What is claimed is:
1. A method for dividing up a total fuel amount (VG), which is to be injected into a combustion chamber of a cylinder during a combustion cycle (Z1), into a plurality of injections (E1, E2, HE), comprising the following steps:
determination of a first fuel amount (VE1), which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the cylinder during a first injection (E1) of the combustion cycle (Z1);
determination of a fourth, minimum fuel amount (VHEmin) for a third injection (HE) of the combustion cycle (Z1);
comparison of the total fuel amount (VG) minus the first fuel amount (VE1), to the fourth, minimum fuel amount (VHEmin);
setting of the first fuel amount (VE1) and a second fuel amount (VE2), which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the cylinder during a second injection (VE2) of the combustion cycle (Z1), to zero; setting of a third fuel amount (VHE) for the third injection (HE) to the total fuel amount (VG), when the total fuel amount (VG) minus the first fuel amount (VE1) is greater than or equal to the fourth, minimum fuel amount (VHEmin); and use of the third fuel amount (VHEVG);
the first injection (E1) occurring prior to the second injection (E2), which occurs prior to the third injection (HE).
2. The method as recited in claim 1, characterized by the following steps:
determination of the second fuel amount (VE2), which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the cylinder during a second injection (E2) of the combustion cycle (Z1);
comparison of the total fuel amount (VG) minus the first fuel amount (VE1), and minus the second fuel amount (VE2), to the fourth, minimum fuel amount (VHEmin);
setting of the second fuel amount (VE2) to zero; setting of a third fuel amount (VHE), which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the cylinder during the third injection (HE) of the combustion cycle (Z1), to the total fuel amount (VG) minus the first fuel amount (VE1), when the total fuel amount (VG) minus the first fuel amount (VE1), and minus the second fuel amount (VE2), is greater than or equal to the fourth, minimum fuel amount (VHEmin); and use of the first fuel amount (VE1VE1) and the third fuel amount (VHEVGVE1).
3. The method as recited in claim 2, characterized by the following step:
setting of the third fuel amount (VHE) to the total fuel amount (VG) minus the first fuel amount (VE1), and minus the second fuel amount (VE2).
4. The method as recited in claim 3, characterized by the following steps:
determination of a first position (AB E1) for the first injection (E1);
checking if the first position is within first limiting values (t1, t2);
determination of a second position (AB E2) for the second injection (E2);
checking if the second position (AB E2) is within second limiting values (t3, t4); and
application of the first fuel amount (VE1) to the first injection (E1), application of the second fuel amount (VE2) to the second injection (E2), and application of the third fuel amount (VHE) to the third injection (HE).
5. The method as recited in claim 4,
wherein the following steps are implemented when the first position (AB E1) is not within the first limiting values (t1, t2) or the second position (AB E2) is not within the second limiting values (t3, t4):
setting of the second fuel amount (VE2) for the second injection (E2) to zero;
determination of a third position (ABE1) for the first injection (E1);
checking if the third position (ABE1) is within third limiting values (t1, t2); and
setting of the first fuel amount (VE1) for the first injection (E1) to zero; setting of the third fuel amount (VHE) for the third injection (HE) to the total fuel amount (VG), when the third position (ABE1) is not within the third limiting values (t1, t2); and use of the third fuel amount (VHEVG).
6. The method as recited in claim 5,
wherein the following steps are implemented, when the third position (AB E1) is not within the third limiting values
setting of the third fuel amount (VHE) for the third injection (HE) to the total fuel amount (VG) minus the first fuel amount (VE1); and
use of the first fuel amount (VE1) and the third fuel amount (VHEVGVE1).
7. A method for dividing up a total fuel amount (VG), which is to be injected into a combustion chamber of a cylinder during a combustion cycle (Z1) and includes a first fuel amount (VE1), a second fuel amount (VE2), and a third fuel amount (VHE), into a first injection (E1), a second injection (E2), and a third injection (HE) of the combustion cycle (Z1) of the cylinder, comprising the following steps:
determination of a first position (AB E1) for the first injection (E1);
checking if the first position is within first limiting values (t1, t2);
determination of a second position (AB E2) for the second injection (E2);
checking if the second position (AB E2) is within second limiting values (t3, t4); and
application of the first fuel amount (VE1) to the first injection (E1), application of the second fuel amount (VE2) to the second injection (E2), and application of the third fuel amount (VHE) to the third injection (HE).
8. The method as recited in claim 7,
wherein the following steps are implemented, when the first position (AB E1) is not within the first limiting values (t1; t2) or the second position (AB E2) is not within the second limiting values (t3, t4)
setting of the second fuel amount (VE2) for the second injection (E2) to zero;
determination of a third position (ABE1) for the first injection (E1);
checking if the third position (ABE1) is within third limiting values (t1, t2); and
setting of the first fuel amount (VE1) for the first injection (E1) to zero; setting of the third fuel amount (VHE) for the third injection (HE) to the total fuel amount (VG), when the third position (AB E1) is not within the third limiting values (t1, t2); and use of the third fuel amount (VHEVG).
9. The method as recited in claim 8,
wherein the following steps are implemented, when the third position (AB E1) is not within the third limiting values (t1, t2):
setting of the third fuel amount (VHE) for the third injection (HE) to the total fuel amount (VG) minus the first fuel amount (VE1); and
use of the first fuel amount (VE1) and the third fuel amount (VHEVGVE1).
