Author: claimsbot

1. An image playback method that performs a slide show of a sequential display of a plurality of image data including a moving image stored in a memory unit while each being switched at predetermined time intervals, the plurality of image data being capable of including a moving image data and a still image data, the method comprising:
judging whether the moving image data for the slide show conforms to a predetermined condition for the slide show prior to the slide show;
processing the moving image data to create a new moving image data to conform to the predetermined condition for the slide show, when the moving image data is judged to fail to conform to the predetermined condition; and
performing the slide show by using the created new moving image data.
2. An image playback method according to claim, further comprising:
inputting a number n of images of the plurality of image data for the slide show and a selection condition; and
extracting the n image data as a maximum value that satisfy the input selection condition as the image data used for the slide show.
3. An image playback method according to claim 1, further comprising:
playing back music during the slide show; and
selecting the music, wherein:
upon selection of the music, the music is made audible for audition and is played back with lower sound quality than the music to be played back in an actual slide show.
4. An image playback method according to claim 1, further comprising:
selecting a display effect for the slide show, wherein:
upon selection of the display effect, the display effect is allowed to be previewed on a display simpler than an actually performed slide show.
5. An image playback method according to claim 1, further comprising:
using a reduced image for the slide show with a size of the reduced image smaller than an original image file stored in the memory unit, as the image file for the slide show.
6. An image playback method according to claim 5, further comprising
adding a read only property to the original image file corresponding to the reduced image file for the slide show.
7. An image playback method according to claim 1, further comprising:
processing a music file into a format suitable for a playback performed by an image playback apparatus; and
transferring the processed music file to the image playback apparatus.
8. An image playback method according to claim 1, further comprising:
producing an analysis file that defines a display mode for the slide show of a music file; and
transferring the music file and the analysis file to an image playback apparatus.
9. An image playback apparatus, comprising:
a control unit that executes the image playback method according to claim 1.
10. An image playback apparatus, comprising:
a control unit that executes the image playback method according to claim 2.
11. An image playback apparatus, comprising:
a control unit that executes the image playback method according to claim 3.
12. An image playback apparatus, comprising:
a control unit that executes the image playback method according to claim 4.
13. An image playback apparatus, comprising:
a control unit that executes the image playback method according to claim 5.
14. A computer-readable computer program product comprising:
an image playback program that allows a computer to execute the image playback method according to claim 1.
15. A computer-readable computer program product comprising:
an image playback program that allows a computer to execute the image playback method according to claim 2.
16. A computer-readable computer program product comprising:
an image playback program that allows a computer to execute the image playback method according to claim 3.
17. A computer-readable computer program product comprising:
an image playback program that allows a computer to execute the image playback method according to claim 4.
18. A computer-readable computer program product comprising:
an image playback program that allows a computer to execute the image playback method according to claim 5.
19. A computer-readable computer program product comprising:
a music processing program that allows a computer to execute the image playback method according to claim 7.
20. A computer-readable computer program product comprising:
a music processing program that allows a computer to execute the image playback method according to claim 8.
21. An image playback method according to claim 1, wherein
the predetermined condition for the slide show relates to at least one of a file format, an image size, a frame rate and a playback time of the moving image data for the slide show.
22. An image playback method according to claim 1, wherein
the predetermined condition for the slide show includes a predetermined playback time of the moving image data for the slide show;
the judging includes judging whether a playback time of the moving image data for the slide show is longer than the predetermined playback time; and
the processing includes processing the moving image data to create the new moving image data so that a playback time of the created new moving image data for the slide show becomes shorter than the predetermined playback time, when the playback time of the moving mage data for the slide show is judged to be longer than the predetermined playback time.

