1. A method for the stimulation of integumental melanocytes in a mammal, which comprises the steps of:
(i) administering to said mammal an amount of alpha-MSH or an alpha-MSH analogue effective to stimulate melanocytes in the skin or other epidermal tissue; and
(ii) exposing said skin or other epidermal tissue to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.
2. A method for stimulating melanin production in a mammal, which comprises the steps of:
(i) administering to said mammal an amount of alpha-MSH or an alpha-MSH analogue effective to stimulate melanin production in the skin or other epidermal tissue; and
(ii) exposing said skin or other epidermal tissue to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.
3. A method for inducing tanning in a mammal, which comprises the steps of:
(i) administering to said mammal an amount of alpha-MSH or an alpha-MSH analogue effective to induce tanning in the skin or other epidermal tissue; and
(ii) exposing said skin or other epidermal tissue to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mammal is a human.
5. A method for inducing skin tanning in a human which comprises the steps of:
(i) administering to said human an amount of alpha-MSH or an alpha-MSH analogue effective to induce tanning in the skin or other epidermal tissue; and
(ii) exposing said skin or other epidermal tissue to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alpha-MSH analogue is a compound of the formula:
R1-W-X-Y-Z-R2
wherein
R1 is selected from the group consisting of Ac-Gly-, Ac-Met-Glu-, Ac-Nle-Glu-, and Ac-Tyr-Glu-;
W is selected from the group consisting of -His-and -D-His-;
X is selected from the group consisting of -Phe-, -D-Phe-, -Tyr-, -D-Tyr-, and -(pNO2)D-Phe7-;
Y is selected from the group consisting of -Arg- and -D-Arg-;
Z is selected from the group consisting of -Trp- and -D-Trp-; and
R2 is selected from the group consisting of \u2014NH2; -Gly\u2014NH2; and -Gly-Lys\u2014NH2.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alpha-MSH analogue is a compound selected from the group consisting of:
D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
D-Ser1, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
D-Tyr2, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
D-Ser3, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
D-Met4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
D-Glu5, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
D-His6, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
D-Phe7, D-Arg7-alpha-MSH
D-Phe7, D-Trp9-alpha-MSH
D-Phe7, D-Lys11-alpha-MSH
D-Phe-7, D-Pro12-alpha-MSH
D-Phe7, D-Val13-alpha-MSH
D-Ser1, Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
D-Tyr2, Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
D-Ser3, Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
Nle4, D-Glu5, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
Nle4, D-His6, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
Nle4, D-Phe7, D-Arg8-alpha-MSH
Nle4, D-Phe7, D-Trp9-alpha-MSH
Nle4, D-Phe7, D-Lys11-alpha-MSH
Nle4, D-Phe7, D-Pro12-alpha-MSH
Nle4, D-Phe7, D-Val13-alpha-MSH
cCys4, Cys10-alpha-MSH
cCys4, D-Phe7, Cys10-alpha-MSH
cCys4, Cys11-alpha-MSH
cCys5, Cys10-alpha-MSH
cCys5, Cys11-alpha-MSH
cCys4, Cys10-alpha-MSH4-13
cCys4, Cys10-alpha-MSH4-12
Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-10
Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-11
D-Phe7-alpha-MSH5-11
Nle4, D-Tyr7-alpha-MSH4-11
(pNO2)D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-11
Tyr4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-10
Tyr4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-11
Nle4-alpha-MSH4-11
Nle4, (pNO2)D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-11
Nle4, D-His6-alpha-MSH4-11
Nle4, D-His6, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-11
Nle4, D-Arg8-alpha-MSH4-11
Nle4, D-Trp9-alpha-MSH4-11
Nle4, D-Phe7, D-Trp9-alpha-MSH4-11
Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-9 and
Nle4, D-Phe7, D-Trp9-alpha-MSH4-9
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the alpha-MSH analogue is a compound selected from the group consisting of:
Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH
Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-10
Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-11
Nle4, D-Phe7, D-Trp9-alpha-MSH4-11 and
Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH4-9
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the alpha-MSH analogue is Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of exposing to UV irradiation is carried out subsequent to said step of administration of alpha-MSH or an alpha-MSH analogue.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said administration is oral, parenteral or transdermal administration.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said ultraviolet (UV) irradiation consists essentially of or comprises UV-B irradiation.
13-17. (canceled)
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 foam proportioning system powered by a battery, the system comprising:
a pump with a pump motor; and
a solid state contactor including a battery terminal connected to the battery, a load terminal connected to the pump motor, and an enable switch selectively connecting the battery terminal and the load terminal in order to form a power line carrying a current from the battery to the pump motor;
a state of the enable switch being based on the current being drawn through the power line by the pump motor;
the enable switch being closed in order for the solid state contactor to provide power to the pump motor when the current through the power line is between about zero amps and about 80 amps.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor can withstand current through the power line of up to about 1200 amps for about 500 milli-seconds.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor removes power from the pump motor if the pump motor attempts to draw greater than about 80 amps for longer than about 500 milli-seconds.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump motor is a 24-volt direct current motor.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the battery provides between about 10 volts to about 29 volts.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor provides power to the pump motor when an input voltage from the battery is between about 9 volts and about 28 volts.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor can remove power from the pump motor when an input voltage from the battery is less than about 8 volts.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor can provide power within about 25 milli-seconds and can remove power within about 2 milli-seconds.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the battery terminal and the load terminal is constructed of at least one of stainless steel and bronze.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the battery terminal and the load terminal is covered by a rubber protective terminal boot.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor includes a thermal transfer material on at least one side that is mounted to a metal mounting surface for heat dissipation.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the enable switch is one of a ground-actuated toggle switch and a dry contact relay.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor can operate in a temperature range of about negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit to about positive 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor draws up to about 15 milli-amps during operation of the pump motor.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor draws an activation current of up to about 30 milli-amps.
16. The system of claim 1 wherein a resistance between the load terminal and the battery terminal is less than or equal to about 1 milli-ohm when power is provided to the pump motor.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein a resistance between the load terminal and the battery terminal is greater than or equal to about 250 kilo-ohms when power is removed from the pump motor.
18. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a capacitor connected to the pump motor; and wherein the solid state contactor gradually charges the capacitor when the pump motor is turned on in order to prevent arcing.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the capacitor is about 82,000 micro-farads.
20. The system of claim 18 wherein the capacitor draws a larger input current for about 200 milli-seconds after the pump motor is started.
21. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor removes power from the pump motor within about 25 milli-seconds if the current is between about 80 amps and about 250 amps.
22. The system of claim 1 wherein the solid state contactor removes power from the pump motor within about 5 milli-seconds if the current is greater than about 250 amps.