What is claimed is:
1. A method of addressing imagers, comprising:
providing a bi-directional bus;
providing an array of imagers arranged in n rows and m columns wherein said n and m are positive integers, wherein each said imager is connected to said bi-directional bus, wherein each said imager has a Vmode terminal, wherein each said imager has a select terminal, and wherein each said imager can deliver a signal to said bi-directional bus only when a first selecting signal is applied to a Vmode terminal of that said imager and a second selecting signal is applied to a select terminal of that said imager simultaneously;
providing a first multiplexer having a vertical select input and n outputs, wherein each of said n outputs is connected to one of said Vmode terminals of said imagers;
providing a second multiplexer having a horizontal select input and nm outputs wherein each said output is connected to said select terminal of one of said imagers;
applying a vertical input signal to said vertical select input of said first multiplexer thereby producing said first selecting signal at one of said Vmode output lines; and
applying a horizontal input signal to said horizontal select input of said second multiplexer thereby sequentially producing said second selecting signal at said select terminal of one of said imagers.
2. A method of accessing an imager array, said method comprising:
providing a bi-directional bus;
providing an array of imagers arranged in n rows and m columns wherein said n and m are positive integers, wherein each said imager is connected to said bi-directional bus, and wherein a line of bits of any said imager is accessible by a line address;
initializing a column counter, a row counter, and said line address to zero; and
accessing all of said array wherein said accessing comprises further steps of:
accessing one line of one said imager corresponding to said line address, said column counter, and said row counter;
thereafter testing said column counter for equality to m1 wherein, if not equal, said column counter is incremented and said step of accessing one line is repeated and wherein, if equal, said column counter is reset;
thereafter testing said line address for equality to total lines in each said imager wherein, if not equal, said line address is incremented and said step of accessing one line is repeated, and wherein, if equal, said line address is reset; and
thereafter testing said row counter for equality to n1 wherein, if not equal, said row counter is incremented and said step of accessing one line is repeated, and wherein, if equal, said step of accessing all is completed.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein each said imager has a Vmode input and an output enable input and wherein said Vmode input and said output enable input must be enabled to allow said accessing.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said column counter is multiplexed to generate a separate said output enable input for each said imager.
5. The method according to claim 3 wherein said row counter is multiplexed to generate a said Vmode input for each said row of said imagers.
6. The method according to claim 2 wherein said step of accessing one line of one said imager is synchronized by a horizontal clock and wherein said column counter is generated by dividing said horizontal clock by the number of bits in each said line.
7. The method according to claim 2 wherein said row counter is generated by dividing said line address by said total lines in each said imager.
8. A method of accessing an imager array, said method comprising:
providing a bi-directional bus;
providing an array of imagers arranged in n rows and m columns wherein said n and m are positive integers, wherein each said imager is connected to said bi-directional bus, wherein a line of bits of any said imager is accessible by a line address, wherein each said imager has a Vmode input and an output enable input, and wherein said Vmode input and said output enable input must be enabled to allow accessing;
initializing a column counter, a row counter, and said line address to zero; and
accessing all of said array wherein said column counter is multiplexed to generate a separate said output enable input for each said imager, wherein said row counter is multiplexed to generate a said Vmode input for each said row of said imagers, and wherein said accessing comprises further steps of:
accessing one line of one said imager corresponding to said line address, said column counter, and said row counter;
thereafter testing said column counter for equality to m1 wherein, if not equal, said column counter is incremented and said step of accessing one line is repeated and wherein, if equal, said column counter is reset;
thereafter testing said line address for equality to total lines in each said imager wherein, if not equal, said line address is incremented and said step of accessing one line is repeated, and wherein, if equal, said line address is reset; and
thereafter testing said row counter for equality to n1 wherein, if not equal, said row counter is incremented and said step of accessing one line is repeated, and wherein, if equal, said step of accessing all is completed.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said step of accessing one line of one said imager is synchronized by a horizontal clock and wherein said column counter is generated by dividing said horizontal clock by the number of bits in each said line.
10. The method according to claim 8 wherein said row counter is generated by dividing said line address by said total lines in each said imager.
11. A multiple imager array device comprising:
a bi-directional bus;
an array of imagers arranged in n rows and m columns wherein said n and m are positive integers, wherein each said imager is connected to said bi-directional bus, wherein a line of bits of any said imager is accessible by a line address, wherein each said imager has a Vmode input and an output enable input, and wherein said Vmode input and said output enable input must be enabled to allow accessing;
a first multiplexer having an input and a plurality of outputs wherein said input is connected to a column counter and wherein each said output is connected to said output enable input of one of said imagers; and
a second multiplexer having an input and a plurality of outputs wherein said input is connected to a row counter and wherein each said output is connected to said Vmode input of each said imager in one of said rows.
12. The device according to claim 11 further comprising a divider having an input and an output wherein said input is connected to a horizontal clock signal and wherein said output is said column counter.
13. The device according to claim 12 wherein said horizontal clock signal is divided by the number of bits in each said line of bits.
14. The device according to claim 11 further comprising a divider having an input and an output wherein said input is connected to said line address and wherein said output is said row counter.
15. The device according to claim 14 wherein said line address is divided by the number of said lines in each said imager.
16. The device according to claim 11 further comprising connecting a sum of said column counter and said row counter to said input of said first multiplexer.
