Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A hydrogelatinizer represented by:
5
where, A is a sugar residue and R is an alkyl group.
2. The hydrogelatinizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein A is a sugar residue obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from any of the hydroxyl groups bonded to the six-member ring of aldopyranose.
3. The hydrogelatinizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said aldopyranose is glucopyranose or galactopyranose.
4. The hydrogelatinizer according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein R a straight chain alkyl group having 6-20 carbon atoms.
5. The hydrogelatinizer according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein R is a straight chain alkyl group having 10-20 carbon atoms.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-locking coupling device, comprising:
a first fitting with a hollow cylindrical body having a first end and a second end, the first fitting having an internal thread section defining a coupling portion located adjacent to the first end and an internal shoulder projecting radially inwardly defining a locking portion located adjacent the second end;
a second fitting with a hollow cylindrical body having a first end and a second end, the second fitting having an external thread section adjacent to the first end and an annular ridge projecting radially outward adjacent the second end, whereby engagement of the corresponding internal and external thread sections advances the first and second fittings together causing the internal shoulder to ride up and over the annular ridge; and
a locking sleeve mounted about the exterior of the first fitting and movable from an unlocked position to a locked position, the locking sleeve being in the unlocked position disposed about the coupling portion of the first fitting whereby the first and second fittings can engage one another to form a coupling, the locking sleeve being in the locked position disposed about the locking portion of the first fitting whereby the first and second fittings are securely coupled together and the internal shoulder is retained behind the annular ridge such that the locking sleeve, the internal shoulder and the annular ridge cooperate to prevent relative rotation and axial translation of the first fitting relative to the second fitting.
2. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the first fitting is formed with a hex nut adjacent to the first end.
3. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the second fitting is formed with a hex nut adjacent to the second end, the hex nut cooperating with the annular ridge to form and annular groove therebetween.
4. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the first end of the first fitting is attached to a first conduit allowing the flow of fluid therethough.
5. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the second end of the second fitting is attached to a first conduit allowing the flow of fluid therethrough.
6. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the first end of the first fitting includes a retention ring and a ferrule, the retention ring formed about the inner wall of the first fitting and projecting radially inward, the ferrule having a free end and a captured end, the captured end formed with a retention flange, the ferrule being inserted through the retention ring whereby the free end is connected to the first conduit and the retention flange is seated against the retention ring such that the first fitting is free to rotate about the ferrule.
7. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 6, wherein:
the first end of the first fitting includes an annular groove and a thrust wire, the annular groove recessed into the inner wall of the first fitting for receiving the thrust wire and cooperating therewith to form the retention ring.
8. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the second end of the second fitting includes a retention ring and a ferrule, the retention ring formed about the inner wall of the second fitting and projecting radially inward, the ferrule having a free end and a captured end, the captured end formed with a retention flange, the ferrule being inserted through the retention ring whereby the free end is connected to the second conduit and the retention flange is seated against the retention ring such that the second fitting is free to rotate about the ferrule.
9. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:
the second end of the second fitting includes an annular groove and a thrust wire, the annular groove recessed into the inner wall of the second fitting for receiving the thrust wire and cooperating therewith to form the retention ring.
10. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the locking portion of first fitting includes at least one locking tang attached to the coupling portion and extending to the second end, the at least one locking tang having a radially inward projecting internal shoulder located adjacent to the second end.
11. A self-locking coupling device, comprising:
a first fitting with a hollow cylindrical body having a first end rotatably connected to a first conduit, the first fitting having a second end for receiving a second fitting attached to a second conduit, the outer wall of the first fitting having a first circumferential channel adjacent to the first end and a second circumferential channel adjacent to the second end defining therebetween a collar, the collar having at least one axial slot extending therethrough and connecting the first and second circumferential channels, the first fitting formed with a coupling portion adjacent to the first end and a locking portion adjacent to the second end wherein the coupling portion includes an internal thread section and the locking portion includes at least one locking tang attached from the coupling portion and extending to the second end, the at least one locking tang formed with an internal locking shoulder projecting radially inward at the second end;
the second fitting having a hollow cylindrical body with a first end and a second end, the second end attached a second conduit, the second fitting having an external thread section adjacent to the first end, the second fitting having an annular ridge disposed between the external thread section and the second end wherein the engagement of corresponding internal and external thread sections advances the respective fittings together and causes the at least one locking tang to bend and flex radially allowing the internal locking shoulder to ride up and over the annular ridge, the first and second fittings being securely connected once the internal locking shoulder has traveled beyond the annular ridge; and
a locking sleeve with a hollow cylindrical body having at least one radially inward projecting key, the locking sleeve mounted concentrically about the external surface of the first fitting and being movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the locking sleeve being in the unlocked when the at least one radially inward projecting key is maintained within the first circumferential channel and the at least one locking tang is free to bend and expand radially, the locking sleeve being in the locked position when the at least one radially inward projecting key is maintained within the second circumferential channel and the at least one locking tang is encompassed by the inner diameter of the locking sleeve whereby the at least one locking tang is prevented from bending and expanding radially.
12. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 11, wherein:
the first fitting is formed with a hex nut adjacent to the first end.
13. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 11, wherein:
the second fitting is formed with a hex nut adjacent to the second end, the hex nut cooperating with the annular ridge to form an annular groove therebetween.
14. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 11, wherein:
the first end of said first fitting includes a retention ring and a ferrule, the retention ring formed about the inner wall of said first fitting and projecting radially inward, the ferrule having an free end and a captured end, the captured end formed with a retention flange, the ferrule being inserted through the retention ring whereby the free end is connected to the first hose segment and the retention flange is seated against the retention ring such that the first fitting is free to rotate about the ferrule.
15. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:
the first end of said first fitting includes an annular groove and a thrust wire, the annular groove recessed into an inner wall of said first fitting for receiving the thrust wire and cooperating therewith to form the retention ring.
16. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 11, wherein:
the second end of the second fitting includes a retention ring and a ferrule, the retention ring formed about the inner wall of the second fitting and projecting radially inward, the ferrule having a free end and a captured end, the captured end formed with a retention flange, the ferrule being inserted through the retention ring whereby the free end is connected to the second conduit and the retention flange is seated against the retention ring such that the second fitting is free to rotate about the ferrule.
17. A self-locking coupling device as set forth in claim 16, wherein:
the second end of the second fitting includes an annular groove and a thrust wire, the annular groove recessed into the inner wall of the second fitting for receiving the thrust wire and cooperating therewith to form the retention ring.
18. A self-locking coupling device comprising:
a first fitting with a hollow cylindrical body having a first end rotatably connected to a first conduit, the first fitting having a second end for receiving a second fitting attached to a second conduit, the outer wall of the first fitting having a first circumferential channel adjacent to the first end and a second circumferential channel adjacent to the second end defining therebetween a collar, the collar having at least one axial slot extending therethrough and connecting the first and second circumferential channels, the first fitting formed with a coupling portion adjacent to the first end and a locking portion adjacent to the second end wherein the coupling portion includes an internal thread section and the locking portion includes at least one locking tang attached from the coupling portion and extending to the second end, the at least one locking tang formed with an internal locking shoulder projecting radially inward at the second end;
the second fitting having a hollow cylindrical body with a first end and a second end, the second end attached a second conduit, the second fitting having an external thread section adjacent to the first end, the second fitting having an annular ridge disposed between the external thread section and the second end wherein the engagement of corresponding internal and external thread sections advances the respective fittings together and causes the at least one locking tang to bend and flex radially allowing the internal locking shoulder to ride up and over the annular ridge, the first and second fittings being securely connected once the internal locking shoulder has traveled beyond the annular ridge;
a locking sleeve with a hollow cylindrical body having at least one radially inward projecting key, the locking sleeve mounted concentrically about the external surface of the first fitting and being movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the locking sleeve being in the unlocked when the at least one radially inward projecting key is maintained within the first circumferential channel and the at least one locking tang is free to bend and expand radially, the locking sleeve being in the locked position when the at least one radially inward projecting key is maintained within the second circumferential channel and the at least one locking tang is encompassed by the inner diameter of the locking sleeve whereby the at least one locking tang is prevented from bending and expanding radially; and
an anti-rotation contour formed at opposing sides of the at least one axial slot and extending into the second circumferential channel whereby upon advancing the locking sleeve from the unlocked to the lock position the locking sleeve is rotated over the rotation contour to retain the at least one radially inward projecting key within the second circumferential channel.

1. A module for processing geophysical data coming from at least one geophysical sensor, said module comprising:
an electronic board configured to enable the processing of geophysical data captured by said at least one geophysical sensor,
two cable sections each comprising, at one extremity, a connector designed to be connected to said electronic board, wherein each connector forms one half-shell, each connector being arranged so as to cooperate with one other half-shell in such a way as to form a shell in which the electronic board is placed.
2. The module according to claim 1, comprising a top cover and a bottom cover arranged so as to form a sub-assembly in which the electronic board is placed.
3. The module according to claim 2, wherein said sub-assembly is held by the shell-forming connectors.
4. The module according to claim 2, wherein the bottom cover, the top cover and the connectors cooperate so as to form a tightly sealed shell around the electronic board.
5. The module according to claim 4, wherein said top cover comprises an orifice compared with each face of the electronic board, providing each with a link between one of the connectors and one connection point of the board.
