Author: claimsbot

1. A hyaluronic acid (hereinafter HA) derivative or a salt thereof, said derivative having a part of the carboxy groups of the D-glucuronic residues converted directly into hydrazido groups.
2. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1, wherein said hyaluronic acid derivative is an uncross-linked compound represented by the formula:
HA-CO\u2014NR1-NHR2
wherein R1 and R2, the same or different, each is H, C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C6-C14 aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl or heterocyclyl optionally substituted by one or more radicals selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, thioalkyl, nitro, cyano, CF3, CONH2, and \u2014NH\u2014NH2, andor each of the C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl may be interrupted by O or S or by a group N+R3R4, wherein R3 and R4, the same or different; each is H, C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C6-C14 aryl.
3. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 2, wherein said hyaluronic acid derivative is an uncross-linked, water-soluble compound represented by the formula HA-CO\u2014NH\u2014NH2.
4. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 3, wherein said uncross-linked, water-soluble compound further contains N-acylurea groups.
5. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1, wherein said hyaluronic acid derivative is a cross-linked compound formed by reaction of a part of the hydrazido groups of the D-glucuronic residues with a part of the carboxy groups of the D-glucuronic residues, said carboxy groups being activated by a carbodiimide, thus resulting in a cross-linked compound represented by the formula HA-CO\u2014NH\u2014NH\u2014CO-HA.
6. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1, wherein said hyaluronic acid derivative is a cross-linked compound in which part of the carboxy groups of the D-glucuronic residues are linked with another part of the carboxy groups of the D-glucuronic residues via hydrazine, resulting in a cross-linked compound represented by the formula HA-CO\u2014NH\u2014NH\u2014CO-HA.
7. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1, wherein said hyaluronic acid derivative is a cross-linked compound formed by reaction of a part of the hydrazido groups of the D-glucuronic residues with another part of the hydrazido groups of the D-glucuronic residues via an amine-specific or amine-reactive homo-bifunctional or heterobifunctional linker Y, said cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivative being represented by the formula:
HA-CO\u2014NH\u2014NH\u2014Y\u2014NH\u2014NH\u2014CO-HA
wherein Y is an aliphatic, aromatic, arylaliphatic, cycloaliphatic or heterocyclic chain.
8. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1, covalently cross-linked via reaction of part of the hydrazido groups with an amine-specific or amine-reactive polyfunctional linker.
9. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 8, wherein the polyfunctional linker is a polyaldehyde.
10. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 9, wherein the polyaldehyde is selected from the group consisting of oxidized gelatin and oxidized collagen, said collagen being selected from any type of natural, denaturated or derivatized collagen.
11. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 9, wherein the polyaldehyde is oxidized gelatin.
12. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 5, wherein said cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivative further comprises uncross-linked hydrazido groups available for further derivatization.
13. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1, wherein said hyaluronic acid derivative is conjugated with a pharmacologically or biologically active agent.
14. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 13, wherein the pharmacologically or biologically active agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibiotic, an antiinfective, an antimicrobial, an antiviral, a cytostatic, an antitumoral, an antiinflammatory, a wound healing agent, an anaesthetic, a cholinergic agonist, a cholinergic antagonist, an adrenergic agonist, an adrenergic antagonist, an antithrombotic, an anticoagulant, a haemostatic, a fibrinolytic, a thrombolytic agent, a growth factor, a cytokine, an antibody, a protein, a protein fragment, a polypeptide, a peptide, a polynucleotide and a polymer.
15. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1, wherein said hyaluronic acid has an average molecular weight of from about 800 to about 4,000,000 Da.
16. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1, wherein said hyaluronic acid derivative has between 0.5% and 70% of the carboxy moieties of D-glucuronic groups directly converted to hydrazido groups.
17. A hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 3, wherein at least part of the hydrazido groups are covalently bound to a detectable label having a functional group capable of forming a covalent bond with the hydrazido function.
18. A hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 17, wherein the detectable label is selected from the group consisting of: fluorescent labels, phosphorescent labels, affinity labels, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) labels, metal and semiconductor nanoparticles, spectral colorimetric labels, proteins, enzymes, oligonucleotides and polynucleotides, polymer beads.
