Author: claimsbot

1. A functional verification management system comprising:
a verification manager responsive to user input;
a functional verification database coupled to the verification manager; and
a coverage analysis environment coupled to the functional verification database, wherein the coverage analysis environment is adapted to receive test information from a simulation and test generation environment, wherein further the coverage analysis environment selectively converts test information to a standard format; and wherein further the coverage analysis environment selectively stores in the functional verification database information based on the received test information.
2. The functional verification management system of claim 1, further comprising:
a regression suite adapted to store regression tests; and
a harvester module coupled to the functional verification database and the regression suite, the harvester module being adapted to determine whether a test should be further evaluated for regression testing and to selectively save test information to the regression suite, wherein the harvester module utilizes a harvesting language.
3. The functional verification management system of claim 2, further comprising an extractor module coupled to the harvester module and the functional verification database, the extractor module being adapted to receive simulation logs and extract information from the simulation logs for transmittal to the harvester module.
4. The functional verification management system of claim 1, further comprising a director module coupled to the verification manager and the functional verification database, the director module being adapted to provide an indication of a gap in the functional coverage.
5. The functional verification management system of claim 4, wherein the indication of a gap in the functional coverage includes a natural language instruction on what class of tests are needed to be generated and directions on how to generate them.
6. The functional verification management system of claim 1, further comprising a tabulator module coupled to the verification manager and the functional verification database, the tabulator module being adapted to receive test information, to calculate its contribution to verification tasks, and to generate cumulative test results based on the received test information.
7. The functional verification management system of claim 1, further comprising an analyzer module coupled to the verification manager and the functional verification database, the analyzer module being adapted to analyze coverage data at both the architectural level and the microarchitectural level.
8. The functional verification management system of claim 7, wherein the analyzer module provides a coverage analysis modeling language.
9. The functional verification management system of claim 7, further comprising a trace generator module coupled to the analyzer module and the functional verification database, the trace generator module being adapted to receive tests, wherein the trace generator module converts tests to a format usable by other tools or utilities of the functional verification management system.
10. The functional verification management system of claim 1, wherein the verification manager further comprises a report generator, the report generator being adapted to create reports based on information contained within the functional verification database or information generated by tools or utilities of the functional verification management system.
11. The functional verification management system of claim 1, wherein the verification manager further comprises a coverage engineering module, the coverage engineering module being adapted to configure functional verification settings based on user input.
12. The functional verification management system of claim 1, wherein the verification manager further comprises a performance module, the performance module being adapted to redirect computer resources.
13. The functional verification management system of claim 1, wherein the verification manager further comprises an administration module to perform administration tasks based on user input.
14. The functional verification management system of claim 1, wherein the verification manager is a Web-based application accessible by a plurality of users.
15. The functional verification management system of claim 1, wherein the verification manager and the coverage analysis environment are distributed on at least two servers.
16. The functional verification management system of claim 1, further comprising a server farm manager coupled to the coverage analysis environment, the server farm manager being in communication with a plurality of distributed servers, wherein the server farm manager is adapted to assign a server to any process of the functional verification management system based on the distribution of loads across the plurality of distributed servers.
17. A method for performing function verification of a system, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a test;
receiving from a simulation and test generation environment an indication of the results of the test;
determining, based on the indication of the results of test, whether the test adds functional coverage; and
archiving tests that add functional coverage in a regression suite.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising converting the indication of the test results to a standard format.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising saving the indication of the results of the test in the functional verification database.
20. A method for performing function verification of a design, the method comprising:
monitoring tests received from a simulation and test generation environment;
saving the indication of the results of the test in a functional verification database;
determining for each test whether the test adds functional coverage; and
transmitting the test to a regression suite.
21. A computer readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation, comprising:
receiving a request for a test;
receiving from a simulation and test generation environment an indication of the results of the test;
determining, based on the indication of the results of test, whether the test adds functional coverage; and
archiving tests that add functional coverage in a regression suite.
