What is claimed is:
1. A linear handling unit comprising:
a fixed body;
a movable body;
bearings, said movable body being driven and movable on said fixed body with the interposition of said bearings;
a fluid-type linear actuator for controlling the movements of said movable body on said fixed body;
an interface plate at one end of said movable body;
a gripping tool applied to said interface plate, one of said fixed body and said movable body being a first body carrying said bearings as opposing linear bearings in a front and carrying said fluid-type linear actuator, the other one of said fixed body and said movable body being a second body longitudinally carrying two lateral studs for guiding and for coupling with said linear bearings for the movement of one said body on the other, said linear actuator being connected to said second body, said studs being arranged in two parallel flexible-expandable flanges which are integral with said body carrying said studs;
an adjusting bar arranged between said flexible-expandable flanges, said adjusting bar being engaged by said setscrews to vary an expansion of said flanges and to regulate the clearance between both said guiding studs and said respective bearings.
2. A linear handling unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fixed body and said movable body are obtained from extruded, profiled elements which are made of aluminum or aluminum alloys or made of plastic material, and said studs are made of treated steel.
3. A linear handling unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first body has a U-shaped section with a base, in which is provided at least one chamber for said fluid-type linear actuator, and with two lateral walls that are at right angles to said base and delimit between them a channel, said second body being arranged and sliding with the interposition of said linear bearings, said linear bearings being ball-recirculation bearings arranged in pairs in seats provided on an internal side of each of lateral walls of said first body.
4. A linear handling unit in accordance with claim 3, wherein said second body has a base, which is superimposed at least partially on said lateral walls of said first body and from which said flexible-expandable flanges, carrying said guiding studs, project at right angles, said flexible-expandable flanges being separated by a groove having sloped sides, which converge towards a free end of said flexible-expandable flanges, said adjusting bar resting on and interacting with said sloped sides of said groove, said adjusting screws being screwed in at right angles and spaced apart in said base of said second body.
5. A linear handling unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein each said flexible-expandable flange is joined to said base of said second body by a weakened bending part.
6. A linear handling unit in accordance with the claim 4, wherein each said flexible-expandable flange has, on its side turned towards said bearings, a semicylindrical slot with a weakening and elasticizing bottom indentation, each said guiding stud being arranged and held in said semicylindrical slot of said respective flange.
7. A linear handling unit in accordance with the claim 5, wherein each said flexible-expandable flange has, on its side turned towards said bearings, a semicylindrical slot with a weakening and elasticizing bottom indentation, each said guiding stud being arranged and held in said semicylindrical slot of said respective flange.
8. A linear handling unit in accordance claim 3, wherein each of said ball-recirculation-type linear bearings comprising:
a body formed by two shells, each shell being complementary, opposite and closed one on the other;
a series of balls arranged to circulate in an endless track delimited by said shells when closed; and
two pins on opposite parts of said balls in a plane at right angles to a plane in which said balls lie, a branch of said endless track being open towards the outside through a slot so that said balls, which pass through said branch, protrude to an outside of said body by said slot, said pins resting both on said balls that pass through said branch of said track that is open towards the outside and protruding from the stud body each through an oblong opening.
9. A linear handling unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said body comprises two said shells having a trapezoidal cross section, said balls protruding from a larger base and said pins protruding from two sloped sides of the trapezoidal section.
10. A ball-recirculation-type linear bearing, comprising:
a body formed by two complementary, opposite shells closed one on the other;
a series of balls arranged to circulate in an endless track delimited by said shells when closed; and
two pins on opposite parts of said balls in a plane at right angles to a plane in which said balls lie, a branch of said endless track being open towards the outside through a slot so that said balls, which pass through said branch, protrude to an outside of said body by said slot, said pins resting both on said balls that pass through said branch of said track that is open towards the outside and protruding from the stud body each through an oblong opening.
11. A linear bearing in accordance with claim 10, wherein said body has a trapezoidal section, said balls protruding from a larger base and said pins protruding from two sloped sides of said trapezoidal section.
