Author: claimsbot

1. A polymer composition comprising:
(i) A silane-functionalized polyolefin,
(ii) A polyfunctional alcohol wherein the polyfunctional alcohol is \u03b1,\u03b1,\u03b1\u2032,\u03b1\u2032-tetramethyl-1,3-benzenedimethanol and,
(iii) A blocked, strong acid,
the composition characterized in that the dehydration of the alcohol accelerates moisture-induced crosslinking of the composition at a temperature from 120\xb0 C. to 200\xb0 C. relative to a composition comprising only the silane-functionalized polyolefin and the blocked, strong acid and having the same weight percentage of the blocked, strong acid.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the silane-functionalized polyolefin is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl trialkoxy silane monomers.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the blocked strong acid is an alkylated aryl disulfonic acid.
4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the alkylated aryl disulfonic acid has one of the following structures:
wherein each of R1 and R2 is the same or different and is a linear or branched alkyl group with 6 to 16 carbons, y is 0 to 3, z is 0 to 3 with the proviso that y +z is 1 to 4, n is 0 to 3, X is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of \u2014C(R3)(R4)\u2014, wherein each of R3 and R4 is hydrogen or independently a linear or branched alkyl group of 1-4 carbons and n is 1; \u2014C(\u2550O)\u2014, wherein n is 1; \u2014O\u2014 wherein n is 1 to 3; and \u2014S(O)2\u2014, wherein n is 1.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the polyfunctional alcohol is present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 5 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition.
6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the acid is present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 5 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition.
7. A fabricated article comprising the polymer composition of claim 1.
8. The article of claim 7 in which the article is a cable sheath or cable jacket.
9. The article of claim 7 in which the article is a fiber, ribbon, sheet, tape, tube, pipe, weather-stripping, seal, gasket, foam, footwear or bellows.

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 absorbent structure, which comprises a liquid-diffusing member and a water-absorbent resin, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that when the capillary absorption index of the liquid-diffusing member at a height of 40 cm is referred to as A (A0.10), the capillary absorption index B of the water-absorbent resin at a height of 40 cm satisfies the following equation:
BA0.7(equation 1)
2. An absorbent structure, which comprises a liquid-diffusing member and a water-absorbent resin, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that when the capillary absorption capacity of the liquid-diffusing member at a height of 40 cm is referred to as C (C2.0 (gg)), the capillary absorption capacity D of the water-absorbent resin at a height of 40 cm satisfies the following equation:
DC0.7(equation 2)
3. An absorbent structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water-absorbent resin displayes a capillary absorption capacity D of not less than 15 (gg) at a height of 40 cm.
4. An absorbent structure, which comprises a liquid-diffusing member and a liquid-storing member, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that: a member displaying a suction height of not lower than 30 cm is used as the liquid-diffusing member; and a water-absorbent resin displaying a capillary absorption capacity D of not less than 15 (gg) at a height of 40 cm is used as the liquid-storing member.
5. An absorbent structure, which comprises a liquid-diffusing member and a liquid-storing member, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that: a member displaying a suction height of not lower than 30 cm is used as the liquid-diffusing member; and a surface-crosslinking-treated water-absorbent resin having a weight-average particle diameter of not larger than 250 m is used as the liquid-storing member.
6. An absorbent structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid-diffusing member is a porous polymer obtained by a process including the step of polymerizing a high-internal-phase emulsion.
7. An absorbent structure, which comprises a liquid-diffusing member and a water-absorbent resin including a crosslinked poly(acrylic acid (salt)) polymer in a major proportion, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that: the liquid-diffusing member is a porous polymer obtained by a process including the step of polymerizing a high-internal-phase emulsion; and the weight ratio of the water-absorbent resin is in the range of 75 to 90 weight % relative to the total weight of the liquid-diffusing member and the water-absorbent resin.
8. An absorbent structure according to claim 7, wherein the water-absorbent resin displays a capillary absorption capacity D of not less than 15 (gg) at a height of 40 cm.
