Author: claimsbot

1. A sliding module for a portable terminal including a main housing, the sliding module comprising:
at least one sub-housing movably mounted on the main housing in an openingclosing motion, the at least one sub-housing moving with respect to the main housing in a first interval and a second interval;
a disc rotatably mounted on the main housing and rotating about a rotation center;
a plurality of links, each of which has a first end coupled to the disc and a second end coupled to each of the at least one sub-housing; and
an elastic means providing the disc with a rotating force moving the at least one sub-housing toward the main body in the first interval and moving the at least one sub-housing away from the main body in the second interval, the elastic means passing through the rotation center when the at least one sub-housing moves from one of the first interval and the second interval to the other of the first interval and the second interval.
2. A sliding module for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic means is a coil spring.
3. A sliding module for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sub-housing comprises a pair of sub-housings mounted on the main housing in side by side relation.
4. A sliding module for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pair of sub-housings are subjected to a first driving force, in the first interval, which is oriented to move the sub-housings towards each other, and subjected to a second driving force, in the second interval, which is oriented to move the sub-housings away from each other.
5. A sliding module for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the links are symmetrically installed with respect to the rotation center.
6. A sliding module for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic means is a coil spring having a first end supported on the main housing and a second end supported on the disc.

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 device for intracorporeal use within a patient’s body, comprising:
an implantable scaffold;
at least one source of at least one therapeutic capable agent associated with the scaffold and configured to release the therapeutic capable agent within the patient’s body at a controlled rate; and
a rate-controlling element layer covering at least a portion of the source and including at least one therapeutic capable agent and providing for an initial relatively more rapid release of the at least one therapeutic capable agent therapeutic from the rate-controlling element layer as well as a sustained, controlled release of the at least one therapeutic capable agent from the source.
2. A device for intracorporeal use within a patient’s body, comprising:
an implantable scaffold;
at least one source of at least one therapeutic capable agent associated with the scaffold; and
a rate-controlling element disposed adjacent at least a portion of the source and being configured to control the release of the therapeutic capable agent in the patient’s body at an initial rate and at a subsequent rate relatively slower than the initial rate.
3. A device as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the rate-controlling element covers only a portion of the source.
4. A device as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the source comprises a reservoir.
5. A device as in claim 4 wherein the reservoir is at least partially disposed over the expandable structure.
6. A device as in claim 5 wherein the reservoir is disposed adjacent the luminal facing surface.
7. A device as in claim 5 wherein the reservoir is disposed adjacent the tissue facing surface.
8. A device for intracorporeal use within a patient’s body, comprising:
a radially expansible implantable scaffold having a plurality of regions exhibiting different mechanical profiles during the expansion of the scaffold and including relatively lower and relatively higher mechanical profiles; and
a source of at least one therapeutic capable agent comprising a plurality of segments and disposed adjacent at least a portion of the scaffold.
9. A device as in claim 8 wherein the segments are disposed adjacent the relatively lower mechanical profile regions.
10. A device as in claim 8 wherein the segments are disposed adjacent the relatively higher mechanical profile regions.
11. A device as in claim 8 wherein the segments are disposed adjacent only the regions that do not undergo substantial bending, flexing, stretching, or compressing upon the expansion of the scaffold.
12. A device as in claim 8 wherein the segments are disposed adjacent only the regions that do not undergo more than about 5% of bending, flexing, stretching, or compressing upon the expansion of the scaffold.
13. A device as in claim 8 wherein the segments are disposed adjacent only the regions that undergo substantial bending, flexing, stretching, compressing upon the expansion of the scaffold.
14. A device as in claim 8 wherein the areas exhibiting relatively higher mechanical profile are configured to be in a direct flow of body fluids flowing through the intracorporeal body.
15. A device as in claim 8 further comprising a rate-controlling element disposed adjacent the scaffold.
16. A device as in claim 15 wherein the rate-controlling element is disposed adjacent at least a portion of the source.
17. A device as in claim 15 wherein the rate-controlling element is formed from a nonporous material.
18. A device as in claim 15 wherein the rate-controlling element has a variable thickness.
19. A device as in claim 15 wherein the rate-controlling element has a greater thickness adjacent scaffold regions having relatively higher mechanical profile.
20. A device for intracorporeal use within a patient’s body, comprising:
an implantable scaffold;
at least one source of at least one therapeutic capable agent associated with at least a portion of the scaffold and configured to release the therapeutic capable agent within the patient’s body; and
a rate-controlling element disposed adjacent at least a portion of the source and including at least one disruption sufficiently large to permit material transport to or from the source.