22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising saving the indication of the results of the test in the functional verification database.
23. A computer readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation, comprising:
monitoring tests received from a simulation and test generation environment;
saving the indication of the results of the test in a functional verification database;
determining for each test whether the test adds functional coverage; and
transmitting the test to a regression suite.
24. A method for performing function verification on multiple aspects of a design, the method comprising:
defining verification strategies for a plurality of design teams, the verification strategies including preferences for design and verification tools and simulation strategies, wherein each design team is associated with a particular aspect of the design;
monitoring tests received from a simulation and test generation environment;
for each verification strategy, determining for each test whether the test adds functional coverage; and
transmitting each test to a regression suite associated with at least one verification strategy.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising transmitting to the simulation and test generation environment an indication of a request for a test adapted to add functional coverage.
26. The method of claim 24, further comprising dynamically updating all databases associated with each verification strategy with information relating to each test.

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 spine supporting system comprising:
a screw having a cone shaped body and a head including at least a female thread, cap assembled surface, and a head block;
an inner bolt having a male thread at an outer circumference to be inserted and mounted in the head of the screw;
an outer cap having an inner cavity to cover the head of the screw;
a rod inserted in the head of the screw and fixed by the outer cap and the inner bolt, being characterized in that the outer cap is formed with a guide female thread at an upper part of an inner cavity, thereby joining the inner bolt to the guide female thread of the outer cap preliminary, and then joining the inner bolt to the female thread of the screw completely after mounting the outer cap to the head of the screw in the actual operation.
2. A spine supporting system according to claim 1, being characterized in that inner bolt is formed with a head part extending outwardly from an upper part thereof, and the outer cap is formed at an upper part of the guide female thread with a seat recess, in which the head part of the inner bolt is fastened and seated.
3. A spine supporting system according to claim 1, being characterized in that the inner cavity of the outer cap includes a first and second step surface having different inner diameters in order to cover the cap assembled surface and head block of the head.
4. A spine supporting system according to claim 1, being characterized in that the guide female thread is formed with a pitch of a limited number of a crest and root, which the inner bolt is only joined to the outer cap preliminarily and guided thereby such that the centering in the joining of the female thread of the screw and inner bolt, is not interfered with.
5. A spine supporting system according to claim 1, being characterized in that the screw is formed with a first and second round surface at a boundary of the cap assembled surface and an upper surface and a portion between the cap assembled surface and head block respectively, and the outer cap is formed with round surfaces at a portion between the first and second step surface and an inner end of a lower part in the second step surface respectively.
6. A spine supporting system comprising:
an inner bolt formed with a respective fastening part of an upper part and fastening groove of the lower part;
an outer cap formed with a supporting segment of an upper part, the supporting segment being joined rotatively with the fastening part of the inner bolt; and
a reinforcement ring joined in the outer cap by tight fitting, a supporting segment in a lower part of the reinforcement ring being joined rotatively in the fastening groove of the inner bolt, wherein joining the inner bolt supported at the upper and lower part thereof by the outer cap and reinforcement ring.

1. An X-ray measuring instrument comprising: an X-ray source that generates X-rays to be irradiated to an object; an X-ray detector that is opposed to the X-ray source with the subject between them and detects X-rays transmitted by the object as measurement data; a filter that is interposed between the X-ray source and the object and regulates an exposure of X-rays to be transmitted; a holding unit that holds the X-ray source and the X-ray detector; a rotating unit that rotates the X-ray source and the X-ray detector about the object; and a control processing unit that computes measurement data items which are detected by the X-ray detector at a plurality of angles with respect to the object rotated by the rotating unit;
wherein, the control processing unit logarithmically converts the measurement data so as to produce projection data, obtains an X-ray absorption coefficient relevant to the filter using the produced projection data, calculates the thickness of the filter by applying a predetermined conversion expression to the obtained X-ray absorption coefficient, obtains a correction coefficient for the produced projection data according to the calculated thickness of the filter, multiplies the projection data by the obtained correction coefficient, computes the projection data, which is multiplied by the correction coefficient, for reconstruction, and thus produces a three-dimensional image.
2. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the control processing unit searches a first conversion lookup table on the basis of the projection data so as to obtain the X-ray absorption of the filter.
3. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the first conversion lookup table is produced in such a manner that: prior to measurement of the object, measurement data is obtained in a state in which the filter is disposed but the object is not placed in position; the measurement data is logarithmically converted in order to produce projection data; a coordinate in a lateral direction in the projection data and a coordinate in a longitudinal direction therein are changed in order to obtain projection data values at respective coordinate pairs; and the relationship between the projection data values of the object and the X-ray absorptions in the filter is defined.
4. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the control processing unit searches a second conversion lookup table on the basis of the projection data so as to obtain the correction coefficient.
5. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the second conversion lookup table is produced in such a manner that: measurement data is obtained in a state in which a filter having a predetermined even thickness is disposed and an arbitrary subject is placed in position; projection data is produced by logarithmically converting the measurement data; projection data of an ideal object providing uniform values for a reconstructed image is defined; a correction coefficient is calculated by dividing the ideal projection data by the projection data of the object; the correction coefficient is obtained relative to a plurality of filters having different thicknesses; and the relationship among the thicknesses of the filters, the projection data items of the object, and the correction coefficients is defined.
6. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein for obtaining the X-ray absorptions of the filter, the control processing unit uses projection data produced by averaging projection data items obtained under the same conditions.
7. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 2,
wherein for obtaining the X-ray absorptions of the filter, the control processing unit records a coordinate pair in the first conversion table in steps of several points, and calculates an X-ray absorption at an arbitrary coordinate pair by performing interpolation.
8. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 2,
wherein for obtaining the X-ray absorption of the filter, the control processing unit holds the second conversion lookup table as a conversion expression according to which an X-ray absorption is calculated using coordinates as variables, and calculates the X-ray absorption according to the conversion expression.
9. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein for obtaining the thickness of the filter, the control processing unit uses projection data produced by averaging projection data items obtained under the same conditions.
10. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 4,
wherein for obtaining the thickness of the filter, the control processing unit records a coordinate pair in the second conversion lookup table in steps of several points, and calculates an X-ray absorption at an arbitrary coordinate pair by performing interpolation.
11. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 4,
wherein for obtaining the thickness of the filter, the control processing unit holds the second conversion lookup table as a conversion expression according to which an X-ray absorption is calculated using coordinates as variables, and calculates the X-ray absorption according to the conversion expression.
12. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the shape of the filter is laterally symmetrical.
13. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the shape in a depth direction of a section of the filter is identical.
14. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the shape of a section of the filter has convex arcs adjoining a concave arc and has straight lines adjoining the respective convex arcs, the tangents at the points of intersections between the concave arc and the convex arcs have the same slope, and the tangents at the points of intersections between the convex arcs and the straight lines have the same slope.
15. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the thickness of the filter varies in the direction of the center axis of rotation of the rotating unit.
16. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the control processing unit has a correction coefficient obtained from the projection data of an arbitrary subject formed as a water cylinder or an elliptic water cylinder.
17. The X-ray measuring instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the control processing unit selects a correction coefficient from among a plurality of correction coefficients according to a radiographic condition under which the object is radiographed.