9. An absorbent article, which comprises the absorbent structure as recited in any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. An absorbent structure, which comprises a liquid-acquiring member and a water-absorbent resin layer having a scattering amount of not smaller than 250 gm2 of the water-absorbent resin, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that when the capillary absorption index of the liquid-acquiring member at a height of 40 cm is referred to as E (E<0.1), the capillary absorption index B of the. water-absorbent resin at a height of 40 cm satisfies the following equation:
BE10(equation 3)
11. An absorbent structure, which comprises a liquid-acquiring member and a water-absorbent resin layer having a scattering amount of not smaller than 250 gm2 of the water-absorbent resin, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that when the capillary absorption index of the liquid-acquiring member at a height of 40 cm is referred to as E (E<0.1), the capillary absorption index F of the water-absorbent resin layer at a height of 40 cm satisfies the following equation:
FE10(equation 4)
12. An absorbent structure, which comprises a liquid-acquiring member and a water-absorbent resin layer having a scattering amount of not smaller than 250 gm2 of the water-absorbent resin, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that: the liquid-acquiring member displays a capillary absorption capacity G of not more than 1.0 (gg) at a height of 40 cm; and a water-absorbent resin displaying a capillary absorption capacity D of not less than 5 (gg) at a height of 40 cm is used as the water-absorbent resin.
13. An absorbent structure, which comprises a liquid-acquiring member and a water-absorbent resin layer having a scattering amount of not smaller than 250 gm2 of the water-absorbent resin, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that: the liquid-acquiring member displays a capillary absorption capacity G of not more than 1.0 (gg) at a height of 40 cm; and the water-absorbent resin layer displays a capillary absorption capacity H of not less than 5 (gg) at a height of 40 cm.
14. An absorbent structure according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the weight ratio of the water-absorbent resin layer is not less than 70 weight % relative to the total weight of the liquid-acquiring member and the water-absorbent resin layer.
15. An absorbent structure according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the weight ratio of the liquid absorption quantity of the water-absorbent resin layer is not less than 80 weight % relative to the saturated liquid absorption quantity of the absorbent structure.
16. An absorbent structure according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the liquid-acquiring member and the water-absorbent resin layer are comprised of one layer each.
17. An absorbent article, which comprises the absorbent structure as recited in any one of claims 10 to 16.
18. Water-absorbent resin particles, which are obtained by a process including the step of granulating a water-absorbent resin having a weight-average particle diameter of 50 to 300 m and displaying a space ratio of 30 to 50% and an average space radius of 80 to 150 m as to spaces between particles when saturation-swollen with a physiological saline (a 0.9 weight % aqueous NaCl solution) without load; with the water-absorbent resin particles being characterized by having a weight-average particle diameter as increased by not less than 50% of that before the granulating step.
19. Water-absorbent resin particles according to claim 18, which have a weight-average particle diameter of 150 to 600 m and display a capillary absorption capacity of not less than 7 (gg) at a height of 40 cm.
20. Water-absorbent resin particles according to claim 18 or 19, in which the ratio of particles having particle diameters of not larger than 150 m is not more than 50% of that before the granulating step, and which display a capillary absorption capacity of not less than 7 (gg) at a height of 40 cm.
21. Water-absorbent resin particles, which comprise a crosslinked poly(acrylic acid (salt)) polymer in a major proportion and display a capillary absorption capacity D of not less than 25 (gg) at a height of 40 cm.
22. A production process for water-absorbent resin particles, which is characterized by comprising the step of adding a dispersion of water-dispersible fine particles to a water-absorbent resin, thereby increasing the weight-average particle diameter of the water-absorbent resin by not less than 50%, wherein the water-absorbent resin has a weight-average particle diameter of 50 to 300 m and displays a space ratio of 30 to 50% and an average space radius of 80 to 150 m as to spaces between particles when saturation-swollen with a physiological saline (a 0.9 weight % aqueous NaCl solution) without load.
23. A production process for water-absorbent resin particles according to claim 22, wherein a powder having a weight-average primary particle diameter of not larger than 3 m is used as the water-dispersible fine particles.
24. An absorbent article, which comprises the water-absorbent resin particles as recited in any one of claims 18 to 21.
25. A water-absorbent resin, which comprises a crosslinked poly(acrylic acid (salt)) polymer in a major proportion and displays a capillary absorption capacity D of not less than 25 (gg) at a height of 40 cm.
26. An absorbent article, which comprises the water-absorbent resin as recited in claim 25.
27. An evaluation method for a water-absorbent resin, which comprises the step of measuring an absorption capacity for a liquid as absorbed by the water-absorbent resin within a predetermined time in a state where the liquid-absorbing position height H1 is in a position higher than the liquid surface height H2 in a liquid-storing receptacle.