6. The module according to claim 1, wherein the electronic board is positioned longitudinally along one axis formed by the cable sections, laterally surrounded by the shell-forming connectors.
7. The module according to claim 1, wherein the connectors forming said shell are identical and are positioned in a symmetrical position with regard to said axis.
8. The module according to claim 1, wherein the electronic board extends vertically between the shell-forming connectors.
9. The module according to claim 2 said bottom cover comprises at least one slot arranged so as to hold the electronic board vertically.
10. The module according to claim 1, wherein said electronic board comprises at least one electrical connection point for each connector, said at least one electrical connection points being laid out in a central region of said electronic board.
11. The module according to claim 10, wherein the electrical connection points of the electronic board are laid out in the vicinity of one other.
12. The module according to claim 1, wherein each connector comprises an external face made out of flexible material and an internal face made out of rigid material.
13. The module according to claim 1, wherein each connector comprises a strip at its lower face made out of flexible material.
14. The module according to claim 12, wherein the hardness of said external face and internal face respectively belong to the ranges of 60 to 90 Shore A and 60 to 90 Shore D.
15. The module according to claim 1, wherein said at least one geophysical sensor comprises at least one geophone.
16. The module according to claim 1, wherein said at least one geophysical sensor comprises at least one MEMS sensor.
17. The module according to claim 1, wherein each cable section comprises:
one end-of-section hermaphrodite connector configured to be connected to one other end-of section hermaphrodite connector of one other cable section; and
one connector providing an electrical link between the cable section and the electronic board.
18. The module according to claim 1, wherein each cable section comprises at each of its extremities one connector providing an electrical link between the cable section and the electronic board.
19. A connector forming a half-shell and arranged so as to cooperate with one other connector forming another half-shell so as to form a shell in which an electronic board of a module for processing geophysical data coming from at least one geophysical sensor is placed, wherein the module comprises an electronic board configured to enable the processing of geophysical data captured by said at least one geophysical sensor, and two cable sections each comprising, at one extremity, said connector designed to be connected to said electronic board.
20. A sub-assembly comprising:
a bottom cover and a top cover configured to cooperate together;
an electronic board placed and held by said top and bottom cover; and
first and second cable sections each comprising, at one extremity, a connector designed to be connected to said electronic board, wherein each connector forms one half-shell, each connector being arranged so as to cooperate with one other half-shell in such a way as to form a shell in which the electronic board is placed.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for delivering a biologically active substance to a localized site in vivo, said method comprising:
administering a composition to said localized site, said composition comprising (i) a protein polymer of at least 15 kD which comprises alternating blocks of at least 2 units each of (a) an amino acid sequence of from about 3 to 30 amino acids which promotes protein crystallization and (b) an amino acid sequence element selected from the group consisting of an elastin-like element, a collagen-like element or a keratin-like element, and (ii) a biologically active substance;
wherein said composition acquires a non-liquid form under physiological conditions and wherein said biologically active substance is delivered from said non-liquid to said localized site.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said amino acid sequence which promotes protein crystallization is GAGAGS or SGAGAG.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said amino acid sequence element (b) is the amino acid sequence VPGG, APGVGV, GXGVP or VPGXG, where X is valine, lysine, histidine, glutamic acid, arginine, aspartic acid, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, leucine, glutamine, asparagine, cysteine or methionine.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein amino acid X is valine or lysine.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the delivery of said biologically active substance occurs over an extended period of time.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of administering comprises injecting said composition in liquid form which acquires a non-liquid form subsequent to injection.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the rate at which said liquid form acquires a non-liquid form is decreased by the addition to said liquid form of a compound which inhibits hydrogen bonding.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said compound which inhibits hydrogen bonding is selected from the group consisting of urea, guanidine hydrochloride, dimethyl formamide, colloidal gold sol, aqueous lithium bromide and formic acid.
9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the rate at which said liquid form acquires a non-liquid form is increased by the addition to said liquid form of a nucleating agent or accelerator.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said nucleating agent is said protein polymer in precrystallized form.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said protein polymer is SLP3 or SLP4.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said protein polymer is about 10% (ww) to about 50% (ww) of said composition.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said biologically active substance is selected from the group consisting of a protein or a nucleic acid.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said protein has a molecular weight of from about 350 daltons to about 500,000 daltons.
15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said nucleic acid is from about 60 to about 22,000 bases in length.
16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said biologically active substance is selected from the group consisting of an anti-tumor agent, an analgesic, an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory compound, a hormone or a vaccine.
17. The method according to claim 1, wherein said biologically active substance is labeled.
18. The method according to claim 2, wherein said amino acid sequence GAGAGS or SGAGAG is repeated from 2 to 16 times per alternating block.