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 system for ablating tissue comprising:
an RF ablation device, wherein the RF ablation device is configured to transition from a compressed condition to a relaxed condition, and wherein the RF ablation device is configured to automatically transmit dimensional data to the RF generator; and
an RF generator coupled to the RF ablation device, wherein the RF generator is configured to receive the dimensional data corresponding to tissue to be ablated, and wherein the RF generator is configured to automatically select an RF power based on the dimensional data, and wherein the RF generator is configured to provide an RF signal at the selected RF power to the RF ablation device.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a DC resistance detector for measuring a DC resistance of the RF ablation device.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the RF generator is configured to test an RF impedance of the tissue.
4. A system for ablating tissue comprising:
an RF ablation device, wherein the RF ablation device includes an applicator head comprising a plurality of flexures, wherein the RF ablation device is configured to cause the plurality of flexures to transition from a compressed condition to a relaxed condition, and wherein the RF ablation device is configured to determine the dimensional data by transducing a distance of separation of two of the flexures when in the relaxed condition;
an RF generator coupled to the RF ablation device, wherein the RF generator is configured to receive the dimensional data corresponding to tissue to be ablated, and wherein the RF generator is configured to automatically select an RF power based on the dimensional data, and wherein the RF generator is configured to provide an RF signal at the selected RF power to the RF ablation device.
5. A system for ablating tissue comprising:
an RF ablation device, wherein the RF ablation device includes an expandable applicator head configured to be positioned in a uterine cavity, and wherein the RF ablation device is configured to cause the applicator head to transition from a compressed condition to a relaxed condition, and wherein the RF ablation device is configured to determine data related to the uterine cavity based on a degree of expansion of the applicator head when in the relaxed condition; and
an RF generator coupled to the RF ablation device, wherein the RF generator is configured to receive the data corresponding to tissue to be ablated, and wherein the RF generator is configured to automatically select an RF power based on the data, and wherein the RF generator is configured to provide an RF signal at the selected RF power to the RF ablation device.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the data includes an impedance of the ablation device.
7. The system of claim 5 wherein the RF generator provides a relatively constant power.
8. The system of claim 5 wherein the RF ablation device includes an inner hypotube and an outer hypotube, and wherein the inner hypotube is slidably and coaxially disposed within the outer hypotube, and wherein relative motion between the inner hypotube and the outer hypotube causes the expandable applicator head to expand.
9. The system of claim 5 wherein the RF ablation device includes an indicator mechanism operatively coupled to the applicator head to indicate the degree of expansion of the applicator head.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the indicator mechanism is mechanically operatively coupled to the applicator head.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the indicator mechanism is electrically operatively coupled to the applicator head.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein the indicator mechanism indicates the degree of expansion of the applicator head based on a relative axial location of the inner hypotube and the outer hypotube.
13. The system of claim 5 wherein the RF generator is configured to automatically receive the data corresponding to the tissue to be ablated.
14. The system of claim 5 wherein the expandable applicator head includes an internal frame configured to move the applicator head from a non-expanded shape to an expanded shape.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the RF ablation device includes a sensor configured to sense a degree of expansion of the applicator head, and wherein the sensor is configured sense movement of the internal frame.
16. The system of claim 5 wherein the RF ablation device includes a sensor for sensing a degree of expansion of the applicator head.
17. The system of claim 5 wherein the RF ablation device is configured to electrically transmit the data to the RF generator.
18. The system of claim 5 wherein the RF ablation device is configured to electrically transmit the data to a visual display.
19. The system of claim 5 wherein the data includes a width of the uterine cavity.

1. A polymer comprising one or more monomeric units derived from a monomer compound according to structure (VI):
wherein:
R3 is H or CH3,
R4 is CH3,
M is an integer from about 10 to about 40; and
N is an integer having a value of 1 to M.
2. The polymer of claim 1, wherein the one or more monomeric units are derived from a monomer compound according to structure (XXII):
3. A pH responsive polymer comprising, based on the total weight of monomers,
(a) from about 25 to about 70 percent by weight acid monomeric units, each independently comprising a carboxylic acid-functional substituent group,
(b) from about 30 to about 70 percent by weight nonionic monomeric units, each independently comprising a nonionic substituent group, and
(c) from about 0.05 to about 20 percent by weight hydrophobic monomeric units, each independently derived from a monomer compound according to structure (VI):
wherein:
R3 is H or CH3,
R4 is CH3,
M is an integer from about 10 to about 40; and
N is an integer having a value of 1 to M.
4. The polymer of claim 3, wherein the hydrophobic monomeric units each independently are derived from a monomer compound according to structure (XXII):
5. The polymer of claim 1, wherein N is an integer having a value of 5 to M.
6. The polymer of claim 3, wherein N is an integer having a value of 5 to M.
7. The polymer of claim 3, wherein the carboxylic acid monomer units comprise monomeric units derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, and combinations thereof.
8. The polymer of claim 3, wherein the nonionic monomer units comprise monomeric units derived from a monomer selected from ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl methacrylate, styrene, vinyltoluene, t-butylstyrene, isopropylstyrene, and p-chlorostyrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl caprolate; acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, butadiene, isoprene, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, and combinations thereof.
9. The polymer of claim 1, wherein M is an integer from about 25 to about 40.
10. The polymer of claim 3, wherein M is an integer from about 25 to about 40.
11. The polymer of claim 3,
wherein said acid monomeric units (a), each independently comprising a carboxylic acid-functional substituent group, are at least one C3 -C8 alpha beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer of the structure (II):
RCH\u2550C(R\u2032)COOH (II)

