnetic head. Therefore, the burst pattern shape makes it possible to largely reduce a production load in processing and still to obtain an accurate position error signal. |
1. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of said servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from said data information recording portion, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, said third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of said first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of Tp≧Wr>W2>W1 is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. 2. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. 3. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of said servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from said data information recording portion, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, said third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of said first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W2=Tp and 2W2−W1≧Wr≧W1 is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. 4. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. 5. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of said servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from said data information recording portion, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, said third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of said first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track-circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W1=Tp and 2W2−W1≧Wr≧W1/2 is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. 6. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a condition of W1=Tp and 2W2−W1≧Wr≧W1 is satisfied. 7. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. 8. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of said servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from said data information recording portion, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, said third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of said first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W1>Tp and W2≧Wr≧Tp is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. 9. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. 10. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of said servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from said data information recording portion, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst and a second burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W2≧Tp≧W1 and W2≧Wr≧W1 is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. 11. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. 12. A magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, said third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of said first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of Tp>W2>W1 is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. 13. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 12, wherein when a read width of a magnetic head used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium is given as Wr, a condition of Tp≧Wr>W2>W1 is satisfied. 14. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 13, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. 15. A magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, said third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of said first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W2=Tp and 2W2−W1>W1 is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. 16. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 15, wherein when a read width of a magnetic head used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium is given as Wr, a condition of W2=Tp and 2W2−W1≧Wr≧W1 is satisfied. 17. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 16, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. 18. A magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, said third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of said first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W1=Tp and 2W2−W1>W1/2 is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. 19. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 18, wherein when a read width of a magnetic head used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium is given as Wr, a condition of W1=Tp and 2W2−W1≧Wr≧W1/2 is satisfied. 20. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 18, wherein when a read width of a magnetic head used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium is given as Wr, a condition of W1=Tp and 2W2−W1≧Wr≧W1 is satisfied. 21. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 19, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. 22. A magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, said third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of said first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W1>Tp and W2>Tp is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. 23. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 22, wherein when a read width of a magnetic head used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium is given as Wr, a condition of W1>Tp and W2≧Wr≧Tp is satisfied. 24. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 23, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. 25. A magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein said servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, said servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, said burst portion comprises a first burst and a second burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, said first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, said convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W2≧Tp≧W1 is satisfied where W1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. 26. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 25, wherein when a read width of a magnetic head used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium is given as Wr, a condition of W2≧Tp≧W1 and W2≧Wr≧W1 is satisfied. 27. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 26, wherein when the height from W2 being the lower side to W1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W2−W1)≧tan 50° is satisfied. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern on a substrate and thus having so-called servo areas and information data areas (a magnetic recording medium of a discrete type) and further relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including such a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head for detecting servo signals on the medium and recording and reproducing information data on and from the medium. 2. Description of the Related Art Improvement in areal recording density of magnetic recording mediums such as hard disks has conventionally been achieved by techniques of both (1) improving the linear recording density and (2) improving the track density. In order to achieve further and higher densification in future, it is necessary to improve the areal recording density based on the foregoing both techniques. With respect to improving the track density, there have been raised problems of processing limitation about magnetic heads, side-fringe or crosstalk caused by expansion of magnetic fields of magnetic heads, and so forth, and therefore, it can be said that the improvement in areal recording density by progressing the track-density increasing technique for magnetic heads, which is merely an extension of the conventional improvement technique, has reached the limit. On the other hand, as a technique of improving the linear recording density, reduction in layer thickness and higher coercive forces have been achieved in conventional longitudinal magnetic mediums. However, in terms of further and higher densification of the mediums and stability of recording magnetization against thermal fluctuation, attention has been paid to perpendicular magnetic recording mediums. Under these circumstances, as a technique of improving the areal recording density and supplementing the higher track densification of the magnetic heads, there have been proposed magnetic recording mediums of a discrete track disk type in which a recording layer is formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern. For example, JP-A-H11-328662 discloses a magnetic recording medium in which predetermined convex and concave portions are formed on a substrate and a perpendicular magnetic layer in the form of a single layer is formed along the convex and concave portions. A reduction in spacing is necessary for accomplishing an increase in recording density. However, there is a possibility that the convex-concave shape of the recording layer may impede the stable flying characteristic of a magnetic head and thus cause a problem of head crash or the like. From this point of view, JP-A-H10-222944 discloses a recording medium in which the convex-concave shape changes in a track width direction for the purpose of achieving the flying stability of a magnetic head. Further, JP-A-2000-195042 proposes a discrete type magnetic recording medium in which concave portions in the convex-concave shape are filled with a nonmagnetic material or another material for ensuring the stability in flying characteristic of a magnetic head. On the other hand, JP-A-H06-111502 discloses a technique that defines a relationship among the width of each of rectangular tracking servo burst patterns formed by a convex-concave structure on a longitudinal recording medium, the track pitch, and the read width of a reproducing head. In general, on a magnetic recording medium used in a magnetic disk drive, servo areas necessary for a magnetic head to perform tracking are recorded by a servo track writer. The servo area generally includes an ISG (Initial Signal Gain) portion, an SVAM (SerVo Address Mark) portion, a Gray code portion, a burst portion, and a pad portion which are in the form of various magnetic patterns for exhibiting predetermined functions, respectively. The magnetic patterns of the burst portion are each normally recorded with a width equal to about one track pitch in a radial direction of the magnetic recording medium. On the other hand, the ISG portion, the SVAM portion, the Gray portion, and the pad portion are each normally recorded continuously in the disk radial direction over several tracks or entirely. The burst portion is in the form of the patterns for providing precise position information necessary for the magnetic head to perform accurate tracking to the track position. Those patterns of the burst portion are normally (1) composed of a combination of first and second bursts each equally straddling a center line that defines the track pitch between adjacent tracks or (2) composed by adding thereto a combination of third and fourth bursts each located at a position offset from the first and second bursts by half the track pitch. One example of the tracking operation in the simplest combination of the first and second bursts will be given as follows. Specifically, when a magnetic head has passed through the first burst and the second burst in order, a reproduction signal Sa from the pattern of the first burst and a reproduction signal Sb from the pattern of the second burst are compared therebetween by the use of a differential amplifier to derive a value of a position error signal PES=(Sa−Sb). The value of the position error signal PES=(Sa−Sb) is input into a servo control circuit to thereby drive a tracking servo actuator according to the magnitude of the position error signal to operate the magnetic head such that the center of the magnetic head follows the center of a data track. However, the burst patterns of the conventional discrete medium are each a rectangular pattern. Although the rectangular patterns are ideal for obtaining an accurate position error signal, a very high accuracy is required in terms of shape and dimensions when forming the rectangular shape. Accordingly, it can be said that a production load in processing is extremely large in terms of the required very high formation accuracy. The present invention has been made under these circumstances and has an object to provide a magnetic recording medium having a burst pattern shape that can largely reduce a production load in processing and still can obtain an accurate position error signal and further to provide a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus using such a magnetic recording medium. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>For accomplishing the foregoing object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of the servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from the data information recording portion, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, the third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of the first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of Tp≧Wr>W 2 >W 1 is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of the servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from the data information recording portion, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst-portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, the third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of the first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W 2 =Tp and 2W 2 −W 1 ≧Wr≧W 1 is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of the servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from the data information recording portion, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, the third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of the first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W 1 =Tp and 2W 2 −W 1 ≧Wr≧W 1 / 2 is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of the servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from the data information recording portion, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, the third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of the first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W 1 >Tp and W 2 ≧Wr≧Tp is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, and a magnetic head for detecting servo information of the servo information portion and recording and reproducing data information on and from the data information recording portion, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst and a second burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W 2 ≧Tp≧W 1 and W 2 ≧Wr≧W 1 is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion, and Wr represents a read width of the magnetic head. As a preferred mode of the present invention, it is configured such that when the height from W 2 being the lower side to W 1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°≧2 h/(W 2 −W 1 )≧tan 50° is satisfied. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, the third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of the first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of Tp>W 2 >W 1 is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. As a preferred using mode of the magnetic recording medium, it is configured such that when a read width of a magnetic head is given as Wr, the magnetic head satisfying the range of Tp≧Wr>W 2 >W 1 is used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, the third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of the first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W 2 =Tp and 2W 2 −W 1 >W 1 is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. As a preferred using mode of the magnetic recording medium, it is configured such that when a read width of a magnetic head is given as Wr, the magnetic head satisfying the range of W 2 =Tp and 2W 2 −W 1 ≧Wr≧W 1 is used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, the third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of the first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W 1 =Tp and 2W 2 −W 1 >W 1 / 2 is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. As a preferred using mode of the magnetic recording medium, it is configured such that when a read width of a magnetic head is given as Wr, the magnetic head satisfying the range of W 1 =Tp and 2W 2 −W 1 ≧Wr≧W 1 / 2 is used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst, a second burst, a third burst, and a fourth burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, while, the third and fourth bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from the center lines of the first and second bursts by half the track pitch in the track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W 1 >Tp and W 2 >Tp is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. As a preferred using mode of the magnetic recording medium, it is configured such that when a read width of a magnetic head is given as Wr, the magnetic head satisfying the range of W 1 >Tp and W 2 ≧Wr≧Tp is used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a magnetic recording medium having a data information recording portion and a servo information portion for tracking, wherein the servo information portion is composed of a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern, the servo information portion comprises a burst portion where burst signals for tracking are recorded, the burst portion comprises a first burst and a second burst each composed of a plurality of convex-portion magnetic recording layers where the burst signals are recorded, the first and second bursts are arranged such that the convex-portion magnetic recording layers are formed so as to have their center lines at positions that are offset from each other by one track pitch in a track width direction, the convex-portion magnetic recording layer has substantially trapezoidal shapes in the track width direction and in a track circumferential direction, respectively, (truncated quadrangular pyramid shape) and a condition of W 2 ≧Tp≧W 1 is satisfied where W 1 represents an upper side corresponding to an upper surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer and W 2 a lower side corresponding to a lower surface of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer in the trapezoidal shape in the track width direction, and Tp represents a data track pitch of the data information recording portion. As a preferred using mode of the magnetic recording medium, it is configured such that when a read width of a magnetic head is given as Wr, the magnetic head satisfying the range of W 2 ≧Tp≧W 1 and W 2 ≧Wr≧W 1 is used as a recording and reproducing head for the magnetic recording medium. As a preferred mode of the present invention, it is configured such that when the height from W 2 being the lower side to W 1 being the upper side of the convex-portion magnetic recording layer is given as h, a condition of tan 85°2 h/(W 2 −W 1 )≧tan 50° is satisfied. |
Fare and yield driven travel services optimizer for a budget based request system |
A budget based request system includes a travel segments inventory operatively connected to a fare and yield driven travel services optimizer, each travel segment having a yield criteria indicating a degree of difficulty in selling the travel segment. The optimizer responds to a trip search request by determining a travel segments solution set based on the yield criteria of each travel segment, where the solution set is made of travel segments satisfying the travel segments selection criteria. |
1. A budget-based request system, comprising: a fare-and-yield-driven travel services optimizer (10) in electronic communications with a user (15) over a communications network (20) and accepting, from the user via the communications network, a network-transmitted trip search request (S100), the trip search request comprising user-input travel segments selection criteria; and an inventory of travel segments (12, 40, 50, 60) operatively connected to the optimizer (10), each travel segment having a yield criteria indicating a degree of difficulty in selling the travel segment, the optimizer configured to respond to the trip search request by determining a travel segments solution set based on the yield criteria of each travel segment, the solution set comprised of selected travel segments satisfying the travel segments selection criteria. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein, the optimizer is configured to maximize the yield criteria indicating hard to sell travel segments. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein, the travel segments solution set is returned to the user, via the network, as non-packaged, mixed travel segment offers, the travel segment offers being individually selectable by the user. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein, the travel segments selection criteria comprise a monetary trip budget target amount, trip search criteria, and specifications for plural types of travel segments, and from the trip budget target amount, the optimizer determines a budget range for each of the plural segment types specified by the travel segments selection criteria. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein, the trip search criteria comprise a date range; a destination list of plural destinations; an accommodation list of plural accommodation types; an accommodation class category list; and an air cabin class code. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein, the optimizer interprets a blank value of the target amount to indicate a least cost criteria. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: plural separate hosted inventories (40, 50, 60) containing the inventory of travel segments, the plural hosted inventories comprising a hotel segment inventory and an air segment inventory. 8. The system of claim 1, within the optimizer is configured to determine the travel segments solution set based on the yield criteria indicating distressed travel segment inventory. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the travel segments selection criteria comprise mandatory parameters information, first search level constraints, and second search level constraints, the mandatory parameter information comprising a number of travelers, departure location information, and a monetary trip budget target amount, the first search level constraints comprising a selection of only one of three available alternatives, the three alternatives being i) user-selection of destination and travel time period criteria, ii) user selection of only destination criteria, and iii) user selection of only time period criteria, and the second search level constraints comprising user-selectable travel segment features. 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a user profiles database (11) operatively connected to the optimizer, and wherein the travel segment selection criteria are at least partially completed by information from the user profiles database. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the travel segments selection criteria comprise a monetary trip budget target amount, and travel segment allocation criteria for allocating a user-input percentage of the budget target amount to plural different types of travel segments. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plural different types of travel segments include hotel travel segments and transportation travel segments, and the travel segment allocation criteria indicate a user-allocation between a hotel travel segment budget amount and a transportation travel segment budget amount. 13. A budget-based request system, comprising: a fare-and-yield-driven travel services optimizer (10); a user terminal (15) for user initiation of a trip search request comprising user-input travel segments selection criteria; a computer network (20) connecting the user terminal to the optimizer for bi-directional communication between the optimizer and the user terminal, the trip search request being sent from the user terminal to the optimizer via the computer network; a travel segments inventory (12, 40, 50, 60) operatively connected to the optimizer (10), each travel segment inventory comprising plural travel segments having a yield criteria indicating a degree of difficulty in selling each travel segment, the optimizer configured to respond to the trip search request by determining a travel segments solution set based on the yield criteria of each travel segment, the solution set comprised of selected travel segments satisfying the travel segments selection criteria received by the optimizer from the trip search request. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein, the computer network comprises the internet and a GDS network, the GDS network connected to a GDS (30), the internet comprising a web server (25) linking first user terminals to the optimizer, the GDS network comprising a travel agency front-office system (27) linking second user terminals to the optimizer. 15. The system of claim 14, further comprising: a user profiles database (11) operatively connected to the web server (25) and the front-office system (27); a hosted hotel inventory (40) and a hosted air inventory (50) operatively connected to the optimizer and providing at least a part of the travel segments inventory (40, 50, 60); a segments store (12) located within the optimizer and providing another part of the travel segments inventory (12). 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising: revenue management systems (45, 55) connected to each of the hosted hotel inventory and the hosted air inventory. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein, the travel segments selection criteria comprise a trip budget target and search criteria set, the search criteria set comprising a travel date range, a destination selection, an accommodation category selection, an accommodation class category selection, and an air cabin class code. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein a blank value for the trip budget target directs the optimizer to configure a least-cost set of travel segments. 19. The system of claim 13, wherein, the optimizer is configured to maximize the yield criteria indicating hard to sell travel segments, and the travel segments solution set is returned to the user, via the network, as non-packaged, mixed travel segment offers, the travel segment offers being individually selectable by the user. 20. A fare-and-yield-driven travel request system, comprising: a fare-and-yield-driven-travel services optimizer (10); and a travel segments inventory (12, 40, 50, 60) operatively connected to the optimizer, each travel segment having a yield criteria indicating a degree of sales difficulty in selling the travel segment, the optimizer configured to respond to travel segments selection criteria of a received trip search request by determining a travel segments solution, from a set of travel segments satisfying the travel segments selection criteria, maximizing selection of travel segments having a high degree of sales difficulty based on the yield criteria of each travel segment in the set, the optimizer generating a electronic travel segments offer file comprising the travel segments solution responsive to the received trip search request. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention generally relates to a budget based request system and method for creating travel service packages that optimally matches available travel services with traveler's current travel services needs, taking into account provider yield criteria. The invention accepts, from travel services providers (“providers”), available travel services inventories, and accepts, from travelers (system “users”), a package of current travel services needs as well as a target price for the overall package. The invention divides the target price between the various types of services to be purchased within the overall travel services needs package. The invention thereafter returns to the user a set of travel service proposals for each type of service included in the overall package taking into account the target price, the set of travel service proposals being offered as non-packaged, mixed offers and selected based on yield criteria. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention includes a budget-driven optimizer that provides users with non-packaged, mixed travel segment offers selected based on yield criteria, while answering the users' fundamental question of “what is the best trip could I do with this amount of money?” An object of the present invention is to provide a system for the travel industry whereby distributed and hosted inventories work together to provide a response in a yield driven manner to a user's budget based travel services request. In this way, both user needs and provider needs are addressed. Another object of the invention is to provide a way to offer hard-to-sell inventories to a user, which user's purchase decision is essentially budget driven within a degree of flexibility as to date and/or destination. In this way, the provider sells the hard-to-sell inventory in an environment that meets the user's needs and satisfies the user's expectations. Still another object of the invention is to offer best value from both the users' and travel service providers' perspectives in that the users can themselves build their own trip at the best price for the level of service they wish, and the travel service providers effectively market their hard-to-sell inventories. Yet another object of the invention is to execute the inventive system without additional or special input from the yield management system by relying on data provided for the normal reservation process, and by taking advantage of the presence of hosted inventories directly connected with the reservation system as well as inventories distributed across a network. |
Connector, fluid supply apparatus, movable body, fluid supply system, and connector connection method and connector separation method |
The invention provides a small, lightweight connector that is appropriate for the handling of fluids, a fluid supply apparatus that makes use thereof, a movable body, a fluid supply system, a connector connection method, and a connector separation method. A supply side connector provided on a fluid supply apparatus, and an inlet side connector, each have an inner cylinder which constitutes a connection part of both supply lines, and an outer cylinder which encloses the inner cylinder and which constitutes a connection part of both vent lines. A second supply valve is provided on the respective supply lines, and carries out switching between restriction and release of the flow of the fluid through the supply line by changing the position in the axial direction of the inner cylinder. A second vent valve is provided on the vent line of the inlet side connector, and carries out switching between restriction and release of the flow of the fluid through the vent line. |
1. A connector that is used in the connection, to an object of supply, of a supply line that is used for the supply of fluid from a fluid supply apparatus to said object of supply, and a vent line that is used for the return of fluid from said object of supply to said fluid supply apparatus, and that constitutes a part of said supply line and said vent line itself, comprising: a supply side connector provided on said fluid supply apparatus; an inlet side connector that is coupled detachably to said supply side connector, provided on said object of supply; supply valves that carry out restriction and allowance of the flow of said fluid through said supply lines, provided on the respective supply lines of said supply side connector and said inlet side connector; a vent valve that carries out restriction and allowance of the flow of said fluid through said vent lines, provided on said vent line of said inlet side connector; and a valve opening and closing apparatus that operates the opening and closing of said supply valves and said vent valve, wherein said supply side connector and said inlet side connector each comprise inner cylinders that constitute the connection parts of both said supply lines, and outer cylinders that enclose said inner cylinders and that constitute the connections parts of both said vent lines, said supply valves are provided in said inner cylinders, and are of a construction such as to carry out switching between restriction and release of the flow of said fluid through said supply lines by changing their positions in the axial direction of said inner cylinders, said vent valve are provided between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder, and are of a construction such as to carry out switching between restriction and release of the flow of said fluid through said vent lines by changing their positions in said axial direction, and said valve opening and closing apparatus is of a construction such as to operate opening and closing of said supply valves and said vent valve by respectively moving them in the axial direction. 2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said supply valve of said supply side connector has; a supply side valve body that opens said supply line in a state of being positioned on the upstream side on said supply line of a shut off position that shuts off said supply line, and a first biasing member that biases said supply side valve body toward the downstream side of said supply line, said supply valve of said inlet side connector has; an inlet side valve body that opens said supply line in a state of being positioned on the downstream side on said supply line of a shut off position that shuts off said supply line, and a second biasing member that biases said inlet side valve body toward the upstream side of said supply line, said vent valve has; a vent side valve body that opens said vent line in a state of being positioned on the upstream side on said vent line of a shut off position that shuts off said vent line, and a third biasing member that biases said vent side valve body toward the downstream side of said vent line, an end connection of said outer cylinder of said supply side connector is of a construction such as to be projected further than an end connection of said inner cylinder of said supply side connector, and to be inserted into said outer cylinder of said inlet side connector in a process in which said supply side connector and said inlet side connector are coupled, inside said inner cylinder of said inlet side connector there is provided a first presser part that contacts said supply side valve body in a state in which said outer cylinder of said supply side connector is inserted into said outer cylinder of said inlet side connector, and moves it from said shut off position toward the upstream side on said supply line, inside said inner cylinder of said supply side connector there is provided a second presser part that contacts said inlet side valve body in a state in which both said inner cylinders are connected, and moves it from said shut off position toward the downstream side of said supply line, on said outer cylinder of said supply side connector there is provided a third presser part that contacts said vent valve body in a state in which said outer cylinder of said supply side connector is inserted into said outer cylinder of said inlet side connector and both said inner cylinders are connected, and moves it from said shut off position toward the upstream side of said supply line, and said first biasing member, said second biasing member, said third biasing member, said first presser part, said second presser part, and said third presser part constitute said valve opening and closing apparatus. 3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said inlet side valve body of said inlet side connector constitutes said first presser part, said supply side valve body of said supply side connector constitutes said second presser part, an end connection of said outer cylinder of said supply side connector constitutes said third presser part, and a biasing force of said second biasing member is greater than that of said first biasing member, so that from when said supply side valve body and said inlet side valve body make contact until both said inner cylinders are connected, only said supply side valve body is moved to the upstream side from said shut off position, and said inlet side valve body is held in said shut off position. 4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein a cylindrical cover is provided on at least one of said supply side connector and said inlet side connector, that encloses the connection ends of both the outer cylinders in a state in which said outer cylinder of the one connector and said outer cylinder of the other connector are in a state of opposition and are in proximity, and said cover has a purge gas supply apparatus that supplies purge gas into said cover, connected thereto. 5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said cover doubles as a locking device that puts the connection locations of said supply side connector and said inlet side connector into a state of opposition and determines and fixes the position thereof, and a movement device that draws together and moves apart said supply side connector and said inlet side connector is provided on said cover. 6. A connector according to claim 1, wherein a part in the axial direction of at least one of said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder of said supply side connector, and said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder of said inlet side connector is constructed by a bellows. 7. A supply side connector provided on a fluid supply apparatus and which together with an inlet side connector provided on an object of supply of a fluid, comprises a connector to said object of supply of, a supply line that is used for the supply of said fluid from said fluid supply apparatus to said object of supply, and a vent line that is used for the return of fluid from said object of supply to said fluid supply apparatus, and constitutes said supply line and said vent line in said connector, comprising: a supply valve provided on said supply line, that carries out restriction and allowance of the flow of said fluid through said supply line; a valve opening and closing apparatus that operates opening and closing of said supply valve; an inner cylinder that constitutes the connector of said supply line with said supply line of said inlet side connector; and an outer cylinder that encloses said inner cylinder and that constitutes a connection part of said vent line and said vent line of said inlet side connector, said supply valve being provided inside said inner cylinder and being of a construction in which switching between restriction and release of the flow of said fluid through said supply line is carried out by changing position in the axial direction of said inner cylinder, and said valve opening and closing apparatus being of a construction such as to control the opening and closing of said supply valve by moving it in the axial direction. 8. A fluid supply apparatus wherein the supply side connector according to claim 7 is used as a connector for connecting a supply line used in the supply of fluid, and a vent line used in the return of said fluid, to the object of supply of a fluid. 9. A fluid supply apparatus according to claim 8, having; a casing in which said supply side connector is housed, and a purge gas supply apparatus that supplies purge gas inside said casing. 10. A fluid supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a discharge opening through which said purge gas supplied from said purge gas supply apparatus is discharged, is provided at a position in said casing opposed to a connection site of said supply side connector with said inlet side connector, and a diffuser that diffuses said purge gas discharged from said discharge opening is provided at said discharge opening. 