Author: claimsbot

1. A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving medium, comprising in order:
(a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a substrate, (ii) a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink andor fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser having a wavelength selected from 200 to 1200 nm, and (iii) a water soluble or dispersible overcoat;
(b) imagewise exposing said plate with said laser to cause hardening of said photosensitive layer in the exposed areas;
(c) removing said overcoat from said plate by brushing or rubbing the overcoated side of said plate with a brushing or rubbing means while in contact with water or an aqueous solution; wherein said brushing or rubbing means is a brush roller, a cloth-covered roller, a molleton-covered roller, or a rubber roller; and wherein said roller rotates;
(d) mounting said plate on a lithographic press; and
(e) contacting said plate with ink andor fountain solution on said lithographic press to remove the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving medium.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said plate is brushed with a brush roller in said step (c).
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said plate is rubbed with a molleton-covered roller in said step (c).
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said plate is contacted with water when brushed or rubbed to remove the overcoat.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said plate is contacted with an aqueous solution when brushed or rubbed to remove the overcoat, and said aqueous solution contains a deactivating agent and is capable of deactivating said photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plate is contacted with an aqueous solution when brushed or rubbed to remove the overcoat, and said aqueous solution contains a hydrophilizing agent capable of improving the hydrophilicity of the substrate.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said overcoat is incapable of being completely removed from said plate by contacting with ink roller andor fountain solution roller on said lithographic press for under 200 rotations of the plate cylinder.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said overcoat is incapable of being completely removed from said plate by contacting with ink roller andor fountain solution roller on said lithographic press for under 500 rotations of the plate cylinder.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said overcoat-removed plate is further dried with forced hot air before mounting on press.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said overcoat has a coverage of at least 1.0gm2.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said overcoat comprises a water soluble polymer.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein said overcoat comprises a water soluble polymer and a dispersion of micro particles.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said photosensitive layer comprises a polymeric binder, a free radical polymerizable monomer, a free radical initiator, and a sensitizing dye.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein said laser is a violet or ultraviolet laser having a wavelength selected from 200 to 430 nm.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein said laser is an infrared laser having a wavelength selected from 750 to 1200 nm.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps (d) to (e) are performed with the plate under a white room light, said photosensitive layer before the removal of the overcoat is capable of hardening or causing background toning under said room light for less than a time period selected from 1 to 60 minutes, and said photosensitive layer after the removal of the overcoat is incapable of hardening or causing background toning under said room light for at least twice of said time period.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein said photosensitive layer before the removal of the overcoat is capable of hardening or causing background toning under said room light for less than 60 minutes, and said photosensitive layer after the removal of the overcoat is incapable of hardening or causing background toning under said room light for at least 120 minutes.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein said overcoat removal (step c) is performed on an overcoat removal device that is connected to or is part of an imaging device for said laser imaging (step b); both said imaging device and said overcoat removal device are shielded with covers which prevent at least 99% of the room light, or of the below 450 nm portion of the room light, from reaching said plate on said devices; and said mounting and on-press development (steps d and e) are performed under a white room light.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein said plate is fed from a stack of at least 2plates for said laser exposure and there are no interleafing papers between the plates.
20. A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving medium, comprising in order:
(a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a hydrophilic substrate, (ii) an oleophilic photosensitive layer, and (iii) a water soluble or dispersible overcoat; wherein said photosensitive layer is soluble or dispersible in and on-press developable with ink andor fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser having a wavelength selected from 200 to 1200 nm, and said overcoat is incapable of being completely removed from said plate by contacting with ink roller andor fountain solution roller on a lithographic press for under 200 rotations of the plate cylinder;
(b) imagewise exposing said plate with said laser to cause hardening of said photosensitive layer in the exposed areas;
(c) removing said overcoat from said plate by brushing or rubbing the overcoated side of said plate with a brush roller or melleton-covered roller while in contact with water or an aqueous solution;
(d) applying forced hot air to said overcoat-removed plate;
(e) mounting said plate on said lithographic press; and
(f) contacting said plate with ink andor fountain solution on said lithographic press to remove the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving medium.