wherein R is H, CH3, or \u2014CH2COOX; and wherein if R is H, then R\u2032 is H, C1-C4 alkyl , or \u2014CH2COOX; if R is \u2014CH2C(O)OX, then R\u2032 is H or \u2014CH2C(O)OX ; or if R is CH3, then R\u2032 is H; and X, if present, is H or C1-C4 alkyl;

wherein said nonionic monomeric units (b), each independently comprising a nonionic substituent group are selected from at least one copolymerizable non-ionic C2-C b12 alpha beta-ethylenically unsaturated monomer of the structure (III):
H2C\u2550CYZ (III)

wherein Y is H, CH3, or Cl ; Z is CN, Cl, \u2014COOR\u2032, \u2014C6H4R\u2032, \u2014COOR\u2033, or \u2014HC\u2550CH2; and wherein R is C1-C8 alkyl or C2-C8 hydroxy alkyl; and wherein R\u2032 is H, Cl, Br, or C1-C4 alkyl; and R\u2033 is C1 -C8 alkyl.
12. The polymer of claim 3, wherein the polymer comprises from about 30 to about 65 percent by weight acid monomeric units, from about 35 to about 70 percent by weight nonionic monomeric units, and from about 1 to about 15 percent by weight hydrophobic monomeric units.
13. The polymer of claim 3, wherein the polymer comprises from about 30 to about 60, percent by weight acid monomeric units, from about 40 to about 60 percent by weight nonionic monomeric units, and from about 2 to about 10 percent by weight hydrophobic monomeric units.
14. The polymer of claim 3, wherein the acid monomeric units are methacrylic acid and the nonionic monomer units are 2-ethylhexylacrylate.

