Author: claimsbot

We claim:

1. A casket interior kit for mounting into and decorating a casket shell, comprising:
a casket lid liner panel having a display surface;
a plurality of lengths of panel edge laid over said casket lid liner panel;
a liner cloth set folded over itself and laid over said display surface;
a pillow laid over said liner cloth set, and
a box having dimensions for fitly containing said casket lid liner panel, said lengths of panel edge, said liner cloth set, and said pillow therein.
2. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lid liner panel has a display surface covered by fabric material, and said liner cloth set is laid against said display surface.
3. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said lengths of panel edge has a convex surface covered with fabric material and said convex surface is laid against said display surface.
4. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pillow is enclosed by said plurality of lengths of panel edge.
5. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a liner-cloth stretcher attached to said liner cloth set, between said liner cloth set and said pillow.
6. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said liner-cloth stretcher has a stiff structure.
7. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said liner-cloth stretcher is made of a single-ply corrugated board material.
8. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said liner-cloth stretcher has two symmetrical segments detachably connected to each other, and each of said segments has means to afford a folding thereof into an alternate form usable as a casket accessory.
9. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said symmetrical segments has a T-like shape and slots, tabs and bending lines to afford a folding thereof into a corpse supporting and positioning block.
10. A casket interior kit for mounting into and decorating a casket shell, comprising:
a casket lid liner panel having a display surface;
a plurality of lengths of panel edge, each having a convex surface, laid against said display surface;
a liner-cloth stretcher having a stiff structure;
a liner cloth set folded over itself and laid between said display surface and said liner-cloth stretcher, said liner cloth set being attached to said liner-cloth stretcher;
a pillow laid against said liner-cloth stretcher and said liner cloth set, beside said lengths of panel edge, and
a box having dimensions for fitly containing said casket lid liner panel, said lengths of panel edge, said liner cloth set, said liner-cloth stretcher and said pillow therein.
11. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein said display surface and said convex surfaces are covered by fabric materials.
12. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein said pillow is enclosed by said lengths of panel edge.
13. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein said liner-cloth stretcher is made of single-ply corrugated board material.
14. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said liner-cloth stretcher has two symmetrical segments detachably connected to each other, and each of said segments has means to afford a folding thereof into an alternate form usable as a casket accessory.
15. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of said symmetrical segments has a T-like shape and slots, tabs and bending lines to afford a folding thereof into a multi-dimensional corpse supporting and positioning block.
16. A casket interior kit for mounting into and decorating a casket shell, comprising:
a casket lid liner panel having a display surface covered by fabric material;
a plurality of lengths of panel edge, each having a convex surface covered by fabric material, laid against said display surface;
a liner-cloth stretcher having a stiff structure;
a liner cloth set folded over itself and laid between said display surface and said liner-cloth stretcher, said liner cloth set being attached to said liner-cloth stretcher;
a pillow laid against said liner-cloth stretcher and said liner cloth set, and being enclosed by said lengths of panel edge, and
a box having dimensions for fitly containing said casket lid liner panel, said lengths of panel edge, said liner cloth set, said liner-cloth stretcher and said pillow therein.
17. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein said liner-cloth stretcher is made of single-ply corrugated board material.
18. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 17, wherein said liner-cloth stretcher has two symmetrical segments detachably connected to each other, and each of said segments has means to afford a folding thereof into an alternate form usable as a casket accessory.
19. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 18, wherein each of said symmetrical segments has a T-like shape and slots, tabs and bending lines to afford a folding thereof into a corpse supporting and positioning block.
20. The casket interior kit as claimed in claim 19, wherein said block is a rectangular block having dissimilar height, width and length.