10. The method as recited in one of claims 2, 4, 6, 7, or 9, wherein the first fuel amount (VE1) is further corrected by a smooth-running regulator correction prior to using the first fuel amount (VE1).
11. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and the second injections (E1 and E2) are pre-injections, and the third injection (HE) is a main injection.
12. A device for implementing the method as recited in claim 1.
13. A device for implementing the method as recited in claim 7.
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. An apparatus adapted for drainage of fluid, air and contaminants from a mammalian thoracic cavity comprising:
an axially elongate tube with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the tube comprises a region of increased flexibility near the distal end of the tube;
a drainage lumen within the tube, having a proximal end and a distal end, said drainage lumen extending substantially the length of said tube and surrounded by a tube wall;
a plurality of openings in the drainage lumen of the tube, wherein the openings penetrate the tube wall substantially near the distal end of the tube and operably connect the drainage lumen of the tube to the thoracic cavity;
a valve, pre-attached to the proximal end of the tube, the valve further comprising a valve drainage lumen;
a flexible trocar having a tapered distal tip, wherein the flexible trocar is positioned through the drainage lumen of the tube, through the drainage lumen of the valve, and extends beyond both the proximal and distal end of the tube; and
a flexible control rod extending from the proximal end of the tube to a point distal to the region of increased flexibility, wherein axial movement of the control rod causes selective and controllable bending of the tube in the region of increased flexibility to cause steering of the tube;
wherein the valve selectively controls an influx and an efflux of fluid, air or contaminants into the thoracic cavity through the drainage lumen of the tube following removal of a trocar;
further wherein the valve is opened by the application of a vacuum to a valve enabling lumen, the valve enabling lumen being not operably connected to the valve drainage lumen.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an intra-corporeal fixation device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control rod can be either pushed or pulled to permit controllable bending of the tube in opposite directions.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve allows passage of the trocar therethrough when the valve is in the open position.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plurality of control rods, wherein the control rods oppose each other and can selectively place tension on the distal end of the tube, resulting in bending of the tube in the region of increased flexibility.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axial movement of the control rod is caused by force applied to a control mechanism, which is affixed at the proximal end of the tube.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a valve enabling lumen separate from the drainage lumen of the tube, the valve enabling lumen being filled with foam such that the foam closes a central lumen of the valve when the vacuum supplied to the chamber separate from the drainage lumen of the tube is removed, and wherein the valve further comprises a balloon or other elastomeric element that operably separates the valve enabling lumen from the drainage lumen of the tube.
8. An apparatus adapted for drainage of fluid, air and contaminants from a mammalian thoracic cavity comprising:
means for removing an axially elongate tube comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a drainage lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, from a sterile package;
means for inserting the distal end of the axially elongate tube, further comprising a tapered, removable, flexible trocar and a valve having a drainage lumen, into an incision into the thoracic cavity of a mammalian patient;
means for selectively bending a region of increased flexibility near the distal tip of the axially elongate tube while advancing the tube into the thoracic cavity so as to steer the distal end of the tube and trocar back and forth; and
means for removing the flexible trocar from the drainage lumen of the tube and the drainage lumen of the valve; and
means for selectively opening or closing the pre-attached valve to control the influx and efflux of fluid, air, or contaminants into the thoracic cavity through the drainage lumen of the valve, the drainage lumen of the valve being operably connected to the drainage lumen of the tube, following removal of the flexible trocar.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for selective bending comprises flexible control rods, which are manually operated.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for selective bending comprises flexible control rods, which are electrically operated.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for opening the pre-attached valve comprises the application of a vacuum to a valve control lumen, which is operably separated from the valve drainage lumen.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for closing the pre-attached valve comprises expansion of a compressed foam element within a valve control lumen, which is operably separated from the valve drainage lumen.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for closing the pre-attached valve comprises application of positive pressure to a valve control lumen, which is operably separated from the valve drainage lumen.
14. A kit adapted for control of fluid influx and efflux into a patient’s thoracic cavity comprising:
an axially elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough;
a pre-attached valve which controls the influx or efflux of fluids through the tube, wherein the valve comprises a drainage lumen and a valve enabling lumen;
a removable, flexible, trocar having a tapered distal end, wherein the flexible trocar is pre-inserted through the central lumen of the tube and extending beyond both the proximal end and the distal end of the tube;
a guidewire lumen disposed axially along the center of the trocar, through which a guidewire can be inserted;
a plurality of drainage holes near the distal end of the tube, wherein the drainage holes operably connect the central lumen with the thoracic cavity;
a guidewire, wherein the trocar is inserted over the guidewire which is passed through the guidewire lumen; and
a hollow, sharpened needle, wherein the hollow needle comprises a central lumen through which the guidewire can be inserted and withdrawn.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the trocar is malleable.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the valve is a full lumen, normally closed valve that is opened by application of fluid vacuum to the valve enabling lumen separate from the drainage lumen of the tube.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the valve can be forced closed by application of positive pressure inside the valve enabling lumen separate from the drainage lumen of the tube.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the valve comprises a valve enabling lumen separate from the drainage lumen of the tube, the valve enabling lumen being filled with closed-cell foam such that the foam closes a central lumen of the valve when the vacuum supplied to the chamber separate from the drainage lumen of the tube is removed.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the trocar further comprises a plunger and integral pointed needle, wherein the pointed needle is configured to puncture a region of tissue while inserting the tube into a patient.
20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the valve further comprises one or balloons which separate the valve enabling lumen from the drainage lumen of the tube.