11. An inlet side connector provided on an object of supply of fluid and which together with a supply side connector provided on a fluid supply apparatus, comprises a connector to said object of supply of, a supply line that is used for the supply of said fluid from said fluid supply apparatus to said object of supply, and a vent line that is used for the return of fluid from said object of supply to said fluid supply apparatus, and constitutes said supply line and said vent line in said connector, comprising: a supply valve provided on said supply line that carries out restriction and allowance of the flow of said fluid through said supply line; a vent valve provided on said vent line that carries out restriction and allowance of the flow of said fluid through said vent line; a valve opening and closing apparatus that operates opening and closing of said supply valve and said vent valve; an inner cylinder that constitutes the connector of said supply line with said supply line of said supply side connector; and an outer cylinder that encloses said inner cylinder and that constitutes a connection part of said vent line and said vent line of said supply side connector, said supply valve being provided inside said inner cylinder and being of a construction in which switching between restriction and release of the flow of said fluid through said supply line is carried out by changing position in the axial direction of said inner cylinder, and said vent valve being provided between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and being of a construction in which switching between restriction and release of the flow of said fluid through said vent line is carried out by changing the position in said axial direction, and said valve opening and closing apparatus being of a construction such as to control the opening and closing of said supply valve and said vent valve by respectively moving them in said axial direction. 12. A movable body of a construction having a fuel tank that stores a liquid that serves as fuel for a power generation apparatus, wherein said fuel is supplied from a fuel supply apparatus to said fuel tank through a supply line, and liquid inside said fuel tank is returned to said fuel supply apparatus through a vent line, and the inlet side connector according to claim 11 is used as a connector for connecting said supply line and said vent line to said fuel tank. 13. A fluid supply system of a construction such that a supply line used in the supply of fluid from a fluid supply apparatus to an object of supply, and a vent line used in the return of fluid from said object of supply to said fluid supply apparatus are connected to said object of supply using the connector according to claim 1. 14. A connector connection method for connecting a fluid supply apparatus and an object of supply using the connector according to claim 1, wherein said supply valve and said vent valve are closed in a state in which said supply side connector and said inlet side connector are separated, and the connection of both said outer cylinders is carried out before the connection of both said inner cylinders, and said supply valve is opened in this state so that flushing of the connection part of both said inner cylinders, the connection part of both said outer cylinders, and said vent line of said supply side connection part is carried out by said fluid supplied from said supply line of said supply side connector, and after both said inner cylinders are connected, said supply valve of said supply side connector is opened, and supply of fluid from said fluid supply apparatus to the object of supply begins, and said vent valve is opened and return of fluid from said object of supply to said fluid supply apparatus is carried out. 15. A connector separation method for separating a fluid supply apparatus and an object of supply that are connected using the connector according to claim 1, wherein said supply valve of said supply side connector and said vent valve are closed before the separation of both said outer cylinders, and said supply line and said vent line of said inlet side connector are closed, and both said inner cylinders are separated and flushing of a connection part of both said inner cylinders, a connection part of both said outer cylinders, and said vent line of said supply side connection part is carried out by said fluid supplied from said supply line of said supply side connector, and both said outer cylinders are separated after said supply valve of said supply side connector is closed and the supply of said fluid from said supply line of said supply side connector has stopped. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector that connects a fluid supply apparatus to an object of supply of a fluid, a fluid supply apparatus making use thereof, a moveable body, a fluid supply system, a method of connecting the connector, and a method of separating the connector. 2. Description of the Related Art With an increase in consideration given to environmental problems in recent years, development of technology that uses hydrogen, which is a clean energy source, in place of fossil fuels that generate harmful combustion gas is progressing. As devices that use hydrogen as an energy source there are, for instance, a hydrogen-fueled vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, and a fuel cell as a general-purpose power supply, and so forth. In these devices, the energy source, hydrogen, is saved for instance in a liquid state in hydrogen tanks, which are used one by one. Since liquefied hydrogen is a fluid of an extremely low temperature of about −253° C., a device that has an insulation structure and other special structures is used for the handling operations thereof. For instance, a special structure to prevent the ingress of atmospheric moisture into the interior of a coupling used to detachably connect a hydrogen tank and a hydrogen supply pipe, at the time of disconnection, is provided on the coupling in addition to the insulation structure. As a supply system for supplying liquefied hydrogen to a hydrogen tank, for example, a cryogenic pipe coupling described in Patent Document 1 below has been used. This cryogenic coupling is used to supply fuel to a rocket, and has a pair of ball valves, and a male and a female coupling which fit together through the inside of these ball valves when these ball valves are open. As the connection part of the piping of this cryogenic coupling is closed off by the ball valve upon separation of the piping, ingress of atmospheric moisture or foreign substances and so forth into the interior part of the coupling is prevented. [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-113973 (paragraph [0017] to [0022] and FIG. 1 ) In the supply of liquefied hydrogen to a hydrogen-fueled vehicle by a hydrogen supply stand or the like (a facility that corresponds to a gas station for a fossil fuel vehicle), it is assumed that the connection of a hydrogen supply pipe to a hydrogen tank of the hydrogen-fueled vehicle is to be carried out manually by an operator, and therefore employment of a smaller, lighter coupling is preferable to improve the manageability of the coupling by the operator. However, since the cryogenic coupling described in Patent Document 1 is for use in an application in which safety and certainty are emphasized, like the fueling a rocket and so forth, as stated above, the structure is complex. Therefore, since the coupling itself becomes large-scale and heavy, handling is not easy. Moreover, in this cryogenic coupling, the ball valve and the male and female couplings have to be operated respectively in order to switch the allowance and the restriction of the flow of the fluid through the cryogenic coupling, and handling is not easy. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention has been developed in consideration of such circumstances, and aims to provide a small, lightweight connector that is appropriate for the handling of fluids, particularly cryogenic fluids, a fluid supply apparatus that makes use thereof, a movable body, a fluid supply system, a connector connection method, and a connector separation method. In order to solve the above mentioned problems, a connector, a fluid supply apparatus making use thereof, a movable body, a fluid supply system, a connector connection method, and a connector separation method, of the present invention employ the following means. That is to say, the connector according to the present invention is a connector that is used in the connection, to an object of supply, of a supply line that is used for the supply of fluid from a fluid supply apparatus to the object of supply, and a vent line that is used for the return of fluid from the object of supply to the fluid supply apparatus, and that constitutes a part of the supply line and the vent line itself, and comprises: a supply side connector provided on the fluid supply apparatus; an inlet side connector that is coupled detachably to the supply side connector, provided on the object of supply; supply valves that carry out restriction and allowance of the flow of fluid through the supply lines, provided on the respective supply lines of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector; a vent valve that carries out restriction and allowance of the flow of the fluid through the vent lines, provided on the vent line of the inlet side connector; and a valve opening and closing apparatus that operates the opening and closing of the supply valves and the vent valve, wherein the supply side connector and the inlet side connector each comprise inner cylinders that constitute the connection parts of both the supply lines, and outer cylinders that enclose the inner cylinders and that constitute the connections parts of both the vent lines, the supply valves are provided in the inner cylinders, and are of a construction such as to carry out switching between restriction and release of the flow of the fluid through the supply lines by changing their positions in the axial direction of the inner cylinders, the vent valve is provided between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, and are of a construction such as to carry out switching between restriction and release of the flow of the fluid through the vent lines by changing its position in the aforementioned axial direction, and the valve opening and closing apparatus is of a construction such as to operate opening and closing of the supply valves and the vent valves by respectively moving them in the axial direction. In a connector constructed in this manner, the supply valves and the vent valves are closed in a state in which the supply side connector and the inlet side connector are separated, and by operating the valve opening and closing apparatus in a state in which the supply side connector and the inlet side connector are coupled, and opening the supply valves and the vent valves, connection of both the supply lines and connection of both the vent lines of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector is carried out, and supply of the fluid from the fluid supply apparatus to the object of supply is carried out. In this connector, since the return of fluid from the object of supply to the fluid supply apparatus can be carried out in parallel with the supply of fluid to the object of supply, fluid that already exists in the object of supply is quickly replaced with fluid newly supplied to the object of supply, and the supply of fluid to the object of supply can be carried out expeditiously. Moreover, by carrying out the separation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector with the supply valve and the vent valve in a closed state, fluid can be prevented from leaking from the vent line and the supply line on separation. In a connector constructed in this manner, a part of the supply line and the vent line is constructed by the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the supply line and the vent line are a dual pipe construction inside the connector. Therefore, this connector can be achieved in a smaller size than the case in which the supply line and the vent line are respectively constructed by separate piping. Also, in this connector, the inner cylinder constitutes the supply line, and the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder constitute the vent line, and they are of a construction in which the circumference of the supply line is enclosed by the vent line. Therefore, in the case of supplying a liquid having a large difference in temperature from the surrounding atmosphere, the vent line and the fluid inside the vent line act as a heat insulation layer, and hence the connector can be achieved without the provision of a large scale heat insulation construction. Moreover, the supply valves are provided in the inner cylinders in this connector, the vent valve is provided in the outer cylinder, and these supply valves and vent valve are of a composition such that the change between restriction and allowance of the flow of the fluid can be carried out by respectively displacing them in the axial direction of the inner cylinders. Thus, since all valves are supplied in a dual pipe construction in this connector, the size of the connector can be kept to a minimum. Here, popped valves can be employed for instance as the supply valves and the vent valve. Also, in this connector the construction may be such that, the supply valve of the supply side connector has; a supply side valve body that opens the supply line in a state of being positioned on the upstream side on the supply line of a shut off position that shuts off the supply line, and a first biasing member that biases the supply side valve body toward the downstream side of the supply line, the supply valve of the inlet side connector has; an inlet side valve body that opens the supply line in a state of being positioned on the downstream side on the supply line of a shut off position that shuts off the supply line, and a second biasing member that biases the inlet side valve body toward the upstream side of the supply line, the vent valve has; a vent side valve body that opens the vent line in a state of being positioned on the upstream side on the vent line of a shut off position that shuts off the vent line, and a third biasing member that biases the vent side valve body toward the downstream side of the vent line, an end connection of the outer cylinder of the supply side connector is of a construction such as to be projected further than an end connection of the inner cylinder of the supply side connector, and to be inserted into the outer cylinder of the inlet side connector in a process in which the supply side connector and the inlet side connector are coupled, inside the inner cylinder of the inlet side connector there is provided a first presser part that contacts the supply side valve body in a state in which the outer cylinder of the supply side connector is inserted into the outer cylinder of the inlet side connector, and moves it from the shut off position toward the upstream side on the supply line, inside the inner cylinder of the supply side connector there is provided a second presser part that contacts the inlet side valve body in a state in which both the inner cylinders are connected, and moves it from the shut off position toward the downstream side of the supply line, on the outer cylinder of the supply side connector there is provided a third presser part that contacts the vent valve body in a state in which the outer cylinder of the supply side connector is inserted into the outer cylinder of the inlet side connector and both the inner cylinders are connected, and moves it from the shut off position toward the upstream side of the supply line, and the first biasing member, the second biasing member, the third biasing member, the first presser part, the second presser part, and the third presser part constitute the valve opening and closing apparatus. In a connector constructed in this manner, since the connection end of the outer cylinder of the supply side connector is projected more than the connection end of the inner cylinder of the supply side connector, the connection of both the outer cylinders is carried out before the connection of both the inner cylinders in the process of engaging the supply side connector and the inlet side connector. Moreover, both the outer cylinders are connected by being put in a state in which the connection end of the outer cylinder of the supply side connector is inserted into the connection end of the outer cylinder of the inlet side connector. Then, in a state in which the outer cylinder of the supply side connector is inserted into the outer cylinder of the inlet side connector, the first presser part, provided inside the inner cylinder of the inlet side connector, contacts with the supply side valve body of the supply side connector so that the supply side valve body is moved from the shut off position to the upstream side of the supply line and the supply valve of the supply side connector is opened. As a result, in the interval until the outer cylinder is inserted further and both the inner cylinders connect, fluid is supplied from the supply line of the supply side connector, and flushing of the connection parts of both the inner cylinders and the connection parts of both the outer cylinders is carried out by this fluid. Here, the fluid used for this flushing is returned to the fluid supply apparatus through the vent line of the supply side connector. Then, when both the inner cylinders are connected, the second presser part, provided inside the inner cylinder of the supply side connector, contacts with the inlet side valve body of the inlet side connector so that the inlet side valve body is moved from the shut off position to the down stream side of the supply line, and the supply valve of the supply side connector is opened. As a result, the supply line from the fluid supply apparatus to the object of supply is opened, and the supply of fluid from the fluid supply apparatus to the object of supply begins. Also, with both the inner cylinders connected in this manner, the third presser part, provided on the outer cylinder of the supply side connector, contacts with the vent side valve body of the inlet side connector so that the vent side valve body is moved from the shut off position to the up stream side of the vent line, and the vent valve is opened. As a result, the vent line from the object of supply to the fluid supply apparatus is opened, and the return of fluid from the object of supply to the fluid supply apparatus begins. Conversely, the separation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector is carried out by drawing out the outer cylinder of the supply side connector from the outer cylinder of the inlet side connector. In this separation process, the separation of the inner cylinders is carried out before the separation of the outer cylinders. When both the inner cylinders are separated, since the pressing on the inlet side valve body of the inlet side connector by the second presser part provided inside the inner cylinder of the supply side connector is released, the inlet side valve body is pushed back into the shut off position by the second biasing member, and the supply valve of the supply side connector being supplied is closed. As a result, the supply line inside the inlet side connector is shut off, and the supply of fluid from the fluid supply apparatus to the object of supply is stopped. Also, with both the inner cylinders separated in this manner, since the pressing on the vent side valve body of the inlet side connector by the third presser part provided on the outer cylinder of the supply side connector is released, the vent side valve body is pushed back into the shut off position by the third biasing member, and the vent valve is closed. As a result, the vent line of the inlet side connector is closed, and the return of fluid from the object of supply to the fluid supply apparatus is stopped. Here, in the interval until both the outer cylinders are drawn further apart and become completely separated, flushing of the connection sites of both the inner cylinders, the connection sites of both the outer cylinders, and the supply line of the supply side connector is carried out with fluid supplied from the supply line of the supply side connector. Then, with both the outer cylinders in a state of being completely separated, since the pressing on the supply side valve body of the supply side connector by the first presser part provided inside the inner cylinder of the inlet side connector is released, the supply side valve body is pushed back into the shut off position by the first biasing member, the supply valve of the supply side connector is closed, and flushing and separation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector is completed. Moreover, in a connector constructed in this manner, since the opening of the supply line of the inlet side connector is carried out after flushing the connection sites and the supply line of the supply side connection part has been carried out in the process of coupling of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, impurities are not likely to be mixed into the fluid supplied to the object of supply. Also, since the supply line and the vent line of the inlet side connector are shut first at the time of separation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, impurities are not likely to be mixed into the supply line and the vent line of the inlet side connector. In addition, since the supply valve of the supply side connector is shut in a state in which flushing of the connection site is being carried out, impurities are not mixed easily into the supply line of the supply side connector, and impurities are not likely to be mixed into the fluid when the fluid is supplied to the object of supply again. Moreover, in this connector, since the opening and closing of the supply line and the vent line are carried out automatically in synchrony with the coupling operation and separation operation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, it is not necessary for the operator to carry out operations to open and close the supply line and the vent line, so that the coupling operation and the separation operation are easy, and these operations can be carried out smoothly and expeditiously. Here, this connector may be of a construction in which a purge gas that is other than the fluid supplied to the object of supply is supplied to the supply line of the supply side connector on flushing, and flushing is carried out by this purge gas. Moreover, this connector may be such that the inlet side valve body of the inlet side connector constitutes the first presser part, the supply side valve body of the supply side connector constitutes the second presser part, an end connection of the outer cylinder of the supply side connector constitutes the third presser part, and a biasing force of the second biasing member is greater than that of the first biasing member, so that from when the supply side valve body and the inlet side valve body make contact until both the inner cylinders are connected, only the supply side valve body is moved to the upstream side from the shut off position, and the inlet side valve body is held in the shut off position. In the connector constructed in this manner, since the supply side valve body, the inlet side valve body, and the connection end of the outer cylinder of the supply side connector double as the presser parts that operate the respective valve bodies, the number of parts for the connector may be few, and because the construction can be simplified, production cost can be reduced and maintenance is also easy. Moreover, in the connector, the construction may be such that a cylindrical cover is provided on at least one of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, that encloses the connection ends of both the outer cylinders in a state in which the outer cylinder of the one connector and the outer cylinder of the other connector are in a state of opposition and are in proximity, and the cover has a purge gas supply apparatus that supplies purge gas into the cover, connected thereto. In a connector constructed in this manner, in a state in which the outer cylinder of the supply side connector and the outer cylinder of the inlet side connector are in a state of opposition and are in proximity, the circumference of the connection ends of both the outer cylinders are covered by the cover. That is to say, at the time of coupling of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, the circumference of the connection ends of both the outer cylinders are covered by the cover before the connection of both the outer cylinders takes place. Also, at the time of separation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, the circumference of the connection ends of both the outer cylinders are covered by the cover during the interval from immediately after both the outer cylinders have separated until the supply side connector and the inlet side connector are drawn apart. Moreover, since purging of the connection site of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector is carried out with purge gas being supplied from the purge gas supply apparatus into the cover on coupling and on separation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, impurities are not likely to be mixed into the fluid supplied to the object of supply. In addition, since the purge gas used for this purging is returned to the fluid supply apparatus through the vent line of the supply side connector, the purge gas can be recovered, and the cost required for purging can be decreased. Also, in this connector the construction may be such that the cover doubles as a locking device that puts the connection locations of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector into a state of opposition and determines and fixes the position thereof, and a movement device that draws together and moves apart the supply side connector and the inlet side connector is provided on this cover. In a connector constructed in this manner, in a state in which the position of supply side connector and the inlet side connector has been determined and fixed by the cover at the time of the coupling operation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, by operating the movement device and bringing the supply side connector and the inlet side connector together, the rest of the coupling operation is carried out automatically. Similarly, in this connector, by operating the movement device and distancing the supply side connector and the inlet side connector that are in a coupled state, the rest of the separation operation can be automatically carried out. Therefore, in this connector, the coupling operation and the separation operation are easy, and these operations can be carried out smoothly and expeditiously. In addition, in this connector, in the case in which the opening and closing of the supply line and the vent line are carried out automatically in synchrony with the coupling operation and the separation operation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, since the supply and termination of the supply of fluid to the object of supply can be carried out automatically simply by carrying out the operation of the movement device after the position determination and fixing of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector by the cover, the coupling operation and the separation operation are easy, and these operations can be carried out smoothly and expeditiously. Also, in this connector the construction may be such that a part in the axial direction of at least one of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder of the supply side connector, and the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder of the inlet side connector is constructed by a bellows. In a connector constructed in this manner, since the outer cylinder (or inner cylinder), with a part constructed by a bellows, is pressed against the other outer cylinder (or the other inner cylinder) by the elastic force in the bellows part when it touches the other outer cylinder (or the other inner cylinder), the degree of adhesion of the outer cylinder (or inner cylinder) is high. Therefore, leakage of the fluid from the connection part of the outer cylinders (or connection parts of the inner cylinders) is unlikely to occur in this connector, and especially in the case in which a cryogenic fluid such as liquefied hydrogen or the like is being handled, the reliability of such a connector is high in the case of use in applications in which heat shrinkage may occur in the outer cylinders or inner cylinders. The supply side connector according to the present invention is provided on a fluid-supply apparatus and, together with an inlet side connector provided on an object of supply of a fluid, comprises a connector to the object of supply of, a supply line that is used for the supply of the fluid from the fluid supply apparatus to the object of supply, and a vent line that is used for the return of fluid from the object of supply to the fluid supply apparatus, and constitutes the supply line and the vent line in the connector, and comprises: a supply valve provided on the supply line, that carries out restriction and allowance of the flow of the fluid through the supply line; a valve opening and closing apparatus that operates opening and closing of the supply valve; an inner cylinder that constitutes the connector of the supply line with the supply line of the inlet side connector; and an outer cylinder that encloses the inner cylinder and that constitutes a connection part of the vent line and the vent line of the inlet side connector, the supply valve being provided inside the inner cylinder and being of a construction in which switching between restriction and release of the flow of the fluid through the supply line is carried out by changing position in the axial direction of the inner cylinder, and the valve opening and closing apparatus being of a construction such as to control the opening and closing of the supply valve by moving it in the axial direction. In a supply side connector constructed in this manner, a part of the supply line and the vent line is constructed by the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the supply line and the vent line are a dual pipe construction. Therefore, this supply side connector can be achieved in a smaller size than the case in which the supply line and the vent line are respectively constructed by separate piping. Also, in this supply side connector, the inner cylinder constitutes the supply line, and the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder constitute the vent line, and they are of a construction in which the circumference of the supply line is enclosed by the vent line. Therefore, in the case of supplying a liquid having a large difference in temperature from the surrounding atmosphere, the vent line and the fluid inside the vent line act as a heat insulation layer, and hence the supply side connector can be achieved without the provision of a large scale heat insulation construction. Moreover, the supply valve is provided in the inner cylinder in this supply side connector, and this supply valve is of a construction such that the change between restriction and allowance of the flow of the fluid can be carried out by displacing in the axial direction of the inner cylinder. Thus, since the valve is housed within a dual pipe construction in this supply side connector, the size of the connector can be kept to a minimum. In the fluid supply apparatus according to the present invention, the above supply side connector is used as a connector for connecting a supply line used in the supply of fluid, and a vent line used in the return of the fluid, to the object of supply of a fluid. Since the fluid supply apparatus constructed in this manner uses a small, light connector as the connector, handling is easy and the coupling operation and the separation operation of the fluid supply apparatus and the object of supply can be carried out smoothly and expeditiously. This fluid supply apparatus may have a casing in which the supply side connector is housed, and a purge gas supply apparatus that supplies purge gas inside the casing. In the fluid supply apparatus constructed in this manner, the supply side connector is housed in the casing and by supplying purge gas into the casing from the purge gas supply apparatus in this state, purging of the site of connection with the inlet side connector of the supply side connector is carried out. Therefore, in a state in which this fluid supply apparatus is not being used in the supply of fluid, by housing the supply side connector in the casing and carrying out purging, the supply side connector can be kept in a clean condition. Here, by using a sufficiently high temperature dry gas as the purge gas, condensation occurring in the supply side connector in the case in which it has been used in the supply of cryogenic liquid, can be removed quickly and the next fluid supply operation can begin soon afterwards. Furthermore, the purge gas supplied inside the casing can be recovered to the fluid supply apparatus through the vent line of the supply side connector. Moreover, this fluid supply apparatus may be such that, a discharge opening through which the purge gas supplied from the purge gas supply apparatus is discharged, is provided at a position in the casing opposed to a connection site of the supply side connector with the inlet side connector, and a diffuser that diffuses the purge gas discharged from the discharge opening is provided at this discharge opening. In a fluid supply apparatus having such a construction, the connection sites can be contacted by the purge gas without bias since the purge gas discharged from the discharge opening is supplied to the connection sites of the supply side connector after being diffused by the diffuser. Hence the purging becomes certain and highly efficient. Here, for example a plate shaped diffuser in which a plurality of vent holes are formed, may be used as the diffuser. The inlet side connector according to the present invention is provided on an object of supply of fluid and, together with a supply side connector provided on a fluid supply apparatus, comprises a connector to the object of supply of, a supply line that is used for the supply of the fluid from the fluid supply apparatus to the object of supply, and a vent line that is used for the return of fluid from the object of supply to the fluid supply apparatus, and constitutes the supply line and the vent line in the connector, and comprises: a supply valve provided on the supply line that carries out restriction and allowance of the flow of the fluid through the supply line; a vent valve provided on the vent line that carries out restriction and allowance of the flow of the fluid through the vent line; a valve opening and closing apparatus that operates opening and closing of the supply valve and the vent valve; an inner cylinder that constitutes the connection part of the supply line with the supply line of the supply side connector; and an outer cylinder that encloses the inner cylinder and that constitutes a connection part of the vent line and the vent line of the supply side connector, the supply valve being provided inside the inner cylinder and being of a construction in which switching between restriction and release of the flow of the fluid through the supply line is carried out by changing position in the axial direction of the inner cylinder, and the vent valve being provided between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder and being of a construction in which switching between restriction and release of the flow of the fluid through the vent line is carried out by changing the position in the axial direction, and the valve opening and closing apparatus being of a construction such as to control the opening and closing of the supply valve and the vent valve by respectively moving them in the axial direction. In an inlet side connector constructed in this manner, a part of the supply line and the vent line is constructed by the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the supply line and the vent line are a dual pipe construction. Therefore, this inlet side connector can be achieved in a smaller size than the case in which the supply line and the vent line are respectively constructed by separate piping. Also, in this inlet side connector, the inner cylinder constitutes the supply line, and the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder constitute the vent line, and they are of a construction in which the circumference of the supply line is enclosed by the vent line. Therefore, in the case of supplying a liquid having a large difference in temperature from the surrounding atmosphere, the vent line and the fluid inside the vent line act as a heat insulation layer, and hence the inlet side connector can be achieved without the provision of a large scale heat insulation construction. Moreover, the supply valve is provided in the inner cylinder in this inlet side connector, the vent valve is provided in the outer cylinder, and these supply valve and vent valve are of a construction such that the change between restriction and allowance of the flow of the fluid can be carried out by respectively displacing them in the axial direction of the inner cylinder. Thus, since all of the valves are housed within a dual pipe construction in this inlet side connector, the size of the connector can be kept to a minimum. The movable body according to the present invention is a movable body of a construction having a fuel tank that stores a liquid that serves as fuel for a power generation apparatus, wherein the fuel is supplied from a fuel supply apparatus to the fuel tank through a supply line, and liquid inside the fuel tank is returned to the fuel supply apparatus through a vent line, and the above inlet side connector is used as a connector for connecting the supply line and the vent line to the fuel tank. Since the movable body constructed in this manner employs a small, lightweight connector as the connector, the spatial restrictions and weight restrictions of providing the connector are few, and hence the degree of freedom of design is high. Also, since the connector is small and lightweight, restrictions on the position of provision of the connector on the movable body are few, and since the connector can be disposed in a position better suited to the connection operation with the fuel supply apparatus, the connection operation with the fuel supply apparatus becomes easy. The fluid supply system according to the present invention is of a construction such that a supply line used in the supply of fluid from a fluid supply apparatus to an object of supply, and a vent line used in the return of fluid from the object of supply to the fluid supply apparatus are connected to the object of supply using the above connector. In the fluid supply system constructed in this manner, since a small, light connector is used as the connector, handling is easy and the coupling operation and the separation operation of the fluid supply apparatus and the object of supply can be carried out smoothly and expeditiously. The connector connection method according to the present invention is a connector connection method for connecting a fluid supply apparatus and an object of supply using the above connector, wherein the supply valve and the vent valve are closed in a state in which the supply side connector and the inlet side connector are separated, and the connection of both the outer cylinders is carried out before the connection of both the inner cylinders, and the supply valve of the supply side connector is opened in this state so that flushing of the connection part of both the inner cylinders, the connection part of both the outer cylinders, and the vent line of the supply side connector is carried out by the fluid supplied from the supply line of the supply side connector, and after both the inner cylinders are connected, the supply valve of the supply side connector is opened and supply of fluid from the fluid supply apparatus to the object of supply begins, and the vent valve is opened and return of fluid from the object of supply to the fluid supply apparatus is carried out. In this connector connection method, since the opening of the supply line and the vent line of the inlet side connector is carried out after flushing the connection sites and the supply line of the supply side connector has been carried out in the process of coupling of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, impurities are not likely to be mixed into the fluid supplied to the object of supply. Here, the fluid used for flushing can be returned to the fluid supply apparatus through the vent line of the supply side connector. Furthermore, the fluid used for flushing may be a purge gas that may be other than the fluid supplied to the object of supply. The connector separation method according to the present invention is a connector separation method for separating a fluid supply apparatus and an object of supply that are connected using the above connector, wherein the supply valve of the supply side connector and the vent valve are closed before the separation of both the outer cylinders, and the supply line and the vent line of the inlet side connector are closed, and both the inner cylinders are separated and flushing of a connection part of both the inner cylinders, a connection part of both the outer cylinders, and the vent line of the supply side connector is carried out by the fluid supplied from the supply line of the supply side connector, and both the outer cylinders are separated after the supply valve of the supply side connector is closed and the supply of the fluid from the supply line of the supply side connector has stopped. Also, in this connector separation method, since the supply line and the vent line of the inlet side connector are closed before separation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, impurities are not likely to be mixed into the supply line and the vent line of the inlet side connector. In addition, since the supply valve is closed while flushing of the connection site is being carried out, impurities are not likely to mix into the supply line of the supply side connector, and impurities are not likely to be mixed into the fluid when the fluid is supplied to the object of supply again. Furthermore, the fluid used for flushing may be a purge gas that may be other than the fluid supplied to the object of supply. According to the connector according to the present invention, a part of the supply line and the vent line is constructed by the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the supply line and the vent line are a dual pipe construction inside the connector. Therefore, this connector can be achieved in a smaller size than the case in which the supply line and the vent line are respectively constructed by separate piping. Moreover, this connector is especially suitable for the handling of liquids of extremely low temperature. According to the connector according to the present invention, since a small, light connector is used, handling is easy and the coupling operation and the separation operation of the fluid supply apparatus and the object of supply can be carried out smoothly and expeditiously. According to the movable body according to the present invention, a small, lightweight connector is employed as the connector, and since the spatial restrictions and weight restrictions of providing the connector are few, the degree of freedom of design is high. Also, since the connector is small and lightweight, restrictions on the position of provision of the connector on the movable body are few, and since the connector can be disposed in a position better suited to the connection operation with the fuel supply apparatus, the connection operation with the fuel supply apparatus becomes easy. According to the fluid supply system according to the present invention, since a small, light connector that is furthermore suited to the handling of cryogenic liquids is used as the connector, handling is easy, and the coupling operation and the separation operation of the fluid supply apparatus and the object of supply can be carried out smoothly and expeditiously. Therefore, when the fluid that the fluid supply apparatus supplies is for instance liquefied hydrogen of an extremely low temperature, the supply operation of liquefied hydrogen can be carried out in a mode substantially similar to the fuel supply mode in a conventional gas station. According to the connector connection method according to the present invention, since the opening of the supply line and the vent line of the inlet side connector is carried out after flushing the connection sites and the supply line of the supply side connector has been carried out in the process of coupling of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, impurities are not likely to be mixed into the fluid supplied to the object of supply. According to the connector separation method according to the present invention, since the supply line and the vent line of the inlet side connector are closed before separation of the supply side connector and the inlet side connector, impurities are not mixed easily with the supply line and the vent line of the inlet side connector. In addition, since the supply valve of the supply side connector is closed while flushing of the connection site is being carried out, impurities are not likely to mix into the supply line of the supply side connector, and impurities are not likely to be mixed into the fluid when the fluid is supplied to the object of supply again. |
