Author: claimsbot

1. A pump housing assembly which includes a pump casing and a liner, the pump casing including at least two parts which are adapted to be connected together in an assembled position wherein the pump casing includes opposed front and rear sides, the at least two parts of the pump casing when in the assembled position have a common junction region which is disposed within one or more planes which pass through the front and rear sides of the pump casing when in the assembled position, the liner being of one piece and of an elastomer material and which includes annular flanges on each side thereof which are adapted to be clamped between the at least two casing parts in the assembled position, wherein the flanges include sealing portions thereon, the sealing portions being adapted to be received within a cavity formed between the pump casing and a pump end plate assembly, and wherein the sealing portions are generally wedge-shaped, formed integrally with the liner and responsive to pressures produced during operation of the pump.
2. A pump housing assembly according to claim 1 wherein, when in the assembled position, the liner is disposed within the pump casing and forms a pump chamber for an impeller rotatable about a rotation axis which extends between the front and rear sides of the pump casing.
3. A pump housing assembly according to claim 2 wherein the two parts of the pump casing have the common junction region disposed in a plane which is aligned with the axis of rotation of the impeller.
4. A pump housing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the at least two parts of the pump casing have the common junction region disposed in a plane which is aligned with an axis of rotation of an impeller positioned through said pump casing.
5. A pump housing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the liner is free of any metal reinforcement.
6. A pump housing assembly which includes a pump casing and a liner, the pump casing including at least two parts which are adapted to be connected together in an assembled position, wherein the pump casing includes opposed front and rear sides, the at least two parts of the pump casing when in the assembled position have a common junction region which is disposed in a plane which is aligned with an axis of rotation of an impeller positioned through said pump casing, the liner being of one piece and of an elastomer material and which includes annular flanges on each side thereof which are adapted to be clamped between the at least two casing parts in the assembled position, wherein the flanges include sealing portions thereon, the sealing portions being adapted to be received within a cavity formed between the pump casing and a pump end plate assembly, and wherein the sealing portions are generally wedge shaped formed, integral with the liner and responsive to pressures produced during operation of the pump.
7. A pump housing assembly according to claim 6 wherein, when in the assembled position, the liner is disposed within the pump casing and forms a pump chamber for an impeller rotatable about the rotation axis which extends between the front and rear sides of the pump casing.
8. A pump housing assembly which includes a pump casing and a liner, the pump casing including at least two parts which are adapted to be connected together in an assembled position, wherein the pump casing includes opposed front and rear sides, the at least two parts of the pump casing having a common junction region which is disposed within one or more planes which pass through the front and rear sides of the pump casing when the pump casing is in the assembled position, the liner being of one niece construction made of an elastomer material and having annular flanges on each side thereof which are adapted to be clamped between said at least two casing parts when in the assembled position, and said annular flanges each further comprising a sealing portion adapted to be received within a cavity formed between the said at least two parts of the pump casing and a pump end plate assembly, the sealing portions being generally wedge-shaped in cross section to adapt to the cavity responsive to pressures produced during operation of the pump.