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 of modulating an immune response in a subject having an immune response-related disorder comprising:
a) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a an antigen-specific epitope, wherein administration provides epitope-specific T cell immune modulation; and
b) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a cytokine or a regulatory effective amount of an agent that affects cytokine activity or expression,
wherein administration of a) and b) modulates the immune response in the subject.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the administration is performed by direct administration of a cytokine by mucosal, intravenous, subcutaneous, or intramuscular administration.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the administration of a cytokine comprises administration of a nucleic acid encoding the cytokine.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein administration of an agent that affects cytokine activity comprises administration of an antibody.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the antibody binds a soluble or membrane bound cytokine receptor.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cytokine receptor interferes with the target of a naturally released cytokine.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the antibody binds a soluble or membrane bound cytokine.
8. The method of claim 4, wherein the antibody is a human antibody, a non-human antibody, or a chimeric antibody.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the administration in a) and b) occurs simultaneously.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the administration in a) and b) occurs sequentially.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the administration is in varying ratios.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the cytokine is associated with an inflammatory or a tolerating immune response.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inflammatory or tolerating immune response is modulated by an immunomodulatory cytokine.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the imunomodulatory cytokine is TNF\u03b1, TNF \u03b2, IFN\u03b1, IFN \u03b2 or IFN \u03b3, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15 or IL-23.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the antigen-specific epitope is derived from a heat shock protein.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of arthritis, diabetes type I, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, cancer; polyarteritis nodosa; polymyositis and dermatomyositis progressive systemic sclerosis (diffuse scleroderma); glomerulonephritis; myasthenia gravis; Sjogren’s syndrome; Hashimoto’s disease; Graves’ disease; adrenalitis; hypoparathyroidism; pernicious anemia; diabetes; multiple sclerosis, and related demyelinating diseases; uveitis; pemphigus and pemphigoid cirrhosis; ulcerative colitis; myocarditis; regional enteritis; adult respiratory distress syndrome; local manifestations of drug reactions, such as dermatitis; inflammation-associated or allergic reaction patterns of the skin; atopic dermatitis and infantile eczema; contact dermatitis; psoriasis; lichen planus; allergic enteropathies; allergic rhinitis; bronchial asthma; transplant rejection; hypersensitivity or destructive responses to infectious agents; and poststreptococcal diseases.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein administration of an agent that affects cytokine activity comprises administration of a peptide or peptidomimetic.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the agent binds to a cytokine receptor.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the agent binds to a cytokine.
20. The method of claim 1, further comprising ex vivo conditioning of T cells or B cells with soluble cytokines.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the ex vivo conditioning is performed in the same microenvironment.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein administration of an agent that affects cytokine activity comprises administration of an agent comprising a cytokine receptor.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the cytokine receptor interferes with a natural target of a naturally released cytokine.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the antigen-specific epitope is selected from a peptide of Table 1.
25. A method of modulating immune processes and pathogenesis of immune mediated diseases comprising:
a) identifying at least one suitable epitope;
b) identifying at least one cell type associated with the immune mediated disease; and
c) administering a combination of antigen-specific and cytokine or anticytokine therapy
wherein the administering induces an immune response to the immune mediated disease.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the immune mediated disease is an autoimmune disease.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the autoimmune disease is arthritis.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein the autoimmune disease is immunodeficiency or cancer.
29. The method of claim 25, wherein the anticytokine therapy comprises anti TNF\u03b1 therapy.
30. The method of claim 25, wherein the cytokine is associated with an inflammatory or a tolerating immune response.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the inflammatory or tolerating immune response is modulated by an immunomodulatory cytokine.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the imunomodulatory cytokine is TNF\u03b1, TNF \u03b2, IFN\u03b1, IFN \u03b2 or IFN \u03b3, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15 or IL-23.
33. The method of claim 25, wherein the antigen-specific epitope is derived from a heat shock protein.
34. The method of claim 25, wherein the antigen-specific epitope is selected from a peptide of Table 1.
35. A method of treating a subject having an immune response-related disorder comprising:
a) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a an antigen-specific epitope, wherein administration provides epitope-specific T cell immune modulation; and
b) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a cytokine or a regulatory effective amount of an agent that affects cytokine activity or expression,
wherein administration of a) and b) modulates the immune response in the subject, thereby treating the subject.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein the antigen-specific epitope is selected from a peptide of Table 1.