We claim:
1. A locator tool for orienting a medical device with an implanted adjustable valve with a physical characteristic that indicates a specific orientation of the valve, the tool comprising:
an indicator of a desired orientation of a valve; and
means for coupling with the physical characteristic of the valve to indicate a specific orientation of the valve.
2. An indicator tool for indicating the current setting of an implanted adjustable valve with a physical characteristic that indicates a specific orientation of the valve and a magnet indicating a current setting of the valve, the tool comprising:
means for magnetically coupling with the magnet in a valve to indicate a current setting of the valve; and
means for indicating the current setting of the valve
3. An adjustment tool for changing the current setting of an implanted adjustable valve with a physical characteristic that indicates a specific orientation of the valve and a magnet capable of changing a current setting of the valve by physical movement of the magnet, the tool comprising:
means for magnetically coupling with the magnet in the valve to move the magnet to change the current setting of the valve;
means for moving the magnet in the valve to move the magnet to change the current setting of the valve.
4. A system for indicating the current setting of an implanted adjustable valve with a physical characteristic that indicates a specific orientation of the valve and a magnet indicating a current setting of the valve, the system comprising:
a locator tool comprising:
an indicator of a desired orientation of a valve; and
means for coupling with the physical characteristic of the valve to indicate a specific orientation of the valve; an indicator tool comprising:
means for magnetically coupling with the magnet in a valve to indicate a current setting of the valve; and
means for indicating the current setting of the valve.
5. A system for changing the current setting of an implanted adjustable valve with a physical characteristic that indicates a specific orientation of the valve and a magnet capable of changing a current setting of the valve by physical movement of the magnet, the system comprising:
a locator tool comprising:
an indicator of a desired orientation of a valve; and
means for coupling with the physical characteristic of the valve to indicate a specific orientation of the valve;
an adjustment tool comprising:
means for magnetically coupling with the magnet in the valve to move the magnet to change the current setting of the valve;
means for moving the magnet in the valve to move the magnet to change the current setting of the valve.
6. A system for determining and changing the current setting of an implanted adjustable valve with a physical characteristic that indicates a specific orientation of the valve and a magnet capable of changing a current setting of the valve by physical movement of the magnet, the system comprising:
a locator tool comprising:
an indicator of a desired orientation of a valve; and
means for coupling with the physical characteristic of the valve to indicate a specific orientation of the valve;
an indicator tool comprising:
means for magnetically coupling with the magnet in a valve to indicate a current setting of the valve; and
means for indicating the current setting of the valve
an adjustment tool comprising:
means for magnetically coupling with the magnet in the valve to move the magnet to change the current setting of the valve;
means for moving the magnet in the valve to move the magnet to change the current setting of the valve.
7. A method of orienting a medical device with an implanted adjustable valve with a physical characteristic that indicates a specific orientation of the valve, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a locator tool having an indicator of desired orientation of a valve and having means for coupling with the physical characteristic of the valve that indicates a specific orientation of the valve;
palpating the valve to determine its physical characteristics;
setting the locator tool over a portion of the valve so that the locator tool is mechanically coupled to the physical characteristic of the valve that indicates a specific orientation of the valve.
8. A method of indicating the current setting of an implanted adjustable valve with a physical characteristic that indicates a specific orientation of the valve and a magnet indicating a current setting of the valve, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a locator tool having an indicator of desired orientation of a valve and having means for coupling with the physical characteristic of the valve that indicates a specific orientation of the valve;
providing an indicator tool having means for magnetically coupling with a magnet in a valve indicating a current setting of the valve and having means for indicating the current setting of the valve;
palpating the valve to determine its physical characteristics;
setting the locator tool over a portion of the valve so that the locator tool is mechanically coupled to the physical characteristic of the valve that indicates a specific orientation of the valve;
coupling the indicator tool to the locator tool to align the indicator tool with the locator tool;
wherein, the current setting of the valve is indicated by the indicator tool.