28. An evaluation method for a water-absorbent resin according to claim 27, wherein the height difference between the liquid-absorbing position height H1 and the liquid surface height H2 in the liquid-storing receptacle is in the range of 20 to 60 cm.

1. A fluid sensor device, comprising:
at least one transfer reservoir, each transfer reservoir comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a cavity comprising a displaceable region and a light-reflecting structure; and
at least one alignment structure associated with each transfer reservoir.
2. The fluid sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transfer reservoirs located in a transfer housing.
3. The fluid sensor device of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of test substrates located outside of the transfer housing.
4. The fluid sensor device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of test substrates are located in a sensor housing.
5. The fluid sensor device of claim 4, wherein the sensor housing is configured to attach to the transfer housing.
6. A fluid sensor device, comprising:
a plurality of transfer reservoirs, each transfer reservoir comprising an optically transmissive material, an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a cavity comprising a deformable wall and a light-reflecting structure; and
a plurality of alignment structures, wherein at least one alignment structure is associated with each transfer reservoir.
7. The fluid sensor device of claim 6, wherein the deformable walls of the plurality of transfer reservoirs are deformable membranes.
8. The fluid sensor device of claim 6, wherein the cavities of the plurality of transfer reservoirs further comprise a fixed wall.
9. The fluid sensor device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of transfer reservoirs are located in a circular transfer cartridge and wherein the inlet openings of the plurality of transfer reservoirs are located on the outer circumferential surface of the circular transfer cartridge.
10. The fluid sensor device of claim 6, further comprising a sensor cartridge interface.
11. The fluid sensor device of claim 10, wherein the sensor cartridge interface comprises an alignment structure and at least one locking structure.
12. The fluid sensor device of claim 11, wherein the sensor cartridge interface further comprises a plurality of sensor substrate access apertures.
13. The fluid sensor device of claim 11, further comprising a sensor cartridge comprising a transfer cartridge interface complementary to the sensor cartridge interface of the transfer cartridge.
14. The fluid sensor device of claim 13, wherein the sensor cartridge further comprises a plurality of test strips.
15. The fluid sensor device of claim 13, wherein the sensor cartridge further comprises a plurality of fluid sample receiving regions, a plurality sensor substrates and a plurality of sensor electrode contacts.
16. The fluid sensor device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of fluid sample receiving regions are oriented to correspond to the outlet openings of transfer reservoirs when the transfer cartridge and sensor cartridge are attached.
17. A fluid monitoring system, comprising:
a patient access interface configured to receive fluid from a patient;
a fluid pump configured to transfer fluid in the patient access interface;
a valve coupled to the patient access interface and the fluid pump and comprising a fluid dispensing opening, wherein the valve is configured to dispense a fluid sample at the fluid dispensing opening; and
a fluid inlet blocking structure adjacent to the fluid dispensing opening.
18. The fluid monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the patient access interface, fluid pump, valve and fluid inlet blocking structure are coupled to a patient line housing.
19. The fluid monitoring system of claim 17, further comprising an external fluid access interface configured to receive fluid from an external fluid source.
20. A method of performing fluid monitoring in a patient, comprising:
withdrawing fluid from a patient into a first housing coupled to a fluid monitoring system;
transferring a fluid sample from the withdrawn fluid in the first housing to a second housing;
changing the orientation of the second housing relative to the first housing;
pumping the fluid sample from the second housing to a test substrate.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein pumping the fluid sample from the second housing to the test substrate comprises pumping the fluid sample across an air gap between a fluid opening of the second housing and the test substrate.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein pumping the fluid sample from the second housing to the test substrate comprises pumping the fluid sample from the second housing to a third housing, wherein the test substrate is located in the third housing.
23. The method of claim 20, further comprising wiping a dispensing region of the second housing.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising blocking an opening of the second housing using the first housing.
25. A method for performing fluid monitoring in a patient, comprising:
transferring fluid along a first fluid pathway from a patient to a fluid dispenser;
transferring a fluid sample from the fluid dispenser to a transfer reservoir along a second fluid pathway;
severing the second fluid pathway by displacing the transfer reservoir;
actively transferring at least a portion of the fluid sample from the transfer reservoir to a test substrate along a third fluid pathway.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising crossing an air gap between the transfer reservoir and the test substrate with the fluid sample.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein at least portion of the cross-sectional shape of the fluid sample is unrestrained in a transverse plane along a movement axis of the third fluid pathway.