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 hip joint prosthesis, comprising:
a generally shell-shaped acetabular cup defining a convex upper side having a size and shape adapted for seated engagement within a patient’s natural acetabulum, and a lower side defining a downwardly open and generally part-spherical cavity lined by an articulation surface having a size and shape for articulatory reception of a matingly shaped femoral component;
said acetabular cup being formed from ceramic material having relatively high a relatively high flexural strength and a relatively high fracture toughness for ultra-low wear upon post-implantation articulation with said matingly shaped femoral component.
2. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said ceramic material has a relatively high flexural strength greater than about 500 Mega-Pascal (MPa) and a relatively high fracture toughness greater than about 5 Mega-Pascal root meter (MPam0.5).
3. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said ceramic material has a relatively high flexural strength greater than about 700 Mega-Pascal (MPa) and a relatively high fracture toughness greater than about 7 Mega-Pascal root meter (MPam0.5).
4. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 3 wherein said ceramic material comprises doped silicon nitride.
5. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 1 further including a bone ingrowth surface on said convex upper side of said acetabular cup.
6. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said bone ingrowth surface comprises a ceramic bone ingrowth surface.
7. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 6 wherein said acetabular cup comprises a ceramic material having a variable porosity gradient defining a relatively low porosity first region forming a substrate defining said articulation surface, and a comparatively higher porosity second region defining said ceramic bone ingrowth surface, said first and second regions being integrally formed.
8. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 7 wherein said ceramic material has a porosity gradient ranging from about 2% to about 80% by volume, with said higher porosity region having a porosity in the range of from about 30% to about 80% by volume.
9. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 8 wherein said ceramic material has pores formed therein with a pore size ranging from about 100 microns to about 500 microns.
10. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said matingly shaped femoral component comprises a ball-shaped femoral head.
11. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 10 wherein said femoral head is formed from a ceramic material.
12. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 10 wherein said femoral head is formed from a ceramic material substantially identical to the acetabular cup ceramic material.
13. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 10 wherein said femoral head is formed from a biocompatible metal.
14. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 10 further including a retainer for movably retaining said acetabular cup on said femoral head.
15. A hip joint prosthesis, comprising:
a generally shell-shaped acetabular cup defining a downwardly open and generally part-spherical cavity lined by an articulation surface having a size and shape for articulatory reception of a matingly shaped femoral component;
said articulation surface of said acetabular cup being formed from ceramic material having relatively high a relatively high flexural strength and a relatively high fracture toughness for ultra-low wear upon post-implantation articulation with said matingly shaped femoral component;
said acetabular cup further defining a convex upper side having a porous bone ingrowth surface thereon and further defining a size and shape adapted for seated engagement within a patient’s natural acetabulum.
16. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 15 wherein said acetabular cup comprises a ceramic material having a variable porosity gradient defining a relatively low porosity first region forming a substrate defining said articulation surface, and a comparatively higher porosity second region defining said bone ingrowth surface, said first and second regions being integrally formed.
17. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 15 wherein said matingly shaped femoral component comprises a ball-shaped femoral head.
18. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 17 wherein said femoral head is formed from a ceramic material substantially identical to the acetabular cup ceramic material.
19. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 17 wherein said femoral head is formed from a biocompatible metal.
20. A hip joint prosthesis, comprising:
a generally shell-shaped acetabular cup defining a convex upper side and having a size and shape adapted for seated engagement within a patient’s natural acetabulum, and a lower side defining a downwardly open and generally part-spherical cavity lined by an articulation surface having a size and shape for articulatory reception of a matingly shaped femoral component;
said acetabular cup being formed from ceramic material having a relatively high flexural strength and a relatively high fracture toughness for ultra-low wear upon post-implantation with said matingly shaped femoral component; and
said acetabular cup having a rim with a recessed geometry for increase range of motion.
21. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 20 wherein said rim includes multiple recesses formed therein for enhanced range of motion.
22. The hip joint prosthesis of claim 20 wherein said rim includes a pair of generally diametrically opposed recesses formed therein for enhanced range of motion.

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing;
a heat generating part in the housing; and
a heat pipe in the housing and sealing a fluid therein, wherein:
the heat pipe further comprises:
a heat receiving unit configured to deprive heat of the heat generating part by gasification of the fluid;
a heat radiating unit configured to release the heat received by the heat receiving unit by liquefying of the fluid;
a vapor flow path configured to couple the heat receiving unit and the heat radiating unit to each other and allows a gasified portion of the fluid to flow from the heat receiving unit towards the heat radiating unit;
a liquid returning flow path provided at a position distant from the vapor flow path, which couples the heat receiving unit and the heat radiating unit to each other and allows a liquefied portion of the fluid to flow from the heat radiating unit towards the heat receiving unit;

a wick configured to return the liquefied portion of the fluid from the heat radiating unit to the heat receiving unit;
a pair of plate members containing the wick therebetween, and attached to each other to make the heat receiving unit, the heat radiating unit, the vapor flow path and the liquid returning flow path annular around the wick; and
a frame unit provided on outer peripheries of the plate members,
wherein:
the wick comprises a main portion and a first projecting portion extending from the main portion, the first projecting portion projecting towards an inside of the heat receiving unit such as to divide the inside of the heat receiving unit into a first portion communicating to the vapor flow path and a second portion communicating to the liquid returning flow path, and
the heat receiving unit is thermally connected to the heat generating part at a position across the first portion and the first projecting portion.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the wick comprises a second projecting portion which projects from the first projecting portion to a position where it overlays with the heat generating part, and a thickness of the second projecting portion is a half or less of a thickness of the main portion.
3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the wick comprises a third projecting portion which projects from the main portion to an inside of the heat radiating part, and the third projecting portion projects to a position which partially overlays with a heat sink which promotes heat radiation in the heat radiating unit.
4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein:
the liquid returning flow path comprises a first region in which the main portion of the wick is provided and a second region located distant from the main portion, and
the wick comprises a fourth projecting portion projecting from the main portion towards the second region, and a thickness of the fourth projecting portion is a half or less of the thickness of the main portion.
5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the fourth projecting portion projects to a position corresponding to the heat generating part.
6. A heat pipe in which a fluid is sealed, comprising:
a heat receiving unit configured to deprive heat of an external heat generating part by gasification of the fluid;
a heat radiating unit configured to release the heat to an outside received by the heat receiving unit by liquefying of the fluid;
a first flow path configured to couple the heat receiving unit and the heat radiating unit to each other and allows a gasified portion of the fluid to flow from the heat receiving unit towards the heat radiating unit;
a second flow path provided at a position distant from the first flow path, which couples the heat receiving unit and the heat radiating unit to each other and allows a liquefied portion of the fluid to flow from the heat radiating unit towards the heat receiving unit;
a wick configured to return the liquefied portion of the fluid from the heat radiating unit to the heat receiving unit;
a pair of plate members containing the wick therebetween, and attached to each other to make the heat receiving unit, the heat radiating unit, the first flow path and the second flow path annular around the wick; and
a frame unit provided on outer peripheries of the plate members,
wherein:
the wick comprises a main portion and a first projecting portion extending from the main portion, the first projecting portion projecting towards an inside of the heat receiving unit such as to divide the inside of the heat receiving unit into a first portion communicating to the first flow path and a second portion communicating to the second flow path, and
the heat receiving unit is thermally connected to the heat generating part at a position across the first portion and the first projecting portion.
7. The heat pipe according to claim 6, wherein the wick comprises a second projecting portion which projects from the first projecting portion to a position where it overlays with the heat generating part, and a thickness of the second projecting portion is a half or less of a thickness of the main portion.
8. The heat pipe according to claim 7, wherein the wick comprises a third projecting portion which projects from the main portion to an inside of the heat radiating part, and the third projecting portion projects to a position which partially overlays with a heat sink which promotes heat radiation in the heat radiating unit.
9. An electronic device comprising:
a housing;
a heat generating part in the housing; and
a heat pipe in the housing and sealing a fluid therein, heat pipe comprises:
a wick;
a heat receiving unit configured to receive heat from the heat generating part;