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 installing a flexible spinal needle assembly, said method comprising:
inserting a distal end of a flexible spinal needle assembly provided through dura mater and into an intrathecal space of a subject, the spinal needle assembly comprising:
a support needle with a non-cutting piercing point at the distal end and a hollow bore; a flexible needle with a tip at the distal end and slidably mounted on and supported by the support needle to expose the piercing point slightly extending beyond the tip in the distal end thereof, the flexible needle having an outside diameter sufficiently small so that upon insertion of the flexible spinal needle assembly and withdrawal of the support needle from the flexible needle permits the dura mater substantially to seal against the outside diameter of the flexible needle; and

removing the support needle from within the flexible needle while maintaining the tip of the flexible needle within the intrathecal space.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to removing the support needle from within the flexible needle, verifying presence of cerebrospinal fluid in a proximal end of the flexible spinal needle assembly; if no cerebrospinal fluid is observed, further inserting the distal end of the flexible spinal needle assembly through dura mater until the tip is at least in the intrathecal space; and thereafter removing the support needle from within the flexible needle upon observing cerebrospinal fluid presence within the flexible spinal needle assembly.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the distal end of the flexible spinal needle assembly through dura mater and into the intrathecal space of the subject comprises the outside diameter of the flexible needle being sufficiently small so that upon withdrawal of the flexible needle from dura mater, subsequent to insertion of the flexible spinal needle assembly therethrough, permits the dura mater substantially to reseal a space formerly occupied by the flexible needle.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal needle assembly further comprises a central stylet slidably mounted in the support needle to prevent the entry of matter through an opening in the distal end of the support needle during inserting, and further comprising prior to removing the support needle from within the flexible needle checking for cerebrospinal fluid at a proximate end of the spinal needle assembly; if no cerebrospinal fluid is observed, replacing the central stylet and further inserting the spinal needle assembly until the tip is in the intrathecal space; and once cerebrospinal fluid is observed, then removing.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the spinal needle assembly further comprises a central stylet slidably mounted in the support needle to prevent the entry of matter through an opening in the distal end of the support needle during inserting, and further comprising prior to removing the support needle from within the flexible needle checking for cerebrospinal fluid at a proximate end of the spinal needle assembly; if no cerebrospinal fluid is observed, replacing the central stylet and further inserting the spinal needle assembly until the tip is in the intrathecal space; and once cerebrospinal fluid is observed, then removing the support needle and the central stylet.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein removing the support needle from within the flexible needle comprises advancing the flexible needle into the intrathecal space until a proximate end hub of the flexible needle contacts the subject.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising subsequent to removing the support needle from within the flexible needle checking for the presence of cerebrospinal fluid at a flexible needle hub on a proximate end of the flexible needle.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising subsequent to removing the support needle from within the flexible needle connecting medical fluid transfer apparatus to the flexible needle hub; and securing the flexible needle hub to the subject.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to inserting the distal end of the flexible spinal needle assembly through dura mater and into the intrathecal space of the subject, preparing the skin of a patient at an injection site; applying local anesthetic at the injection site; and inserting the distal end of the flexible spinal needle assembly through the prepared injection site.
10. The method of claim 4, wherein checking for cerebrospinal fluid comprises removing the central stylet subsequent to receiving a feedback signal that puncture of the dura mater has occurred.
11. A method for installing a flexible spinal needle assembly, said method comprising:
inserting a distal end of a flexible spinal needle assembly provided through dura mater and into an intrathecal space of a subject, the spinal needle assembly comprising:
a needle body comprising an elongated flexible hollow tube, the flexible needle body configured to be slidably mounted on an exterior of a rigid hollow body of a support needle and having an exposed piercing element of a first end of the support needle protruding from the distal end of the flexible needle selected for entering the dura mater, the hollow tube of the flexible needle has sufficient transverse flexibility relative to the rigid support needle to accommodate patient torso bending movement; and

removing the support needle from within the flexible needle while maintaining the tip of the flexible needle within the intrathecal space.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising prior to removing the support needle from within the flexible needle, verifying presence of cerebrospinal fluid in a proximal end of the flexible spinal needle assembly; if no cerebrospinal fluid is observed, further inserting the distal end of the flexible spinal needle assembly through dura mater until a tip of the distal end of the flexible needle is protruding into the intrathecal space; and thereafter removing the support needle from within the flexible needle upon observing cerebrospinal fluid presence within the flexible spinal needle assembly.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein inserting the distal end of the flexible spinal needle assembly through dura mater and into the intrathecal space of the subject comprises an outside diameter of the flexible needle being sufficiently small so that upon withdrawal of the flexible needle from dura mater, subsequent to insertion of the flexible spinal needle assembly therethrough, permits the dura mater substantially to reseal a space formerly occupied by the flexible needle.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the spinal needle assembly further comprises a central stylet slidably mounted in the support needle to prevent entry of matter through an exposed opening in the distal end of the support needle during inserting, and further comprising prior to removing the support needle from within the flexible needle checking for cerebrospinal fluid at a proximate end of the spinal needle assembly; if no cerebrospinal fluid is observed, replacing the central stylet and further inserting the spinal needle assembly until a tip of the flexible needle is located within the intrathecal space; and once cerebrospinal fluid is observed, then removing the support needle from within the flexible needle.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein removing the support needle from within the flexible needle further comprises advancing the flexible needle into the intrathecal space until a proximate end hub of the flexible needle contacts the subject and then removing the support needle from within the flexible needle.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising securing a hub end of the flexible needle to a patient’s skin with an intermediary adhesive element for unobtrusive use.
