1. A method for generating vibrations within a computer system, comprising:
receiving a desired vibration profile;
determining a sequence of disk operations for one or more disk drives within the computer system that generates vibrations which substantially matches the desired vibration profile;
generating the vibrations by performing the sequence of disk operations on the set of disk drives;
monitoring performance parameters associated with the one or more disk drives while the vibrations are taking place; and
determining whether the monitored performance parameters indicate that a disk drive under test is at the onset of degradation.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired vibration profile can include:
a waveform for a vibration signal produced by the vibrations; and
an amplitude of the vibration signal.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the waveform for the vibration signal can include:
a sinusoidal waveform;
a square waveform;
a saw toothed waveform; or
any other type of waveform.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence of disk operations can include:
outer track disk operations;
inner track disk operations;
alternating inner track disk operations and outer track disk operations;
random access disk operations; or
a combination of disk operations.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the disk operations are only read operations.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the disk operations can include write operations.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a remedial action if the monitored performance parameters indicate that a disk drive under test if at the onset of degradation.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the sequence of disk operations involves determining a sequence of disk operations for a subset of the one or more disk drives within the computer system which does not include a disk drive under test.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises removing at least one disk drive from the computer system during the monitoring process.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises substituting higher capacity disk drives for at least one disk drive in the computer system during the monitoring process.
11. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for generating vibrations within a computer system, wherein the method comprises:
receiving a desired vibration profile;
determining a sequence of disk operations for one or more of disk drives within the computer system that generates vibrations which substantially matches the desired vibration profile;
performing the sequence of disk operations on the one or more disk drives to generate the vibrations;
monitoring performance parameters associated with the one or more disk drives while the vibrations are taking place; and
determining whether the monitored performance parameters indicate that a disk drive under test is at the onset of degradation.
12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the desired vibration profile can include:
a waveform for a vibration signal produced by the vibrations; and
an amplitude of the vibration signal.
13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the waveform for the vibration signal can include:
a sinusoidal waveform;
a square waveform;
a saw toothed waveform; or
any other type of waveform.
14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the sequence of disk operations can include:
outer track disk operations;
inner track disk operations;
alternating inner track disk operations and outer track disk operations;
random access disk operations; or
a combination of disk operations.
15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the disk operations are only read operations.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the disk operations can include write operations.
17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises performing a remedial action if the monitored performance parameters indicate that a disk drive under test if at the onset of degradation.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein determining the sequence of disk operations involves determining a sequence of disk operations for a subset of the one or more disk drives within the computer system which does not include a disk drive under test.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises removing at least one disk drive from the computer system during the monitoring process.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises substituting higher capacity disk drives for at least one disk drives in the computer system during the monitoring process.
21. An apparatus that generates vibrations within a computer system, comprising:
a receiving mechanism configured to receive a desired vibration profile; and
a load generation mechanism configured to:
determine a sequence of disk operations for one or more of disk drives within the computer system that generates vibrations which substantially matches the desired vibration profile;
perform the sequence of disk operations on the one or more disk drives to generate the vibrations;
monitor performance parameters associated with the one or more disk drives while the vibrations are taking place; and to
determine whether the monitored performance parameters indicate that a disk drive under test is at the onset of degradation.
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 implantable pharmaceutical delivery device for controlled delivery of a therapeutic agent over an extended period of time to a target tissue of interest, said device comprising:
(a) a hollow plate having an upper surface and a curved lower surface;
(b) a hollow elongated stem projecting from the lower surface of said plate into the target tissue of interest, wherein the hollow interior of said plate and stem define a drug reservoir; and
(c) means for delivering the contents of said drug reservoir through the stem to target tissue of interest.
2. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, said device further comprising a means for securing the hollow plate in a position that is remote from the target tissue of interest.
3. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 2, wherein said means for securing comprises one or more suture rings provided about the periphery of the hollow plate.
4. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, wherein said hollow plate has a relatively concave lower surface dimensioned to conform to the convex profile of a subject’s eye and to reside substantially external to the scleral layer of the eye.
5. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, wherein said hollow plate is formed from a thin layer of biocompatible silicone.
6. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, wherein said elongated stem comprises a thin walled tube.
7. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, wherein said elongated stem is dimensioned to extend from the surface of the eye and through the choroid layer, such that at least the distal tip of said stem extends into the vitreous portion of the eye.
8. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, wherein said elongated stem is formed at least in part from a semi-permeable material, said semi-permeable material serving as the means for delivering the contents of said drug reservoir to the target tissue of interest.
9. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 8, wherein said semi-permeable material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl acetate, silicone, polylactic acid, nylon, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyglycolic acid, cellulose esters and polyether sulfone.
10. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, wherein said elongated stem includes one or more diffusion ports, said one or more ports serving as the means for delivering the contents of said drug reservoir to the target tissue of interest.
11. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, wherein said elongated stem is provided with an opening at its free distal end, further wherein the interior of said stem is provided with a one-way valve, wherein said one-way valve and distal end opening serve as the means for delivering the contents of said drug reservoir to the target tissue of interest.
12. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, wherein said one-way valve comprises a flap valve.
13. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a pharmaceutical formulation contained within said drug reservoir, wherein said formulation contains one or more of the following therapeutic agents: an anti-viral agent, a beta-blocker, a metalloproteinase inhibitor, a protein kinase C inhibitor, an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor, an anesthetic or pain killing agent, a steroidal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, an antioxidant, an antibiotic, a tumor necrosis factor, an anti-cataract agent, an anti-glaucoma agent, insulin, a cellular regeneration agent, a steroidal compound, and growth factor inhibitor.
14. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 13, wherein said pharmaceutical formulation includes pegaptanib, ranibizumab, or bevacizumab.
15. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 13, wherein said pharmaceutical formulation comprises a viscous gel preparation.
16. The implantable pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1, wherein the extended period of time ranges from 1 to 3 years.
17. A method for delivering a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent to a target tissue of interest in a subject comprising the step of implanting the pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1 such that the plate is not in direct contact with the target tissue while at least the distal tip of the stem extends into the target tissue such that the majority of the drug reservoir is remote from the target tissue.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the target tissue is selected from the group consisting of a bursa, a joint, a tendon, and an epidural space.
19. A method for delivering a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent to the ocular system of a subject comprising the steps of:
(a) forming an opening in a portion of a subject’s eye that is disposed under the eyelid;
(b) inserting the stem of the pharmaceutical delivery device of claim 1 into the opening until the lower surface of the plate rests against the scleral layer of the eye; and
(c) securing the device in place.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the device is secured in place by suturing the plate to the sclera.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the device is secured in place by means of a medical grade adhesive disposed on the lower surface of the plate.
22. The method of claim 19, further comprising an initial step of performing a conjunctival peritomy on the eye and a final step of placing the conjunctiva over the upper surface of the plate so as to provide a covering the protects the device from exposure.
23. The method of claim 19, wherein the portion of the subject’s eye into which the device of claim 1 is inserted is selected from the superotemporal quadrant and the superonasal quadrant of the eye.