21. A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving medium, comprising in order:
(a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a hydrophilic substrate, (ii) an oleophilic photosensitive layer comprising a polymeric binder, a free radical polymerizable monomer, a free radical initiator, and a sensitizing dye, and (iii) a water soluble or dispersible overcoat; wherein said photosensitive layer is soluble or dispersible in ink andor fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser having a wavelength selected from 200 to 1200 nm, and said overcoat is incapable of being completely removed from said plate by contacting with ink roller andor fountain solution roller on a lithographic press for under 200 rotations of the plate cylinder;
(b) imagewise exposing said plate with said laser to cause hardening of said photosensitive layer in the exposed areas;
(c) removing said overcoat from said plate by brushing the overcoated side of said plate with a brush roller while in contact with water or an aqueous solution;
(d) mounting said plate on said lithographic press; and
(e) contacting said plate with ink andor fountain solution on said press to remove the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving medium.
22. A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving medium, comprising in order:
(a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a substrate, (ii) a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink andor fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser having a wavelength selected from 200 to 1200 nm, and (iii) a water soluble or dispersible overcoat;
(b) imagewise exposing said plate with said laser to cause hardening of said photosensitive layer in the exposed areas;
(c) heating said plate to an elevated temperature of 70 to 150\xb0 C. for 2 to 600 seconds;
(d) removing said overcoat from said plate by brushing or rubbing the overcoated side of said plate with a brushing or rubbing means while in contact with water or an aqueous solution;
(e) mounting said plate on a lithographic press; and
(f) contacting said plate with ink andor fountain solution on said lithographic press to remove the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving medium.

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 catheter comprising:
a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a wire guide lumen extending through at least a portion thereof;
a plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports through a side wall of the shaft for providing access to the wire guide lumen, the intermediate wire guide access ports located between and spaced apart from the proximal and distal ends; and
at least one slidable tube for allowing and restricting access to at least one of the plurality of the intermediate wire guide access ports.
2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter is adapted for use with an endoscope having a working channel extending between a distal port and a proximal port and wherein the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are accessible outside the endoscope when the catheter is positioned through the working channel such that the distal end of the catheter and the distal port of the working channel are substantially aligned.
3. The catheter of claim 2, the catheter further comprising means for performing a medical procedure at the catheter distal end, wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is near the proximal port of the working channel of the endoscope when the catheter is positioned inside the working channel such that the means is positioned an optimal distance from the distal port of the working channel to perform the medical procedure.
4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the catheter includes a compression member, which has a portion extending external of the catheter, wherein the means for performing a medical procedure comprises the portion of the compression member extending external of the catheter, and wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is near the proximal port of the endoscope working channel when the portion of the compression member extending external of the catheter is outside of and adjacent to the distal port of the endoscope working channel.
5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the means for performing a medical procedure comprises a sphincterotome.
6. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the means for performing a medical procedure comprises a dilation balloon.
7. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the means for performing a medical procedure comprises an irrigation catheter.
8. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the means for performing a medical procedure comprises an electrosurgical probe.
9. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the means for performing a medical procedure comprises cutting forceps.
10. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the means for performing a medical procedure comprises a tissue sampling device.
11. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising at least one marker adjacent to at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports.
12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are located at least about 150 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft.
13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is located approximately 50 cm to 56 cm from the proximal end of the catheter shaft.
14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein two of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are each located in a spaced apart fashion on the catheter shaft within the range of about 50 cm to 56 cm from the proximal end of the catheter shaft.
15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is located approximately 144 cm to 150 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft.
16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein two of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are each located in a spaced apart fashion on the catheter shaft within the range of about 144 cm to 150 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft.
17. The catheter of claim 1, the catheter shaft further comprising a proximal half and a distal half, wherein two of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are each located in a spaced apart fashion on the proximal half of the catheter shaft.
18. A catheter comprising:
a catheter shaft of sufficient length to perform an endoscopic procedure in the biliary system having a proximal end, a distal end, and a wire guide lumen extending through the shaft between a proximal wire guide port and a distal wire guide port; and
a plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports located a not insubstantial distance distal of the proximal wire guide port and a not insubstantial distance proximal of the distal wire guide port,
wherein one or more sleeves are slidably disposed along the catheter shaft and are movable between a first position restricting access from exterior of the catheter through at least one of the intermediate wire guide access ports and a second position wherein access is not restricted.
19. The catheter of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of markers adjacent the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports.
20. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the catheter is adapted for use with an endoscope having a working channel extending between a distal port and a proximal port and wherein the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are accessible outside the endoscope when the catheter is positioned through the working channel such that the distal end of the catheter and the distal port of the working channel are substantially aligned.
21. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are located at least about 150 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft.
22. The catheter of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is located approximately 50 cm to 56 cm from the proximal end of the catheter shaft.
23. The catheter of claim 18, wherein two of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are each located in a spaced apart fashion on the catheter shaft within the range of about 50 cm to 56 cm from the proximal end of the catheter shaft.
24. The catheter of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is located approximately 144 cm to 150 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft.
25. The catheter of claim 18, wherein two of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are each located in a spaced apart fashion on the catheter shaft within the range of about 144 cm to 150 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft.
26. The catheter of claim 18, the catheter shaft further comprising a proximal half and a distal half, wherein two of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are each located in a spaced apart fashion on the proximal half of the catheter shaft.
27. A system comprising an endoscope having a working channel extending between a distal port and a proximal port and a catheter having a shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end, a wire guide lumen extending at least partially through the shaft, a plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports located between and spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end, and a means disposed on the catheter shaft for allowing and restricting access to the wire guide lumen through the intermediate wire guide access ports, wherein the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are accessible outside the endoscope when the catheter is positioned inside the endoscope working channel such that the distal end of the catheter and the distal port of the endoscope working channel are aligned.
28. The system of claim 27, the catheter further comprising at least one marker near at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports.
29. The system of claim 27, the catheter further comprising a proximal wire guide access port for accessing the wire guide lumen located a not insubstantial distance proximal of the intermediate wire guide access ports and a distal wire guide access port for accessing the wire guide lumen located a not insubstantial distance distal of the intermediate wire guide access ports.
30. The system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are located at least about 150 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft.
31. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is located approximately 50 cm to 56 cm from the proximal end of the catheter shaft.
32. The system of claim 27, wherein two of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are each located in a spaced apart fashion on the catheter shaft within the range of about 50 cm to 56 cm from the proximal end of the catheter shaft.
33. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is located approximately 144 cm to 150 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft.
34. The system of claim 27, wherein two of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are each located in a spaced apart fashion on the catheter shaft within the range of about 144 cm to 150 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft.
35. The catheter of claim 27, the catheter shaft further comprising a proximal half and a distal half, wherein two of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are each located in a spaced apart fashion on the proximal half of the catheter shaft.
36. A sphincterotome comprising:
a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of catheter lumens, including a lumen providing a passageway for injecting substances, a lumen including an electrically energizable compression member for cutting tissue, and a wire guide lumen extending from a proximal wire guide access port near the proximal end of the sphincterotome to a distal wire guide access port near the distal end of the sphincterotome; and
a plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports located between and spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end,
wherein the sphincterotome is adapted for use with an endoscope having a working channel extending between a distal port and a proximal port and wherein the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports are accessible outside the endoscope when the sphincterotome is positioned through the working channel such that the distal end of the catheter shaft and the distal port of the working channel are substantially aligned.
37. The sphincterotome of claim 36, further comprising at least one slidable tube for allowing and restricting access to at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports.
38. The sphincterotome of claim 36, wherein the electrically energizable compression member for cutting tissue has a portion that is external of the catheter shaft and wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is near a handle of the endoscope when the sphincterotome is positioned inside the endoscope working channel and when the external portion of the compression member is outside of and adjacent the endoscope working channel distal port.
39. A method comprising the steps of:
inserting a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, a plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports, and a means for performing a medical procedure into an endoscope having a working channel extending between a distal port and a proximal port;
advancing the catheter through the working channel until the means for performing a medical procedure extends distally of the distal port of the endoscope working channel while maintaining a first intermediate wire guide access port of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports proximal of the proximal port of the endoscope working channel; and
advancing a wire guide through the first intermediate wire guide access port.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein the catheter includes at least one slidable tube for allowing and restricting access to the intermediate wire guide access ports, further comprising the step of opening a first slidable tube of the at least one slidable tube to allow access to the first intermediate wire guide access port.
41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of, while performing the step of advancing the catheter, advancing a second intermediate wire guide access port of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports into the endoscope working channel.