17. A method for installing a flexible spinal needle assembly, the method comprising:
providing a flexible spinal needle assembly having: a support needle with a hollow core and a piercing point at a distal end, the support needle having a proximal end with a support hub and an opening to allow flow from a point near the distal end thereof to the proximal end; a flexible needle, having a proximal end with a flexible needle hub, slidably mounted on the support needle to expose the piercing point, the flexible needle having an outside diameter sufficiently small so that withdrawal of the flexible needle from dura mater, subsequent to insertion of the flexible spinal needle assembly therethrough, permits the dura mater substantially to reseal a space formerly occupied by the flexible needle; wherein the flexible needle hub and the support hub are configured to form a locking interference therebetween; and a central stylet slidably mounted in the support needle to prevent the entry of matter through the opening;
removing the central stylet subsequent to receiving a feedback signal that puncture of the dura mater has occurred;
checking for cerebrospinal fluid at the support hub;
if no cerebrospinal fluid is observed, replacing the central stylet and further inserting the assembly until the tip is an intrathecal space; and
removing the support needle and checking for the presence of cerebrospinal fluid at the flexible needle hub.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising once cerebrospinal is observed, unlocking the support hub and the flexible needle hub, and while holding the support needle stationary, advancing the flexible needle until the flexible needle hub contacts the skin.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising connecting medical fluid transfer apparatus to the flexible needle hub; and securing the flexible needle hub to the skin.
20. A method for installing a flexible spinal needle assembly, the method comprising:
providing a flexible spinal needle assembly having: a support needle with a piercing point at a distal end, the support needle having a proximal end with a support hub and an opening to allow flow from a point near the distal end thereof to the proximal end; a flexible needle, having a proximal end with a flexible needle hub, slidably mounted on the support needle to expose the piercing point, the flexible needle having an outside diameter sufficiently small so that withdrawal of the flexible needle from dura mater, subsequent to insertion of the flexible spinal needle assembly therethrough, permits the dura mater substantially to reseal a space formerly occupied by the flexible needle; wherein the flexible needle hub and the support hub are configured to form a locking interference therebetween; and a central stylet slidably mounted in the support needle to prevent the entry of matter through the opening;
using a spinal needle technique to prepare skin of a patient at an injection site, apply local anesthetic, and insert a tip of the flexible spinal needle assembly, the tip comprising the piercing point;
removing the central stylet subsequent to receiving a feedback signal that puncture of the dura mater has occurred;
checking for cerebrospinal fluid at the support hub;
if no cerebrospinal fluid is observed, replacing the central stylet and further inserting the assembly until the tip is an intrathecal space;
once cerebrospinal is observed, unlocking the support hub and the flexible needle hub, and while holding the support needle stationary, advancing the flexible needle until the flexible needle hub contacts the skin;
removing the support needle and checking for the presence of cerebrospinal fluid at the flexible needle hub;
connecting medical fluid transfer apparatus to the flexible needle hub; and
securing the flexible needle hub to the skin.