21. A device as in claim 20 wherein the at least one disruption is an aperture.
22. A device as in claim 20 wherein the at least one disruption is preformed.
23. A device as in claim 20 wherein the at least one disruption is formed in the patient’s body.
24. A device as in claim 20 wherein the transport comprises at least one of transport of native fluids to the source or of the therapeutic capable agent from the source.
25. A device for intracorporeal use within a patient’s body, comprising:
an implantable scaffold;
at least one source of at least one therapeutic capable agent associated with at least a portion of the scaffold and configured to release the therapeutic capable agent within the patient’s body; and
a rate-controlling element disposed adjacent at least a portion of the source and being configured to mechanically change upon application of mechanical stress or strain.
26. A device as in claim 25 wherein the mechanical stress or strain is applied upon the bending of the scaffold.
27. A device as in claim 25 wherein the mechanical stress or strain is applied upon the expansion of the scaffold.
28. A device for intracorporeal use within a patient’s body, comprising:
an implantable scaffold;
at least one source of at least one therapeutic capable agent associated with at least a portion of the scaffold and configured to release the therapeutic capable agent within the patient’s body; and
a rate-controlling element disposed adjacent at least a portion of the source and which undergoes a mechanical change upon being implanted in the patient’s body.
29. A device as in claim 25 or 28 wherein the mechanical change is one of mechanical fracture.
30. A device as in claim 25 or 28 wherein the mechanical change is one of change in surface characteristic.
31. A device as in claim 25 or 28 wherein the mechanical change is one of change in porosity.
32. A device as in any one of claims 8, 20, or 25 wherein the device comprises a stent.
33. A device as in claim 32 wherein the source comprises a matrix.
34. A device as in claim 33 wherein the matrix includes a matrix material.
35. A luminal prosthesis comprising:
a scaffold which is implantable within a body lumen;
a substance-containing reservoir positioned over at least a portion of a surface of the scaffold; and
a rate-controlling element layer covering at least a portion of the substance-containing reservoir, the rate-controlling element layer having the substance dispersed therein and providing for an initial rapid release of the substance from the rate-controlling element layer as well as a sustained, controlled release of the substance from the reservoir.
36. A luminal prosthesis comprising:
a scaffold which is implantable in a body lumen, said scaffold being radially expansible and having regions which undergo greater and lesser mechanical stress or strain during radial expansion; and
a substance-containing reservoir or layer comprising individual portions which are preferentially positioned over the regions which undergo lesser stress or strain.
37. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 36 wherein the substance-containing layer is positioned only on those portions of the scaffold that do not substantially bend, stretch, or compress when the scaffold is expanded.
38. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 36 further comprising a rate-controlling element layer formed over at least a portion of the scaffold.
39. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 38 wherein the rate-controlling element layer is thicker over regions of greater mechanical profile.
40. A luminal prosthesis comprising:
a scaffold which is implantable within a body lumen;
a substance-containing reservoir positioned over at least a portion of a surface of the scaffold; and
a rate-controlling element layer covering at least a portion of the substance-containing reservoir, the rate-controlling element layer having at least one preformed aperture which is sufficiently large to permit the transport of body fluids to the substance-containing reservoir andor the release of substance from the reservoir.
41. A luminal prosthesis comprising:
a scaffold which is implantable within a body lumen;
a substance-containing reservoir positioned over at least a portion of a surface of the scaffold, and
a rate-controlling element layer covering at least a portion of the substance containing reservoir, the rate-controlling element layer being configured to fracture when stressed by substantially bending, expanding, stretching, or compressing of the scaffold.
42. A luminal prosthesis comprising:
a scaffold which is implantable within a body lumen;
a substance-containing reservoir positioned over at least a portion of a surface of the scaffold; and
a rate-controlling element layer covering at least a portion of the substance containing reservoir, the rate-controlling element layer being configured to swell to permit release of substance from the reservoir when exposed to a luminal environment.
43. A luminal prosthesis comprising:
a scaffold which is implantable within a body lumen;
a substance-containing reservoir positioned over at least a portion of a surface of the scaffold; and
a rate-controlling element positioned over at least a portion of the surface of the scaffold and covering less than all of the substance containing reservoir.
44. A luminal prosthesis as in any of claims 35 through 43 wherein the luminal prosthesis comprises a metal stent.
45. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 44 wherein the metal stent is balloon expandable.
46. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 44 wherein the metal stent is self-expanding.
47. A luminal prosthesis as in any of claims 35 through 43 wherein the substance-containing reservoir comprises a matrix layer including the substance dispersed in a matrix material.
48. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 47 wherein the substance and the matrix material have been vapor deposited on the scaffold.
49. A luminal prosthesis as in any of claim 35 through 43 wherein the substance-containing layer consists essentially of a homogeneous layer of the substance.
50. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 49 wherein the substance has been vapor deposited on the scaffold.
51. A luminal prosthesis as in any of claims 35 through 43 wherein the scaffold comprises structural elements having rectangular cross-sections defining four orthogonal surfaces, wherein the drug is positioned on fewer than all of the surfaces.
52. A luminal prosthesis as in any of claims 35 through 43 wherein the rate-controlling element is porous.
53. A luminal prosthesis as in any of claim 35 through 43 wherein the rate-controlling element is nonporous.
54. A luminal prosthesis as in any of claims 35 through 43 further comprising a base layer over at least a portion of the scaffold and at least a portion of the substance-containing layer.
55. A luminal prosthesis as in any of claims 35 through 43 wherein the rate-controlling element layer comprises a parylene polymer or copolymer.
56. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 55 wherein the parylene has been vapor deposited over the scaffold or a portion thereof.
57. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 55 wherein the parylene comprises parylene C.
58. A luminal prosthesis as in claim 55 wherein the parylene is nonporous.
59. A method for making a device for intracorporeal use, comprising:
providing an implantable structure having a first residual stress and including
a scaffold; and
at least one source of at least one therapeutic capable agent associated with the scaffold and configured to release the therapeutic capable agent at a targeted tissue site within the patient’s body;
changing the structure residual stress to a second residual stress;
disposing a rate-controlling element adjacent at least a portion of the source and being configured to control the release of the therapeutic capable agent in the patient’s body.
60. A method as in claim 59 wherein the changing step comprises reducing the residual stress.
61. A method as in claim 59 wherein the changing step comprises exposing the structure to ultrasound energy for a period of time.
62. A method as in claim 59 wherein the changing step comprises exposing the structure to vibrational energy for a period of time.
63. A method as in claim 59 wherein the changing step comprises heating the structure to a first temperature for a period of time.
64. A method as in claim 63 wherein the first temperature is less than the melting point of the therapeutic capable agent.
65. A method as in claim 63 wherein the first temperature is about the same as the melting point of the therapeutic capable agent.
66. A method as in claim 63 wherein the at least one therapeutic capable agent comprises a plurality of therapeutic capable agents and the first temperature is about the same as the melting point of the therapeutic capable agent with the lowest melting point.
67. A method as in claim 63 wherein the first temperature is more than the melting point of the therapeutic capable agent.
68. A method as in claim 63 wherein the at least one therapeutic capable agent comprises a plurality of therapeutic capable agents and the first temperature is more than the melting point of the therapeutic capable agent with the lowest melting point.
69. A method as in claim 63 wherein the first temperature is about the glass transition temperature of the rate-controlling element.
70. A method as in claim 63 wherein the first temperature is more than the glass transition temperature of the rate-controlling element
71. A method as in claim 59 wherein the changing step is performed before the disposing step.
72. A method as in claim 59 wherein the changing step is performed after the disposing.
73. A method as in claim 59 wherein the changing step comprises heating the structure to a second temperature for a period of time and is performed after the disposing step.
74. A method as in claim 73 wherein the heating of the structure to a second temperate is performed under vacuum.
75. A method as in claim 73 wherein the heating of the structure to a second temperate is performed in the absence of oxygen.
76. A method as in claim 73 wherein the second temperature is less than the glass transition temperature of the rate-controlling element.

I claim:

1. A ground mounted pole construction comprising an elongated ground anchor section having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a longitudinal axis, thread means on said distal end portion and adapted to be forcibly screwed into the ground, a connector means first segment on said proximal end portion, an elongated pole section having a upper end portion, a lower end portion, and a longitudinal axis, a connector means second segment on said lower end portion, cooperating hinge bearing means on said first and second segments, said first and second segments when connected together providing a hinge means whereby when said anchor section has been screwed into the ground to a desired level, and with the pole section lying on the ground or other surface, said pole section can be hoisted by pivoting on said hinge means to a desired upright position, and cooperating elements of fastening means on said pole section and said anchor section for securing said pole section to said anchor section in said upright position with said anchor section in the ground.