a heat radiating unit configured to release to an outside the heat received by the heat receiving unit;
a first flow path extending between the heat receiving unit and the heat radiating unit to allow a gasified portion of the fluid to flow from the heat receiving unit to the heat radiating unit;
a second flow path extending between the heat receiving unit and the heat radiating unit to allow a liquefied portion of the fluid to flow from the heat radiating unit to the heat receiving unit;
a pair of plate members containing the wick therebetween, and attached to each other to make the heat receiving unit, the heat radiating unit, the first flow path and the second flow path annular around the wick; and
a frame unit provided on outer peripheries of the plate members,

wherein:
the wick comprises a main portion and a first projecting portion extending from the main portion, the first projecting portion dividing an inside of the heat receiving unit into a first portion communicating to the first flow path and a second portion communicating to the second flow path, and
the heat receiving unit is thermally connected to the heat generating part at a position across the first portion and the first projecting portion.

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

1-17. (canceled)
18. A surgical access device, comprising:
a sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end; and
a flexible port defining an opening therethrough, the opening configured for sealed reception of a surgical object therethrough, the flexible port including proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the flexible port having an upper lip and the distal end of the flexible port having a lower lip, the flexible port positionable within the sleeve such that the upper lip of the flexible port is disposed externally of a body cavity, the lower lip of the flexible port is disposed internally of the body cavity, and the proximal and distal ends of the flexible port are disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the sleeve, wherein the flexible port is maintained between the proximal and distal ends of the sleeve by a biasing force exerted by the flexible port on the sleeve.
19. The surgical access device of claim 18, wherein the flexible port has an hourglass shape.
20. The surgical access device of claim 18, wherein the flexible port includes foam.
21. The surgical access device of claim 18, wherein the flexible port defines a plurality of openings therethrough, each opening of the plurality of openings configured for sealed reception of a surgical object.
22. The surgical access device of claim 18, wherein the flexible port includes a compressible material, the flexible port transitionable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition, the flexible port insertable into a retracted body opening while the flexible port is in the compressed condition, the flexible port configured to press against an inner surface of the sleeve to form a seal with tissue that forms the body opening while the flexible port is in the expanded condition and exerting the biasing force on the sleeve.
23. The surgical access device of claim 18, wherein the sleeve includes a first ring supported on the proximal end of the sleeve and a second ring supported on the distal end of the sleeve, wherein the first ring is rollable to shorten a longitudinal length of the sleeve and exert a retraction force against tissue surrounding the sleeve.
24. The surgical access device of claim 18, wherein the opening defined by the flexible port is configured for sealed reception of a trocar cannula.
25. A method for accessing a body cavity, the method comprising:
inserting a sleeve into a body opening;
extending a distal end of the sleeve through the body opening such that the distal end of the sleeve is internally disposed within the body cavity;
positioning a proximal end of the sleeve externally disposed relative to the body cavity;
compressing a flexible port to fit within an opening of the sleeve;
positioning the lower and upper lips of the flexible port between the proximal and distal ends of the sleeve such that a lower lip of the flexible port is internally disposed within the body cavity and an upper lip of the flexible port externally disposed relative to the body cavity; and
expanding the flexible port to exert a biasing force on an inner surface of the sleeve to form a seal against tissue forming the body opening.
26. The method of claim 25, further including advancing a surgical object through an opening defined in the flexible port and into the body cavity.
27. The method of claim 25, further including rolling the proximal end of the sleeve to shorten a longitudinal length of the sleeve.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein rolling the proximal end of the sleeve includes rolling a ring supported on the proximal end of the sleeve.
29. The method of claim 25, further including rolling the proximal end of the sleeve to exert a retraction force against the tissue surrounding the sleeve to retract the body opening.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein rolling the proximal end of the sleeve includes rolling a ring supported on the proximal end of the sleeve.