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 writing instrument comprising
a colorant dispensing tip;
a barrel having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion including a hand-engaging surface and a proximal end coupled to the colorant dispensing tip, the distal portion being unitarily formed with the proximal portion and including a distal end, the distal end being joined to the proximal portion to form a display card receiving closed hoop, the hoop being disposed at a distal most portion of the writing instrument, and
a display card, capable of displaying a message, sized and configured for being received by the hoop.
2. A writing instrument comprising
a colorant dispensing tip;
a barrel having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion including a hand-engaging surface and a proximal end coupled to the colorant dispensing tip, the distal portion being unitarily formed with the proximal portion and including a distal end, the distal end being joined to the proximal portion to form a display card receiving closed hoop,
a display card sized and configured for being received by the hoop, and
a solvent for joining the distal end to the proximal portion through solvent bonding.
3. The writing instrument of claim 2 wherein includes a perimetral edge and the hoop includes a radially inwardly facing surface for receiving the perimetral edge of the display card.
4. The writing instrument of claim 3 wherein the hoop includes
a relatively thicker portion having a first relatively smaller diameter, a relatively thinner portion having a second, relatively larger diameter, and a lip portion extending between the thicker portion and the thinner portion.
5. The writing instrument of claim 4 wherein the display card includes a first face and a second face, and the lip portion includes an axially facing surface for engaging one of the first and second faces of the display card for positioning the display card in the closed hoop.
6. The writing instrument of claim 5 wherein the barrel includes a hollow interior passageway extending substantially throughout the length of the barrel, the passageway being substantially uncompressed in the proximal portion for interiorly receiving an ink cartridge, and being substantially compressed in the distal portion for permitting the distal portion to assume a elatively flattened configuration.
7. The writing instrument of claim 6 wherein the proximal portion is generally linear and the hand-engaging surface comprises a generally cylindrical radially outwardly facing surface.
8. The writing instrument of claim 1 wherein the display card includes a perimetral edge and the hoop includes a radially inwardly facing surface for receiving the perimetral edge of the display card.
9. A writing instrument comprising:
a colorant dispensing tip;
a barrel having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion including a hand engaging surface and a proximal end coupled to the colorant dispensing tip, the distal portion being unitarily formed with the proximal portion and including a distal end, the distal end being joined to the proximal portion to form a display card receiving closed hoop
a display card sized and configured for being received by the hoop, wherein the hoop includes a relatively thicker portion having a relatively smaller diameter, a relatively thinner portion having a relatively larger diameter, and a lip portion extending between the thicker portion and the thinner portion.
10. The writing instrument of claim 9 wherein the thicker portion includes a first radially inwardly facing surface, the thinner portion including a second radially inwardly facing surface, and the lip portion includes an axially facing surface.
11. The writing instrument of claim 10 wherein the display card includes a first face and a second face, and wherein the axially facing surface of the lip portion engages one of the first and second faces of the display card for positioning the display card interiorly within the hoop.
12. A writing instrument comprising
a colorant dispensing tip,
a barrel having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion including a hand engaging surface and a proximal end coupled to the colorant dispensing tip, the distal portion being unitarily formed with the proximal portion and including a distal end, the distal end being joined to the proximal portion to form a display card receiving closed loop,
a display card sized and configured for being received by the loop
wherein the barrel includes a hollow interior passageway extending substantially along the length of the barrel, the passageway being substantially uncompressed in the proximal portion for interiorly receiving an ink cartridge, and being substantially compressed in the distal portion to permit the distal portion to assume a relatively flattened configuration.
13. A writing instrument comprising
a colorant dispensing tip,
a barrel having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion including a hand engaging surface and a proximal end coupled to the colorant dispensing tip, the distal portion being unitarily formed with the proximal portion and including a distal end, the distal end being joined to the proximal portion to form a display card receiving closed loop,
a display card sized and configured for being received by the loop wherein the display card is disposed at a distal most portion of the writing instrument and includes a non-porous substrate member having a first side surface and a second side surface, a first message printed on the first side surface, a second message printed on the second side surface, a first plastic overlay for overlaying the first message and a second plastic overlay for overlaying the second message.
14. A writing instrument comprising
a colorant dispensing tip,
a display card; and
a barrel having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion including a hand-engaging surface and a proximal end coupled to the colorant dispensing tip, the distal portion being unitarily formed with the proximal portion and including a distal end, the distal portion forming a hoop sized and configured for receiving the display card, the hoop including a relatively smaller diameter portion, a relatively larger diameter portion, and a lip portion extending between the smaller diameter portion and the larger diameter portion.
15. The writing instrument of claim 14 wherein the smaller diameter portion comprises a relatively thicker portion, and the larger diameter portion comprises a relatively thinner portion.
16. The writing instrument of claim 15 wherein the thicker portion includes a first radially inwardly facing surface, the thinner portion includes a second radially inwardly facing surface, and the lip portion includes an axially facing surface.
17. The writing instrument of claim 16 wherein the display card includes a first face and a second face, and wherein the axially facing surface of the lip portion engages one of the first and second faces of the display card for positioning the display card interiorly within the hoop.
18. The writing instrument of claim 17 wherein the distal end is bonded to the proximal portion to form a closed hoop.
19. The writing instrument of claim 14 wherein the barrel includes a hollow interior passageway extending substantially along the length of the barrel, the passageway being relatively uncompressed in the proximal portion for interiorly receiving an ink cartridge, and being relatively compressed in the distal portion to permit the distal portion to assure a flattened configuration.
20. The writing instrument of claim 14 wherein the distal end is bonded to the proximal portion to form a closed loop.