Modified computer architecture with coordinated objects |
The present invention discloses a modified computer architecture (50, 71, 72) which enables an applications program (50) to be run simultaneously on a plurality of computers (M1, . . . Mn). Shared memory at each computer is updated with amendments and/or overwrites so that all memory read requests are satisfied locally. During initial program loading (75), or similar, instructions which result in memory being re-written or manipulated are identified (92). Additional instructions are inserted (103) to cause the equivalent memory locations at all computers to be updated. In addition, the initialization of JAVA language classes and objects is disclosed (162, 163) so all memory locations for all computers are initialized in the same manner. The finalization of JAVA language classes and objects is also disclosed (162, 163) so finalization only occurs when the last class or object present on all machines is no longer required. During initial program loading (75), or similar, instructions which result in the application program (50) acquiring (or releasing) a lock on a particular asset (50A, 50X-50Y) (synchronization) are identified. Additional instructions are inserted (162, 163) to result in a modified synchronization routine with which all computers are updated. |
1. A multiple computer system having at least one application program running simultaneously on a plurality of computers interconnected by a communications network, wherein a like plurality of substantially identical objects are created, each in the corresponding computer and each having a substantially identical name, wherein the initial contents of each of said identically named objects is substantially the same, wherein all said identical objects are collectively deleted when each one of said plurality of computers no longer needs to refer to their corresponding object, and wherein said system includes a lock means applicable to all said computers wherein any computer wishing to utilize a named object therein acquires an authorizing lock from said lock means which permits said utilization and which prevents all the other computers from utilizing their corresponding named object until said authorizing lock is relinquished. 2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lock means includes an acquire lock routine and a release lock routine, and both said routines are included in modifications made to said application program running on all said computers. 3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lock means further includes a shared table listing said named objects in use by any said computer, a lock status for each said object, and a queue of any pending lock acquisitions. 4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said lock means is located within an additional computer not running said application program and connected to said communications network. 5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said computer includes a distributed run time means with the distributed run time means of each said computer able to communicate with all other computers whereby if a portion of said application program(s) running on one of said computers creates an object in that computer then the created object is propagated by the distributed run time means of said one computer to all the other computers. 6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said computer includes a distributed run time means with the distributed run time means of each said computer able to communicate with all other computers whereby if a portion of said application program(s) running on one of said computers no longer needs to refer to an object in that computer then the identity of the unreferenced object is transmitted by the distributed run time means of said one computer to a shared table accessible by all the other computers. 7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said application program is modified before, during, or after loading by inserting an initialization routine to modify each instance at which said application program creates an object, said initialization routine propagating every object newly created by one computer to all said other computers. 8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the application program is modified in accordance with a procedure selected from the group of procedures consisting of re-compilation at loading, pre-compilation prior to loading, compilation prior to loading, just-in-time compilation, and re-compilation after loading and before execution of the relevant portion of application program. 9. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said modified application program is transferred to all said computers in accordance with a procedure selected from the group consisting of master/slave transfer, branched transfer and cascaded transfer. 10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the local memory capacity allocated to the, or each, said application program is substantially identical and the total memory capacity available to the, or each, said application program is said allocated memory capacity. 11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein all said computers include a distribution update means each of which communicates via said communications link at a data transfer rate which is substantially less than the local memory read rate. 12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least some of said computers are manufactured by different manufacturers and/or have different operating systems. 13. A method of running at least one application program on a plurality of computers simultaneously, said computers being interconnected by means of a communications network, said method comprising the steps of: (i) creating a like plurality of substantially identical objects each in the corresponding computer and each having a substantially identical name, (ii) creating the initial contents of each of said identically named objects substantially the same, (iii) deleting all said identical objects collectively when all of said plurality of computers no longer need to refer to their corresponding object, and (iv) requiring any of said computers wishing to utilize a named object therein to acquire an authorizing lock which permits said utilization and which prevents all the other computers from utilizing their corresponding named object until said authorizing lock is relinquished. 14. The method as claimed in claim 13 comprising the further step of, (v) if a portion of said application program running on one of said computers creates an object in that computer, then the created object is propagated to all of the other computers via said communications network. 15. The method as claimed in claim 14 including the further step of: (vi) modifying said application program before, during or after loading by inserting an initialization routine to modify each instance at which said application program creates an object, said initialization routine propagating every object created by one computer to all said other computers. 16. A method as claimed in claim 13 including the further step of: (vii) providing each said computer with a distributed run time means to communicate between said computers via said communications network. 17. A method as claimed in claim 16 including the further step of: (viii) providing a shared table accessible by each said distributed run time means and in which is stored the identity of any computer which no longer requires to access an object, together with the identity of the object. 18. A method as claimed in claim 17 including the further step of: (ix) associating a counter means with said shared table, said counter means storing a count of the number of said computers which no longer require to access said object. 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 including the further step of: (x) providing an additional computer on which said shared program does not run and which hosts said shared table and counter, said additional computer being connected to said communications network. 20. A method as claimed in claim 16 including the further step of: (xi) providing a shared table accessible by each said distributed run time means and in which is stored the identity of any computer which currently has to access an object, together with the identity of the object. 21. A method as claimed in claim 20 including the further step of: (xii) associating a counter means with said shared table, said counter means storing a count of the number of said computers which seek access to said object. 22. A method as claimed in claim 21 including the further step of: (xiii) providing an additional computer on which said shared program does not run and which hosts said shared table and counter, said additional computer being connected to said communications network. 23. A computer program product comprising a set of program instructions stored in a storage medium and operable to permit a plurality of computers to carry out the method as claimed in claim 13. 24. A plurality of computers interconnected via a communication network and operable to ensure consistent initialization of an application program running simultaneously of said computers, said computers being programmed to carry out the method as claimed in claim 13 or being loaded with the computer program product as claimed in claim 23. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Ever since the advent of computers, and computing, software for computers has been written to be operated upon a single machine. As indicated in FIG. 1 , that single prior art machine 1 is made up from a central processing unit, or CPU, 2 which is connected to a memory 3 via a bus 4 . Also connected to the bus 4 are various other functional units of the single machine 1 such as a screen 5 , keyboard 6 and mouse 7 . A fundamental limit to the performance of the machine 1 is that the data to be manipulated by the CPU 2 , and the results of those manipulations, must be moved by the bus 4 . The bus 4 suffers from a number of problems including so called bus “queues” formed by units wishing to gain an access to the bus, contention problems, and the like. These problems can, to some extent, be alleviated by various stratagems including cache memory, however, such stratagems invariably increase the administrative overhead of the machine 1 . Naturally, over the years various attempts have been made to increase machine performance. One approach is to use symmetric multiple processors. This prior art approach has been used in so called “super” computers and is schematically indicated in FIG. 2 . Here a plurality of CPU's 12 are connected to global memory 13 . Again, a bottleneck arises in the communications between the CPU's 12 and the memory 13 . This process has been termed “Single System Image”. There is only one application and one whole copy of the memory for the application which is distributed over the global memory. The single application can read from and write to, (ie share) any memory location completely transparently. Where there are a number of such machines interconnected via a network, this is achieved by taking the single application written for a single machine and partitioning the required memory resources into parts. These parts are then distributed across a number of computers to form the global memory 13 accessible by all CPU's 12 . This procedure relies on masking, or hiding, the memory partition from the single running application program. The performance degrades when one CPU on one machine must access (via a network) a memory location physically located in a different machine. Although super computers have been technically successful in achieving high computational rates, they are not commercially successful in that their inherent complexity makes them extremely expensive not only to manufacture but to administer. In particular, the single system image concept has never been able to scale over “commodity” (or mass produced) computers and networks. In particular, the Single System Image concept has only found practical application on very fast (and hence very expensive) computers interconnected by very fast (and similarly expensive) networks. A further possibility of increased computer power through the use of a plural number of machines arises from the prior art concept of distributed computing which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 3 . In this known arrangement, a single application program (Ap) is partitioned by its author (or another programmer who has become familiar with the application program) into various discrete tasks so as to run upon, say, three machines in which case n in FIG. 3 is the integer 3. The intention here is that each of the machines M 1 . . . M 3 runs a different third of the entire application and the intention is that the loads applied to the various machines be approximately equal. The machines communicate via a network 14 which can be provided in various forms such as a communications link, the internet, intranets, local area networks, and the like. Typically the speed of operation of such networks 14 is an order of magnitude slower than the speed of operation of the bus 4 in each of the individual machines M 1 , M 2 , etc. Distributed computing suffers from a number of disadvantages. Firstly, it is a difficult job to partition the application and this must be done manually. Secondly, communicating data, partial results, results and the like over the network 14 is an administrative overhead. Thirdly, the need for partitioning makes it extremely difficult to scale upwardly by utilising more machines since the application having been partitioned into, say three, does not run well upon four machines. Fourthly, in the event that one of the machines should become disabled, the overall performance of the entire system is substantially degraded. A further prior art arrangement is known as network computing via “clusters” as is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4 . In this approach, the entire application is loaded onto each of the machines M 1 , M 2 . . . Mn. Each machine communicates with a common database but does not communicate directly with the other machines. Although each machine runs the same application, each machine is doing a different “job” and uses only its own memory. This is somewhat analogous to a number of windows each of which sell train tickets to the public. This approach does operate, is scalable and mainly suffers from the disadvantage that it is difficult to administer the network. In computer languages such as JAVA and MICROSOFT.NET there are two major types of constructs with which programmers deal. In the JAVA language these are known as objects and classes. Every time an object is created there is an initialization routine run known as “<init>”. Similarly, every time a class is loaded there is an initialization routine known as “<clinit>”. Other languages use different terms but utilize a similar concept. However, there is no equivalent “clean up” or deletion routine to delete an object or class once it is no longer required. Instead, this “clean up” happens unobtrusively in a background mode. Furthermore, in any computer environment it is necessary to acquire and release a lock to enable the use of such assets, resources or structures to avoid different parts of the application program attempting to use the same resource at the one time. In the JAVA environment this is known as synchronization. This is achieved in JAVA by the “monitor enter” and “monitor exit” instructions or routines. Other languages use different terms but utilize a similar concept. The present invention discloses a computing environment in which an application program operates simultaneously on a plurality of computers. In such an environment it is necessary to ensure that the abovementioned initialization, clean up and synchronization procedures operate in a consistent and coordinated fashion across all the machines. It is this goal of coordination that is the genesis of the present invention. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a multiple computer system having at least one application program running simultaneously on a plurality of computers interconnected by a communications network, wherein a like plurality of substantially identical objects are created, each in the corresponding computer and each having a substantially identical name, wherein the initial contents of each of said identically named objects is substantially the same, wherein all said identical objects are collectively deleted when each one of said plurality of computers no longer needs to refer to their corresponding object, and wherein said system includes a lock means applicable to all said computers wherein any computer wishing to utilize a named object therein acquires an authorizing lock from said lock means which permits said utilization and which prevents all the other computers from utilizing their corresponding named object until said authorizing lock is relinquished. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of running at least one application program on a plurality of computers simultaneously, said computers being interconnected by means of a communications network, said method comprising the steps of: (i) creating a like plurality of substantially identical objects each in the corresponding computer and each having a substantially identical name, (ii) creating the initial contents of each of said identically named objects substantially the same, (iii) deleting all said identical objects collectively when all of said plurality of computers no longer need to refer to their corresponding object, and (iv) requiring any of said computers wishing to utilize a named object therein to acquire an authorizing lock which permits said utilization and which prevents all the other computers from utilizing their corresponding named object until said authorizing lock is relinquished. In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a computer program product comprising a set of program instructions stored in a storage medium and operable to permit a plurality of computers to carry out the abovementioned method. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the internal architecture of a conventional computer, FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing the internal architecture of known symmetric multiple processors, FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of prior art distributed computing, FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a prior art network computing using clusters, FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a plurality of machines operating the same application program in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a prior art computer arranged to operate JAVA code and thereby constitute a JAVA virtual machine, FIG. 7 is a drawing similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the initial loading of code in accordance with the preferred embodiment, FIG. 8 is a drawing similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the interconnection of a plurality of computers each operating JAVA code in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 , FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the procedure followed during loading of the same application on each machine in the network, FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a modified procedure similar to that of FIG. 9 , FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of multiple thread processing carried out on the machines of FIG. 8 utilizing a first embodiment of memory updating, FIG. 12 is a schematic representation similar to FIG. 11 but illustrating an alternative embodiment, FIG. 13 illustrates multi-thread memory updating for the computers of FIG. 8 , FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a prior art computer arranged to operate in JAVA code and thereby constitute a JAVA virtual machine, FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of n machines running the application program and serviced by an additional server machine X, FIG. 16 is a flow chart of illustrating the modification of initialization routines, FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating the continuation or abortion of initialization routines, FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating the enquiry sent to the server machine X, FIG. 19 is a flow chart of the response of the server machine X to the request of FIG. 18 , FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a modified initialization routine for the <clinit> instruction, FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a modified initialization routine for the <init> instruction, FIG. 22 is a flow chart of illustrating the modification of “clean up” or finalization routines, FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating the continuation or abortion of finalization routines, FIG. 24 is a flow chart illustrating the enquiry sent to the server machine X, FIG. 25 is a flow chart of the response of the server machine X to the request of FIG. 24 , FIG. 26 is a flow chart of illustrating the modification of the monitor enter and exit routines, FIG. 27 is a flow chart illustrating the process followed by processing machine in requesting the acquisition of a lock, FIG. 28 is a flow chart illustrating the requesting of the release of a lock, FIG. 29 is a flow chart of the response of the server machine X to the request of FIG. 27 , FIG. 30 is a flow chart illustrating the response of the server machine X to the request of FIG. 28 , FIG. 31 is a schematic representation of two laptop computers interconnected to simultaneously run a plurality of applications, with both applications running on a single computer, FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 31 but showing the FIG. 31 apparatus with one application operating on each computer, and FIG. 33 is a view similar to FIGS. 31 and 32 but showing the FIG. 31 apparatus with both applications operating simultaneously on both computers. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? The specification includes Annexures A, B, C and D which provide actual program fragments which implement various aspects of the described embodiments. Annexure A relates to fields and Annexure B relates to initialization. Annexure C relates to finalization. Annexure D relates to synchronization. |
Double clutch transmission for motor vehicles |
The transmission comprises: a first input shaft carrying first, second and third driving gearwheels associated to odd gears and to a reverse gear; a second input shaft made in the form of a hollow shaft coaxial with the first input shaft and carrying fourth and fifth driving gearwheels associated to even gears; a first friction clutch for coupling the first input shaft to a driving shaft of the vehicle; a second friction clutch for coupling the second input shaft to the driving shaft; a first output shaft arranged parallel to the first and second input shafts and carrying a first idle driven gearwheel meshing with the first driving gearwheel for providing a first gear, a second idle driven gearwheel meshing with the second driving gearwheel for providing a third gear and a third idle driven gearwheel meshing with the fifth driving gearwheel for providing a sixth gear, as well as a first engagement sleeve for selectively engaging the first or the third gear and a second engagement sleeve for engaging the sixth gear; and a second output shaft arranged parallel to the first and second input shafts and carrying a fourth idle driven gearwheel meshing with the first idle driven gearwheel for providing the reverse gear, a fifth idle driven gearwheel meshing with the third driving gearwheel for providing a fifth gear, a sixth idle driven gearwheel meshing with the fourth driving gearwheel for providing a second gear, and a seventh idle driven gearwheel meshing with the fifth driving gearwheel for providing a fourth gear, as well as a third engagement sleeve for selectively engaging the reverse gear or the fifth gear and a fourth engagement sleeve for selectively engaging the second or the fourth gear. |
1. A double clutch transmission for motor vehicles, comprising: a first input shaft carrying first, second and third driving gearwheels associated to odd gears and to a reverse gear; a second input shaft made in the form of a hollow shaft coaxial with the first input shaft and carrying fourth and fifth driving gearwheels associated to even gears; a first friction clutch for coupling the first input shaft to a driving shaft of the vehicle; a second friction clutch for coupling the second input shaft to the driving shaft; a first output shaft arranged parallel to the first and second input shafts and carrying a first idle driven gearwheel permanently meshing with the first driving gearwheel for providing a first gear, a second idle driven gearwheel permanently meshing with the second driving gearwheel for providing a third gear and a third idle driven gearwheel permanently meshing with the fifth driving gearwheel for providing a sixth gear, as well as a first engagement sleeve for selectively engaging the first or the third gear and a second engagement sleeve for engaging the sixth gear; and a second output shaft arranged parallel to the first and second input shafts and carrying a fourth idle driven gearwheel permanently meshing with the first idle driven gearwheel for providing the reverse gear, a fifth idle driven gearwheel permanently meshing with the third driving gearwheel for providing a fifth gear, a sixth idle driven gearwheel permanently meshing with the fourth driving gearwheel for providing a second gear, and a seventh idle driven gearwheel permanently meshing with the fifth driving gearwheel for providing a fourth gear, as well as a third engagement sleeve for selectively engaging the reverse gear or the fifth gear and a fourth engagement sleeve for selectively engaging the second or the fourth gear. 2. A transmission according to claim 1, wherein the fifth driving gearwheel is arranged on the side of the transmission facing the friction clutches, while the first driving gearwheel is arranged on the axially opposite side of the transmission. 3. A transmission according to claim 1, wherein the first output shaft further carries an eighth idle driven gearwheel interposed between the second and third driven gearwheels for providing a seventh gear. 4. A transmission according to claim 3, wherein the eighth driven gearwheel permanently meshes with the third driving gearwheel. 5. A transmission according to claim 3, wherein the second engagement sleeve is arranged selectively to engage the seventh or the sixth gear. 6. A transmission according to claim 1, wherein the first friction clutch is normally engaged, while the second friction clutch is normally disengaged. 7. A transmission according to claim 1, wherein both the first and second friction clutches are dry friction clutches. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to a double clutch transmission for motor vehicles, with six or seven gears. A six-gear double clutch transmission for motor vehicles is known from Italian patent application No. T02001A000286 in the name of the applicant. This known arrangement enables all the gear changes to be made in the so-called power-shift mode, that is to say, with controlled transfer of power and torque between the two friction clutches. The above-mentioned double clutch transmission for motor vehicles suffers from the disadvantage of having a different structure from that of ordinary single clutch transmissions, whether manual or robotized. Therefore, this double clutch transmission cannot be easily produced from the associated single clutch transmission but requires dedicated production systems, with a consequent increase in manufacturing costs. A further example of a six-gear double clutch transmission for motor vehicles is known from FR 2 802 600. According to this known arrangement, the transmission comprises: a first input shaft carrying a driving gearwheel associated to both the first gear and the reverse gear, a driving gearwheel associated to the third gear and a driving gearwheel associated to the fifth gear, a second input shaft made in the form of a hollow shaft coaxial with the first and carrying a driving gearwheel associated to the second gear and a driving gearwheel associated to both the fourth gear and the sixth gear, a first output shaft carrying driven gearwheels of first, third, fifth and sixth gear, as well as a first engagement sleeve for selectively engaging the first or the third gear and a second engagement sleeve for selectively engaging the fifth or the sixth gear, and a second output shaft carrying driven gearwheels of reverse, second and fourth gear, as well as a third engagement sleeve for engaging the reverse gear and a fourth engagement sleeve for selectively engaging the second or the fourth gear. Also this arrangement does not allow shifting between the fifth and the sixth gear in power-shift mode. However, this limitation does not adversely affect the driving comfort, since the jerk occurring in the vehicle upon shifting between the two highest gears is contained and therefore scarcely noticeable by the driver. On the other hand, this known architecture is not well suitable for a seven-gear double clutch transmission. In fact, switching from a six-gear to a seven-gear transmission while retaining the advantage of enabling all the gear changes to be made in the power-shift mode, except for that between the two highest gears, would involve an increase in the axial size of the transmission, since the driven gearwheel of seventh gear could not be placed on the second output shaft in the free space between the driven gearwheels of reverse and second gear but should be placed on the first output shaft next to the driven gearwheel of sixth gear. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a double clutch transmission for motor vehicles, which can be switched from the six-gear to the seventh-speed configuration with no increase in the overall axial size of the transmission, and which have a high level of synergy between the double clutch configuration and the corresponding single clutch configuration, whether manual or robotized, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs. These and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a double clutch transmission for motor vehicles having the characteristics specified in the attached claims. As will be made clear by the following description, a transmission according to the invention makes it possible to maximize the number of components in common with the single clutch configuration, whether manual or robotized, and the corresponding double clutch configuration, and to minimize the number of modifications required for switching from one configuration to the other. Both the single clutch and double clutch configurations of the transmission can thus be manufactured on the same production line, and therefore at lower cost. Additionally, a transmission according to the invention offers high flexibility of configuration, since it allows the production of either a very compact and inexpensive manual version or a more sophisticated double clutch version with six or seven gears. Another advantage is given by the reduction in the overall axial size of the transmission. A further advantage is the reduction of the number of driving gearwheels, owing to the sharing of some gears. In particular, the sharing of the reverse gear enables the reverse gear shaft to be dispensed with. |
Processing on a transporter |
A device and method for transport of flexible, two dimensional products and performance of associated production processing of those products, by which the flexible, two-dimensional products are serially conveyed to a workstation and are conveyed away from the workstation again by the same gripper transporter, which enables the workstation to be selectively removed from the production process being performed along the transport path of the printed products, and to be selectively re-introduced again the transport path, in a flexible manner. |
