1. A lithographic apparatus comprising:
an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam;
a support configured to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam;
a substrate table configured to hold the substrate; and
a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate,
wherein the lithographic apparatus is configured to form upon the substrate an inspection target structure, a periphery of the inspection target structure being formed so as to provide a progressive optical contrast transition between the inspection target structure and its surrounding environment.
2. The lithographic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the progressive optical contrast transition is provided by providing a progressive change in the optical index at the periphery of the target structure.
3. The lithographic apparatus of claim 2, wherein that progressive optical contrast transition is provided by providing an outermost element along one or more of the target structure’s peripheral edges, the height of the element decreasing towards the peripheral edge.
4. The lithographic apparatus of claim 3, wherein the outermost element is made wider than the other elements of which the target structure is comprised.
5. The lithographic apparatus of claim 2, wherein:
the progressive optical contrast transition is provided by providing peripheral elements along one or more of the target structure’s peripheral edges; and
along any one peripheral edge, the optical index of each peripheral element differs progressively toward the peripheral edge.
6. The lithographic apparatus of claim 5, wherein:
the peripheral elements are lines; and
along any one peripheral edge, the line width of each line decreases progressively toward the peripheral edge.
7. The lithographic apparatus of claim 5, wherein:
the peripheral elements are broken lines; and
along any one peripheral edge, the ratio of line element to line break for each broken line decreases progressively toward the peripheral edge.
8. The lithographic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patterning device has been altered using Optical Proximity Correction techniques to obtain the progressive optical contrast transition.
9. The lithographic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inspection target is smaller than about 12 \u03bcm along any edge.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A blood separating instrument comprising:
a blood collection means for containing collected blood;
a filtration means for separating blood cell and blood plasma in said collected blood;
a blood cell collection means for containing separated blood cell;
a blood plasma collection means for containing separated blood plasma; and
a pressure applying means for applying pressure to the blood contained in said blood collection means;
wherein, said filtration means includes a capillary having one end in communication with a blood discharging section of said blood collection means and the other end in communication with a blood cell introducing section of said blood cell collection means, said capillary having a plurality of perforations formed through a wall thereof, each of said perforation having a size to allow the blood plasma to pass therethrough but to prevent the blood cell from passing therethrough;
said instrument characterized in that the blood in said blood collection means is introduced into said filtration means by a pressure applying motion caused by said pressure applying means, and the blood plasma in said blood moves through said perforations in said filtration means to be separately contained in said blood plasma collection means.
2. A blood separating instrument comprising:
a main container body having a blood collection container portion for containing collected blood, a blood plasma collection container attachingdetaching portion in communication with a blood discharging section of said blood collection container portion, and a blood cell collection container attachingdetaching portion whose blood cell introducing section is in communication with said blood plasma collection container attachingdetaching portion;
a push-in cap having a push-in section which is adapted to be fittingly inserted into said blood collection container portion;
a blood plasma collection container detachably connected with said blood plasma collection container attachingdetaching portion and containing a predetermined amount of blood plasma dilution;
a blood cell collection container detachably connected with said blood cell collection container attachingdetaching portion and containing a predetermined amount of blood cell protective solvent; and
an ultrafiltration element for separating the blood cell and the blood plasma in said blood;
wherein said ultrafiltration element has a group of capillaries made of filter paper each having one end in communication with said blood discharging section of said blood collection container portion and the other end in communication with said blood cell introducing section of said blood cell collection container, said capillary having a plurality of perforations formed through a wall thereof, each of said perforation having a size to allow the blood plasma to pass therethrough but to prevent the blood cell from passing therethrough;
said instrument characterized in that the blood in said blood collection container portion is introduced into said ultrafiltration element by a pushing-in motion of said push-in cap, and the blood plasma in said blood moves through said perforations of said ultrafiltration element to be separately contained in said blood plasma collection container.
3. A blood separating instrument in accordance with claim 2, in which an inner diameter of said perforation of the capillary is within a range of 0.4 to 0.6 m.
4. A blood separating instrument in accordance with claim 2, in which said blood collection container portion contains spherical solvent enclosed by a sheet wall arranged in a bottom portion thereof, and said push-in section of said push-in cap has an end portion capable of collapsing said sheet wall.
5. A blood separating instrument in accordance with claim 4, in which an outer diameter of each element of said spherical solvent is greater than the inner diameter of said perforation of said capillary.
6. A blood separating instrument in accordance with claim 2, in which a volume of said blood collection container portion is within a range of 80 to 120 liter.
7. A blood separating instrument in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a piston which divides the inside of said blood cell collection container into an air layer region and a blood cell protective solvent containing region, and is capable of slidably moving therein.
8. A blood separating instrument in accordance with claim 7, in which a pressure in said air layer region is set to be a level 0.2 to 1.0 atm. higher than an outside pressure.
9. A blood separating instrument in accordance with claim 2, in which said blood plasma dilution is mixed with a predetermined amount of pigment.
10. A blood separating method comprising the steps of:
collecting blood into a blood collection means;
applying a pressure to said blood by a pressure applying means to introduce said blood into a filtration means whose one end communicates with a blood discharging section of said blood collection means;
containing blood plasma in said blood into a blood plasma collection means through perforations formed through a wall of said filtration means; and
making blood cell in said blood flow through said filtration means to be contained into a blood cell collection means through a blood cell introducing section of said blood cell collection means with which the other end of said ultrafiltration element communicates.