2. The construction of claim 1 wherein each said connector means segment comprises a steel plate welded to its said section with a contact plane of each plate oriented substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of its section, wherein a hinge bearing means is provided on an edge portion of each plate and are adapted to be pivotally mounted on a shaft to form a hinge means between said plates whereby said pole section can be pivotally hoisted or lifted from a down position to a desired upright position around said hinge means after said anchor section has been screwed into the ground.
3. The construction of claim 2 wherein said anchor section is screwed into the ground, said pole section is secured to said anchor section in an upright position, and said shaft has been removed from said hinge bearing means.
4. The construction of claim 1 wherein said distal end portion of said anchor section is a conventional hole digging auger.
5. The construction of claim 1 wherein said thread means comprises flutes formed inwardly in a spindle means.
6. The construction of claim 1 wherein said thread means comprises flutes formed outwardly on a spindle means.
7. A method for mounting a pole firmly in the ground in a desired upright position, wherein a structure is provided having an anchor section and a pole section, wherein the anchor section is an auger, and wherein the sections are adapted to be hinged together and subsequently fastened together, said method comprising screwing said auger into the ground, then with the pole lying on the ground or other substrate, hinging said sections together and hoisting or lifting the pole around the hinge to a desired upright position, and firmly affixing the sections together with the anchor section remaining in the ground and with the pole in said desired upright position.

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 topical composition comprising:
about 15 to about 50% by weight urea with respect to the total composition weight of the composition; and
a topically effective amount of vitamin E, vitamin C, and an anti-oxidant compatible with skin, wherein the anti-oxidant is selected from the group consisting of retinyl palmitate, -carotene, green tea, black tea, and combinations thereof.
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a topically effective amount of at least one of the following: vitamin D, quercetin, sea kelp, pycnogenols (proanthocyanidins), selenium and alkylgylcerol-AKG, allopurinol, -lipoic acid, astaxanthin, azulenic retinoid compounds, coenzyme Q-10, cysteine, zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium, selenium, BHA, BHT, melatonin, and N-acetylcysteine.
3. The composition of claim 1, comprising between about 20 and 40% by weight urea with respect to the total composition weight of the composition.
4. The composition of claim 2, comprising between about 20 and 40% by weight urea with respect to the total composition weight of the composition.
5. A topical composition comprising:
about 20 to about 40% by weight urea with respect to the total composition weight of the composition; and
a topically effective amount of vitamin E.
6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the composition further comprises a topically effective amount of at least one of the following: vitamin C, retinyl palmitate, -carotene, green tea, black tea, vitamin D, quercetin, sea kelp, pycnogenols (proanthocyanidins), selenium and alkylgylcerol-AKG, allopurinol, -lipoic acid, astaxanthin, azulenic retinoid compounds, coenzyme Q-10, cysteine, zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium, selenium, BHA, BHT, melatonin, and N-acetylcysteine.
7. The composition of claim 6, comprising between about 20% and about 35% urea.
8. The composition of claim 7, comprising about 25% urea.
9. The composition of claim 5, wherein the vitamin E is present as tocopherol acetate.
10. The composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises between about 0.1% and about 10% by weight of vitamin E.
11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the composition comprises at least about 0.5% by weight of vitamin E.
12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises between about 1% and 2% by weight of vitamin E.
13. The composition of claim 5, wherein the composition includes green tea extract.
14. The composition of claim 20, comprising vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and green tea extract.
15. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface a composition comprising at least 10% urea and a topically effective amount of vitamin E.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the composition comprises at least 15% urea.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the composition comprises at least 20% urea.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the composition comprises at least 25% urea.
19. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 1.
20. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 2.
21. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 3.
22. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 4.
23. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 5.
24. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 6.
25. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 7.
26. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 8.
27. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 9.
28. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 10.
29. A method of enhancing delivery of an anti-oxidant to the viable epidermis, the method comprising the step of applying to the skin surface of a mammal a composition according to claim 14.
30. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 1, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
31. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 2, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
32. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 3, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
33. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 4, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
34. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 5, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
35. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 6, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
36. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 7, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
37. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 8, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
38. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 9, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
39. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 10, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
40. A method of manufacturing a topical preparation comprising a composition of claim 14, the method comprising combining the components of said composition so as to form a homogeneous topical skin preparation.
41. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
42. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
43. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
44. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
45. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
46. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
47. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
48. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
49. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
50. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.
51. A method according to claim 30, wherein the skin preparation is a cosmetic preparation.