1. A method for the transport and any occurring processing of flexible, two-dimensional products, in particular printed products with which the flexible, two-dimensional products with the help of a transporter are conveyed to a working station and with this are again conveyed away from the working station, characterized in the working station may be removed from the transport path of the printed products and may be introduced into this again, in a flexible manner. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the working station is removed from the transport path of the transporter by way of pivoting or lowering or lifting, wherein these movements are preferably carried out electrically and/or hydraulically and/or pneumatically. 3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that with multi-part working stations, the individual parts of the working station are removed from the transport path or are introduced into this by way of pivoting or lowering or lifting, wherein the individual parts may be subjected to different movements. 4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that with the help of a control means in each case a logical allocation between flexible, two-dimensional products and grippers of the transporter is effected. 5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the same gripper which has conveyed a flexible, two-dimensional product to the working station also conveys this flexible, two-dimensional product away from the working station. 6. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripper during the processing of the flexible, two-dimensional product in the working station is guided synchronously with the flexible, two-dimensional product, wherein the grippers for the processing may be opened or may also remain closed. 7. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripper which has conveyed a flexible, two-dimensional product to the working station conveys another flexible, two-dimensional product away from the working station. 8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible, two-dimensional product is supported by a support element, for processing. 9. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible, two-dimensional products on their transport are supplied to several working stations with the same transporter, wherein the working stations with regard to the transport path of the transporter are preferably arranged downstream in a serial manner or in parallel-guided lines of the transporter which are connected to one another via diverters. 10. A device for transporting and for any occurring processing of flexible, two-dimensional products with a transporter which conveys the flexible, two-dimensional products to a working station and also leads these away from the working station, characterised in that the working station may be removed from the transport path of the flexible, two-dimensional printed products and may be introduced into this again, in a flexible manner. 11. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that a control means is provided, with whose help a logical allocation of flexible, two-dimensional products and grippers of the transporter is ensured at every time. 12. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the transport path of the transporter is selected such that the grippers of the transporter during the processing of the flexible two-dimensional product may be synchronously led with the flexible two-dimensional product, wherein the control of the grippers, in particular a control slotted guide for the grippers may be set (adjusted) in the region of the processing in a variable manner such that the grippers for the processing of the flexible, two-dimensional products may be opened or may also remain closed. 13. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that the transporter with its transport path is led past the working station or through this, and the working station in particular comprises a covering. 14. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that several working stations are provided along the transport path of the transporter, which preferably are arranged downstream in a serial manner or in parallel lines of the transporter, said lines being connected to one another via diverters. 15. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that as the workstation, connecting devices—in particular stapling/stitching apparatus, ultrasonic means, devices for adhesive binding—and/or devices for inserting flexible, two-dimensional products, and/or the end of a collection or collection stapling/stitching path and/or the end of an insertion and/or insertion stapling/stitching path or a cutting station. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of Invention The invention relates to conveyors and, more particularly, to methods and devices for transferring and for processing of flexible, two-dimensional products, such as printed products. 2. Related Art In the conveyor technology and, in particular, conveyor technology for the conveyance of flexible, two-dimensional objects such as printed products, it is known in the art to convey such flexible, two-dimensional objects, or printed products, with the help of grippers that grasp the objects and serve as transporters. In particular, the products are conveyed from one workstation to the next workstation with the help of such gripper transporters. Each gripper transporter is, as a rule, driven at the same time and is controlled separately. This demands a corresponding number of drive units and controllers, which concomitantly requires a correspondingly high expense invested in capital equipment and in the maintenance of that equipment. Transport between the workstations is effected along working paths with such gripper transporters, which are not at all flexible in use. If one working step is to be omitted from the manufacturing process, then a new transport path needs to be constructed to pass the associated workstation; moreover, when a workstation is removed from the working path, a transport path with a gripper transporter needs to span the space of the workstation that was removed. Consequently, I have discovered that any change in the work flow process may be both time and cost intensive. Examples of such inflexible working paths are disclosed in a patent entitled Process And Device For Handling Printed Products by Ernst Lüthi, issued as EP 0762950 B1, and in a patent entitled Improvements In Printing Machines by Herbert Fumival, et alii, issued as GB 5861 on the 9 th of February 1910. In GB 5861, the printed product to be cut is carried by the grippers of a gripper transporter to a cutting station, is transferred to the cutting station, and after the cutting, is transported away from the cutting station by way of either the grippers of the same transporter or by the grippers of a second gripper transporter connected downstream. In EP 0762950, the printed products that are conveyed during the cutting process are transferred to tension clips in order to stabilize these products during the cutting process, and are held in a fixed position. The grippers of the gripper transporter remain allocated during the cutting process to the printed products held by the tensioning clips so that the printed products are supplied to the cutting station and are led away from the cutting station again in each case by the same grippers. In both devices, the cutting stations are a fixed component of the transport device. Such devices however, provide only desultory satisfaction of contemporary demands for a rapid resetting of the production line, e.g. a switch in production from large daily newspapers to weekly magazines, brochures and to different newspapers and magazines of varying size. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved device and method for transporting two-dimensional, flexible products between workstations. It is another object to provide a device and method amenable to quick and inexpensive reconfiguration, for transporting flat objects of varying dimensions between a sequence of workstations. It is still another object to provide a device and method for transporting two-dimensional, flexible products between workstations in an inexpensive and flexible manner. It is yet another object to provide a device and a method with which the transport and any associated processing of two-dimensional, flexible products may be achieved in an inexpensive and flexible manner. It is a further object to provide a device and a method with which the transport and any associated processing of two-dimensional, flexible products may be achieved between a varying plurality of workstations in an inexpensive and flexible manner. It is an additional object to provide a device and a method amenable to rapid accommodation of alterations in the manufacturing processing of two-dimensional, flexible products. According to the principles of the invention, the method and the device contemplate transport of each of a stream of flexible, two-dimensional manufacturing products, and in particular, printed products, with the same gripper transporter conveying an object to a workstation as well as away from that workstation. With the guidance of a controller, a logical allocation may be made between the flexible, two-dimensional products and grippers of the gripper transport in each case. Additional workstations may be introduced into the transport path and other workstations may be removed from the transport path, according to specific requirements for the current production run. In this manner, both the investment in capital equipment and the cost of maintenance for the capital equipment may be reduced to that for a single gripper transporter while concomitantly rendering the production line more flexible and readily adaptable to the specifications for different products. Flexible, two-dimensional products may be grasped and held by the grippers of the transporter at either the open end or at the fold. Control may be realized in a particularly simple manner with a logical allocation of the same gripper that has conveyed a flexible, two-dimensional product to a workstation also transporting the same flexible, two-dimensional product away from that workstation. At the same time, control is simplified because the gripper of the flexible two-dimensional product may be synchronously led together with the flexible, two-dimensional product during the manufacturing process, wherein the control of the gripper, and in particular, a slotted control guide for the gripper in the region of the processing, may be set in a variable manner so that the grippers for the conveyance of flexible, two-dimensional products may be either opened or may alternatively remain closed. Closed grippers are, above all, very useful for printed products, such as products assembled with several sheets folded together as a tabloid or products assembled with the insertion of enclosures between several sheets that have been folded together or that are to be connected to one another, such as by way of either stapling, stitching, gluing or other bonding of the constituent parts. The controller however, regulates the device and the processes performed so that there is a logical allocation of grippers and flexible, two-dimensional products to one another, with a gripper which has conveyed a flexible, two-dimensional product to a workstation, conveying another flexible, two-dimensional product away from the workstation. In this manner the controller may master speed differences. Where necessary during the manufacturing process, flexible, two-dimensional products are supported during their manufacture by a support element. Depending upon whether the flexible, two-dimensional products are grasped and held by the grippers of the transporter at their open ends or at their folds, the products are either deposited onto the support elements with their folds upright and at the top or, alternatively, the support elements may be introduced between the products and support the flexible, two-dimensional products at their folds, which are directed downwardly. The transport may lead over several workstations which may be arranged downstream in a serial manner along the transport path of the gripper transporter, or alternatively, arranged in parallel guided lines of the gripper transporter that are connected to one another via diverters, or points. Workstations may be removed from the transport path of the gripper transporter by way of pivoting, or by hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically induced movement, such as by lowering or lifting the workstation, and the work paths may be rearranged in a very flexible manner; consequently the practice of the invention accommodates changes in the number and types of workstations, as well an rearrangement of the path of conveyance without much technical effort, thereby readily permitting the omission or incorporation of work steps into the path of conveyance through the manufacturing process. If a device constructed according to the principles of the present invention is designed to lead a transporter along its transport path past a workstation, then the workstation preferably comprises a covering. When a corresponding step and the associated workstation are omitted from the manufacturing process, problems which would formerly be attributable to the conveyance of the flexible, two-dimensional products past the unused workstation may be conveniently avoided in the practice of the present invention. Connecting devices, and in particular, stapling or stitching apparatus, or combined stapling and stitching apparatus, ultrasonic devices, mechanisms to apply glue or other adhesives for bindings, devices to place inserts into flexible, two-dimensional products, end-of-path collection, collection stapling, or stitching, paths, end-of-path insertion, and insertion, stapling, or stitching paths may be selectively provided as workstations, in conformance with the specifications of each manufacturing process. |
Repositioning device, garment, and posture molding method and training instruction method using them |
A repositioning device and a garment (101), to be used in daily activities or exercise, correct one's posture to a proper ideal one and create superior body balance. A posture molding method and a training instruction method utilize the repositioning device and the garment. The repositioning device contains a vibration generator inside a case. From the vibration generator, vibratory stimulation is provided to the skin on a human body surface, thereby promoting neurotransmission in muscles. The garment (101) is equipped with point stimulation parts (10a) and/or surface stimulation parts (10b) for promoting facilitation and inhibition of neurotransmission in muscles, respectively. In molding a posture or giving training instructions, a practitioner/trainer utilizes the repositioning device and the garment (101) to facilitate and/or inhibit neurotransmission in muscles. |
1. A repositioning device which comprises a case applicable to a human body surface and having a hollow chamber therein, and one or more pieces contained in the case, wherein a space for permitting rolling and bouncing movements of the one or more pieces is defined in the hollow chamber of the case, the one or more pieces vibrate the case by rolling and bouncing inside the hollow chamber in response to body movements, and the case is made in such a size as to secure a space for generating such vibrations in the space inside the hollow chamber, to provide vibratory stimulation to a part of the skin corresponding to a human body surface to which the case is applied, and to facilitate neurotransmission in at least one muscle at said part. 2. A repositioning device which comprises a case applicable to a human body surface, a vibration generator arranged to generate vibrations in a range of 3 Hz to 5 MHz, a power source for supplying power to the vibration generator, and a controller for controlling generation of vibrations by the vibration generator, wherein the case is made in such a size that vibratory stimulation by the vibration generator is transmitted to a part of the skin corresponding to a human body surface to which the case is applied, and that the vibratory stimulation facilitates neurotransmission in at least one muscle at said part. 3. A repositioning device according to claim 2, wherein the vibration generator generates vibrations in a range of 100 Hz to 200 Hz. 4. A repositioning device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to control the stimulation to the skin in such a manner as to prevent neurotransmission facilitated in at least one muscle from being accustomed and adapted to the stimulation. 5. A garment which comprises at least either of a point stimulation part or a surface stimulation part, with a proviso that muscles involved in antigravitational exercise are classified into groups, according to the degree of muscle tone which is affected by postural difference and by laterality-related difference in neurotransmission, wherein the point stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a skin surface within an area ranging from an origin to an insertion of at least one muscle selected from said muscle groups, and with a person wearing the garment, the point stimulation part facilitates neurotransmission in the at least one muscle, and the surface stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a functional skin area of at least one muscle selected from said muscle groups, and with a person wearing the garment, the surface stimulation part inhibits neurotransmission in the at least one muscle. 6. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the point stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a skin surface within an area ranging from an origin to an insertion of at least one multiarticular muscle, said muscle being selected from a group of multiarticular muscles having high muscle tone, in such a manner as to mold an ideal exercise posture. 7. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the point stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a skin surface within an area ranging from an origin to an insertion of at least one monoarticular muscle, said muscle being selected from a group of monoarticular muscles having high muscle tone, in such a manner as to mold an ideal exercise posture. 8. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the point stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a skin surface within an area ranging from an origin to an insertion of at least one multiarticular muscle, said muscle being selected from a group of multiarticular muscles having low muscle tone, in such a manner as to mold an ideal exercise posture. 9. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the point stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a skin surface within an area ranging from an origin to an insertion of at least one monoarticular muscle, said muscle being selected from a group of monoarticular muscles having low muscle tone, in such a manner as to mold an ideal exercise posture. 10. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the surface stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a functional skin area of at least one multiarticular muscle, said muscle being selected from a group of multiarticular muscles having high muscle tone, in such a manner as to mold an ideal exercise posture. 11. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the surface stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a functional skin area of at least one monoarticular muscle, said muscle being selected from a group of monoarticular muscles having high muscle tone, in such a manner as to mold an ideal exercise posture. 12. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the surface stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a functional skin area of at least one multiarticular muscle, said muscle being selected from a group of multiarticular muscles having low muscle tone, in such a manner as to mold an ideal exercise posture. 13. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the surface stimulation part is formed at a location corresponding to a functional skin area of at least one monoarticular muscle, said muscle being selected from a group of monoarticular muscles having low muscle tone, in such a manner as to mold an ideal exercise posture. 14. A garment according to claim 5, wherein at least either of the point stimulation part or the surface stimulation part is positioned asymmetrically in such a manner as to improve generation and use of power in muscle activity, with said muscle activity being considered in terms of a sagittal plane, a frontal plane, a horizontal plane, and the human anatomical position which involves said planes altogether. 15. A garment according to claim 5, wherein at least either of the point stimulation part or the surface stimulation part is positioned asymmetrically in such a manner as to improve skill in muscle activity, with said muscle activity being considered in terms of a sagittal plane, a frontal plane, a horizontal plane, and the human anatomical position which involves said planes altogether. 16. A garment according to claim 5, wherein at least either of the point stimulation part or the surface stimulation part is provided with respect to at least either one of a pair of muscles which are three-dimensionally antagonistic to each other. 17. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the point stimulation part generates stimulation which is strong enough to be recognized by receptors in the skin, the surface stimulation part generates stimulation which is strong enough to be recognized by C-fibers, and stimulation generated by the point stimulation part and stimulation generated by the surface stimulation part are designed to be more intense than stimulation generated by any other part. 18. A garment according to claim 17, wherein at least either of the point stimulation part or the surface stimulation part generates stimulation by one or more projections made on a skin side of a fabric. 19. A garment according to claim 17, wherein at least either of the point stimulation part or the surface stimulation part is a projecting pattern formed on a skin side of a fabric, the projecting pattern being formed at a corresponding part after the fabric is manufactured. 20. A garment according to claim 17, wherein at least either of the point stimulation part or the surface stimulation part generates heat stimulation or cold stimulation. 21. A garment according to claim 17, wherein at least either of the point stimulation part or the surface stimulation part derives from a fabric composition. 22. A garment according to claim 17, wherein a fiber which constitutes at least either of the point stimulation part or the surface stimulation part is different from a fiber which constitutes a fabric composition for the rest of the garment. 23. A garment according to claim 17, which is formed to fit closely on a body of a person who wears it, such that the surface stimulation part applies a greater clothing pressure than the rest of the garment. 24. A posture molding method for molding an ideal posture which comprises: using a garment according to claim 5; promoting facilitation of neurotransmission and raising awareness of a desired muscle by a point stimulation part which is formed at a location corresponding to a skin surface within an area ranging from an origin to an insertion of at least one muscle selected from said muscle groups; and/or promoting inhibition of neurotransmission and decreasing awareness of a desired muscle by a surface stimulation part which is formed at a location corresponding to a functional skin area of at least one muscle selected from said muscle groups. 25. A posture molding method for molding an ideal posture which comprises: with a proviso that muscles involved in antigravitational exercise are classified into groups, according to the degree of muscle tone which is affected by postural difference and by laterality-related difference in neurotransmission, providing a point stimulator and/or a surface stimulator at a location corresponding to a skin surface within an area ranging from an origin to an insertion of at least one muscle selected from said muscle groups, wherein said point stimulator promotes facilitation of neurotransmission in the muscle and raises awareness of the muscle, and said surface stimulator promotes inhibition of neurotransmission in the muscle and decreases awareness of the muscle. 26. A posture molding method for molding an ideal posture according to claim 25, wherein the point stimulator is provided for an agonist and facilitates muscle activity of the agonist, and said facilitation improves generation and use of power in muscle activity. 27. A posture molding method for molding an ideal posture according to claim 25, wherein the surface stimulator is provided for an antagonist which is antagonistic to an agonist, and inhibits muscle activity of the antagonist, and said inhibition improves generation and use of power in muscle activity. 28. A posture molding method for molding an ideal posture according to claim 25, wherein the point stimulator is provided for an agonist and facilitates muscle activity of the agonist, the surface stimulator is provided for an antagonist which is antagonistic to the agonist, and inhibits muscle activity of the antagonist, and a combination of said facilitation and inhibition improves generation and use of power in muscle activity. 29. A posture molding method for molding an ideal posture according to claim 25, wherein the surface stimulator is provided for an agonist and inhibits muscle activity of the agonist, and said inhibition improves skill in muscle activity. 30. A posture molding method for molding an ideal posture according to claim 25, wherein the point stimulator is provided for an antagonist which is antagonistic to an agonist, and enhances muscle activity of the antagonist, and said enhancement improves skill in muscle activity. 31. A posture molding method for molding an ideal posture according to claim 25, wherein the surface stimulator is provided for an agonist and inhibits muscle activity of the agonist, the point stimulator is provided for an antagonist which is antagonistic to the agonist, and enhances muscle activity of the antagonist, and a combination of said inhibition and enhancement improves skill in muscle activity. 32. A training instruction method which comprises: using a garment according to claim 5, and allowing a person to perform exercise while promoting facilitation of neurotransmission and raising awareness of a desired muscle by a point stimulation part which is formed at a location corresponding to a skin surface within an area ranging from an origin to an insertion of at least one muscle selected from said muscle groups, and/or while promoting inhibition of neurotransmission and decreasing awareness of a desired muscle by a surface stimulation part which is formed at a location corresponding to a functional skin area of at least one muscle selected from said muscle groups. 33. A training instruction method which comprises: with a proviso that muscles involved in antigravitational exercise are classified into groups, according to the degree of muscle tone which is affected by postural difference and by laterality-related difference in neurotransmission, allowing a person to perform exercise while providing a point stimulator and/or a surface stimulator at a location corresponding to a skin surface within an area ranging from an origin to an insertion of at least one muscle selected from said muscle groups, wherein said point stimulator promotes facilitation of neurotransmission in the muscle and raises awareness of the muscle, and said surface stimulator promotes inhibition of neurotransmission in the muscle and decreases awareness of the muscle. 34. A training instruction method according to claim 33, wherein the point stimulator is provided for an agonist and facilitates muscle activity of the agonist, and said facilitation improves generation and use of power in muscle activity. 35. A training instruction method according to claim 33, wherein the surface stimulator is provided for an antagonist which is antagonistic to an agonist, and inhibits muscle activity of the antagonist, and said inhibition improves generation and use of power in muscle activity. 36. A training instruction method according to claim 33, wherein the point stimulator is provided for an agonist and facilitates muscle activity of the agonist, the surface stimulator is provided for an antagonist which is antagonistic to the agonist, and inhibits muscle activity of the antagonist, and a combination of said facilitation and inhibition improves generation and use of power in muscle activity. 37. A training instruction method according to claim 33, wherein the surface stimulator is provided for an agonist and inhibits muscle activity of the agonist, and said inhibition improves skill in muscle activity. 38. A training instruction method according to claim 33, wherein the point stimulator is provided for an antagonist which is antagonistic to an agonist, and enhances muscle activity of the antagonist, and said enhancement improves skill in muscle activity. 39. A training instruction method according to claim 33, wherein the surface stimulator is provided for an agonist and inhibits muscle activity of the agonist, the point stimulator is provided for an antagonist which is antagonistic the agonist, and enhances muscle activity of the antagonist, and a combination of said inhibition and enhancement improves skill in muscle activity. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In the process of human growth, the brain of a baby develops, first and foremost, fundamental neurotransmission networks for basic movements of body parts, such as hands and feet. The next step, which also starts in the infancy, is to develop neurotransmission networks concerning asymmetrical and unequal movements (e.g. right-handedness or left-handedness). On earth, we live and grow up under gravity, while maintaining the laterality (inequality between the right part and the left part of the body). Eventually, it is difficult for us to keep superior body balance and an ability to support the body equally in anteroposterior, side-to-side and twisting movements. To put it differently, a human being perceives relative positions of the body parts by usually unconscious proprioception. Proprioception itself is inaccurate with respect to body balance and body support ability mentioned above. Hence, strictly speaking, the muscles and skeleton which develop with proprioception are not perfectly equal but unequal. In daily activities, muscular power of the whole body weakens with age. Therefore, in order to maintain a healty life, we should continue moderate exercises, thereby preventing weakening of muscular power and keeping superior body balance. If a man habitually relies on inaccurate proprioception, some muscles weaken and impose heavier loads on other muscles and joints. As a result, he may develop lumbar pain, joint pain or other impairment, and in a worst case, may be bedridden. Regarding the youth whose muscular power is not yet deteriorated, it is still necessary to strengthen muscles to an advanced level and to create superior body balance and excellent body support ability, for accomplishment of prominent athletic performance. For this goal, they may keep on doing exercises beyond a certain intensity or a certain range of motion of joints, or doing intensive training by relying on proprioception. As a result of such wrong exercises or training, however, some muscles and joints may be overloaded and injured in the end. Conventionally, deficit in body balance is treated by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). In PNF, application of stimulation to ineffective muscles facilitates neurotransmission in these muscles and helps recovery of body balance. To stimulate muscles, a practitioner or a trainer instructs a patient to perform lengthening contraction (eccentric exercises) of desired muscles. As an alternative, a skin surface is brushed or rubbed otherwise over a desired muscle. However, even when neurotransmission in muscles is facilitated in the conventional manner, it takes a considerably long time until correct post-repositioning movement is settled as extrapyramidal exercise which depends on usually unconscious proprioception (until pyramidal exercise shifts to extrapyramidal reflex exercise). Accordingly, facilitation of neurotransmission in muscles must be continued for a long period until correct movement is effected by proprioception. Regrettably, if a patient quits the repositioning treatment halfway, he returns to the previous manner of exercise movement which depends on inaccurate proprioception, causing recurrence of the same injury. If inaccurate proprioception is settled stubbornly, the repositioning effect disappears quickly. Even though neurotransmission in muscles may be facilitated for a while after repositioning, a patient soon tends to resume the previous manner of exercise which depends on inaccurate proprioception. In this situation, neurotransmission in muscles has to be facilitated frequently. If there is a long interval between treatment sessions, he returns to the previous manner of exercise which depends on inaccurate proprioception, causing recurrence of the same injury. Thus, when a person gets injured due to deficit in body balance, the patient needs not only frequent repositioning treatment in an initial stage of treatment, but also long-term treatment for complete recovery. Having said that, repeated visits to the practitioner are bothering and costly. Apart from PNF, there are other manners for preventing muscle weakening and improving muscular power, including a variety of exercises such as walking, running and swimming, as well as sport-specific training. In addition, training devices utilizing electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) have been suggested. Such training devices apply a low-frequency electric current to the human body via a pad which is attached to the skin surface of a human body. The electric current causes shortening (concentric) contraction of muscles, thereby strengthening muscular power. As described, the conventional training devices for strengthening muscular power are based on electrical stimulation. Hence, for some users who have a pacemaker or other medical equipment implanted in the body, the training devices have a risk of troubles by resonating with the medical equipment. Similarly, if a metal part is embedded in the body (e.g. while fractured bones are fixed by a plate), there is a possibility of heat generation and electric burn. Further regarding the above conventional training devices which apply a low-frequency electric current to the human body, a pad has to be attached to the body surface by a gel. If the pad is not properly attached, electricity may flow across the skin surface and gives pain to the user. Besides, it is laborious and uncomfortable to attach the pad by using a gel. In particular, a person with sensitive skin is poisoned by gel or pad materials. Furthermore, the above conventional training devices induce muscular contraction in reponse to electrical input. However, if they are used at an unsuitable intensity, the user feels a strong muscle cramp or may even end with myorrhexis or moderate muscle strain when a muscle contracts during exercise. In daily activities and exercises, the devices give a light load to muscles and are unlikely to cause injury during constant length (isometric) contraction. On the other hand, during shortening (concentric) contraction, muscles are overloaded by their inherent contraction as well as the device-assisted contraction, so that the muscles are likely to suffer from myorrhexis or muscle strain. Furthermore, during lengthening (eccentric) contraction, which is always accompanied by shortening contraction of muscles (i.e. muscle contraction induced by operation of the EMS), muscles receive maximum loads and are vulnerable to more serious injuries. What is more, the user feels increased constraint and reduced mobility in muscles, losing smoothness and efficiency in movement. Thus, the devices adversely affect user's activity if they are used in daily activities or exercises. In the case of the conventional training devices, a low-frequency current radiates from a pad. Hence, stimulation cannot be pinpointed to a desired muscle alone. The conventional training devices are said to strengthen muscular power by electrically stimulating shortening exercises of muscles. However, such exercises are passive and performed only by muscles in a limited area where a low-frequency current diffuses via a pad, in contrast to active exercises (e.g. running, swimming) which involve mutual interaction of many muscles in the whole body under the influence of gravity. Thus, the conventional devices strengthen only limited muscles, irrespective of the influence of gravity which is critical in keeping body balance. This factor increases a fear of worsening body balance. In the case where injury results from deficit in body balance, a loaded muscle or joint is assisted by application of taping or by using a supporter, with a view to keeping body balance and body support ability. In addition, if a person knows through experience which muscle or joint is loaded, he applies taping or uses a supporter in advance as a preventive measure. In this regard, many attempts have been made to prevent injuries (muscle strain, and rupture or damage of ligaments and tendons) by supporting a part of muscles and assisting joint support power, without restricting muscle movements during exercise. Clothes proposed therefor are arranged to apply gentle pressure to certain muscles and strong pressure to their adjacent edges, or to apply gentle pressure to central parts of the elbow or knee joints and strong pressure to their periphery (see Patent Document 1, as an example). <Patent Document 1> Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H8-117382 (JP 8-117382 A) Nevertheless, the above-mentioned conventional taping, supporter, clothes and the like are designed to apply strong pressure to muscles to be moved actively, so that muscle tone of such muscles decreases. Although the conventional clothes are originally intended to provide an effect of fixing a joint and assisting muscular power, these items fail to do so. Specifically speaking, when we receive severe stimulation (e.g. bruise) to our skin or muscle, we touch and stroke the injured area by a hand in an attempt to reduce or suppress the pain quickly, because we instinctively know this action does soothe the pain. In fact, Margaret Rood proves that stroking (brushing) and other stimulation can reduce pain. Another actual effect of stroking (brushing) is suppression of excessive sweating. To give an example, kimono fitters or the like experimentally learn that sweating is suppressed by tightening an obi (a belt) and a himo (a cord), and they put this into practice. As understood by these phenomena, surface-like pressure or touch (as opposed to point-like pressure or touch) on the skin is found to have effects of suppressing sympathetic nerves and exciting parasympathetic nerves. Further, regarding promotion of blood circulation, it is known that stroking on the skin surface can stimulate parasympathetic nerves, can dilate blood vessels, and can increase the blood flow in muscles. This phenomenon is often observed when muscles receive surface pressure or touch. To give an example, for treatment of stiff neck or the like, manual therapy (lymphatic massage, etc.) is done to increase blood flow in muscles and to decrease their muscle tone. Theoretically, Margaret Rood calls these phenomena “closing of the pain gate”. According to this theory, when muscles or skin receives stimulation by stroking (brushing), the stimulation is transmitted by a neural pathway of innocuous C fibers, and causes presynaptic inhibition or reduction of primary afferent depolarization. Besides, these phenomena are said to reduce pain and decrease muscle tone. It is further known that the effect is optimized when stimulation is applied to a functional skin area which corresponds to a skin segment or a muscle segment. In light of this theory, the above-mentioned conventional taping, supporter and clothes are concerned with improper muscles or skin and provoke over-relaxation of nerves and muscles. Eventually, those conventional items decrease the joint support power by muscles and inhibit smooth joint movement which is effected by muscle contraction. In contrast, an object to be achieved by the product of this invention is to improve balance ability and athletic performance ability in the whole body during exercise, by applying a muscle/nerve facilitation technique to a location where muscle tone is so high as to inhibit smooth movement. Thus, this object is significantly different from the one intended by the conventional taping, supporter, and clothes. Further, the conventional clothes are designed to assist joint support power of certain muscles by strongly pressing adjacent edges of these muscles. Therefore, if a healthy person wears such clothes during exercise, the strongly supported muscles do not receive a full load imposed by the exercises, so that the person cannot be rewarded with a sufficient exercise effect. In other words, the support power of the conventional clothes absorbs a load which should be imposed on muscles. After all, even when a person performs exercise in correct movements, the support power of the clothes assists and bears part of a load which is generated by correct movements and should be imposed on muscles. In fact, because the conventional clothes are designed to support joints and muscles at an injury-prone area, a person in such clothes may be able to keep his body balance and body support ability to some degree. However, while such clothes are used