19. A hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 18, wherein the label is a fluorescent label selected from the following non-limiting list: fluorescein, carboxyfluorescein, fluorescein dichlorotriazine (5-DTAF), naphthofluorescein, rhodamine, rhodamine Green, tetramethyl rhodamine, Texas Red, perylene, pyrene, anthracene, naphthalene (e.g. dansyl), stilbene, (bis)-benzoxazole, coumarine derivatives (e.g. Alexa Fluor\xae derivatives), BODIPY\xae-derivatives, pyridyloxazoles, dixogenin, phenoxazine, triarylmethanes, xanthen, flavin, porphyrin, cyanin, naphthocyanin, lanthanide-complexes, transition metal complexes, UV-light excitable microspheres, green fluorescent protein.
20. A hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 19, wherein the fluorescent label is a derivative of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) represented by the formula HA-CO\u2014NH\u2014NH\u2014CS\u2014NH-Fluorescein.
21. The hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 5, wherein said hyaluronic acid derivative is in the form of a hydrogel.
22. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1 and optionally further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
23. Apharmaceutical composition according to claim 22 further comprising a pharmacologically active agent chemically conjugated or unconjugated.
24. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 23 capable of providing slow release or sustained release of the pharmaceutically active agent.
25. A cosmetic composition comprising a hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 1 further comprising a cosmetically acceptable carrier, and optionally further comprising a cosmetic agent.
26. A composition comprising the cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 5, further comprising an additional component selected from the group consisting of: native or synthetic polymers, proteins, or polypeptides.
27. A composition comprising the cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivative according to claim 5, for use as a scaffolding material for tissue engineering, optionally in association with cells.
28. A method for preparing labeled hyaluronic acid derivatives according to claim 18 comprising reacting an HA derivative or a salt thereof, said derivative having a part of the carboxy groups of the D-glucuronic residues converted directly into hydrazido groups, with a detectable label containing an amine-specific or amine-reactive group.
29. A method for preparing labeled hyaluronic acid derivatives according to claim 19 comprising reacting an HA derivative or a salt thereof, said derivative having a part of the carboxy groups of the D-glucuronic residues converted directly into hydrazido groups, with a fluorescent label containing an amine-specific or amine-reactive group.
30. A method for preparing labeled hyaluronic acid derivatives according to claim 20 comprising reacting an HA derivative or a salt thereof, said derivative having a part of the carboxy groups of the D-glucuronic residues converted directly into hydrazido groups, with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC).
31. A method for the preparation of a hyaluronic acid derivative of claim 1 in uncross-linked, water-soluble form, comprising reacting hyaluronic acid activated by a carbodiimide with hydrazine or a substituted hydrazine of the formula HNR1-NHR2, at a pH range of 3.5-7.5, preferably at 5.5-6.2, more preferably at pH 5.7-5.9.
32. A method according to claim 31, wherein said carbodiimide is 1-ethyl-3-3-dimethylaminopropylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC).
33. A method according to claim 31, wherein the reaction is performed in aqueous buffer or in a mixture of aqueous buffer and a water-miscible organic solvent.
34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the water-miscible organic solvent is a dipolar aprotic solvent.
35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the dipolar aprotic solvent is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylurea, hexamethylphosphoramide, and acetonitrile.
36. A method according to claim 31, wherein the reaction is performed in one step by reaction of a mixture of hyaluronic acid, a carbodiimide and hydrazine or substituted hydrazine.
37. A method for preparation of the hyaluronic acid derivative of claim 5 comprising activating hydrazido functionalized hyaluronic acid with a carbodiimide at a pH range of 3.5-7.0, preferably at 4.0-5.0, more preferably at about 4.75.
38. A method for preparation of the hyaluronic acid derivative of claim 6 comprising reacting hyaluronic acid activated by a carbodiimide with hydrazine at a pH range of 3.5-7.0, preferably at 4.0-5.0, more preferably at about 4.75.

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 frustum filter used for separation of cation and anion exchange resins, which is used in condensate water polishing system or apparatus, wherein said frustum filter comprises a microporous filtering net body (1) which is formed by sintering a mixture of silicon carbide grains and a binder, said net body being provided with a plurality of micropores, the diameter of said micropores being in a range of 50-300 micron, said filtering net body (1) being shaped as an inverted truncated cone and its maximum diameter being in a range of 50-200 cm, the angle between a inner tapered face and a horizontal plane being in a range of 15\xb0-30\xb0 and the thickness of said filtering net body being in a range of 2 cm-14 cm.
2. A frustum filter according to claim 1, wherein said microporous filtering net body can be shaped as a bowl with a recessed central part.
3. A frustum filter according to claim 1, wherein a steel ring (6) welded on a housing (2) is fixed on the external circumference of said filtering net body (1).