11. A blood separating method comprising the steps of:
collecting blood into a blood collection container portion of a main container body;
fittingly inserting and pushing-in a push-in cap into said blood collection container portion immediately after said collecting step to introduce said blood into a capillary of an ultrafiltration element whose one end communicates with a blood discharging section of said blood collection container portion;
dissolving blood plasma in said blood through perforations formed through a wall of said capillary into blood plasma dilution contained in a blood plasma collection container connected air-tightly with said main container body; and
making blood cell in said blood flow through said ultrafiltration element to be mixed into blood cell protective solvent contained in a blood cell collection container connected air-tightly with said main container body through a blood cell introducing section of said blood cell collection container with which the other end of said ultrafiltration element communicates.
12. A blood separating method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the steps of:
pushing-in said push-in section of said push-in cap to the lowest level;
collapsing a sheet wall arranged in a bottom portion of said blood collection container for enclosing a spherical solvent, and
filling up each of said capillaries with said spherical solvent to be coagulated therein.
13. A blood separating method in accordance with claim 11, in which said blood is collected in an amount of 80 to 120 liter.
14. A preparing method for preparing a sample for quantification from a biological sample, which is to be used for quantifying elements to be quantified in said biological sample, said method characterized in comprising a step of mixing an unknown volume of biological sample collected without quantifying a volume thereof with a specified volume of aqueous solution.
15. A preparing method in accordance with claim 14, in which said specified volume of aqueous solution contains a specified amount of indicating material.
16. A preparing method in accordance with claim 14, characterized in further comprising a step of adding a specified volume of aqueous solution containing a specified amount of indicating material.
17. A preparing method in accordance with claim 14, in which said indicating material is a pigment or a chromogen.
18. A preparing method in accordance with claim 17, in which said chromogen is an oxidative coloring type chromogen.
19. A preparing method in accordance with claim 14, in which said biological sample is either one of a whole blood, a blood plasma or a blood serum.
20. A preparing method in accordance with claim 14, in which said aqueous solution is a buffer solution.
21. A preparing method in accordance with claim 14, in which said elements to be quantified are elements in the blood serum.
22. A quantifying method for quantifying elements to be quantified in a biological sample, said method characterized in using a sample for quantification prepared by a preparing method comprising a step of mixing an unknown volume of biological sample collected without quantifying a volume thereof with a specified volume of aqueous solution containing a specified amount of indicating material.
23. A quantifying method in accordance with claim 22, in which said unknown volume of biological sample collected without quantifying a volume thereof is mixed with a specified volume of aqueous solution.
24. A quantifying method in accordance with claim 22, said method characterized in further comprising the steps of:
determining a dilution ratio of said biological sample in said sample for quantification; and
quantifying a concentration of elements to be quantified in said sample for quantification.
25. A quantifying method in accordance with claim 22, in which said indicating material is a pigment or a chromogen.
26. A quantifying method in accordance with claim 25, in which said chromogen is an oxidative coloring type chromogen.
27. A quantifying method in accordance with claim 22, in which said biological sample is either one of a whole blood, a blood plasma or a blood serum.
28. A quantifying method in accordance with claim 22, in which said aqueous solution is a buffer solution.
29. A quantifying method in accordance with claim 22, in which said elements to be quantified are elements in the blood serum.
30. A container for preserving biological sample used for preserving an unknown volume of biological sample containing elements to be quantified, which has been collected without quantifying a volume thereof, until it will be quantified, said container being filled with a specified volume of aqueous solution, and said container having a closable openingclosing means for adding said biological sample.
31. A container for preparing a sample for quantification used for preparing a sample for quantification from an unknown volume of biological sample containing elements to be quantified, which has been collected without quantifying a volume thereof, said container being filled with a specified volume of aqueous solution, and said container having a closable openingclosing means for adding said biological sample.
32. A container in accordance with claim 30, in which said specified volume of aqueous solution is a solution containing a specified amount of indicating material.
33. A container in accordance with claim 32, in which said indicating material is a pigment or a chromogen.
34. A container in accordance with claim 33, in which said chromogen is an oxidative coloring type chromogen.
35. A container for collecting a biological sample in accordance with either of claim 30, in which said biological sample is either one of a whole blood, a blood plasma or a blood serum.
36. A container for collecting a biological sample in accordance with either of claim 30, in which said elements to be quantified are elements in the blood serum.
37. A quantifying method for quantifying elements to be quantified in a biological sample, said method comprising the steps of:
1) preparing a sample for quantification composed of an unknown volume of biological sample containing elements to be quantified, which has been collected without quantifying a volume thereof, and a specified volume of aqueous solution containing a specified amount of indicating material;
2) determining a dilution ratio (a) of said biological sample from a concentration (C1) of the indicating material in said specified volume of aqueous solution containing said specified amount of indicating material and a concentration (C2) of the indicating material in said sample for quantification;
3) determining a concentration (Y) of the elements to be quantified in said sample for quantification; and
4) determining the elements to be quantified in the biological sample based on the dilution ratio (a) of the biological sample determined in the step 2) and said concentration (Y) of the elements to be quantified in the sample for quantification determined in the step 3).
38. A quantifying method in accordance with claim 37, in which said aqueous solution is a buffer solution.
39. A method in accordance with claim 37, in which said indicating material is a pigment or a chromogen.
40. A method in accordance with claim 39, in which said chromogen is an oxidative coloring type chromogen.
41. A method in accordance with claim 39, in which an absorptivity (E1) of said specified volume of aqueous solution containing said specified amount of indicating material and an absorptivity (E2) of said sample for quantification are used in substitution for C1 and C2 respectively.