42. A method comprising the steps of:
inserting a catheter having a proximal wire guide port near a proximal end of the catheter, a distal wire guide port near a distal end of the catheter, a plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports including first and second intermediate wire guide access ports, at least one slidable tube for allowing and restricting access to the intermediate wire guide access ports, and a means for performing a medical procedure into an endoscope having a working channel extending between a distal port and a proximal port;
advancing the catheter through the working channel until the distal end of the catheter extends out through the distal port of the endoscope working channel, the first intermediate wire guide access port is disposed within the endoscope working channel, and the second intermediate wire guide access port is disposed proximally of the proximal port of the working channel;
opening one of the at least one slidable tube to allow access to the second intermediate wire guide access port; and
inserting a wire guide through the second intermediate wire guide access port.
43. A method comprising the steps of:
advancing a sphincterotome having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports a not insubstantial distance distal of the proximal end and a not insubstantial distance proximal of the distal end into an endoscope having a handle; and
while a first intermediate wire guide access port of the plurality of intermediate wire guide access ports is near the handle of the endoscope, performing a sphincterotomy.
44. The method of claim 43, while the first intermediate wire guide access port of the plurality of wire guide access ports is near the handle of the endoscope, further comprising the step of advancing a wire guide through the first intermediate wire guide access port.
45. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of sliding a first tube disposed along the sphincterotome to allow access to the first intermediate wire guide access port.

1. An injector for injecting particulate material into a metallurgical furnace, said injector having:
a first elongated tubular barrel having a front end and a rear end,
a housing defining a chamber having an inlet for particulate material, a first gas inlet and a particulate materialgas outlet connected to the rear end of the first barrel,
the first air inlet having a first nozzle operable to inject gas into the chamber at a supersonic velocity when gas at suitable pressure is passed through the nozzle, said first gas inlet being positioned so as to direct gas at supersonic velocity through the chamber to the outlet thereof so as to entrain particulate material while traveling through the chamber and then through the first barrel to cause the entrained particulate material to be discharged from the front end of the barrel, and
a second elongated tubular barrel surrounding the first barrel in spaced relationship therewith and having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the second barrel being adjacent the front end of the first barrel, the second barrel having a second gas inlet adjacent its rear end and a second nozzle adjacent its front end whereby gas under pressure supplied to the second gas inlet passes between the first and second barrels and is discharged at supersonic velocity from the front end thereof adjacent the gas and entrained particulate material discharged from the front end of the first barrel so as to shroud the particulate material.
2. An injector according to claim 1 wherein the outlet from the chamber has a conical portion tapering in the direction of flow of the particulate materialgas flow to facilitate passage of the particulate materialgas flow from the chamber to the first barrel.
3. An injector according to claim 1 wherein the gas flow between the second and first barrels also functions to cool the first barrel.
4. An injector according to claim 3 wherein the first barrel has a lining of abrasion resistant material.
5. An injector according to claim 4 wherein the lining of the first barrel is a ceramic lining.
6. An injector according to claim 1 wherein the second barrel is made of thermally conductive material.
7. An injector according to claim 6 wherein the second barrel is made of copper
8. An injector according to claim 1 wherein the chamber inlet for particulate material is positioned such that the particulate material passes into the chamber in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of supersonic gas passing from the first inlet to the second outlet.
9. An injector according to claim 1 wherein the first nozzle is adjustable in a forwardrearward direction relative to gas flow therethrough to optimize the flow of gas into the chamber.
10. An injector according to claim 1 wherein the second nozzle is adjustable in a forwardrearward direction relative to the second barrel to optimize gas flow from the front end of the second barrel.

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 method for performing azimuthal simultaneous elastic inversion, the method comprising:
determining a reflectivity series for at least one seismic trace of seismic data obtained for a subterranean formation, wherein the reflectivity series includes anisotropy properties of said formation;
obtaining one or more synthetic seismic traces by convolving the reflectivity series with a source wavelet; and
inverting the one or more synthetic seismic traces to obtain elastic parameters estimates.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said reflectivity series comprises Fourier coefficients characterizing azimuthal reflectivity at an angle of incidence \u03b8, wherein said reflectivity is determined at least by
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3. The method of claim 1, wherein said inverting step comprises constructing one or more misfit weighting functions that decouple fracture parameter estimation from density, P-wave background velocity estimation, and S-wave background velocity estimation.