9. A method of changing the current setting of an implanted adjustable valve with a physical characteristic that indicates a specific orientation of the valve and a magnet capable of changing a current setting of the valve by physical movement of the magnet, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a locator tool having an indicator of desired orientation of a valve and having means for coupling with the physical characteristic of the valve that indicates a specific orientation of the valve;
providing an adjustment tool having means for magnetically coupling with the magnet in the valve to move the magnet to change the current setting of the valve;
palpating the valve to determine its physical characteristics;
setting the locator tool over a portion of the valve so that the locator tool is mechanically coupled to the physical characteristic of the valve that indicates a specific orientation of the valve;
coupling the adjustment tool to the locator tool to align the adjustment tool with the locator tool;
moving the magnet to change the current setting of the valve.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An adhesive composition dissolved in an organic solvent, wherein the adhesive composition comprises:
(1) as a main component, a polymer obtained by copolymerizing a monomer composition comprising (i) an alkyl (meth)acrylate, (ii) a monomer having a maleimide group, and (iii) styrene, and
(2) a thermal polymerization inhibitor,
wherein the monomer having a maleimide group is contained in the monomer composition in an amount of not less than 5.0 wt. % but not more than 20 wt. %,
wherein an amount of the alkyl (meth)acrylate in the monomer composition is not less than 30 parts by weight but not more than 58 parts by weight,
an amount of the styrene in the monomer composition is not less than 30 parts by weight but not more than 60 parts by weight, and
the total amount of the monomer composition is 100 parts by weight, and
wherein the adhesive composition remains soluble in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate even if the adhesive composition is heated at 250\xb0 C. for 1 hour.
2. The adhesive composition as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the thermal polymerization inhibitor is contained in the adhesive composition by not less than 0.1 wt. % but not more than 10.0 wt. %.
3. The adhesive composition as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the thermal polymerization inhibitor is a phenolic thermal polymerization inhibitor.
4. The adhesive composition as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the polymer has a styrene block segment.
5. The adhesive composition as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
a mass ratio of the alkyl (meth)acrylate with respect to the styrene is within a range of 0.1:1 to 3:1.
6. A film adhesive comprising:
a film; and
an adhesive layer provided on the film, comprising the adhesive composition as set forth in claim 1.
7. The adhesive composition as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the monomer having a maleimide group is a monomer represented by formula (1)
wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom or a C1 through C20 organic group, and the organic group may contain an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, or a halogen atom; and R3 represents an alkyl group, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, or an aryl group.
8. The adhesive composition as set forth in claim 1, further comprising
a compound having two functional groups.
9. A heat treatment method comprising the step of heating a material to be heated at a temperature in a range from 250\xb0 C. to 350\xb0 C.,
wherein the material to be heated is an adhesive composition comprising:
(1) as a main component, a polymer obtained by copolymerizing a monomer composition comprising (i) an alkyl (meth)acrylate, (ii) a monomer having a maleimide group, and (iii) styrene, and
(2) a thermal polymerization inhibitor,
wherein the monomer having a maleimide group is contained in the monomer composition in an amount of not less than 5.0 wt. % but not more than 20 wt. %,
wherein an amount of the alkyl (meth)acrylate in the monomer composition is not less than 30 parts by weight but not more than 58 parts by weight,
an amount of the styrene in the monomer composition is not less than 30 parts by weight but not more than 60 parts by weight, and
the total amount of the monomer composition is 100 parts by weight, and
wherein the adhesive composition remains soluble in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate even if the adhesive composition is heated at 250\xb0 C. for 1 hour.
10. The heat treatment method as set forth in claim 9, comprising the steps of:
(a) forming an adhesive layer from the adhesive composition on a surface of a substrate;
(b) heating the substrate at a temperature in a range of 250\xb0 C. to 350\xb0 C. after the step (a); and
(c) stripping off the adhesive layer from the substrate after the step (b).