28. A method for performing blood monitoring of a patient, comprising:
withdrawing blood from a patient into a fluid control system;
dispensing a blood sample from the sterile fluid control system to a sterile transfer reservoir;
transferring the blood sample from the sterile transfer reservoir to an non-sterile test substrate.
29. The method of claim 28, moving the sterile transfer reservoir with respect to the fluid control system after dispensing the blood sample.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein moving the sterile reservoir occurs before transferring the blood sample.
31. The method of claim 28, wherein transferring the blood sample comprises pumping the blood sample from the sterile transfer reservoir to a non-sterile test substrate.

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 digital camera cradle which has a function of connecting a digital camera to a personal computer and a function of charging the digital camera while the digital camera is surmounted on the digital camera cradle,
wherein a projector is integrated with the digital camera cradle, and a circuit which electrically connects the digital camera and the projector while the digital camera is surmounted on the digital camera cradle is provided in the digital camera cradle.
2. A digital camera system comprising a digital camera and a digital camera cradle which has a function of connecting the digital camera to a personal computer and a function of charging the digital camera while the digital camera is surmounted on the digital camera cradle,
wherein a projector is integrated with the digital camera cradle, and a circuit which electrically connects the digital camera and the projector while the digital camera is surmounted on the digital camera cradle is provided in the digital camera cradle.
3. The digital camera system according to claim 2, further comprising:
means for transferring an operation mode of the digital camera to a projector display mode based on user operation in a state in which the digital camera is surmounted on the digital camera cradle, an video image recorded in the digital camera being projected by the projector in the projector display mode; and
adjustment means for automatically adjusting brightness and focus of the projector when the operation mode of the digital camera is transferred to the projector display mode,
wherein the adjustment means includes means for automatically adjusting the brightness of a light source of the projector by utilizing an AE function of the digital camera and means for automatically adjusting the focus of the projector by utilizing an AF function of the digital camera.
4. The digital camera system according to claim 2, further comprising:
means for transferring an operation mode of the digital camera to a projector display mode based on user operation in a state in which the digital camera is surmounted on the digital camera cradle, an video image recorded in the digital camera being projected by the projector in the projector display mode; and
adjustment means for automatically adjusting brightness and focus of the projector when the operation mode of the digital camera is transferred to the projector display mode,
wherein the adjustment means includes means for automatically adjusting the brightness of a light source of the projector by utilizing an AF function of the digital camera and means for automatically adjusting the focus of the projector by utilizing an AF function of the digital camera.
5. The digital camera system according to claim 2, wherein the digital camera includes:
a cradle-connection detector which detects whether the digital camera is surmounted on the digital camera cradle;
means for displaying a menu screen in which a user is encouraged to select a personal computer connection mode or the projector display mode when the cradle-connection detector detects that the digital camera is surmounted on the digital camera cradle, the digital camera is operated while connected to a personal computer in the personal computer connection mode, the video image recorded in the digital camera is projected by the projector in the projector display mode;
means for transferring the operation mode of the digital camera to a charge mode when a menu is not selected within a predetermined time since the menu screen is displayed, the digital camera being charged in the charge mode;
means for transferring the operation mode of the digital camera to the personal computer connection mode when the personal computer connection mode is selected within the predetermined time since the menu screen is displayed; and
means for transferring the operation mode of the digital camera to the projector display mode and for turning on power of the projector, when the projector display mode is selected within the predetermined time since the menu screen is displayed.
6. The digital camera system according to claim 5, further comprising:
adjustment means for automatically adjusting the brightness and the focus of the projector when the operation mode of the digital camera is transferred to the projector display mode,
wherein the adjustment means includes means for automatically adjusting the brightness of a light source of the projector by utilizing an AE function of the digital camera and means for automatically adjusting the focus of the projector by utilizing an AF function of the digital camera.
7. The digital camera system according to claim 5, further comprising:
adjustment means for automatically adjusting the brightness and the focus of the projector when the operation mode of the digital camera is transferred to the projector display mode,
wherein the adjustment means includes means for automatically adjusting the brightness of a light source of the projector by utilizing an AF function of the digital camera and means for automatically adjusting the focus of the projector by utilizing an AF function of the digital camera.