for exercise, there is a difference between the load imposed on muscles and joints which are supported by the clothes and the load imposed on muscles and joints which are not supported by the clothes. Hence, if a person wears such clothes and performs exercise harder, the supported muscles/joints and the unsupported muscles/joints will show an increasing difference in exercise effects. Eventually, the clothes will worsen body balance and body support ability. As mentioned, the conventional clothes are further designed to assist joint support power by gently pressing central parts of the elbow or knee joints and strongly pressing their periphery. Nevertheless, the original function of a supporter is merely to stop anteroposterior and side-to-side sway of a joint. It is true that occurrence of injury can be reduced by suppressing sway at a joint. However, as for the pain which results from a vertical load (an antigravity action) during exercise, the conventional clothes have neither an effect of suppressing sway of a joint nor an effect of assisting joint support power for the following reasons. At the knee joints, it is difficult to generate a drag force while they receive positive and negative forces during exercise (to effect an antigravity action), except for increasing the internal pressure to the knee joints (by giving such a strong pressure as to disable extension and flexion of the knees). Hence, an appliance for assisting the joint support power has a limited effect. Basically, exercise-related injuries are induced by sway and displacement of joints relative to their joint axes while the joints are subjected to a constant vertical load. Further, because joints are destined to serve two conflicting functions: flexibility and toughness, such a severe fixation of joints is impossible. Namely, the only means for curing or avoiding injuries is to shift the vertical load to other joints or to remove the vertical load from the joints themselves. To summarize, when a vertical overload on the knee joints is attributable to an extreme forward leaning posture which results from ankle joint-concentrated exercise (i.e. the ankle strategy-based manner of exercise, to be detailed later), it is impossible to alleviate knee joint injuries without reducing such vertical overloads. Besides, the conventional appliance which merely assists the knee joints cannot cure or avoid injuries. For the reasons mentioned above, the conventional clothes and the like can never decrease the load on the intraarticular soft tissues (articular disk, etc.) at the knee joints. Additionally, the above conventional clothes are designed to support joints and muscles where injuries are likely. In fact, these joints and muscles are the ones which are actually injured and not the ones which trigger injuries. Hence, use of the conventional clothes is not a fundamental solution to prevent injury. Apart from the use of the taping, supporter and clothes as above, trainers give athletes training instructions for improving their athletic ability without injury. Generally, a trainer watches athlete's movements and corrects his defects, or lets him prepare for activities by training overloaded muscles as mentioned above. According to this conventional training instruction method, even if a trainer watches athlete's movements and corrects his defects, the advice is worthless unless the athlete performs accurate movements consciously (as pyramidal movements) at all time. If the advice is forgotten, he returns to his previous extrapyramidal movements which depend on inaccurate proprioception. For those who enjoy sports, since it is usually impossible to receive training instructions personally and at all time, they have difficulty in performing accurate movements consciously (as pyramidal movements). Hence, they cannot throw away their previous extrapyramidal movements which depend on inaccurate proprioception, or cannot go on with correct movements. Even if someone is lucky enough to have his problems spotted personally and frequently, it still takes a considerable time to carry out correct movements consciously (until proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, PNF, is completed, or until controlled mobility is acquired). Needless to say, even after a person has finally managed to carry out correct movements consciously, it takes a further considerable time until the correct movements are settled as extrapyramidal movements which depend on usually unconscious proprioception (until the correct movements shift from pyramidal movements to extrapyramidal reflex movements). In the above conventional training instruction method, a trainer also lets an athlete prepare for activities by training loaded muscles as mentioned above. Although the thus strengthened muscles may be more resistant to injuries, this process cannot create superior body balance and body support ability for realizing injury-free movements (flexible movement and controlled mobility). |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIGS. 1 ( a )-( c ) are a side view, a front view, and a rear view of a human body (a right-handed person in a forward leaning exercise posture), with indication of muscle groups which show high muscle tone during an antigravity exercise. FIGS. 2 ( a )-( c ) are a side view, a front view, and a rear view of a human body (a right-handed person with a backward leaning exercise posture), with indication of muscle groups which show high muscle tone during an antigravity exercise. FIG. 3 is a two-dimensional representation of muscle activities. FIG. 4 is a representation of muscle activities in a femoral region (during extension of a hip joint). FIG. 5 is a representation of muscle activities in a femoral region (during flexion of a hip joint). FIG. 6 is a representation of muscle activities around a gluteal region (during extension of a hip joint). FIG. 7 is a representation of muscle activities around a gluteal region (during flexion of a hip joint). FIG. 8 explains muscle activities. FIGS. 9 ( a ) and ( b ) are schematic illustrations which explain how asymmetry may cause disproportionate muscle development and imbalance of weight. FIGS. 10 ( a ) and ( b ) are schematic views which explain a difference between the forward leaning exercise posture and the backward leaning exercise posture. FIGS. 11 ( a ) and ( b ) are perspective views showing point stimulators for providing stimulation according to the present invention. FIGS. 12 ( a ) and ( b ) are perspective views showing surface stimulators for providing stimulation according to the present invention. FIG. 13 ( a ) is a cross section of a non-electric point stimulator in use, FIG. 13 ( b ) is a cross section of another non-electric point stimulator in use, and FIG. 13 ( c ) is a cross section of yet another non-electric point stimulator in use. FIG. 14 ( a ) is a cross section of a different point stimulator for providing point stimulation according to the present invention, and FIGS. 14 ( b ) and ( c ) are cross sections of this point stimulator in use. FIG. 15 ( a ) is a cross section of another different point stimulator for providing point stimulation according to the present invention, and FIGS. 15 ( b ) and ( c ) are cross sections of this point stimulator in use. FIG. 16 ( a ) is a cross section of another different point stimulator for providing point stimulation according to the present invention, and FIGS. 16 ( b ) and ( c ) are cross sections of this point stimulator in use. FIG. 17 ( a ) is a cross section of another different point stimulator for providing point stimulation according to the present invention, and FIGS. 17 ( b ) and ( c ) are cross sections of this point stimulator in use. FIG. 18 ( a ) is a cross section of another different point stimulator for providing point stimulation according to the present invention, and FIGS. 18 ( b ) and ( c ) are cross sections of this point stimulator in use. FIG. 19 ( a ) is a cross section of another different point stimulator for providing point stimulation according to the present invention, and FIGS. 19 ( b ) and ( c ) are cross sections of this point stimulator in use. FIG. 20 is a cross section which schematically shows the entire structure of a vibration-generating point stimulator. FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a controller which is adopted in the point stimulator illustrated in FIG. 20 . FIG. 22 is a schematic view which shows a different vibration-generating point stimulator. FIGS. 23 ( a )-( h ) schematically represent structures of various vibration generators to be adopted in a vibration-generating repositioning device. FIGS. 24 ( a )-( j ) schematically represent other structures of various vibration generators to be adopted in the vibration-generating repositioning device. FIGS. 25 ( a )-( g ) illustratively relate to the types of vibrations to be generated by the vibration-generating repositioning device. FIG. 26 schematically shows yet another vibration-generating repositioning device. FIGS. 27 ( a ) and ( b ) schematically show yet another vibration-generating repositioning device. FIG. 28 ( a ) is a cross section of a surface stimulator for providing surface stimulation according to the present invention, and FIG. 28 ( b ) is a partial enlarged cross section thereof. FIG. 29 ( a ) is a cross section of a different surface stimulator for providing surface stimulation according to the present invention, and FIG. 29 ( b ) is a cross section of this surface stimulator in use. FIG. 30 ( a ) is a cross section of another different surface stimulator for providing surface stimulation according to the present invention, and FIG. 30 ( b ) is a cross section of this surface stimulator in use. FIG. 31 ( a ) is a cross section of another different surface stimulator for providing surface stimulation according to the present invention, and FIG. 31 ( b ) is a cross section of this surface stimulator in use. FIG. 32 ( a ) is a cross section of another different surface stimulator for providing surface stimulation according to the present invention, and FIG. 32 ( b ) is a cross section of this surface stimulator in use. FIG. 33 is a cross section of another different surface stimulator in use. FIGS. 34 ( a ) and ( b ) are partial cross sections which describe an embodiment of a point stimulation part on a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 35 ( a ) and ( b ) are partial cross sections which describe another embodiment of a point stimulation part on a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 36 ( a ) and ( b ) are partial cross sections which describe an embodiment of a surface stimulation part on a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 37 ( a ) and ( b ) are partial cross sections which describe another embodiment of a surface stimulation part on a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 38 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of shorts, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 39 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 40 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a seagull (half-sleeve, long leg) swimsuit, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 41 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of knee high socks, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 42 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a long john swimsuit, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 43 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a high-waist brief, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 44 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 45 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of knee high socks, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 46 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 47 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of shorts, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 48 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a T-shirt, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 49 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of knee high socks, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 50 ( a )-( d ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, and a rear view of a pair of tights designed for the right-handed, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 51 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines I-I and II-II in FIG. 51 ( b ), respectively, of a full swimsuit designed for the right-handed, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 52 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines III-III and IV-IV in FIG. 52 ( b ), respectively, of an undershirt designed for the right-handed, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 53 ( a )-( d ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, and a rear view of a pair of tights designed for the right-handed, respectively, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 54 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines V-V and VI-VI in FIG. 54 ( b ), respectively, of a full swimsuit designed for the right-handed, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 55 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines VII-VII and VIII-VIII in FIG. 55 ( b ), respectively, of an undershirt designed for the right-handed, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 56 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines IX-IX and X-X in FIG. 56 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights designed for the right-handed, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 57 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XI-XI and XII-XII in FIG. 57 ( b ), respectively, of a full swimsuit designed for the right-handed, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 58 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XIII-XIII and XIV-XIV in FIG. 58 ( b ), respectively, of an undershirt designed for the right-handed, as an embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. FIGS. 59 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Example 1 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 60 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Example 2 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 61 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Example 3 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 62 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Example 4 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 63 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Example 5 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 64 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Example 6 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 65 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XV-XV and XVI-XVI in FIG. 65 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights in Example 7 according to the present invention, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 66 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XVII-XVII and XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 66 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights in Example 8 according to the present invention, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 67 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XIX-XIX and XX-XX in FIG. 67 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights in Example 9 according to the present invention, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 68 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XXI-XXI and XXII-XXII in FIG. 68 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights in Example 10 according to the present invention, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 69 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XXIII-XXIII and XXIV-XXIV in FIG. 69 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights in Example 11 according to the present invention, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 70 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XXV-XXV and XXVI-XXVI in FIG. 70 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights in Example 12 according to the present invention, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 71 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Comparative Example 1 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 72 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Comparative Example 2 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 73 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Comparative Example 3 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 74 ( a )-( c ) are a left side view, a front view, and a rear view of a pair of tights in Comparative Example 4 according to the present invention, respectively, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 75 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XXVII-XXVII and XXVIII-XXVIII in FIG. 75 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights in Comparative Example 5 according to the present invention, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 76 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XXIX-XXIX and XXX-XXX in FIG. 76 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights in Comparative Example 6 according to the present invention, with the tights put on the body. FIGS. 77 ( a )-( f ) are a right side view, a front view, a left side view, a rear view, and cross sections taken along the lines XXXI-XXXI and XXXII-XXXII in FIG. 77 ( b ), respectively, of a pair of tights in Comparative Example 7 according to the present invention, with the tights put on the body. FIG. 78 ( a ) is a schematic view which illustrates a knit pattern of the tights in Examples 1-12 according to the present invention, and FIGS. 78 ( b )-( d ) show knit patterns for these tights. FIG. 79 illustrates a knit pattern for a point stimulation part and a surface stimulation part in the tights of Examples 1-12 according to the present invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Method for producing a throttle valve |
The inventive method provides that during a first step, a circular, discoidal pre-molding is produced from a first plastic by injection molding. After the pre-molding is hardened, a ring made of a second plastic is subsequently placed, by injection molding, on the pre-molding while encircling the narrow side of the pre-molding and is hardened as well. The invention also relates to an application of the method. |
1. A method for producing a throttle valve in which, in a first step, a circular, disk-shaped preform is produced from a first plastic by injection molding, and subsequently, after curing of the preform, in a second step, a ring of a second plastic is arranged around the narrow side of the preform by injection molding on the preform and is likewise made to cure, characterized in that a polyphenylene sulfide mixed with fillers or a polyphthalamide mixed with fillers or a polybutylene terephthalate mixed with glass fibers or a polyether ketone mixed with glass fibers or a polyamide mixed with glass fibers is used as the first plastic and the first plastic respectively or silicone rubber or fluororubber or the first plastic respectively mixed with 12 to 16% by weight of polytetrafluoroethyene is used as the second plastic, the ring with a width of 1 to 3.5 mm being arranged in the second step. 2. (canceled) 3. (canceled) 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which a polyphenylene sulfide mixed with fillers with a proportion of fillers of 64 to 66% by weight is used as the first plastic. 5. (canceled) 6. The method as claimed in one of claim 1, in which, in the first step, a peripheral projection is arranged on the narrow side of the preform. 7. (canceled) |
High-potency botulinum toxin formulations |
The present invention provides improved formulations of botulinum toxin that increase delivery of the botulinum toxin to neural and associated tissues and exhibit a higher specific neurotoxicity and higher potency (in LD50 Units) than available formulations of botulinum toxins. These improved formulations enable physicians to treat a wide variety of pathological conditions with a lower toxin load that reduces the risk of inducing an immune response against the toxin and its associated proteins that may ultimately lead to the development of toxin resistance. These benefits are particularly important in the treatment of conditions that require high-dose or chronic administration of botulinum toxin. Additionally, the decreased in LD50 Unit doses of inventive formulations allows for controlled administration limits diffusion. The present invention also provides methods of treating neuromuscular diseases and pain, using low-dose botulinum toxin. |
1. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum neurotoxin; and a sequestration agent present in an amount greater than about 500 micrograms per 100 LD50 Units neurotoxin, wherein fewer LD50 Units of said formulation are required to achieve a therapeutic response than a formulation comprising botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent present in an amount equal to or less than about 500 micrograms per 100 LD50 Units neurotoxin. 2. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic response is the reduction of glabellar lines. 3. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is botulinum toxin type A. 4. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1, wherein the sequestration agent is human serum albumin. 5. A method for muscle denervation comprising the step of administering a formulation of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to produce local muscle denervation. 6. A method for treating neuromuscular diseases comprising the step of administering a formulation of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to produce muscle weakness. 7. A method for treating pain comprising the step of administering a formulation of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to reduce pain. 8. A method for cosmetically modifying soft-tissue features comprising the step of administering a formulation of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to modify said features. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the formulation is administered to the subject in an amount sufficient to reduce rhytides. 10. A method for treating inflammation comprising the step of administering a formulation of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to reduce inflammation. 11. A method of treating cutaneous disorders comprising the step of administering a formulation of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to reduce a sebaceous or mucous secretion. 12. A method of producing a high-potency botulinum toxin formulation comprising the step of adding greater than about 500 micrograms of a sequestration agent per 100 LD50 Units of a botulinum neurotoxin, wherein said formulation has an increased clinical potency. 13. A method of treating cervical dystonia comprising the step of administering between about 15 to 150 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation produces muscle weakness. 14. A method of treating blepharospasm comprising the step of administering between about 2 to 20 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation produces muscle weakness. 15. A method of treating hyperhydrosis comprising the step of administering between about 0.5 to 50 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces sweating. 16. A method of treating migraine headache comprising the step of administering between about 0.5 to 50 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces migraine headache pain. 17. A method of treating facial pain comprising the step of administering between about 4 to 40 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces facial pain. 18. A method of treating strabismus comprising the step of administering between about 4 to 40 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces symptoms of strabismus. 19. A method of treating hyperactive bladder comprising the step of administering between about 4 to 40 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces urination frequency. 20. A method of treating muscle spasticity comprising the step of administering between about 20 to 200 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation produces muscle weakness. 21. A method of treating hemifacial spasm comprising the step of administering between about 1.5 to 15 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation produces muscle weakness. 22. A method of myofascial pain comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 100 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces myofascial pain. 23. A method of treating facial pain comprising the step of administering between about 4 to 40 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces facial pain. 24. A method of treating inflammation comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 75 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces inflammation. 25. A method of treating blepharitis comprising the step of administering between about 1 to 10 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces inflammation. 26. A method of treating scoliosis comprising the step of administering between about 30 to 300 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation improves posture. 27. A method of treating tension headache comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 50 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces pain. 28. A method of treating lower back pain comprising the step of administering between about 15 to 150 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces pain. 29. A method of treating scieroderma comprising the step of administering between about 30 to 300 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces a symptom of scieroderma. 30. A method of treating asthma and hayfever comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 50 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces inflammation. 31. A method of treating prostatitis comprising the step of administering between about 10 to 100 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces inflammation. 32. A method of treating tension headache comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 50 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces pain. 33. A method of treating facial rhytides comprising the step of administering between about 2 to 20 Units per injection cycle of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces facial lines. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>A. Botulinum Toxin: Mechanism of Action Botulinum neurotoxin is a toxin isolated from a strain of Clostridium botulinum, that acts at the neuromuscular junction by inhibiting release of acetylcholine. Botulinum toxin is initially formed as a single-chain polypeptide that is cleaved to form a light chain that is bound to a heavy chain through a disulfide bond. The denervating effect of botulinum toxin occurs through: 1) the binding of the heavy chain to high-affinity receptors at the presynaptic terminal; 2) internalization of botulinum toxin through endocytosis; 3) translocation of the light chain into the cytoplasm of the nerve terminal; and 4) the endo-metalloprotease activity of the light chain (zinc cofactor) cleaves specific synaptic proteins that inhibit fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane, thereby inhibiting the release of acetylcholine contained in the vesicles. Absent acetylcholine, the muscle does not receive the necessary signal for the muscle to contract. Subsequent to injection, neurogenic muscular atrophy ensues after several weeks. B. Botulinum Toxin: Clinical Applications A deadly toxin at high concentrations and quantities, botulinum toxin has been used as a valuable therapeutic for the treatment of many neuromuscular diseases (e.g., dystonia, hemifacial spasm, bruxism, spasticity, cerebral palsy, torticollis), as well as sensory disorders and cutaneous disorders (myofascial pain, migraine, tension headaches, neuropathy, hyperhydrosis), and in the treatment of disorders involving inflammation. The therapeutic value of botulinum toxin in its ability to produce local regional denervation of specific muscles and tissues. The action of botulinum toxin on nerve terminals is irreversible. Axon sprouting, however, reverses the denervating effects of the toxin within two to six months. Consequently, a variety of conditions and disorders require repeated administration of the neurotoxin. Resistance to botulinum toxin is an important clinical consequence and problem resulting from repeated administration of botulinum toxin and the production of neutralizing antibodies. (Naumann et al. (1998) J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 65: 924-927; Hauna et al. (1998) J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 66: 612-616). The problem is most noted in high-dose applications such as cervical dystonia, however, immunity and resistance to the botulinum neurotoxin may occur with lower dose applications such as blepharospasm. Recently, the inventor observed that resistance can occur even with low-dose cosmetic applications, such as the treatment of facial rhytides. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide high-potency formulations and corresponding methods that reduce the likelihood of neutralizing antibodies in subjects treated with botulinum toxin. The antigenicity of botulinum toxin stimulates antibody formation that reduces and most often completely obliterates the therapeutic effectiveness of botulinum-neurotoxin-based pharmaceuticals and may ultimately lead to abandonment of botulinum therapy. Several strategies to minimize the development of resistance have been directed toward reducing the antigenicity of the botulinum neurotoxin itself. For example, pegylated botulinum toxin ( botulinum toxin covalently coupled to polyethylene glycol) have been developed for the treatment of neuromuscular disorders. Pegylation of the toxin is site directed thereby reducing antigenicity without interfering with neurotoxic effect. (See, U.S. Patent Publication No. 20020197278). Also, hybrid-toxin molecules with reduced antigenicity have been synthesized using the targeting and internalization portion (heavy chain) of one toxin serotype and the catalytic portion of a different serotype (light chain). The hybrid-toxin molecules exhibit reduced antigenicity but retain the inherent-binding specificity of the botulinal -heavy chain from the first serotype and the catalytic potency of the light chain from the second serotype. (See, U.S. Pat. No. 6,444,209). Reduced antigenicity may also be achieved by further purifying the neurotoxin by reducing the antigenic complex proteins and other clostridial proteins associated with the toxin. (See, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,756,468 and 5,512,547). Type A neurotoxin produced by C. botulinum is present as part of a complex of at least seven different noncovalently bound proteins. These nontoxic proteins range in size from about 17 to 118 kD. and are associated with the neurotoxin that has a molecular weight of about 147 kD. (Goodnough et al. (1993) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59: 2339-2342; Gimenez et al. (1993) Protein Chem. 12: 349-361; DasGupta (1980) Canad. J. Microbiol. 26: 992-997). Some of the non-toxic proteins associated with the various toxin complexes have hemagglutinating abilities (Sugiyama (1980) Microbiol. Rev. 44: 419-448; Somers et al. (1991) J. Protein Chem. 10:415-425). In particular, non-neurotoxic fractions of the L complexes of type A, B, C, and D have been shown to have hemagglutinating activity. Hemagglutinin fractions isolated from the different serotypes show some serological cross-reactivity. Non-toxic fractions from type A and B serotypes cross-react (Goodnough and Johnson (1993) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59: 2339-2342) as do non-toxic fractions from types E and F. The non-toxic fractions of types C 1 and D are antigenically identical as determined by Ouchterlony diffusion (Sakaguchi et al. (1974) Jpn. J. Med. Sci. Biol. 27: 161-170). By removing these proteins, more neurotoxin may be delivered to a therapeutic site with less antigenic proteins that may lead to the production of neutralizing antibodies. C. Complications Associated with Conventional Botulinum -Toxin Formulations. Substantial differences in the complication rate have also been noted at therapeutic quantities of different botulinum preparations. Side effects such as those resulting from diffusion of the botulinum toxin from the site of administration appear to be dependent on the formulation of botulinum toxin. For instance, dysphagia rates (difficulty swallowing) is a well-known complication of botulinum toxin administration when used for the treatment of cervical dystonia. (Borodic et al. (1990) Botulinum A toxin for the treatment of spasmodic torticollis. Dysphagia and Regional Toxin Spread. Head & Neck, 12: 392-398; incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Differences in the rate of this complication between various formulations has been well appreciated when reviewing prior art literature between 1984-1995. Furthermore differences in the rate of ptosis (drooping eyelid) have been reported when comparing various immunotypes and different preparations of the same immunotype (see Table 1). It has become well accepted that this complication is the result of diffusion of botulinum toxin away from the injections sites, a property which is in conflict with the clinical goal of containing the denervating or biologic effect to a specific target region. The formulations and methods disclosed herein contain the biologic effect of the neurotoxin to a targeted anatomic region and thereby reduce the diffusion potential of the botulinum toxin pharmaceutical and decrease the associated side effects. TABLE 2 Diffusion-related complications between various pharmaceutical formulations of botulinum toxin. Complication BOTOX ® DYSPORT ® 2 MYOBLOC ® 3 Ptosis 1 <2% 12-15% 30-40% Dysphagia <2% 14-21% 10-17% 1 Nussgens et al. (1997) Comparison of two botulinum-toxin preparations in the treatment of essential blepharospasm. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 235(4): 197-199. 2 Phase 3 Studies 1998-1989 for Oculinum Meta-analysis of clinical studies on Dysphagia and Botulinum 1995 at NIH (Borodic). 3 Lew et al. (1997) Botulinum toxin type B: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, safety and efficacy study in cervical dystonia. Neurology 49(3): 701-707. In 1991, Borodic et al. developed a histologic model demonstrating a histochemical and morphologic diffusion gradient from point injections of botulinum toxin. (Borodic et al. (1991) Botulinum toxin: Clinical and scientific aspects. Opthamology Clinics of North America 4: 491-503; incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The gradient was dose dependent over single muscle strips and capable of crossing fascial planes. The diffusion model was further demonstrated on the facial wrinkling pattern of the human forehead. (Borodic et al (1992) Botulinum toxin for spasmodic torticollis, multiple vs single point injections per muscle. Head and Neck 14: 33-37). Diffusion was thereafter used to explain the mechanism for dysphagia after surface injections of botulinum injection for the human neck and ptosis (drooping eyelid) after periocular injections for the treatment of essential blepharospasm. Ptosis results from diffusion of neuromuscular blocking activity from the lid edge to the muscular portion of the upper eyelid retractor, which lies in the upper orbital space. Dysphagia results from diffusion of neuromuscular weakening effect from the sternomastoid muscle, targeted for treatment of torticollis, to the peripharygeal musculature which generates the force for effective swallowing. From both histologic models and clinical experience, diffusion appears directly related to the quantity of toxin (in LD 50 units) administered. Consequently, the greater the quantity of toxin used as an injection in units used, the greater the diffusion from that point. A review of the scientific literature from the 1980's and early 1990's reveals that dysphagia is more commonly with observed with DYSPORT® than BOTOX®. Recently, from studies done at European centers, the differences in dysphagia rates have been confirmed (Ranoux et al. (2002) Respective potencies of DYSPORT® and BOTOX®: a double blind, randomized, crossover study in cervical dystonia. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 72: 459-462). Differences in ptosis rates for the treatment of blepharospasm have also been observed comparing BOTOX®. Ptosis is less frequently observed with BOTOX® (Nussgens et al. (1997) Comparison of two botulinum -toxin preparations in the treatment of essential Blepharospasm. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 235(4): 197-199). Major differences in the ptosis complication have also been reported when using botulinum toxin type B for the treatment of glabellar and forehead wrinkles when compared to botulinum type A (BOTOX®). (Holck et al. Comparison of High Dose Botulinum Toxin Type B to Botulinum Type A in the Treatment of Lateral Canthal Rhytides American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and reconstructive Surgeons Annual Meeting, Anaheim, Calif. Nov. 14, 2003). Prior to this invention, the in vivo binding of sequestration agents, such as albumin, to botulinum toxin has never been identified as important to clinical effectiveness of botulinum -toxin-based pharmaceuticals. By enhancing regional sequestration of the neurotoxin and facilitating saturation of neurotoxin receptors on neural tissues, high-concentration-albumin formulations improve the clinical effectiveness of botulinum toxin and reduce side effects such as those resulting from diffusion of the botulinum toxin from the site of administration. There has been no prior suggestion that increasing the albumin concentration, for example, relative to the neurotoxin, could enhance the effectiveness for the treatment of human disease. The existing botulinum toxin preparations currently available for clinical practice are BOTOX®, DYSPORT®O, and MYOBLOC®. The present invention identifies the mechanism and provides compositions of improved utility of botulinum -toxin-based pharmaceuticals by increasing the concentration of a sequestration agent and other viscous agents to enhance sequestration and improve the effectiveness where other available botulinum toxin preparations have failed. D. Sequestration. Albumin was initially used to formulate botulinum -toxin-based pharmaceuticals because of its stabilizing effect on the biologic activity of the neurotoxin at high dilutions (see Schantz, Botulinum Toxin Therapy, Marcel Dekker 1994). Dilution of the purified botulinum toxin crystals with physiologic saline or water would cause the biologic activity and pharmaceutical properties to be lost at high dilutions. Additionally, the albumin has been reported to help keep the neurotoxin molecule from binding to glass containers. During the pre-clinical development of BOTOX® or any other botulinum toxin prepared for pharmaceutical use, there was no appreciation for the importance of albumin in the formulation other than a dilution stabilizer and excipient to keep the neurotoxin from binding to glass. BOTOX® and DYSPORT® are derived from different strains of Clostridial species. BOTOX® is derived from the Hall strain of Clostridium botulinum originally maintained by the University of Wisconsin, whereas DYSPORT® is derived from British Microbiology Collection. Immunologic cross reactivity exists between the products as both products were derived from immunotype A strains. Despite similar immunotypes, the clinical responses between BOTOX® and DYSPORT® may be explained by the differences in the excipients used in each formulation. The difference in human serum albumin concentrations between BOTOX® and DYSPORT® are outlined in Table 3. TABLE 3 Human Serum Albumin content of various pharmaceutical formulations of botulinum toxin. Formulation Albumin 1 LD 50 /μg albumin BOTOX ® 500 μg 0.2 DYSPORT ® 125 μg 5.0 1 Albumin is represented in mg per 100 LD 50 units of botulinum toxin. Other differences exist including the presence of stabilizing sugars, Lactose is used in DYSPORT ® and not used in BOTOX ®. The albumin discrepancy between BOTOX® and DYSPORT® is almost identical to the difference in dose requirements observed between BOTOX® and DYSPORT® in multiple clinical studies. The correlation between the albumin ratio/clinical potency ratio is further strengthened by changes in pharmacologic properties of DYSPORT® when albumin is added to the vials using a mouse hemidiaphram animal model. Wohlfahrt et al. noted using this model that adding albumin to one vials of DYSPORT® brought biologic activity higher using the mouse hemi-diaphragm model. (Biglalke et al (2001) Botulinum A toxin: DYSPORT® improvement of biological availability. Exp. Neurol. 