1.-3. (canceled)
4. A handover method in which a first relay node and a first radio base station are connected via a radio bear, a second relay node and a second radio base station are connected via a radio bear, and when the first radio base station and the second radio base station are connected via a bearer, a mobile station is switched from a first state where the radio bearer is established with the first relay node in order to communicate via the first relay node and the first radio base station to a second state wherein a radio bearer is established with the second relay node in order to communicate via the second relay node and the second radio base station, the handover method comprising:
a step in which the first relay node transmits a first handover request signal to the first radio base station;
a step in which upon receiving the first handover request signal, the first radio base station transmits a second handover request signal to the second radio base station;
a step in which upon receiving the second handover request signal, the second radio base station transmits a third handover request signal to the second relay node;
a step in which upon receiving the third handover request signal, the second relay node transmits a first handover request confirmation signal to the second radio base station;
a step in which upon receiving the first handover request confirmation signal, the second radio base station transmits a second handover request confirmation signal to the first radio base station;
a step in which upon receiving the second handover request confirmation signal, the first radio base station transmits a third handover request confirmation signal to the first relay node; and
a step in which upon receiving the third handover request confirmation signal, the first relay node transmits a handover instruction signal to instruct to hand over to the second relay node, to the mobile station.
5. A mobile communication system in which a first relay node and a first radio base station are connected via a radio bear, a second relay node and a second radio base station are connected via a radio bear, and the first radio base station and the second radio base station are connected via a bearer,
wherein the first relay node and the second relay node each comprise: as a radio bearer function of setting a Un interface between the first radio base station and the second radio base station, a physical layer function; an MAC layer function provided as an upper layer function of the physical layer function; an RLC layer function provided as an upper layer function of the MAC layer function; a PDCP layer function provided as an upper layer function of the RLC layer function; and an RRC layer function provided as an upper layer function of the PDCP layer function,
wherein the first relay node and the second relay node comprise: an IP layer function as an upper layer function of the radio bearer function; an SCTP layer function provided as an upper layer function of the IP layer function; and an X2AP layer function provided as an upper layer function of the SCTP layer function,
wherein the first radio base station and the second radio base station each comprise: as a radio bearer function of setting a Un interface between the first relay node and the second relay node, a physical layer function; an MAC layer function provided as an upper layer function of the physical layer function; an RLC layer function provided as an upper layer function of the MAC layer function; a PDCP layer function provided as an upper layer function of the RLC layer function; and an RRC layer function provided as an upper layer function of the PDCP layer function,
wherein the first radio base station and the second radio base station comprise: an IP layer function as an upper layer function of the radio bearer function; an SCTP layer function provided as an upper layer function of the IP layer function; and an X2AP layer function provided as an upper layer function of the SCTP layer function, and
wherein a control signal relating to a handover process is configured to terminate between the X2AP layer function of the first relay node and the X2AP layer function of the first radio base station and between the X2AP layer function of the second relay node and the X2AP layer function of the second radio base station.
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 method for treating patent foramen ovale in a patient, the method comprising:
(a) introducing an intravascular catheter into a patient’s heart, the catheter comprising a coil having an insulated distal section, an insulated proximal section, and an uninsulated middle section further comprising an electrode;
(b) engaging the coil with both a septum secundum and a septum primum of the patent foramen ovale such that the electrode contacts both the septum secundum and septum primum; and
(c) connecting the electrode to an energy source to heat both the septum secundum and the septum primum, and generating a clamping force in the coil to keep the septum secundum and the septum primum in contact with each other during heating.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the insulated distal section contacts the septum primum during heating.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the insulated proximal section contacts the septum secundum during heating.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the uninsulated middle section comprises less that one full circumferential turn of the coil.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the intravascular catheter further comprises an elongated sheath comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a bore, wherein the coil is extendable from inside the bore.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the coil is detachably attached to a carrying cable.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the coil comprises a first pitch between the distal and middle sections, and a second pitch between the proximal and middle sections.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second pitch differs from the first pitch.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the first pitch or the second pitch decreases when the electrode is connected to the energy source.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein both pitches of the coil decrease when the electrode is connected to the energy source.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first pitch measures between about 5 mm and about 10 mm, and the second pitch measures less than about 1.5 mm.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the coil comprises a shape memory material.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the shape memory material is Nitinol.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the coil is capable of releasing a welding agent to facilitate tissue reparation.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the welding agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of fibrinogen, collagen, and an adhesive.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source comprises a radio frequency energy source.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the uninsulated middle section comprises a half circumferential turn of the coil.