19. The method according to claim 1, wherein said protein polymer comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(a) (VPGVG)8(GAGAGS)812;
(b) (VPGVG)12(GAGAGS)89;
(c) (VPGVG)16(GAGAGS)88;
(d) (VPGVG)32(GAGAGS)85;
(e) (VPGVG)8(GAGAGS)613;
(f) (VPGVG)8(GAGAGS)413;
(g) (GVGVP)4 GKGVP (GVGVP)3 (GAGAGS)412; or
(h) GAGAGS (GVGVP)4 GKGVP (GVGVP)3 (GAGAGS)212.
20. A composition comprising (i) a protein polymer of at least 15 kD which comprises alternating blocks of at least 2 units each of (a) an amino acid sequence of from about 3 to 30 amino acids which promotes protein crystallization and (b) an amino acid sequence element selected from the group consisting of an elastin-like element, a collagen-like element or a keratin-like element, and (ii) a biologically active substance;
wherein said composition acquires a non-liquid form under physiological conditions.
21. The composition according to claim 20, wherein said amino acid sequence which promotes protein crystallization is GAGAGS or SGAGAG.
22. The composition according to claim 20, wherein said amino acid sequence element (b) is the amino acid sequence VPGG, APGVGV, GXGVP or VPGXG, where X is valine, lysine, histidine, glutamic acid, arginine, aspartic acid, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, leucine, glutamine, asparagine, cysteine or methionine.
23. The composition according to claim 22, wherein amino acid X is valine or lysine.
24. The composition according to claim 20, wherein said biologically active substance is selected from the group consisting of a protein or a nucleic acid.
25. The composition according to claim 24, wherein said protein has a molecular weight of from about 350 daltons to about 500,000 daltons.
26. The composition according to claim 24, wherein said nucleic acid is from about 60 to about 22,000 bases in length.
27. The composition according to claim 20, wherein said biologically active substance is selected from the group consisting of an anti-tumor agent, an analgesic, an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory compound, a hormone or a vaccine.
28. The composition according to claim 21, wherein the amino acid sequence GAGAGS or SGAGAG is repeated from 2 to 16 times per alternating block.
29. The composition according to claim 20, wherein said protein polymer comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(a) (VPGVG)8(GAGAGS)812;
(b) (VPGVG)12(GAGAGS)89;
(c) (VPGVG)16(GAGAGS)88;
(d) (VPGVG)32(GAGAGS)85;
(e) (VPGVG)8(GAGAGS)613;
(f) (VPGVG)8(GAGAGS)413;
(g) (GVGVP)4 GKGVP (GVGVP)3 (GAGAGS)412; or
(h) GAGAGS (GVGVP)4 GKGVP (GVGVP)3 (GAGAGS)212.
30. A method for altering the physical dimensions of a body tissue in a mammal, said method comprising:
introducing into or onto said body tissue a composition comprising a protein polymer of at least 15 kD which comprises alternating blocks of at least 2 units each of (a) an amino acid sequence of from about 3 to 30 amino acids which promotes protein crystallization and (b) an amino acid sequence element selected from the group consisting of an elastin-like element, a collagen-like element or a keratin-like element;
wherein said composition acquires a non-liquid form under physiological conditions.
31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said amino acid sequence which promotes protein crystallization is GAGAGS or SGAGAG.
32. The method according to claim 30, wherein said amino acid sequence element (b) is the amino acid sequence VPGG, APGVGV, GXGVP or VPGXG, where X is valine, lysine, histidine, glutamic acid, arginine, aspartic acid, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, leucine, glutamine, asparagine, cysteine or methionine.
33. The method according to claim 32, wherein amino acid X is valine or lysine.
34. The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of introducing comprises injecting said composition in liquid form which acquires a non-liquid form subsequent to injection.
35. The method according to claim 30, wherein said protein polymer is about 10% (ww) to about 50% (ww) of said composition.
36. The method according to claim 31, wherein said amino acid sequence GAGAGS or SGAGAG is repeated from 2 to 16 times per alternating block.
37. The method according to claim 30, wherein said protein polymer comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(a) (VPGVG)8(GAGAGS)812;
(b) (VPGVG)12(GAGAGS)89;
(c) (VPGVG)16(GAGAGS)88;
(d) (VPGVG)32(GAGAGS)85;
(e) (VPGVG)8(GAGAGS)613;
(f) (VPGVG)8(GAGAGS)413;
(g) (GVGVP)4 GKGVP (GVGVP)3 (GAGAGS)412; or
(h) GAGAGS (GVGVP)4 GKGVP (GVGVP)3 (GAGAGS)212.
38. The method according to claim 30, wherein said composition further comprises a biologically active substance.