168(1): 162-170). The authors suggested the increased biologic activity resulted from increased stability as measured with the mouse LD 50 bioassay afforded by the albumin concentration increase. (Biglalke et al (2001) Botulinum A toxin: DYSPORT® improvement of biological availability. Exp. Neurol. 168(1): 162-170). The authors explained the differences of albumin on the LD 50 bioassay without reference to mechanism of action in tissues or pharmacologic-pharmacokinetic importance, that is, in vivo albumin binding, enhanced sequestration, and improvement in therapeutic effects. The same authors further observed in a rat-diaphragm preparation, that the addition of albumin to the BOTOX® preparation could not substantially increase regional denervative effects and did not advocate any changes in formulation. The findings of these researchers concluded that there was an effect of the albumin concentration on the LD 50 measurements, however, their work did not demonstrate any increased potency of BOTOX® on regional denervation or that DYSPORT® could be enhanced to give any greater denervation potency over BOTOX®. Their work was limited by the in vitro nature of their experiments, that is, using a non-blood-perfused-animal dissection of a motor nerve (phrenic nerve) and diaphragm muscle, which fails to accounts for dilutions and tissue fluid flow capable of washing injected toxin away from targeted tissue prior to binding with the nerve axon terminal receptors. The real time application requires an in vivo analysis of the effects of albumin on regional denervation as outlined in the following experiments. Their work did identify reasons for differences in LD 50 as measured by the mouse lethality assay. These workers, however, concluded that no improvements in potency or effectiveness could be made over existing BOTOX® preparation. (Hanover Germany International Botulinum Toxin Meeting 2002). Differences in potency, issues relating diffusion and containment of the biologic effect, and the development of resistance are important in the pharmacology of botulinum -based pharmaceuticals. Described herein is a method for altering compositions of botulinum based pharmaceuticals to enhance potency, increase sequestration of the botulinum toxin and limit adverse effects of botulinum -based pharmaceuticals. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention provides a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum neurotoxin and a sequestration agent present in an amount greater than about 500 micrograms per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, wherein fewer ID50 Units of said formulation are required to achieve a therapeutic response than a formulation comprising botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent present in an amount greater than about 500 micrograms per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin. In one embodiment, fewer LD 50 Units of the pharmaceutical formulation are required to achieve a reduction of glabellar lines than a formulation comprising botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent present in an amount greater than about 500 micrograms per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin. Although the reduction of glabellar lines may be assessed by any means accepted in the art, patient self-grading and assessment and physician-based photo-scale grading are preferred. In another embodiment, fewer LD 50 Units of the pharmaceutical formulation are required to reduce muscle contraction in cervical dystonia than a formulation comprising botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent present in an amount greater than about 500 micrograms per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin. The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are comprised of botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent in an amount greater than about 500 micrograms per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, wherein the botulinum toxin may be selected from any one or a combination of the various botulinum toxin immunotypes such as A, B, C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , D, E, F and G. In a preferred embodiment, the botulinum neurotoxin is botulinum toxin type A. In a preferred embodiment, the sequestration agent is human serum albumin or hyaluronate. In a more preferred embodiment, the sequestration agent is human serum albumin. The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention may further comprise a stabilization or stabilizing agent that stabilizes the activity of the botulinum neurotoxin. As used herein, “stabilization agent” or “stabilizing agent” means any agent that prolongs the biologic activity, or specifically the neurotoxicity of the botulinum neurotoxin, upon storage. In a preferred embodiment, the stabilization or stabilizing agent is a monosaccharide or disaccharide. In a more preferred embodiment, trehalose is the stabilization or stabilizing agent. The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are comprised of botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent in an amount greater than about 500 micrograms per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin. Preferably, the sequestration agent is present in an amount greater than about 500 μg per 100 ID50 Units neurotoxin, 550 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 600 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 650 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 700 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 800 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 850 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 900 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 950 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1100 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1200 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1300 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1400 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1600 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1700 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1800 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 1900 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 2000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 2250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 2500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 2750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 3000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 3250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 3500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 3750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 4000 pig per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 4250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 5000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 5250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 5500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 5750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 6000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 7000 μg per 100 ID50 Units neurotoxin, 8000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, 9000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, or 10,000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin. More preferably, the sequestration agent is present in an amount between about 500 and 750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 750 and 1000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 1000 and 1250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 1250 and 1500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 1500 and 1750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 1750 and 2000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 2000 and 2250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 2250 and 2500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 2500 and 2750 μg per 100 ID50 Units neurotoxin, about 2750 and 3000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 3000 and 3250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 3250 and 3500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 3500 and 3750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 3750 and 4000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 4000 and 4250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 4250 and 4500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 4500 and 4750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 4750 and 5000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 5000 and 5250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 5250 and 5500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 5500 and 5750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 5750 and 6000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 6000 and 6250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 6250 and 6500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 6500 and 6750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 6750 and 7000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 7000 and 7500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 7500 and 7750 μg per 100 ID50 Units neurotoxin, about 7750 and 8000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 8000 and 8250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 8250 and 8500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 8500 and 8750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 8750 and 9000 μg per 100 LD50 Units neurotoxin, about 9000 and 9250 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 9250 and 9500 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, about 9500 and 9750 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, or about 9750 and 10,000 μg per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin. The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are comprised of botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent in an amount greater than about 500 micrograms per 100 LD 50 Units neurotoxin, wherein the botulinum toxin may be of any purity, as described by specific activity or specific neurotoxicity. In a preferred embodiment, the botulinum toxin has a specific neurotoxicity of between about 20 and 250 Units/ng neurotoxin, about 50 and 250 Units/ng neurotoxin, about 80 and 250 Units/ng neurotoxin, about 90 and 250 Units/ng neurotoxin, about 100 and 250 Units/ng neurotoxin, about 150 and 250 Units/ng neurotoxin, or about 200 and 250 Units/ng neurotoxin. In a more preferred embodiment, the botulinum toxin has a specific neurotoxicity of about 20 Units/ng neurotoxin, 30 Units/ng neurotoxin, 40 Units/ng neurotoxin, 50 Units/ng neurotoxin, 60 Units/ng neurotoxin, 70 Units/ng neurotoxin, 80 Units/ng neurotoxin, 90 Units/ng neurotoxin, 100 Units/ng neurotoxin, 110 Units/ng neurotoxin, 120 Units/ng neurotoxin, 130 Units/ng neurotoxin, 140 Units/ng neurotoxin, 150 Units/ng neurotoxin, 160 Units/ng neurotoxin, 170 Units/ng neurotoxin, 180 Units/ng neurotoxin, 190 Units/ng neurotoxin, 200 Units/ng neurotoxin, 210 Units/ng neurotoxin, 220 Units/ng neurotoxin, 230 Units/ng neurotoxin, 240 Units/ng neurotoxin, or 250 Units/ng neurotoxin. In another embodiment of the present invention, the pharmaceutical formulations are essentially free of salt. More preferably, the formulation contains less than about 0.9% salt. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pharmaceutical formulations have a pH of between about 5.6 to 6.0, about 6.0 to 6.4, about 6.4 to 6.8, about 6.8 to 7.2, about 5.8 to 7.4, about 6 to 7.4, about 6.2 to 7.4, about 6.5 to 7.4, about 6.7 to 7.4, about 7 to 7.4, or about 7.2 to 7.4. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations have a pH of about 5.8, about 5.9, about 6.0, about -6.1, about 6.2, about 6.3, about 6.4, about 6.5, about 6.6, about 6.7, about 6.8, about 6.9, about 7.0, about 7. 1, about 7.2, about 7.3, or about 7.4. The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention may be administered by any means known in the art sufficient to deliver the botulinum toxin to the desired therapeutic target. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations are delivered by transmucosal administration, transcutaneous administration, intramuscular administration or topically. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered by injection. The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention may be used in any of the methods of treatment disclosed herein. According to the inventive methods described herein, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention may be administered as a single treatment or repeated periodically to provide multiple treatments. The present invention also provides methods for muscle denervation comprising the step of administering any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to produce local muscle denervation. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulations are administered to the muscles of a head, face, eye, neck, back, or tissues overlying one or more nasal sinuses. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods treating neuromuscular diseases comprising the step of administering any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to produce muscle weakness. In another embodiment, the neuromuscular disease is cervical dystonia, hemifacial spasm, bruxism, blepharospasm, strabismus, or muscle spasticity. In a preferred embodiment, the neuromuscular disease hemifacial spasm, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, strabismus, or muscle spasticity. In a preferred embodiment, the neuromuscular disease is hemifacial spasm. A subject suffering from hemifacial spasm preferably receives between about 1.5 to 15 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 1.5 to 3 Units, 1.5 to 5 Units, 1.5 to 7 Units, 1.5 to 10 Units, 1.5 to 12 Units, 1.5 to 15 Units, 5 to 10 Units, 5 to 15 Units, or 10 to 15 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with hemifacial spasm. Most preferably, about 1.5, about 2, about 2.5, about 3, about 3.5, about 4, about 4.5 about 5, about 5.5, about 6, about 6.5, about 7, about 7.5, about 8, about 8.5, about 9, about 9.5, about 10, about 10.5, about 11, about 11.5, about 12, about 12.5, about 13, about 13.5, about 14, about 14.5, or about 15 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with hemifacial spasm. Dosages greater than 15 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with hemifacial spasm to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the neuromuscular disease is cervical dystonia. A subject suffering from cervical dystonia preferably receives between about 15 to 150 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 15 to 30 Units, 15 to 50 Units, 15 to 75 Units, 15 to 100 Units, 15, to 125 Units, 15 to 150 Units, 20 to 100 Units, 20 to 150 Units, or 100 to 150 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with cervical dystonia. Most preferably, about 15, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45 about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 95, about 100, about 105, about 110, about 115, about 120, about 125, about 130, about 135, about 140, about 145, or about 150 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with cervical dystonia. Dosages greater than 150 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with cervical dystonia to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the neuromuscular disease is blepharospasm. A subject suffering from blepharospasm preferably receives between about 1.5 to 20 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 1.5 to 5 Units, 1.5 to 7 Units, 1.5 to 10 Units, 1.5 to 12 Units, 1.5 to 15 Units, 1.5 to 17 Units, 2.0 to 5 Units, 2 to 10 Units, 2 to 15, 2 to 20, 5 to10, 5 to 15, or 5 to 20 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with blepharospasm. Most preferably, about 1.5, about 2.0, about 2.5, about 3.0, about 3.5, about 4.0, about 4.5 about 5.0, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, about 10.5, about 11.0, about 11.5, about 12.0, about 12.5, about 13.0, about 13.5, about 14.0, about 14.5, about 15.0, about 15.5, about 16.0, about 16.5, about 17.0, about 17.5, about 18.0, about 18.5, about 19.0, about 19.5, or about 20.0 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with blepharospasm. Dosages greater than 20 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with blepharospasm to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the neuromuscular disease is strabismus. A subject suffering from strabismus preferably receives between about 4 to 40 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 4 to 10 Units, 4 to 15 Units, 4 to 20 Units, 4 to 25 Units, 4 to 30 Units, 4 to 35 Units, 7 to 15 Units, 7 to 20 Units, 7 to 25, 7 to 30, 7 to 35, or 7 to 40 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with strabismus. Most preferably, about 4, about 5, about 7.5, about 10, about 12.5, about 15, about 17.5 about 20.0, about 22.5, about 25.0, about 27.5, about 30.0, about 32.5, about 35, about 37.5, or about 40 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with strabismus. Dosages greater than 40 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with strabismus to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the neuromuscular disease is muscle spasticity. A subject suffering from muscle spasticity preferably receives between about 20 to 200 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 20 to 30 Units, 20 to 40 Units, 20 to 60 Units, 20 to 80 Units, 20 to 100 Units, 20 to 125 Units, 20 to 150 Units, or 20 to 175 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with muscle spasticity. Most preferably, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45 about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 95, about 100, about 105, about 110, about 115, about 120, about 125, about 130, about 135, about 140, about 145, about 150, about 155, about 160, about 165, about 170, about 175, about 180, about 185, about 190, about 195, or about 200 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with muscle spasticity. Dosages greater than 200 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with muscle spasticity to achieve a therapeutic response. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods for treating pain comprising the step of administering any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to reduce pain. In another embodiment, the patient suffers from myofascial pain, migraine headache pain, tension headache pain, neuropathic pain, facial pain, lower-back pain, sinus-headache pain, pain associated with temporomandibular joint disease, pain associated with spasticity or cervical dystonia, post-surgical wound pain, or neuralgia. In a preferred embodiment, the patient suffers from sinus-headache pain. A subject suffering from sinus-headache pain preferably receives between about 4 to 40 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 4 to 10 Units, 4 to 15 Units, 4 to 20 Units, 4 to 25 Units, 4 to 30 Units, 4 to 35 Units, 7 to 15 Units, 7 to 20 Units, 7 to 25, 7 to 30, 7 to 35, or 7 to 40 Units per treatment are administered to a patient suffering from sinus-headache pain. Most preferably, about 4, about 5, about 7.5, about 10, about 12.5, about 15, about 17.5 about 20.0, about 22.5, about 25.0, about 27.5, about 30.0, about 32.5, about 35, about 37.5, or about 40 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with sinus-headache pain. Dosages greater than 40 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with sinus headache-pain to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the patient suffers from facial pain. A subject suffering from facial pain preferably receives between about 4 to 40 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 4 to 10 Units, 4 to 15 Units, 4 to 20 Units, 4 to 25 Units, 4 to 30 Units, 4 to 35 Units 7 to 15 Units, 7 to 20 Units, 7 to 25, 7 to 30, 7 to 35, or 7 to 40 Units per treatment are administered to a patient suffering from facial pain. Most preferably, about 4, about 5, about 7.5, about 10, about 12.5, about 15, about 17.5 about 20.0, about 22.5, about 25.0, about 27.5, about 30.0, about 32.5, about 35, about 37.5, or about 40 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with facial pain. Dosages greater than 40 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with facial pain to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the patient suffers from myofascial pain. A subject suffering from myofascial pain preferably receives between about 5 to 100 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 5 to 10 Units, 5 to 20 Units, 5 to 30 Units, 5 to 40 Units, 5 to 50 Units, 5 to 60 Units, 5 to 70 Units, 5 to 80 Units, 5 to 90, 10 to 20, 10 to 30, 10 to 50 or 10 to 60, or 10 to 70, or 10 to 80, 10 to 90 or 10 to 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient suffering from myofascial pain. Most preferably, about 5, about 10, about 15, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35 about 40, about 45, about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 95 or about 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with myofascial pain. Dosages greater than 100 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with myofascial pain to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the patient suffers from migraine-headache pain. A subject suffering from migraine-headache pain preferably receives between about 0.5 to 50 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 0.5 to 5 Units, 0.5 to 10 Units, 0.5 to 15 Units, 0.5 to 20 Units, 0.5 to 25 Units, 0.5 to 30 Units, 0.5 to 35 Units, 0.5 to 40 Units, 0.5 to 45, 0.5 to 50, 2 to 10, 2 to 20, 2 to 30, 2 to 40, or 2 to 50 Units per treatment are administered to a patient suffering from migraine-headache pain. Most preferably, about 0.5, about 1.0, about 1.5, about 2.0, about 2.5, about 3.0, about 3.5 about 4.0, about 4.5, about 5.0, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, about 12, about 15, about 17, about 20, about 22, about 25, about 27, about 30, about 32, about 35, about 37, about 40, about 42, about 45, about 47, or about 50 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with migraine-headache pain. Dosages greater than 50 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with migraine-headache pain to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the suffers from lower-back pain. A subject suffering from lower-back pain preferably receives between about 15 to 150 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 15 to 30 Units, 15 to 50 Units, 15 to 75 Units, 15 to 100 Units, 15 to 125 Units, 15 to 150 Units, 20 to 100 Units, 20 to 150 Units, or 100 to 150 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with lower-back pain. Most preferably, about 15, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45 about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 95, about 100, about 105, about 110, about 115, about 120, about 125, about 130, about 135, about 140, about 145, or about 150 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with lower-back pain. Dosages greater than 150 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with lower-back pain to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the patient suffers from tension-headache pain. A subject suffering from tension-headache pain preferably receives between about 5 to 50 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 5 to 10 Units, 5 to 15 Units, 5 to 20 Units, 5 to 25 Units, 5 to 30 Units, 5 to 35 Units, 5 to 40 Units, 5 to 45 Units, 10 to 20, 10 to 25, 10 to 30, 10 to 35, 10 to 40, 10 to 45, or 10 to 45 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with tension-headache pain. Most preferably, about 5, about 10, about 20; about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45, or about 50 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with tension-headache pain. Dosages greater than 50 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with tension-headache pain to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the patient suffers from sinus headache pain or facial pain associated with acute or recurrent chronic sinusitis. Preferably, any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention may be administered to the nasal mucosa or to the subcutaneous structures overlying the sinuses, wherein the administration of the formulation reduces the headache and/or facial pain associated with acute recurrent or chronic sinusitis. More preferably, any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention may be administered to the nasal mucosa. The subcutaneous structures overlying the sinuses preferably overly one or more of the sinuses selected from the group consisting of: ethmoid; maxillary; mastoid; frontal; and sphenoid. In another embodiment, subcutaneous structures overlying the sinuses lie within one or more of the areas selected from the group consisting of: forehead; malar; temporal; post auricular; and lip. In another embodiment, a patient suffering from sinus headache pain or facial pain associated with acute or recurrent chronic sinusitis is treated by administering any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to an afflicted area of the patient. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulations disclosed herein are administered to the projections of a trigeminal nerve innervating a sinus. Patients suffering from sinus headache pain or facial pain associated with acute or recurrent chronic sinusitis often exhibit symptoms including rhinitis, sinus hypersecretion and/or purulent nasal discharge. In one embodiment, the patients treated with the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention exhibit symptoms of sinus hypersecretion and purulent nasal discharge. The present invention also provides methods for treating a patient suffering from sinus headache pain or facial pain associated with acute or recurrent chronic sinusitis, wherein the subject suffers from neuralgia. Preferably, the neuralgia is trigeminal neuralgia. In another embodiment, the neuralgia is: associated with compressive forces on a sensory nerve; associated with intrinsic nerve damage, demyelinating disease, or a genetic disorder; associated with a metabolic disorder; associated with central neurologic vascular disease; or associated with trauma. In another embodiment of the present invention, the pain is associated with dental extraction or reconstruction. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods for cosmetically modifying soft-tissue features comprising the step of administering any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to modify said features. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation is administered via transcutaneous or transmucosal injection either at a single focus or multiple foci. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to the face or neck of the subject. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to the subject in an amount sufficient to reduce rhytides. Preferably, the formulation is administered between eyebrows of the subject in an amount sufficient to reduce vertical lines between the eyebrows and on a bridge of a nose. The pharmaceutical formulations may also be administered near either one or both eyes of the subject in an amount sufficient to reduce lines at corners of the eyes. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention may also be administered to a forehead of the subject in an amount sufficient to reduce horizontal lines on said forehead. In yet another embodiment of the present invention the pharmaceutical formulation is administered to the neck of the subject in an amount sufficient to reduce muscle bands in the neck. The present invention provides methods for reducing lip volume in one or both of the upper and lower lips of a patient. In one embodiment, the patient suffers from hypervolemic lip deformity. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to a orbicularis oris muscle of the subject. The pharmaceutical botulinum toxin formulations of the present invention may also be administered to one or more lip retractor muscle. A patient desiring the cosmetic reduction of lip volume or other soft-tissue structure, or the patient suffering from hyper-volemic lip deformity preferably receives between about 2 to 20 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 2 to 5 Units, 2 to 7 Units, 2 to 10 Units, 2 to 12 Units, 2 to 15 Units, 2 to 20 Units, 5 to 10 Units, 5 to 15 Units, or 5 to 20 Units per treatment are administered to a patient desiring the cosmetic reduction of lip volume or other soft-tissue structure, or the patient suffering from hyper-volemic lip deformity. Most preferably, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8 about 9, about 10, about 11, about 12, about 13, about 14, about 15, about 16, about 17, about 18, about 19 or about 20 Units per treatment are administered to a patient desiring the cosmetic reduction of lip volume or other soft-tissue structure, or the patient suffering from hyper-volemic lip deformity. Dosages greater than 20 Units per treatment may also be administered to patient desiring the cosmetic reduction of lip volume or other soft-tissue structure, or the patient suffering from hyper-volemic lip deformity to achieve a therapeutic response. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods for treating inflammation comprising the step of administering any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to reduce inflammation. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to a patient without producing muscle weakness. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to patients with an inflammatory condition. Preferably, the inflammatory condition is neurogenic inflammation. In another embodiment, the subject suffers from rheumatoid arthritis or a gastro-intestinal inflammatory disease. In a preferred embodiment, the patient suffers from an inflammatory disorder. A subject suffering from an inflammatory disorder preferably receives between about 1 to 100 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 1 to 10 Units, 1 to 20 Units, 1 to 30 Units, 1 to 40 Units, 1 to 50 Units, 1 to 60 Units, 1 to 70 Units, 1 to 80 Units, 1 to 90, 5 to 20, 5 to 30, 5 to 40, 5 to 50, 5 to 60, 5 to 70, 5 to 80, 5 to 90, or 5 to 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with an inflammatory disorder. Most preferably, about 1, about 10, about 20, about 30, about 40, about 50, about 60, about 70, about 80, about 90, or about 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with tension-headache pain. Dosages greater than 100 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients suffering from inflammation or an inflammatory disorder to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the inflammatory disorder is blepharitis. A subject suffering from blepharitis preferably receives between about 1 to 10 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 1 to 3 Units, about 1 to 5 Units, about 1 to 7 Units, or 1 to 10 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with an inflammatory disorder. Most preferably, about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, or about 10 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with tension-headache pain. Dosages greater than 10 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients suffering from inflammation or an inflammatory disorder to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the inflammatory disorder is prostatitis. A subject suffering from prostatitis preferably receives between about 10 to 100 Units per treatment of any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention. More preferably, between about 10 to 20 Units, about 10 to 30 Units, about 10 to 40 Units, about 10 to 50 Units, about 10 to 60 Units, about 10 to 70 Units, about 10 to 80 Units, or about 10 to 90 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with prostatitis. Most preferably, about 10, about 20, about 30, about 40, about 50, about 60, about 70, about 80, about 90, or about 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with prostatitis. Dosages greater than 100 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with prostatitis to achieve a therapeutic response. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods for treating cutaneous disorders comprising the step of administering any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to reduce a sebaceous or mucous secretion. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to a patient without producing muscle weakness. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to patients with chalazion or hordeola. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are injected into one or more sites of an eyelid or conjunctiva. In another embodiment, the formulations of the present invention are administered to a body surface. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulations are administered in an amount sufficient to reduce cutaneous bacterial or fungal growth, including but not limited to Staphylococcus; Streptococcus and Moraxella. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to an area selected from the group consisting of: eyelid; scalp; feet; groin; and armpit to reduce cutaneous infection. In another embodiment, the cutaneous disorder is hyperhydrosis. The present invention also provides methods for treating inflammation comprising the step of administering any of the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to reduce inflammation. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to a patient without producing muscle weakness. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are administered to patients with an inflammatory condition. Preferably, the inflammatory condition is neurogenic inflammation. In another embodiment, the subject suffers from rheumatoid arthritis or a gastrointestinal inflammatory disease. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods for treating cervical dystonia comprising the step of administering between 150 to 3500 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to produces local muscle weakness in said subject. A subject in need of muscle denervation preferably receives between about 150 to 300 picograms, about 150 to 400 picograms, about 150 to 500 picograms, about 150 to 750 picograms, about 150 to 1000 picograms, about 150 to 1250 picograms, about 150 to 1500 picograms, about 150 to 1750 picograms, about 150 to 2000 picograms, about 150 to 2250 picograms, about 150 to 2500 picograms, about 150 to 2750 picograms, about 150 to 3000 picograms, or about 150 to 3500 picograms of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin per treatment. Most preferably, about 150, about 250, about 350, about 450, about 550, about 650, about 750, about 850, about 950, about 1050, about 1150, about 1250, about 1350, about 1450, about 1550, about 1650, about 1750, about 1850, about 1950, about 2050, about 2150, about 2250, about 2350, about 2450, about 2550, about 2650, about 2750, about 2850, about 2950, about 3000, about 3100, about 3200, about 3300 about 3400 or about 3500 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to produce muscle denervation. Dosages greater than 3500 picograms per treatment may also be administered to patients with cervical dystonia to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods for treating blepharospasm comprising the step of administering between about 2.5 to 45 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein the administration of said botulinum toxin produces muscle weakness in said subject. A subject with blepharospasm preferably receives between about 2.5 to 5 picograms, about 2.5 to 7.5, about 2.5 to 10, about 2.5 to 12.5, about 2.5 to 15, about 2.5 to 17.5, about 2.5 to 20, about 2.5 to 25, about 2.5 to 30, about 2.5 to 35 about 2.5 to 40, about 2.5 to 45 picograms of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising botulinum per treatment. Most preferably, about 2.5, about 3.0, about 3.5, about 4.0, about 4.5, about 5.0, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0 about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0 about 10, about 12, about 15, about 17, about 20, about 22, about 25, about 27, about 30, about 32, about 35, about 37, about 40, about 42, or about 45 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to produce muscle weakness. Dosages greater than 45 picograms per treatment may also be administered to patients with blepharospasm to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods for treating strabismus comprising the step of administering between about 2.5 to 45 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein the administration of said botulinum toxin produces produce muscle weakness in said subject. A subject with strabismus preferably receives between about 2.5 to 5 picograms, about 2.5 to 7.5, about 2.5 to 10, about 2.5 to 12.5, about 2.5 to 15, about 2.5 to 17.5, about 2.5 to 20, about 2.5 to 25, about 2.5 to 30, about 2.5 to 35 about 2.5 to 40, about 2.5 to 45 picograms of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising botulinum toxin per treatment. Most preferably, about 2.5, about 3.0, about 3.5, about 4.0, about 4.5, about 5.0, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0 about 10, about 12, about 15, about 17, about 20, about 22, about, 25, about 27, about 30, about 32, about 35, about 37, about 40, about 42, or about 45 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to produce muscle weakness. Dosages greater than 45 picograms per treatment may also be administered to patients with strabismus to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods for treating muscle spasticity comprising the step of administering between about 20 to 350 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein the administration of said botulinum toxin produces produce muscle weakness in said subject. A subject with muscle spasticity preferably receives between about 20 to 30 picograms, about 20 to 40 picograms, about 20 to 50 picograms, about 20 to 60 picograms, about 20 to 70 picograms, about 20 to 80 picograms, about 20 to 90 picograms, about 20 to 100 picograms, about 20 to 150 picograms, about 20 to 200 picograms, about 20 to 250 picograms, about 20 to 300 or about 20 to 350 picograms of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin per treatment. Most preferably, about 20, about 30, about 40, about 50, about 60, about 70, about 80, about 90, about 100, about 110, about 120, about 130, about 140, about 150, about 160 about 170, about 180, about 190,. about 200, about 210, about, 220, about 230, about 240, about 250, about 260, about 270, about 280, about 290, about 300, about 310, about 320, about 330, about 340, or about 350 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to produce muscle weakness. Dosages greater than 350 picograms per treatment may also be administered to patients with muscle spasticity to achieve a therapeutic response. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin is administered to a subject suffering muscle spasticity in the flexor digitorum profundus muscle or the flexor digitorum sublimus muscle. In another embodiment between about 20 to 450 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin is administered to a subject suffering muscle spasticity to produce muscle weakness in the flexor carpii ulnaris muscle. Preferably between about 20 to 50 picograms, about 20 to 75 picograms, about 20 to 100 picograms, about 20 to 125 picograms, about 20 to 150 picograms, about 20 to 175 picograms, about 20 to 200 picograms, about 20 to 225 picograms, about 20 to 250 picograms, about 20 to 275 picograms, about 20 to 300 picograms, about 20 to 325 picograms, about 20 to 350 picograms, about 20 to 375 picograms, about 20 to 400 picograms, about 20 to 425 picograms, or about 20 to 450 picograms of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin are administered per treatment to a subject in need thereof. Most preferably, about 20, about 30, about 40, about 50, about 60, about 70, about 80, about 90, about 100, about 110, about 120, about 130, about 140, about 150, about 160 about 170, about 180, about 190, about 200, about 210, about, 220, about 230, about 240, about 250, about 260, about 270, about 280, about 290, about 300, about 310, about 320, about 330, about 340, about 350, about 360, about 370, about 380, about 390, about 400, about 410, about 420, about 430 about 440, or about 450 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to produce muscle weakness in the flexor carpii ulnaris muscle. Dosages greater than 450 picograms per treatment may also be administered to patients with muscle spasticity to achieve a therapeutic response. In another embodiment between about 35 to 725 picograms per treatment of the pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin is administered to a subject suffering muscle spasticity to produce muscle weakness in the flexor carpii radialis muscle. Preferably between about 35 to 50 picograms, about 35 to 75 picograms, about 35 to 100 picograms, about 35 to 125 picograms, about 35 to 150 picograms, about 35 to 175 picograms, about.35 to 200 picograms, about 35 to 225 picograms, about 35 to 250 picograms, about 35 to 275 picograms, about 35 to 300 picograms, about 35 to 325 picograms, about 35 to 350 picograms, about 35 to 375 picograms, about 35 to 400 picograms, about 35 to 425 picograms, about 35 to 450, about 35 to 475, about 35 to 500, about 35 to 525, about 35 to 550, about 35 to 575, about 35 to 600, about 35 to 625, about 35 to 650, about 35 to 675, about 35 to 700, about 35 to 725, or about 35 to 750, picograms of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin are administered per treatment to a subject in need thereof. Most preferably, about 35, about 45, about 55, about 65, about 75, about 85, about 95, about 100, about 110, about 120, about 130, about 140, about 150, about 160 about 170, about 180, about 190, about 200, about 210, about, 220, about 230, about 240, about 250, about 260, about 270, about 280, about 290, about 300, about 310, about 320, about 330, about 340, about 350, about 360, about 370, about 380, about 390, about 400, about 410, about 420, about 430, about 440, about 450, about 460, about 470, about 480, about 490, about 500, about 510, about 520, about 530, about 540, about 550, about 560, about 570, about 580, about 590, about 600, about 610, about 620, about 630, about 640, about 650, about 660, about 670, about 680, about 690, about 700, about 710, about 720, or about 725 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to produce muscle weakness in the flexor carpii radialis muscle. Dosages greater than 725 picograms per treatment may also be administered to patients with muscle spasticity to achieve a therapeutic response. In another embodiment between about 100 to 2250 picograms per treatment of the pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin, is administered to a subject suffering muscle spasticity to produce muscle weakness in the biceps brachii muscle. Preferably between about 100 to 125 picograms, about 100 to 150 picograms, about 100 to 175 picograms, about 100 to 200 picograms, about 100 to 250 picograms, about 100 to 300 picograms, about 100 to 350 picograms, about 100 to 400 picograms, about 100 to 450 picograms, about 100 to 500 picograms, about 100 to 600 picograms, about 100 to 700 picograms, about 100 to 800 picograms, about 100 to 900 picograms, about 100 to 1000 picograms, about 100 to 1I100 picograms, about 100 to 1200 picograms, about 100 to 1300 picograms, about 100 to 1400 picograms, about 100 to 1500 picograms, about 100 to 1600 picograms, about 100 to 1700 picograms, about 100 to 1800 picograms, about 100 to 1900 picograms, about 100 to 2000 picograms, about 100 to 2100 picograms, or about 100 to 2250 picograms of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin is administered per treatment to a subject in need thereof. Most preferably, about 100, about 150, about 200, about 250, about 300, about 350, about 400, about 450, about 500, about 550, about 600, about 650, about 700, about 750 about 800, about 850, about 900, about 950, about 1000, about, 1050, about 1100, about 1150, about 1200, about 1250, about 1300, about 1350, about 1400, about 1450, about 1500, about 1550, about 1600, about 1650, about 1700, about 1750, about 1800, about 1850, about 1900, about 1950, about 2000, about 2050, about 2100, about 2150, about 2200, or about 2250 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to produce muscle weakness in the biceps brachii muscle. Dosages greater than 2250 picograms per treatment may also be administered to patients with muscle spasticity to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods for treating pain and pain syndromes comprising the step of administering between about 1.0 to 20 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein the administration of said botulinum toxin formulation reduces pain in said subject. Preferably, a patient suffering from pain or a pain syndrome receives between about 1 to 3, about 1 to 5, about 1 to 7, about 1 to 10, about 1 to 12, about 1 to 15, about 1 to 17, about 5 to 10, about 5 to 15, about 5 to 20, or about 1 to 20 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical composition comprising botulinum toxin. Most preferably, about 1, about, 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, about 10, about 11, about 12, about 13, about 14, about 15, about 16, about 17, about 18, about 19, or about 20 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to reduce pain. Dosages greater than 20 picograms per treatment may also be administered to patients with muscle spasticity to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods for cosmetically modifying soft-tissue features comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 70 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein the administration of said botulinum toxin is sufficient to modify said features in said subject. Preferably, a patient desiring to modify soft tissue features receives between about 5 to 10, about 5 to 15, about 5 to 20, about 5 to 25, about 5 to 30, about 5 to 35, about 5 to 40, about 5 to 45, about 5 to 55, about 5 to 60, about 5 to 65 or about 5 to 75 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical composition comprising botulinum toxin. Most preferably, about 5, about 7, about 10, about 12, about 15, about 17, about 20, about 22, about 25, about 27, about 30, about 32, about 35, about 37, about 40, about 42, about 45, about 47, about 50, about 52, about 55, about 57, about 60, about 62, about 65, about 67, or about 70 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to modify soft tissue features. Dosages greater than 70 picograms per treatment may also be administered to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods for treating inflammation comprising the step of administering between about 1.0 to 20 picograms per treatment of a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein the administration of said botulinum toxin reduces inflammation in said subject. Preferably, a patient suffering from inflammation receives between about 1 to 2, about 1 to 5, about 1 to 7, about 1 to 10, about 1 to 12, about 1 to 15, about 1 to 17, or about 1 to 20 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a botulinum toxin. Most preferably, about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, about 10, about 11, about 12, about 13, about 14, about 15, about 16, about 17, about 18, about 19, or about 20 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to reduce inflammation. Dosages greater than 20 picograms per treatment may also be administered to reduce inflammation. The present invention also provides methods of treating cutaneous disorders comprising the step of administering between about 1.0 to 10 picograms per treatment of a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein the administration of said botulinum toxin reduces a sebaceous, meibomian or mucous secretion in said subject. Preferably, a patient suffering from cutaneous disorders receives between about 1 to 2, about 1 to 3, about 1 to 4, about 1 to 5, about 1 to 6, about 1 to 7, about 1 to 8, about 1 to 9, or about 1 to 10 picograms per treatment of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a botulinum toxin. Most preferably, about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, or about 10 picograms per treatment are administered to a subject to reduce a sebaceous, meibomian or mucous secretion. Dosages greater than 10 picograms per treatment may also be administered to reduce sebaceous, meibomian or mucous secretions. The present invention also provides methods for producing a high-potency botulinum toxin formulation comprising the step of adding greater than about 500 micrograms of a sequestration agent per 100 LD 50 Units of a botulinum neurotoxin, wherein said formulation has an increased clinical potency. Preferably, greater than about 550, greater than about 600, greater than about 650, greater than about 700, greater than about 750, greater than about 800, greater than about 850, greater than about 900, greater than about 950, greater than about 1000, greater than about 1500, greater than about 2000, greater than about 2500, greater than about 3000, greater than about 3500, greater than about 4000, greater than about 4500, greater than about 5000, greater than about 5500, greater than about 6000, greater than about 6500, greater than about 7000, greater than about 7500, greater than about 8000, greater than about 8500, greater than about 9000, greater than about 9500, greater than about 10,000, greater than about 15,000, greater than about 20,000, greater than about 25,000, greater than about 50,000, greater than about 100,000, greater than about 150,000, greater than about 200,000 or greater than about 250,000 micrograms of a sequestration agent is added per 100 LD 50 Units of a botulinum neurotoxin. More preferably, between about 500 to 1000, about 500 to 1500, about 500 to 2000, about 500 to 2500, about 500 to 3000, about 500 to 3500, about 500 to 4000, about 500 to 4500, about 500 to 5000, about 500 to 10,000, about 500 to 20,000, about 1000 to 1500, about 1000 to 2000, about 1000 to 2500, about 1000 to 3000, about 1000 to 3500, about 1000 to 4000, about 1000 to 4500, about 1000 to 5000, about 1000 to 5500, about 1000 to 6000, about 1000 to 6500, about 1000 to 7000, about 1000 to 7500, about 1000 to 8000, about 1000 to 8500, about 1000 to 9000, about 1000 to 9500, about 1000 to 10,000, about 1000 to 15,000, about 1000 to 20,000, about 1000 to 25,000, or about 1000 to 50,000 micrograms of a sequestration agent is added to 100 LD 50 Units o a botulinum neurotoxin, and wherein the resultant formulation has an increased clinical potency. The present invention also provides methods of treating cervical dystonia comprising the step of administering between about 15 to 150 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation produces muscle weakness. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation is administered to one or more of the muscles selected from the group consisting of: sternomastoid, levator scapulae, splenius cervis, capitus, scalene, and trapezium. Preferably, between about 15 to 30 Units, 15 to 50 Units, 15 to 75 Units, 15 to 100 Units, 15 to 125 Units, 15 to 150 Units, 20 to 100 Units, 20 to 150 Units, or 100 to 150 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with cervical dystonia. Most preferably, about 15, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45 about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 95, about 100, about 105, about 110, about 115, about 120, about 125, about 130, about 135, about 140, about 145, or about 150 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with cervical dystonia. Dosages greater than 150 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with cervical dystonia to achieve a therapeutic response. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods of treating blepharospasm comprising the step of administering between about 1.5 to 20 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation produces muscle weakness. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulation is administered to an orbicular muscle of said subject. In another embodiment, between about 1.5 to 5 Units, 1.5 to 7 Units, 1.5 to 10 Units, 1.5 to 12 Units, 1.5 to 15 Units, 1.5 to 17 Units, 2.0 to 5 Units, 2 to 10 Units, 2 to 15, 2 to 20, 5 to 10, 5 to 15, or 5 to 20 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with blepharospasm. Most preferably, about 1.5, about 2.0, about 2.5, about 3.0, about 3.5, about 4.0, about 4.5 about 5.0, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, about 10.5, about 11.0, about 11.5, about 12.0, about 12.5, about 13.0, about 13.5, about 14.0, about 14.5, about 15.0, about 15.5, about 16.0, about 16.5, about 17.0, about 17.5, about 18.0, about 18.5, about 19.0, about 19.5, or about 20.0 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with blepharospasm. Dosages greater than 20 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with blepharospasm to achieve a therapeutic response. In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides methods of treating hyperhydrosis comprising the step of administering between about 0.5 to 50 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces sweating. Preferably, the pharmaceutical formulation is administered to an axillae. In another embodiment, between about 0.5 to 5 Units, 0.5 to 10 Units, 0.5 to 15 Units, 0.5 to 20 Units, 0.5 to 25 Units, 0.5 to 30 Units, 0.5 to 35 Units, 0.5 to 40 Units, 0.5 to 45, 0.5 to 50, 2 to 10, 2 to 20, 2 to 30, 2 to 40, or 2 to 50 Units per treatment are preferably administered to a patient suffering from hyperhydrosis. Most preferably, about 0.5, about 1.0, about 1.5, about 2.0, about 2.5, about 3.0, about 3.5 about 4.0, about 4.5, about 5.0, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, about 12, about 15, about 17, about 20, about 22, about 25, about 27, about 30, about 32, about 35, about 37, about 40, about 42, about 45, about 47, or about 50 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with hyperhydrosis. Dosages greater than 50 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with hyperhydrosis to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating migraine headache pain comprising the step of administering between about 0.5 to 50 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces migraine headache pain. In another embodiment, between about 0.5 to 5 Units, 0.5 to 10 Units, 0.5 to 15 Units, 0.5 to 20 Units, 0.5 to 25 Units, 0.5 to 30 Units, 0.5 to 35 Units, 0.5 to 40 Units, 0.5 to 45, 0.5 to 50, 2 to 10, 2 to 20, 2 to 30, 2 to 40, or 2 to 50 Units per treatment are preferably administered to a patient suffering from migraine headache pain. Most preferably, about 0.5, about 1.0, about 1.5, about 2.0, about 2.5, about 3.0, about 3.5 about 4.0, about 4.5, about 5.0, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5,. about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, about 12, about 15, about 17, about 20, about 22, about 25, about 27, about 30, about 32, about 35, about 37, about 40, about 42, about 45, about 47, or about 50 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with migraine headache pain. Dosages greater than 50 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with migraine headache pain to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating facial pain comprising the step of administering between about 4 to 40 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces facial pain. In one embodiment, the facial pain is associated with sinusitis. In another embodiment, the facial pain is associated with trigeminal neuralgia. In yet another embodiment, the facial pain is post-surgical wound pain. In another embodiment, between about 4 to 7 Units, about 4 to 10 Units, about 4 to 15 Units, about 4 to 20 Units, about 4 to 25 Units, about 4 to 30 Units, about 4 to 35 Units, or about 4 to 40 Units per treatment are preferably administered to a patient suffering from facial pain. Most preferably, about 4.0, about 4.5, about 5.0, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, about 12, about 15, about 17, about 20, about 22, about 25, about 27, about 30, about 32, about 35, about 37, about 40, about 42, about 45, about 47, or about 50 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with facial pain. Dosages greater than 40 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with facial pain to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating strabismus comprising the step of administering between about 4 to 40 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces symptoms of strabismus. Preferably, between about 4 to 7 Units, about 4 to 10 Units, about 4 to 15 Units, about 4 to 20 Units, about 4 to 25 Units, about 4 to 30 Units, about 4 to 35 Units, or about 4 to 40 Units per treatment are preferably administered to a patient suffering from strabismus. Most preferably, about 4.0, about 4.5, about 5.0, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, about 12, about 15, about 17, about 20, about 22, about 25, about 27, about 30, about 32, about 35, about 37, about 40, about 42, about 45, about 47, or about 50 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with strabismus. Dosages greater than 40 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with strabismus to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating hyperactive bladder comprising the step of administering between about 4 to 40 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces urination frequency. Preferably, between about 4 to 7 Units, about 4 to 10 Units, about 4 to 15 Units, about 4 to 20 Units, about 4 to 25 Units, about 4 to 30 Units, about 4 to 35 Units, or about 4 to 40 Units per treatment are preferably administered to a patient suffering from hyperactive bladder. Most preferably, about 4.0, about 4.5, about 5.0, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, about 12, about 15, about 17, about 20, about 22, about 25, about 27, about 30, about 32, about 35, about 37, about 40, about 42, about 45, about 47, or about 50 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with hyperactive bladder. Dosages greater than 40 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with facial pain to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating muscle spasticity comprising the step of administering between about 20 to 200 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation produces muscle weakness. Preferably, between about 20 to 30 Units, 20 to 40 Units, 20 to 60 Units, 20 to 80 Units, 20 to 100 Units, 20 to 125 Units, 20 to 150 Units, or 20 to 175 Units per treatment a administered to a patient with muscle spasticity. Most preferably, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45 about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 95, about 100, about 105, about 110, about 115, about 120, about 125, about 130, about 135, about 140, about 145, about 150, about 155, about 160, about-165, about 170, about 175, about 180, about 185, about 190, about 195, or about 200 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with muscle spasticity. Dosages greater than 200 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with muscle spasticity to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating hemifacial spasm comprising the step of administering between about 1.5 to 15 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation produces muscle weakness. Preferably, between about 1.5 to 5 Units, about 1.5 to 7 Units, about 1.5 to 10 Units, about 1.5 to 12 Units, about 1.5 to 15 Units, about 2.0 to 5 Units, about 2 to 10 Units, about 2 to 15, about 5 to 10, about 5 to 15, or about 5 to 20 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with hemifacial spasm. Most preferably, about 1.5, about 2.0, about 2.5, about 3.0, about 3.5, about 4.0, about 4.5 about 5.0, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5 , about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, about 10.5, about 11.0, about 11.5, about 12.0, about 12.5, about 13.0, about 13.5, about 14.0, about 14.5, or about 15.0 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with hemifacial spasm. Dosages greater than 15 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with hemifacial spasm to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of myofascial pain comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 100 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces myofascial pain. In a preferred embodiment, the myofascial pain is pain associated with cervical dystonia or temporal mandibular joint syndrome. More preferably, the myofascial pain is pain associated with cervical dystonia. In another embodiment, between about 5 to 10 Units, 5 to 20 Units, 5 to 30 Units, 5 to 40 Units, 5 to 50 Units, 5 to 60 Units, 5 to 70 Units, 5 to 80 Units, 5 to 90, 10 to 20, 10 to 30, 10 to 50 or 10 to 60, or 10 to 70, or 10 to 80, 10 to 90 or 10 to 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient suffering from myofascial pain. Most preferably, about 5, about 10, about 15, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35 about 40, about 45, about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 95 or about 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with myofascial pain. Dosages greater than 100 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with myofascial pain to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating facial pain comprising the step of administering between about 4 to 40 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces facial pain. Preferably, between about 4 to 10 Units, 4 to 15 Units, 4 to 20 Units, 4 to 25 Units, 4 to 30 Units, 4 to 35 Units, 7 to 15 Units, 7 to 20 Units, 7 to 25, 7 to 30, 7 to 35, or 7 to 40 Units per treatment are administered to a patient suffering from facial pain. Most preferably, about 4, about 5, about 7.5, about 10, about 12.5, about 15, about 17.5 about 20.0, about 22.5, about 25.0, about 27.5, about 30.0, about 32.5, about 35, about 37.5, or about 40 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with facial pain. Dosages greater than 40 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with facial pain to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating inflammation comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 100 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces inflammation. In a preferred embodiment, the inflammation is associated with arthritis or the inflammation is intestinal. In another embodiment, between about 1 to 10 Units, 1 to 20 Units, 1 to 30 Units, 1 to 40 Units, 1 to 50 Units, 1 to 60 Units, 1 to 70 Units, 1 to 80 Units, 1 to 90, 5 to 20, 5 to 30, 5 to 40, 5 to 50, 5 to 60, 5 to 70, 5 to 80, 5 to 90, or 5 to 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with an inflammatory disorder. Most preferably, about 1, about 10, about 20, about 30, about 40, about 50, about 60, about 70, about 80, about 90, or about 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with tension-headache pain. Dosages greater than 100 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients suffering from inflammation or an inflammatory disorder to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of method of treating blepharitis comprising the step of administering between about 1 to 10 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces inflammation. In a preferred embodiment, between about 1 to 3 Units, about 1 to 5 Units, about 1 to 7 Units, or 1 to 10 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with an inflammatory disorder. Most preferably, about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, or about 10 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with tension-headache pain. Dosages greater than 10 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients suffering from inflammation or an inflammatory disorder to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating scoliosis comprising the step of administering between about 30 to 300 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation improves posture. In a preferred embodiment, between about 30 to 50 Units, about 30 to 75 units, about 30 to 100 Units, about 30 to 125 Units, about 30 to 150 Units, about 30 to 175 Units, about 30 to 200 Units, about 30 to 225 Units, about 30 to 250 Units, about 30 to 275 Units, or about 30 to 300 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with scoliosis. More preferably, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45, about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 100, about 110, about 120, about 130, about 140, about 145, about 150, about 155, about 160, about 165, about 170, about 175, about 180, about 185, about 190, about 200, about 210, about 220, about 230, about 240, about 245, about 250, about 255, about 260, about 265, about 270, about 275, about 280, about 285, about 290, or about 300 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with scoliosis. Dosages greater than 300 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients suffering from scoliosis to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating tension headache comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 50 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces pain. Preferably, between about 5 to 10 Units, 5 to 15 Units, 5 to 20 Units, 5 to 25 Units, 5 to 30 Units, 5 to 35 Units, 5, to 40 Units, 5 to 45 Units, 10 to 20, 10 to 25, 10 to 30, 10 to 35, 10 to 40, 10 to 45, or 10 to 45 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with tension-headache pain. Most preferably, about 5, about 10, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45, or about 50 Unit per treatment are administered to a patient with tension-headache pain. Dosages greater than 50 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with tension-headache pain to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating lower back pain comprising the step of administering between about 15 to 150 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces pain. Preferably, between about 15 to 30 Units, 15 to 50 Units, 15 to 75 Units, 15 to 100 Units, 15 to 125 Units, 15 to 150 Units, 20 to 100 Units, 20 to 150 Units, or 100 to 150 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with lower-back pain. Most preferably, about 15, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45 about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 95, about 100, about 105, about 110, about 115, about 120, about 125, about 130, about 135, about 140, about 145, or about 150 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with lower-back pain. Dosages greater than 150 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with lower-back pain to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating scleroderma comprising the step of administering between about 30 to 300 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces a symptom of scleroderma. In a preferred embodiment, between about 30 to 50 Units, about 30 to 75 units, about 30 to 100 Units, about 30 to 125 Units, about 30 to 150 Units, about 30 to 175 Units, about 30 to 200 Units, about 30 to 225 Units, about 30 to 250 Units, about 30 to 275 Units, or about 30 to 300 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with scieroderma. More preferably, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45, about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 100, about 110, about 120, about 130, about 140, about 145, about 150, about 155, about 160, about 165, about 170, about 175, about 180, about 185, about 190, about 200, about 210, about 220, about 230, about 240, about 245, about 250, about 255, about 260, about 265, about 270, about 275, about 280, about 285, about 290, or about 300 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with scleroderma. Dosages greater than 300 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients suffering from scleroderma to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating asthma and/or hayfever comprising the step of administering between about 5 to 50 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces inflammation. Preferably, between about 5 to 10 Units, 5 to 15 Units, 5 to 20 Units, 5 to 25 Units, 5 to 30 Units, 5 to 35 Units, 5 to 40 Units, 5 to 45 Units, 10 to 20, 10 to 25, 10 to 30, 10 to 35, 10 to 40, 10 to 45, or 10 to 45 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with asthma and/or hayfever. Most preferably, about 5, about 10, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45, or about 50 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with asthma and/or hayfever. Dosages greater than 50 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with asthma and/or hayfever to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating prostatitis comprising the step of administering between about 10 to 100 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces inflammation. In a preferred embodiment, the administration of said formulation reduces prostate size. Preferably, between about 10 to 30 Units, about 10 to 50 Units, about 10 to 75 Units, about 10 to 100 Units, about 20 to 50 Units, about 20 to 75 Units, or about 20 to 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with prostatitis. Most preferably, about 10, about 15, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45 about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, about 95, or about 100 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with prostatitis. Dosages greater than 100 Units per treatment may also be administered to patients with prostatitis to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods of treating facial rhytides comprising the step of administering between about 2 to 20 Units per treatment of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin a subject-in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces facial lines. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation is administered to reduce vertical lines between the eyebrows and/or on a bridge of a nose. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation is administered to reduce lines at corners of the eyes. In yet another embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation is administered to reduce horizontal lines on said forehead. In a preferred embodiment, between about 2 to 5 Units, about 2 to 6 Units, about 2 to 7 Units, about 2 to 8 Units, about 2 to 9 Units, about 2 to 10 Units, about 2 to 11 Units, about 2 to 12 Units, about 2 to 13 Units, about 2 to 14 Units, about 2 to 15 Units, about 2 to 16 Units, about 2 to 17 Units, about 1 to 18 Units, 1 to 19 Units, or about 2 to 20 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with facial rhytides. Most preferably, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, about 10, about 11, about 12, about 13, about 14, about 15, about 16, about 17, about 18, about 19, or about 20 Units per treatment are administered to a patient with facial rhytides. Dosages greater than 20 Units per treatment may also be administered to a patient with facial rhytides to achieve a therapeutic response. The present invention also provides methods for reducing scarring and/or cosmetic deformity associated with burns or skin disorders such as blistering dermatosis comprising the step of administering a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a botulinum toxin to a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of said formulation reduces scarring and/or cosmetic deformity. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation comprises a botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent, as disclosed herein. In yet another embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation comprises a botulinum toxin, a sequestration agent, as disclosed herein, and a stabilizing agent, such as trehalose. Further, the pharmaceutical formulation comprises an agent that promotes cutaneous absorption and penetration. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation is administered to a body surface of said subject. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation is administered as a liquid formulation. More preferably, the pharmaceutical formulation is applied as an aerosol. In another embodiment, between about 1 and 10, about 1 and 50, about 1 and 100, about 1 and 200, about 1 and 500, about 1 and 1000, about 1 and 1250, about 1 and 1500, about 1 and 2000, or about 1 and 2500 Units per treatment are administered to a subject suffering from a burn. As used herein, “burn” includes but is not limited to thermal, electrical, or chemical burns and also includes blistering caused by dermatitis and other blistering disorders. In an alternative embodiment, mechanical abrasion, chemical, thermal, laser-induced disruption of skin barriers, and the like, may be used to improve the delivery of topical administration of pharmaceutical formulations of botulinum toxin. The present invention provides a composition comprising botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent for use in treating various neuromuscular diseases and localized denervation. In one embodiment, the sequestration agent is present in an amount between 550 and 550,000 μg sequestration agent per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In another embodiment, the sequestration agent is present in an amount between 550 and 5,500 μg sequestration agent per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In a further embodiment, the sequestration agent is present in an amount between 5,500 and 13,000 μg sequestration agent per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In a preferred embodiment, the sequestration agent is present in an amount between 13,000 and 50,500 μg sequestration agent per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In a more preferred embodiment, the sequestration agent is present in an amount between 50,500 and 505,000 μg sequestration agent per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In the most preferred embodiment, the sequestration agent is formulated as encapsulated microspheres in an amount between 50,500 and 90,500 μg sequestration agent per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. The botulinum toxin of the present compositions may be selected from a variety of strains of Clostridium botulinum. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions of the present invention comprises a botulinum toxin selected from the group consisting of botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G. In a preferred embodiment, the botulinum toxin is botulinum toxin type A. In a more preferred embodiment, the botulinum toxin is botulinum toxin type A from the Hall strain of Clostridium botulinum. In another embodiment, the compositions of the present invention comprise a botulinum toxin that consists essentially of fractionated-light-chain botulinum toxin. In yet another embodiment, the botulinum toxin consists essentially of a mixture of hybrid and chain-translocated forms of botulinum toxin. In a further embodiment, the botulinum toxin consists essentially of chimeric forms of botulinum toxin. Although the present invention may utilize any botulinum toxin, botulinum toxin fragment that retains neurotoxic activity, botulinum toxin chimeras and hybrids, chemically-modified botulinum toxin, and specific activities well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, in one embodiment the botulinum toxin is purified to a specific activity greater than or equal to 20 LD 50 units per nanogram botulinum toxin. The present invention provides compositions of botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent wherein the ratio of LD 50 units of botulinum toxin to pg sequestration agent is less than or equal to 0.2 for botulinum toxin type A and is less than or equal to 10 for botulinum toxin type B. Each composition of the present invention, in addition to comprising a botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent, may further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or zinc and/or a zinc salt. In one embodiment, the botulinum toxin is noncovalently bound to the sequestration agent. In another embodiment, the botulinum toxin is covalently bound to the sequestration agent. The present invention provides compositions of a botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent, wherein the sequestration agent is selected from the group consisting of: proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. In a preferred embodiment, the sequestration agent is albumin, collagen, epinephrine or hyaluronate. In a more preferred embodiment, the sequestration agent is hyaluronate. In the most preferred embodiment, the sequestration agent is albumin. The present invention further provides compositions comprising a botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent, wherein the sequestration agent is an albumin, preferably human serum albumin. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the albumin of the present compositions is recombinantly produced. In one embodiment, the albumin is present in an amount between 550 and 5,500 μg albumin per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In a further embodiment, albumin is present in an amount between 5,500 and 13,000 μg albumin per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In a preferred embodiment, albumin is present in an amount between 13,000 and 50,500 μg albumin per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In a more preferred embodiment, albumin is present in an amount between 50,500 and 505,000 μg albumin per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In a most preferred embodiment, albumin is formulated as encapsulated microspheres in an amount between 50,500 and 90,500 μg albumin per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a composition comprising botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent, wherein the sequestration agent is present in an amount between 550 and 900,500 μg sequestration agent per 100 LD 50 units botulinum toxin, wherein the albumin may be formulated as a solid albumin particle. In one embodiment of the present invention, the compositions comprise a botulinum toxin and at least one sequestration agent. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions of the present invention comprising a botulinum toxin and albumin and further comprising one or more additional sequestration agents. The present invention also provides methods of producing localized denervation in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of any of the compositions of the present invention that are described herein. In one embodiment, the methods of the present invention are used to produce denervation in a subject that suffers from a neuromuscular disease associated with increased muscle tone with involuntary movement. In another embodiment, the methods of the present invention are used to produce denervation in a subject that suffers from a neuromuscular disease. Preferably, the neuromuscular disease is characterized by increased muscle tone and/or involuntary movement, including but not limited to dystonias, spinal cord injury or disease, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, cerebral palsy, stroke, and the like. Preferably, the neuromuscular disease associated with increased muscle tone and/or involuntary movement is blepharospasm or torticollis. More preferably, the neuromuscular disease associated with increased muscle tone with involuntary movement is blepharospasm. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods for producing denervation in a subject suffering from blepharospasm comprising administering between 10-200 LD 50 units of a composition of the present invention, as described herein. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods for producing denervation in a subject suffering from torticollis. Preferably, the effective amount of a composition of the present invention is between 10 and 3000 LD 50 units. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a condition selected from the group consisting of facial wrinkles, rhytides and cosmetic alteration of lip and brow, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition of the present invention, as disclosed herein. Preferably, the effective amount is between 2.5 and 400 LD 50 units. In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating human headache disorders in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition of the present invention, as disclosed herein. Preferably, the effective amount is between 5 and 1000 LD 50 units. In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating human migraine headache disorders in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition of the present invention, as disclosed herein. Preferably, the effective amount is between 5 and 1,000 LD 50 units. The present invention also provides a method of treating human inflammatory conditions in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition of the present invention, as disclosed herein. Preferably, the effective amount is between 5 and 4,000 LD 50 units. The present invention also provides a method of treating myopathic or neuropathic pain in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition of the present invention, as disclosed herein. Preferably, the effective amount is between 5 and 4,000 ID50 units. The present invention also provides a method of treating back pain or arthritic pain in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition of the present invention, as disclosed herein. Preferably, the effective amount is between 5 and 4,000 LD 50 units. In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating gastrointestinal spasm and strictures in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition of the present invention, as disclosed herein. Preferably, the effective amount is between 5 and 4,000 LD 50 units. The present invention provides a method of treating a hyperhyrosis syndrome in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition of the present invention, as disclosed herein. Preferably, the effective amount is between 5 and 4,000 LD 50 units. The present invention also provides a method of producing the compositions described herein. In one embodiment, the method comprises mixing a sequestration agent with botulinum toxin. In another embodiment, the method comprises freeze drying or flash drying a sequestration agent with botulinum toxin. Preferably, the botulinum toxin and the sequestration agent are in a weight to weight ratio which exceeds 100 μg sequestration agent to 1 ng of botulinum toxin. |