4. A frustum filter according to claim 3, wherein the steel ring (6) can be fixed on the external circumference of the filtering net body (1) by adhesive.
5. A frustum filter according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the steel ring (6)is provided with an annular protrusion (7) which extends inwardly from the circumference of the steel ring, the annular protrusion (7) being engaged with the top edge of the filtering net body (1), a support bracket (9) or a perforated support plate (12) being provided under the microporous filtering net body (1), said support bracket being formed by many stainless steel bars connected with each other, said support bracket (9) or support plate (12) being welded to the steel ring (6) and supporting the filtering net body (1) from below, said steel ring (6) and said support bracket or said support plate constituting a fixing construction of the filtering net body.
6. A frustum filter according to claim 5, wherein a fixing hole is provided at the center of the bottom of the filtering net body (1), and a drawing bolt (10) pass through said fixing hole, the head end of which press against the internal bottom face of the net body and the tail end of which is fixed on the support bracket (9) or support plate (12).
7. A frustum filter according to claim 1, wherein some reinforcing steel bars are embedded in said filtering net body (1) in advance, and said reinforcing steel bars have the property of high temperature resistance.
8. A frustum filter according to claim 2, wherein the bowl-shaped net body with a recessed central part can be removed to be cleaned separately.

1-14. (canceled)
15. An arrangement for measuring at least one value of a voltage applied to an electronic component, the arrangement comprising:
a first signal transmitter (14) for emitting a first switching signal (28), the first signal transmitter (14) being coupled to a first switch (2), which is controllable by the first switching signal (28),
the electronic component (1) being connected in series to the first switch (2) which is connectable, via the electronic component (1), to an electric energy source (3);
a second signal transmitter (17) for emitting a second switching signal (32);
a second switch (11) being coupled to the second signal transmitter (17), and being controllable by the second switching signal (32);
a capacitive accumulator (10) being connected in series with the second switch (11) and being connectable in parallel, via the second switch (11), to either the electronic component (1) or to the series connection formed by the electronic component (1) and the first switch (2); and
an analogdigital converter (12) being connected in parallel to the capacitive accumulator (10).
16. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the electronic component (1) is couplable to the electrical energy source (3) via an inline arrangement of at least a one Ohm-resistor (4).
17. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the capacitive accumulator comprises a condenser (10).
18. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the first switch comprises a transistor (2).
19. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the first signal transmitter comprises a pulse-width modulator unit (14) and the first switching signal (28) is a right-angle signal.
20. The arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the second signal transmitter comprises a pulse-width modulator unit (17) and the second switching signal (32) comprises a right-angle signal which has an impulse duration that is shorter than an impulse duration of the right-angle signal of the first switching signal (28).
21. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the second switch comprises a multiplexer (19), the capacitive accumulator (10) is connectable in parallel, via the multiplexer (19), to at least one other electronic component (20) that is connected in series with the first switch (2) or to an in-series connection comprising another electronic component (20) and the first switch (2).
22. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein both of the first and the second signal transmitters (14, 17) and the analogdigital converter (12) are integrated into one of a micro-processor and a micro-controller (18).
23. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein both of the first and the second signal transmitters (14, 17) and the analogdigital converter (12) are integrated in a pulsed control device (18) and impulse ends of the first and the second switching signals (28, 32) differ either by one of one pulse cycle and a whole multiplier of a pulse cycle of the pulsed control device (18).
24. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the at least one value of the voltage applied to the electronic component determined by the arrangement is one of an inductance of the electronic component (1) and a capacitance of the electronic component (1).
25. A method for measuring at least one value of a signal flank occurring at an electronic component with an arrangement comprising a first signal transmitter (14) for emitting a first switching signal (28), the first signal transmitter (14) being coupled to a first switch (2) that is controllable by the first switching signal (28), the electronic component (1) being connected in series to the first switch (2) which is connectable, via the electronic component (1), to an electric energy source (3), a second signal transmitter (17) for emitting a second switching signal (32), a second switch (11) being coupled to the second signal transmitter (17), and being controllable by the second switching signal (32), a capacitive accumulator (10) being connected in series with the second switch (11) and being connectable in parallel, via the second switch (11), to one of the electronic component (1) and to the series connection formed by the electronic component (1) and the first switch (2), and an analogdigital converter (12) being connected in parallel to the capacitive accumulator (10), the method comprising the steps of:
a) at least one of applying a voltage and supplying a current to the electronic component (1) at a first switching time (t1);
b) connecting the capacitive accumulator (10) in parallel to the electronic component (1);
c) separating the capacitive accumulator (10) from the electronic component (1) at a second measuring time (t3), and the second measuring time (t3) being set back by a time difference behind a first measuring time (t2); and
d) recording and digitizing the voltage applied to the capacitive accumulator (10) at the second measuring time (t3).