17. The device according to claim 11 further comprising optics overlaying said array of imagers wherein said optics overlap to cause images on adjacent said imagers to be appear continuous.
18. The device according to claim 11 wherein said imagers display data from multiple sources.
19. The device according to claim 11 wherein said bi-directional bus comprises a serial data bus.
20. The device according to claim 11 wherein said imagers comprises CMOS devices.
21. A multiple imager array device comprising:
a bi-directional bus;
an array of imagers arranged in n rows and m columns wherein said n and m are positive integers, wherein each said imager is connected to said bi-directional bus, wherein a line of bits of any said imager is accessible by a line address, wherein each said imager has a Vmode input and an output enable input, and wherein said Vmode input and said output input must be enabled to allow accessing;
a first multiplexer having an input and a plurality of outputs wherein said input is connected to a sum of a column counter and a row counter and wherein each said output is connected to said output enable input of one of said imagers;
a second multiplexer having an input and a plurality of outputs wherein said input is connected to a row counter and wherein each said output is connected to said Vmode input of each said imager in one of said rows
a first divider having an input and an output wherein said input is connected to a horizontal clock signal and wherein said output is said column counter; and
a second divider having an input and an output wherein said input is connected to said line address and wherein said output is said row counter.
22. The device according to claim 21 wherein said horizontal clock signal is divided by the number of bits in each said line of bits.
23. The device according to claim 21 wherein said line address is divided by the number of said lines in each said imager.
24. The device according to claim 21 further comprising optics overlaying said array of imagers wherein said optics overlap to cause images on adjacent said imagers to be appear continuous.
25. The device according to claim 21 wherein said imagers display data from multiple sources.
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. A liquid gel for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue site beneath the skin of a patient, the liquid gel being capable of adhering to and hardening to fill a void at the target tissue site and comprising one or more biodegradable depots containing an effective amount of the therapeutic agent, wherein the target tissue site comprises at least one cartilage, spinal disc, spinal foraminal space near the spinal nerve root, facet or synovial joint, or spinal canal, wherein the gel has a pre-dosed modulus of elasticity of 2\xd7105 to about 5\xd7105 dynescm2 and a post-dosed modulus of elasticity of 2\xd7105 to about 5\xd7105.
2. A gel for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 1, wherein the gel is sprayable and hardens after contacting the target tissue site.
3. A gel for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-inflammatory agent, an analgesic agent, a skeletal muscle relaxant, a growth factor, an osteoinductive anabolic growth factor, an anti-catabolic growth factor or a combination thereof.
4. A gel for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic agent is encapsulated in a plurality of depots comprising microparticles, microspheres, microcapsules, andor micro fibers suspended in the gel.
5. A gel for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 4, wherein the gel further comprises a bolus dose of the therapeutic agent suspended in the gel to provide an immediate release of the therapeutic agent and the effective amount of the therapeutic agent is encapsulated in the plurality of microparticles, microspheres, microcapsules, microfibers, andor depot particles to provide sustained release of the therapeutic agent over time.
6. A gel for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 1, wherein the gel comprises polyethylene glycol.
7. A gel for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 1, wherein the gel comprises a hydrogel.
8. A gel for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 1, wherein the gel comprises a radiographic marker adapted to assist in radiographic imaging.
9. A gel for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 8, wherein the radiographic marker comprises barium, calcium, andor metal beads.
10. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent into a synovial joint of a patient, the method comprising inserting a cannula at or near a target tissue site in the synovial joint and spraying the gel of claim 1 to the target tissue site in the synovial joint, the gel comprising one or more biodegradable depots containing an effective amount of the therapeutic agent.
11. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 10, wherein the gel hardens after contacting the target tissue site.
12. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 10, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-inflammatory agent, an analgesic agent, a skeletal muscle relaxant, a growth factor, an osteoinductive anabolic growth factor, an anti-catabolic growth factor or a combination thereof.
13. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 10, wherein the therapeutic agent is encapsulated in a plurality of microparticles, micro spheres, microcapsules, microfibers, andor depot particles suspended in the gel.
14. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 13, wherein the gel further comprises a bolus dose of the therapeutic agent suspended in the gel to provide an immediate release of the therapeutic agent and the effective amount of the therapeutic agent is encapsulated in the plurality of microspheres, microcapsules andor microfibers to provide sustained release of the therapeutic agent over time.
15. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 10, wherein the gel comprises polyethylene glycol.
16. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 10, wherein the target site comprises at least one meniscus, cartilage, or inside of a joint capsule.
17. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent into a target tissue site beneath the skin, the method comprising inserting a cannula at or near a target tissue site and injecting the gel of claim 1 to the target tissue site, the gel comprising one or more biodegradable depots containing an effective amount of the therapeutic agent, wherein the target tissue site comprises a spinal disc, spinal foraminal space near the spinal nerve root, facet joint, spinal canal, or bone.
18. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 17, wherein the gel hardens after contacting the target tissue site.
19. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 17, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-inflammatory agent, an analgesic agent, a skeletal muscle relaxant, a growth factor, an osteoinductive anabolic growth factor, anti-catabolic growth factor or a combination thereof.
20. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent according to claim 17, wherein the gel fills a void in an osteolytic lesion.