Housing flange unit |
The present invention relates to a housing flange unit including a housing flange, within which a throttle shaft that is provided with a centrally located throttle is rotatably mounted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing flange inside a first bearing and a second bearing. The inventive housing flange unit also includes a housing flange made of red brass and a wall thickness of 2 to 4 mm. The invention also relates to the use of the housing flange unit as a sealing unit for an exhaust gas cooler. |
1. A housing flange unit, comprising: a housing flange in which, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing flange, a throttle shaft having a centrally arranged throttle is mounted rotatably in a first bearing and a second bearing, wherein the housing flange comprise red brass and has a wall thickness of 2 to 4 mm. 2. The housing flange unit according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness is between 2 and 3 mm. 3. The housing flange unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing flange comprises CuSn5Zn5Pb5-C. 4. The housing flange unit according to claim 3, wherein the housing flange has differing percentage by mass areas of Sn in the range of 2 to 8%, of Zn in the range of from 1 to 10% and of Pb in the range of firm 1 to 5%. 5. The housing flange unit according to claims 1, wherein the throttle shaft is mounted rotatably in the first bearing and in the second bearing without an additional seal. 6. The housing flange unit according to claim 5, wherein the throttle shaft has a gap of from 0.018 to 0.025 mm from the first bearing and from the second bearing. 7. (canceled) 8. The housing flange unit according to claim 2, wherein the housing flange comprises CuSn5Zn5Pb5-C. 9. The housing flange unit according to claim 2, wherein the throttle shaft is mounted rotatably in the first bearing and in the second bearing without an additional seal. 10. The housing flange unit according to claim 3, wherein the throttle shaft is mounted rotatably in the fist bearing and in the second bearing without an additional seal. 11. The housing flange unit according to claim 4, wherein the throttle shaft is mounted rotatably in the first bearing and in the second bearing without an additional seal. |
86 human secreted proteins |
The present invention relates to novel human secreted proteins and isolated nucleic acids containing the coding regions of the genes encoding such proteins. Also provided are vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant methods for producing human secreted proteins. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods useful for diagnosing and treating disorders related to these novel human secreted proteins. |
1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polynucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:X or a polynucleotide fragment of the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (b) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:Y or a polypeptide fragment encoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (c) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide domain of SEQ ID NO:Y or a polypeptide domain encoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (d) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide epitope of SEQ ID NO:Y or a polypeptide epitope encoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (e) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y or the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X, having biological activity; (f) a polynucleotide which is a variant of SEQ ID NO:X; (g) a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of SEQ ID NO:X; (h) a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the SEQ ID NO:Y; (i) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)-(h), wherein said polynucleotide does not hybridize under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence of only a residues or of only T residues. 2. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a secreted protein. 3. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:Y or the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X. 4. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises the entire nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X. 5. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises sequential nucleotide deletions from either the C-terminus or the N-terminus. 6. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 3, wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises sequential nucleotide deletions from either the C-terminus or the N-terminus. 7. A recombinant vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1. 8. A method of making a recombinant host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1. 9. A recombinant host cell produced by the method of claim 8. 10. The recombinant host cell of claim 9 comprising vector sequences. 11. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (b) a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, having biological activity; (c) a polypeptide domain of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (d) a polypeptide epitope of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (e) a secreted form of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (f) a full length protein of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (g) a variant of SEQ ID NO:Y; (h) an allelic variant of SEQ ID NO:Y; or (i) a species homologue of the SEQ ID NO:Y. 12. The isolated polypeptide of claim 11, wherein the secreted form or the full length protein comprises sequential amino acid deletions from either the C-terminus or the N-terminus. 13. An isolated antibody that binds specifically to the isolated polypeptide of claim 11. 14. A recombinant host cell that expresses the isolated polypeptide of claim 11. 15. A method of making an isolated polypeptide comprising: (a) culturing the recombinant host cell of claim 14 under conditions such that said polypeptide is expressed; and (b) recovering said polypeptide. 16. The polypeptide produced by claim 15. 17. A method for preventing, treating, or ameliorating a medical condition, comprising administering to a mammalian subject a therapeutically effective amount of the polynucleotide of claim 1. 18. A method of diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition in a subject comprising: (a) determining the presence or absence of a mutation in the polynucleotide of claim 1; and (b) diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition based on the presence or absence of said mutation. 19. A method of diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition in a subject comprising: (a) determining the presence or amount of expression of the polypeptide of claim 11 in a biological sample; and (b) diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition based on the presence or amount of expression of the polypeptide. 20. A method for preventing, treating, or ameliorating a medical condition, comprising administering to a mammalian subject a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide of claim 11. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Unlike bacterium, which exist as a single compartment surrounded by a membrane, human cells and other eukaryotes are subdivided by membranes into many functionally distinct compartments. Each membrane-bounded compartment, or organelle, contains different proteins essential for the function of the organelle. The cell uses “sorting signals,” which are amino acid motifs located within the protein, to target proteins to particular cellular organelles. One type of sorting signal, called a signal sequence, a signal peptide, or a leader sequence, directs a class of proteins to an organelle called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER separates the membrane-bounded proteins from all other types of proteins. Once localized to the ER, both groups of proteins can be further directed to another organelle called the Golgi apparatus. Here, the Golgi distributes the proteins to vesicles, including secretory vesicles, the cell membrane, lysosomes, and the other organelles. Proteins targeted to the ER by a signal sequence can be released into the extracellular space as a secreted protein. For example, vesicles containing secreted proteins can fuse with the cell membrane and release their contents into the extracellular space—a process called exocytosis. Exocytosis can occur constitutively or after receipt of a triggering signal. In the latter case, the proteins are stored in secretory vesicles (or secretory granules) until exocytosis is triggered. Similarly, proteins residing on the cell membrane can also be secreted into the extracellular space by proteolytic cleavage of a “linker” holding the protein to the membrane. Despite the great progress made in recent years, only a small number of genes encoding human secreted proteins have been identified. These secreted proteins include the commercially valuable human insulin, interferon, Factor VIII, human growth hormone, tissue plasminogen activator, and erythropoietin. Thus, in light of the pervasive role of secreted proteins in human physiology, a need exists for identifying and characterizing novel human secreted proteins and the genes that encode them. This knowledge will allow one to detect, to treat, and to prevent medical disorders by using secreted proteins or the genes that encode them. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to novel polynucleotides and the encoded polypeptides. Moreover, the present invention relates to vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant methods for producing the polypeptides and polynucleotides. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting disorders related to the polypeptides, and therapeutic methods for treating such disorders. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying binding partners of the polypeptides. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Combined pharmocological and surgical method and system for the treatment of eye disorders |
The pharmacological means is to either “trigger” or enhance the contraction effect after a surgical method for larger accommodation and/or for more stable post-surgery results. The present invention also discloses the range of dose for both safety and effectiveness when it is used together with the surgical methods. The preferred embodiment for the surgical method to remove a portion of the soft tissue include lasers at wavelength of 0.19 to 0.36 um and 0.9 to 3.2 um and the non-laser device of radio frequency wave, electrode device, bipolar device and plasma assisted device. A deeper ablation depth of about 0.4 to 1.4 mm than the prior arts is disclosed. The preferred embodiment for pharmacological means includes the use of pilocarpine hydrochloride, phosphorothioate, physostigmine or other beta-adrenergic propanolamines. |
1. A method for treating an eye disorder which comprises the steps of: (a) selecting a soft tissue removal means; (b) controlling said soft tissue removal means to remove a portion of soft tissue of an eye in a predetermined area, pattern and depth of the eye; and (c) selecting a pharmacological means administrating to the treated-eye, wherein said eye disorder includes presbyopia, amblyopia, glaucoma, cataracts, choroidal neovascularization, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined area is an area about 0.5 to 1.5 mm outside the limbus of an eye, having a preferred said predetermined depth about 0.4 to 1.4 mm and most preferable about 0.6 to 1.2 mm, and having a preferred said predetermined pattern of radial line, curve, dotted rings or non-specified patterns. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the amblyopia is treated or prevented by keeping the lens flexible through the increase of accommodative ability of the eye. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the glaucoma is treated or prevented by reduction of the intraocular pressure caused by increasing of contraction ability of said ciliary body. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cataracts formation or disintegration of lens proteins is prevented by keeping the lens flexible through accommodation. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the choroidal neovascularization caused by degenerative myopia or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is prevented or treated by the increasing of contraction ability or decreasing of rigidity of sclera and ciliary muscle. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the near vision of presbyopia is improved by the increasing of the accommodation achieved by increasing of contraction ability of said ciliary-body. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein increasing of said contraction ability is partially caused by the increasing of the elasticity of said cilciary-body after a portion of said soft tissue is removed, wherein said soft tissue includes sclera, conjunctiva, choroids or ciliary-body of an eye. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said near vision of said presbyopia is further improved or stabilized by the increase of said contraction ability of said ciliary body achieved by said pharmacological means. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein said near vision of said presbyopia increases by at least 1.0 diopters and the improved said near vision remains at least 6 months post treatment. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said tissue removal means includes tissue removed by a device selected from the group consisting of: laser, plasma knife, electromagnetic wave, radial frequency wave, and electrode device. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said laser includes harmonic of Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO4, or Nd:YLF having output wavelength of about 212 to 266 nm, Er:YAG (at 2.94 micron), Er:Cr:YSGG, Er:YSGG or Er:YLO3 (at about 2.8 micron), excimer lasers (at 193, 248, 308 nm), diode laser (at about 0.95 to 2.1 micron), or Ho:YAG laser (at about 2.1 micron). 13. The method of claim 11, wherein said electromagnetic wave device has a radio frequency ranging of about 20 KHz to 1000 KHz and power of about 0.1 to 20 W. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said electrode device includes a monopolar-tip, bipolar-tip, or plasma assisted electrode device operated at said ratio frequency. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmacological means includes topically administering to the eye an amount of a composition sufficient to further increase said accommodative ability of the subject by at least 0.5 diopters for near vision. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the increase of said accommodative ability is caused by a parasympathetic (cholinergic) control of the ciliary muscle, whereby contraction of the ciliary body allows the zonules to relax and change the lens curvature for near vision. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmacological means includes topically administering to the eye an amount of a composition sufficient to minimize the post-operative regression of said accommodative ability of the subject without affecting distant vision. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the post-operative regression of said accommodative ability of the subject is minimized by a parasympathetic (cholinergic) control of the ciliary muscle. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmacological means includes topically administering to the eye a composition having phosphorothioate or physostigmine content of about 0.01% to 0.3%. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmacological means includes topically administering to the eye a composition having pilocarpine hydrochloride with a preferred content about 0.2% to 5% and most preferable about 0.5% to 2%. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmacological means includes topically administering to the eye a composition having the beta-adrenergic antagonist selected from the group consisting of: Acebutolol, Alprenolol, Amosulalol, Arotinolol, Atenolol, Befunolol, Betaxolol, Bevantolol, Bisoprolol, Bopindolol, Bucumolol, Bufetolol, Bufuralol, Bunitrolol, Bunolol HCl, Bupranolol, Butidrine HCl, Butofilolol, Carazolol, Carteolol, Carvedilol, Celiprolol, Cetamolol, Cicloprolol HCl Cloranolol, Dexpropranolol, Diacetolol HCl, Dilevalol, Epanolol, Esmolol, Exaprolol, Flestolol Sulfate, Indenolol, Labetalol, Mepindolol, Metalol HCl, Metoprolol, Moprolol, Nadolol, Nadoxolol, Nifenalol, Nipradilol, Oxprenolol, Pamatolol Sulfate, Penbutolol, Pindolol, Practolol, Pronethalol, Propranolol, Sotalol, Sulfinalol, Talinolol, Tertatolol, Timolol, Tiprenolol HCl, Tolamolol, Toliprolol, and Xibenolol. 22. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmacological means includes topically administering to the eye a composition, wherein the composition is selected and is administered in an amount whereby the treatment of presbyopia is free of medically unacceptable side effects including elevated intraocular pressure, change of distant vision or myopic shift of the eye. 23. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmacological means is administered before said tissue removal means. 24. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmacological means is administered after said tissue removal means. 25. An apparatus for treating an eye disorder which comprises of: (a) a tissue removal device to remove a portion of soft tissue outside the limbus of an eye in a predetermined area, pattern and depth; whereby the contraction ability of the ciliary-body; and (b) a pharmacological product administrating to the subject; wherein the disorder includes presbyopia, amblyopia, glaucoma, cataracts, choroidal neovascularization or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said tissue removal device is a device selected from the group consisting of laser, electromagnetic wave at radio frequency, electrode device, monopolar device, bipolar device, and plasma assisted electrode device. 27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said laser includes harmonic of Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO4, or Nd:YLF having output wavelength of about 212 to 266 nm, Er;YAG (at 2.94 micron), Er:YSGG, Er:Cr:YSGG, Er:Cr:Th:YAG or Er:YALO3 at about 2.7 to 2.8 micron), excimer lasers (at 193, 248, 308 nm), diode laser (at about 0.95 to 2.1 micron), or Ho:YAG laser (at about 2.1 micron). 28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said predetermined area is an area about 0.5 to 1.5 mm outside the limbus of an eye, having a preferred depth about 0.4 to 1.4 mm and most preferable about 0.6 to 1.2 mm, and having a preferred pattern of radial line, curve, dotted rings or non-specified patterns. 29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said pharmacological product includes a composition having phosphorothioate or physostigmine content of about 0.01% to 0.3%, or pilocarpine hydrochloride content of about 0.2% to 5% and most preferable of about 0.5% to 2%. 30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said pharmacological product includes a tropical composition of beta-adrenergic antagonist content of about 0.01% to 10% by weight. 31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said pharmacological product is administered before or after said soft tissue of an eye is removed, whereby patient's post-operative outcome is further enhanced or stabilized. 32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said soft tissue includes conjunctiva, sclera, choroids or ciliary-body of an eye. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to method and apparatus for the treatment of presbyopia and other eye disorders by changing the rigidity property of the sclera-ciliary complex by removing a portion of the sclera or ciliary tissue and treated by medication for minimum regression. 2. Prior Art Presbyopia is a condition affects almost every individual with age over 45. Conventionally, this is treated by the use of additional convex lens spectacle for near work. The common method of correction for presbyopia is bifocal spectacle correction. In recent years attempts are being made to surgically reverse presbyopia The surgical methods include scleral expansion band (SEB), anterior ciliary sclerotomy (ACS), multi-focal intraocular lens (IOL) and the recent method using laser ablation of sclera tissue patented by the present inventor (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,263,879 and 6,258,082) known as laser sclera ablation (LASA) or LAPR. Restoring of accommodation achieved by SEB proposed by Schachar (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,331, 5,489,299, 6,007,578) technique is very controversial with disagreement about the accommodative process and mechanisms at work. It was believed that patients after SEB may experience a pseudo-accommodation because of erosion caused by the implant with resultant scleral thinning, axial lengthening of the eye, myopic shift or the increase of spherical aberration and multifocality. Recent measurements of Mathews support the classical Helmholtz theory and refute Schachar's theory (Mathews S. “Scleral expansion surgery does not restore accommodation in human presbyopia”. Ophthalmology 1999; 106: 873-877). The techniques of SEB and ACS (Thornton, S, “Surgery for hyperopia and presbyopia”, edited by Neal Sher, Williams & Wilkins, MD, 1997, Chapter 4) are based on the concept of “lens crowding states” proposed by Schachar. This concept has not gained universal acceptance. Furthermore, clinical study has indicated major post-operative regression caused by tissue healing effects (Singh G, Chanlfin S. A complication of scleral expansion surgery for treatment of presbyopia. Am J Ophthalmol 2000; 130:521-523). Prior art of Woodward (US Appl. No. 2002/0099363) proposed the use of thermal energy from a radiofrequency (RF) to treat presbyopia. However, there are no specifications of the RF disclosed, in which only low power RF can be used, if only thermal energy (rather than tissue ablation) is needed. In the present invention, we disclose the required parameter for a RF to be needed for tissue ablation. The present inventor believes that the overall accommodation of an eye is governed by multiple factors and presbyopia may be caused by many of the ageing factors including the change of the ciliary and scleral tissues properties, the alteration in the elasticity, thickness and shape of the lens and its capsule and histological and physical changes in the scleral tissue and zonules. The laser presbyopia treatment (LPT) and the mechanism are based on a hypothesis presented as the “Lin-Kadambi hypothesis” (Lin and Kadambi, book chapter in Presbyopia: a Surgical Textbook, ed. by Agarwal et al, SLACK, N.J., 2002). The “Lin-Kadambi” hypothesis proposed that after the LPT, the area of sclera ablated gets filled-in through the natural process of healing by “softer” sub-conjunctival tissue. The alteration in the elasticity of the tissue structure results in the ciliary body having to work against less resistance, a resistance initially caused by age-reduced rigidity of the sclera-ciliary-zonules complex. This leads to a greater relaxation of zonules and hence a greater central bulge of the crystalline lens for accommodation. This hypothesis may explain the minimal regression after LPT, however, can not explain some of the clinically reported cases with no accommodation effects after LPT. The present inventor further proposed that the change in the elasticity of the sclera-ciliary-zonules complex provides a “dynamic” accommodation for patient to improve its near vision while the far vision remains, unlike the pseudo-accommodation effects provided by sclera expansion methods such as SEB, ACS and multifocal IOL. For patients with “rigid” lens and/or ciliary body, the effectiveness of LPT may be very low due to the fact that the amount of ciliary-body contraction may not be sufficient to cause enough lens curvature change or anterior shift. Therefore, the present inventor proposes in this invention additional mechanism which uses pharmacological means to “trigger” or enhance the contraction effect after LPT for larger accommodation and/or for more stable post-operative results. Remove of sclera or ciliary tissue by a laser can be extended to the use of any means of tissue removal including other non-laser methods such as mechanical knife or electrode devices. The prior art of Schachar, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,165 (column 7, line 39-54) proposed a chemical treatment to weaken the sclera collagen to improve accommodation. Certain antibiotic drugs such as mitomycin are disclosed. However, there was no clinical data reported for Schachar's method which is fundamental different from what is proposed in the present invention using the cholinergic control for ciliary body contraction (to be detailed later). Since 1972, medicine methods have been reported to use the sympathetic innervations in human accommodation. The present invention proposes the combined effects of innervations and ablation of soft tissue of an eye. More details are discussed as follows. Pharmacological methods for the studies of the role of sympathetic innervations in accommodation in humans has been reported in several prior arts. Rosenfield reported a study using an alpha-adrenergic antagonist caused an average increase in accommodative amplitude of 1.5 D, which however only maintain for less than 2 hours (Rosenfiled M, The influence of alpha-adrenergic agents on tonic accommodation”. Current Eye Research, vol. 9, No. 3, 1990, pp. 267-272). Nyberg reported the use of Timolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist to cause a net increase in tonic accommodation in unfocused eyes of a group of subjects with a mean age of 23. This effect has not been demonstrated in presbyopic patients (Nyberg G, “The Influence of beta-adrenoceptor agonists on accommodation of the Lens”, Clin. Exp. Pharmacol Physiol.; vol. 65, 1976; pp. 493-495). Beta-adrenergic antagonists such as timolol, betaxolol and levobunolol also have been used topically to control elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), where the beta-adrenergic antagonists were able to lower the IOP by decreasing the rate of production of aqueous humor by the ciliary body (van Alphen, “The adrenergic receptors of the intraocular pressure muscles of the human eye”, Invest. Ophthal. Vol. 15, 1976; pp. 502-505). Eskridge reported a brief increase in the maximum accommodative response in a 36 year old subject treated with the parasympathomimetic drug eserine (Am. J. Optometry, August, 1972, pp. 632-635). A similar transient gain in accommodation was measured after treating subjects with the alpha-1 antagonist thymoxamine (Zetterstrom, Acta Ophthalmologica 65:699-704, 1987). In a prior art of Neufeld (U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,050), vision of a 50 years old presbyopia was improved after administration of the eye by a beta-adrenergic antagonists of Timolol. However the long term results and accommodation amplitude were not disclosed. Recently, Nolan (U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,092) reported the results of topical application of an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor to treat presbyopic patient. Acetylcholine esterase inhibitors such as (2-mercaptoethyl) trimethylammonium iodide O, O-diethyl phosphorothioate sold as PHOSPOHLINE IODIDE and physostigmine (also known as eserine) sold as ANTILIRIUM are commercially available and currently used for glaucoma and accommodative esotropia at a standard concentration of 0.03% to 0.25%. Nolan proposed to use a much lower concentration of 0.0075% to 0.12% to treat presbyopia. This prior art can improve near vision without side effect such as blurring, loss of distant vision or induction of myopia, which however only provides transient gain of accommodation and only lasts for (5-7) days. The present inventor in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,258,082 and 6,263,879 and PCT No. US01/24618 proposed the use of lasers to remove portion of sclera tissue and increase the elastic of sclera-ciliary-body complex to achieve near vision improvement for presbyopia patients, a procedure referred to as laser sclera ablation (LASA or LAPR). However, the clinical results of LASA showed post-operation regressions after 12-18 months in some cases. In addition, some reported cases showed no effects on subject's near vision due to un-known reasons. Based on the over 100 reported LASA cases, the mean accommodation improvement was only about 1.9 diopters which is not enough for those cases which have over 50% post-operation regression. Furthermore, for patients with “rigid” lens and/or ciliary body, the efficacy of LASA is poor due to the fact that the amount of ciliary-body contraction may not be sufficient to cause enough lens curvature change or anterior shift mainly due to the superficial effect of sclera ablation. Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to disclose a new mechanism which uses pharmacological or topical medicine method to “trigger” and enhance the “contraction” effect for higher accommodation and more stable results. In addition, the LASA (or LAPR) procedure is extended to a new procedure called laser ciliary-body ablation (LACA), which has a preferred total depth of about 0.4 to 1.4 mm, much deeper than that of LASA (limited to about 0.6 mm) and therefore LACA is more efficient than LASA (or LAPR). The preferred ablation also includes at least about 10% of ciliary body thickness. To avoid perforation, the preferred ablation area in LACA is about 0.5 to 1.5 mm away (outside) the limbus, which is narrower than that of LASA, about 0.5 to 4.5 mm. It is known that there is an age correlation among glaucoma (open angle glaucoma) cataract formation and presbyopia. Also, there are glaucoma agents that actively stimulate the ciliary body to achieve pressure reduction in glaucoma. The LACA technique was also proposed by the present inventor for the treatment of glaucoma. Almost all post-LASA patients have a decrease of intraocular pressure (IOP) which however becomes to normal level within few days to few weeks after the LASA surgery. Therefore the LASA procedure is not a long-term effective method to reduce the IOP for glaucoma patients. It is yet another objective of this invention to disclose a long-term method to reduce the IOP of primary open angle glaucoma. It is yet another objective of this invention to disclose the use of the similar mechanism based on an “elastic theory” in presbyopia correction for the new application of prevention, delay or reversal of AMD (age-related macular degeneration) by reducing their risk factors which includes choriodal low blood flow and the choroids capillary is high pressure. Increasing of ciliary body elasticity may also keep the lens flexible such that cataracts formation or protein disintegration may be prevented. Lens flexibility also prevents or delays amblyopia So far, no attempt has been made to combine the use of a surgical method (such as removing sclera or ciliary-body tissue by a laser or other means) and the application of pharmacological means for stable, long-term and effective treatment of the above mentioned eye disorders including presbyopia, glaucoma, cataracts and AMD. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>One preferred embodiment of this invention includes means and apparatus for increasing, enhancing and/or stabilizing the accommodation in presbyopia by the use of pharmacological means combined with a laser or non-laser surgery. Another preferred embodiment of this invention includes pharmacological means which utilizes the accommodation-enhancing effect under cholinergic control which includes the use of beta-adrenergic antagonist compounds or acetylycholine esterase inhibitors. It is yet another preferred embodiment to administrate the pharmacological means before or after a surgical method which removes portion of the sclera or ciliary-body tissue. Another preferred embodiment of this invention includes lasers in the ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) wavelength which matches the absorption spectra of the treated eye tissue. Another preferred embodiment of this invention includes the ablation depth is about 0.4 to 1.4 mm, or most preferred 0.6 to 1.2 mm, in the area about 0.5 to 1.5 mm outside the limbus, having predetermined patterns of radial line, curve or dot ring. The present invention also propose a mechanism which uses pharmacological means to “trigger” or enhance the contraction effect after a surgical method for larger initial accommodation and for more stable post-operative results. Another preferred embodiment of this invention includes surgical means of removal sclera or ciliary-body tissue by a laser or non-laser device such as electrode devices. Combining the surgical and pharmacological methods shall overcome the drawbacks of transient effect or post-treatment regression which occurs in procedure of prior arts, using only surgical or drugs. The methods disclosed herein can also be used to treat presbyopia and other disorders such as glaucoma, cataracts, amblyopia, age-related choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and AMD without adverse side effects by using controlled content percentage of the medicine. Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and from the claims. |
Recording medium discriminating method and recording apparatus |
Discrimination of the type of a recording medium with high accuracy is obtained by using the intensity of a specular reflection light from the recording medium and a feature of the recording medium surface derived from an image of the recording medium surface as discrimination parameters. In particular, the accuracy in discrimination between plain paper and ink-jet coated paper and between photographic glossy paper and a glossy film is improved. Also, the type of the recording medium is discriminated based on a detected value of the intensity of the specular reflection light from the recording medium and a parameter representing surface conditions of the recording medium which is derived from an image information made up of a plurality of pixels corresponding to a predetermined area of the recording medium surface. |
1-20. (canceled) 21. A recording medium type discriminating method for discriminating the type of a recording medium, comprising the steps of: creating, as image information indicating surface conditions of the recording medium, image information containing information for each of a plurality of pixels corresponding to a predetermined area of a recording medium surface; detecting a gloss level by measuring an amount of a specular reflection light of lights reflected from the recording medium surface when the recording medium surface is illuminated; obtaining, from the image information, a parameter regarding the surface conditions of the recording medium; and discriminating the type of the recording medium based on the gloss level and the parameter. 22. A recording medium type discriminating method according to claim 21, wherein the image information contains brightness information for each of the plurality of pixels, and the parameter is obtained from the brightness information and represents a magnitude of unevenness of the recording medium surface. 23. A recording medium type discriminating method according to claim 22, wherein the parameter is obtained by a statistical process based on the brightness information. 24. A recording medium type discriminating method according to claim 21, wherein the image information contains brightness information for each of the plurality of pixels, and the parameter is obtained from changes of the brightness information in accordance with an array of a successive plurality of pixels that represents a period of unevenness of the recording medium surface. |
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