26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of connecting the capacitive accumulator (10) in parallel to the electronic component (1) at the first switching time (t1).
27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of repeating steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) at varying time differences.
28. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of producing a periodic pulse signal (34) at varying time differences which correspond to one or a whole-digit multiplier of a pulse cycle (\u0394t) of the pulse signal (34).
29. An arrangement for measuring at least one value of a voltage applied to an electronic component, the arrangement comprising:
a first signal transmitter (14) being connected to a first switch (2) which is connected in series to the electronic component (1) that is connected to an electric energy source (3),
the first signal transmitter (14) transmitting a first switching signal (28) to the first switch (2), the first switch (2) either opening or closing depending on the first switching signal (28) transmitted by the first signal transmitter (14) to either facilitate or disrupt communication between the electronic component (1) and a ground (13);
a second signal transmitter (17) being connected to a second switch (11), the second switch (11) being controlled by a second switching signal (32) that is transmitted by the second signal transmitter (17);
a capacitive accumulator (10) being connected in series to the second switch (11), and connectable in parallel, via the second switch (11), to either the electronic component (1), or the series connection formed by the electronic component (1) and the first switch (2); and
an analogdigital converter (12) being connected in parallel to the capacitive accumulator (10).

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 water parameter display apparatus for attaching to the water supply line for a shower head, comprising:
a joint means for connecting a display means to a shower head water supply line, said union mechanism having one or more electrical communication means extending from said union to a display means;
said display means including a housing which contains electrical circuitry and power supply, said display means having the capability to visually display one or more water parameters; and
at least one sensor that is said sensor in close proximity to said water supply, and said sensor in electrical communication with said display means.
2. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit includes a timing circuit which exhibits a timing parameter on the display means.
3. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 2, wherein said timing parameter is the calendar date and current time.
4. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 2, wherein said timing parameter is the cumulative time taken from the time that shower water was initiated.
5. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor.
6. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor includes a water flow sensor.
7. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display means projects at least one water or time parameter in analog format.
8. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display means projects at least one water or time parameter in a digital format.
9. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more selection buttons place on said housing of said display means, said buttons function to set a temperature setting or alarm, a timing setting or alarm, a flow rate setting or alarm, andor a total volume setting or alarm.
10. The water parameter display apparatus of claims 9 wherein said alarm is projected as a visual alarm on said display means, or as a auditory alarm means, or as both a visual alarm and an auditory alarm means.
11. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a water shut off means, whereby said shut off means is activated upon a parameter setting or alarm.
12. A shower head incorporating a water parameter display assembly, said shower head, comprising:
a shower or bath head;
a display means, said display means having the capability to visually display one or more parameters from a display on a facing plate of a shower or bath head
electrical circuitry with a power source;
at least one sensor that is exposed to the supply water in said shower head; and
an electrical communication means extending from said sensor to said display means.
13. The water parameter display assembly of claim 12, wherein said electrical circuit includes a timing circuit which exhibits a timing parameter on the display means.
14. The water parameter display assembly of claim 13, wherein said timing parameter is the calendar date and current time.
15. The water parameter display assembly of claim 13, wherein said timing parameter is the cumulative time taken from the time that shower water was initiated.
16. The water parameter display assembly of claim 12, wherein at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor.
17. The water parameter display assembly of claim 12, wherein at least one sensor includes a water flow rate sensor.
18. The water parameter display assembly of claim 12, wherein said display means projects at least one water or time parameter in analog format.
19. The water parameter display assembly of claim 12, wherein said display means projects at least one water or time parameter in a digital format.
20. The water parameter display apparatus of claim 12, further comprising one or more selection buttons place on shower or bath head, said buttons function to set a temperature setting or alarm, a timing setting or alarm, a flow rate setting or alarm, andor a total volume setting or alarm.
21. The water parameter display assembly of claims 20 wherein said alarm is projected as a visual alarm on said display means, or as a auditory means, or as both a visual alarm and an auditory means.
22. The water parameter display assembly of claim 12, further comprising a water shut off means, whereby said shut off means is activated upon a parameter setting or alarm.