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 mobile communication terminal equipment mountable in a vehicle comprising:
a satellite transceiver mountable in said vehicle and including a satellite transmissionreception circuit for transmitting and receiving signals through a satellite wireless communication system; and
a portable set disconnectable from the satellite transceiver so that the set can be carried by a user, said portable set comprising:
a terrestrial transmissionreception circuit for transmitting and receiving signals through a terrestrial wireless communication system;
a signal inputoutput circuit for inputting signals from the user and for outputting signals to the user; and
a connection controller and switching means for selectively connecting the signal inputoutput circuit to one of the satellite transceiver and terrestrial transmissionreception circuits when said portable set is connected to said satellite transceiver and for connecting said signal inputoutput circuit to said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit when said portable set is disconnected from said satellite transceiver, wherein when said portable set is disconnected from said satellite transceiver, a user of said portable set may carry out terrestrial wireless communication immediately without the necessity of making any further reconnections of communication equipment components, and further wherein a size of said satellite transceiver is reduced by eliminating therefrom the need for any inputoutput device by virtue of said signal inputoutput circuit being provided in said portable set.
2. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein the satellite transceiver further includes:
a satellite communication antenna fixedly mounted in the vehicle to perform a wireless transmissionreception of signal between the mobile communication terminal equipment and an artificial satellite, said satellite transmissionreception circuit supplying a signal to be transmitted to said satellite communication antenna and receiving a signal from said satellite communication antenna; and
a satellite control means for causing a signal from said signal inputoutput circuit to be transmitted from said satellite communication antenna to the artificial satellite through the satellite transmissionreception circuit and for causing the satellite transmissionreception circuit to output a signal received by the satellite communication antenna from the artificial satellite to the signal inputoutput circuit as a signal to be outputted, when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is in connection with the signal inputoutput circuit.
3. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 2 wherein said satellite transmissionreception circuit comprises:
transmission means for transmitting the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit by coding the input signal, by digitally modulating a transmitted signal using the coded signal as a modulation signal and by supplying the transmission signal to the satellite communication antenna; and
reception means for digitally demodulating and decoding the signal received by the satellite communication antenna,
wherein when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is in connection with the signal inputoutput circuit, said satellite control means causes the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to be sent to the transmission means and also causes the reception means to send the signal decoded by the reception means to the signal inputoutput circuit as the signal to be outputted.
4. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said portable set further includes:
a portable terrestrial communication antenna fixedly mounted in the portable set to perform a wireless signal transmissionreception between the mobile communication terminal equipment and a base station of the terrestrial wireless communication system, said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit supplying a signal to be transmitted to the portable terrestrial communication antenna and also receiving a signal from the portable communication antenna; and
a terrestrial control means responsive to the connection of the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit with the signal inputoutput circuit for causing a signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to be transmitted from the portable terrestrial communication antenna to the base station through the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit and for causing the signal received by the portable terrestrial communication antenna to be supplied to the signal inputoutput circuit through the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit as a signal to be outputted.
5. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 4 wherein said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit comprises:
transmission means for transmitting the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit by coding the signal, by digitally modulating a transmitted signal using the coded signal as a modulation signal and by supplying the transmission signal to the portable terrestrial communication antenna; and
reception means for digitally demodulating and decoding the signal received by the portable terrestrial communication antenna,
wherein when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is in connection with the signal inputoutput circuit, said terrestrial control means causes the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to be sent to the transmission means and also causes the reception means to send the decoded signal to the signal inputoutput circuit as the signal to be outputted.
6. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 4 wherein said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit comprises:
transmission means for transmitting the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit by analog modulating a transmission signal using the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit as a modulation signal and by supplying the transmission signal to the portable terrestrial communication antenna; and
reception means for analog demodulating the signal received by the portable terrestrial communication antenna,
wherein when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is in connection with the signal inputoutput circuit, said terrestrial control means causes the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to be sent to the transmission means and also causes the reception means to send the demodulated signal to the signal inputoutput circuit as the signal to be outputted.
7. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 1:
wherein the satellite transceiver further includes a stationary terrestrial communication antenna fixedly mounted in the vehicle to perform a wireless signal transmissionreception between the mobile communication terminal equipment and a base station to the terrestrial wireless communication system; and
wherein said portable set further includes:
a portable terrestrial communication antenna fixedly mounted in the portable machine to perform a wireless signal transmissionreception between the mobile communication terminal equipment and the base station of the terrestrial wireless communication system;
an antenna connection switching means for selectively connecting one of the stationary and portable terrestrial communication antennas to the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit, the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit supplying a signal to be transmitted to the selected one of the stationary and portable terrestrial communication antennas and receiving a signal from the selected one of the stationary and portable terrestrial communication antennas; and
terrestrial control means responsive to the connection of said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit with the signal inputoutput circuit and stationary terrestrial communication antenna for causing a signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to be transmitted from the stationary terrestrial communication antenna to the base station through the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit and for causing a signal received by the stationary terrestrial communication antenna to be supplied to the signal inputoutput circuit through the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit as a signal to be outputted, said terrestrial control means responsive to the connection of the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit with the signal inputoutput circuit and portable terrestrial communication antenna for causing the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to be transmitted from the portable terrestrial communication antenna to the base station through the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit and for causing a signal received by the portable terrestrial communication antenna to be sent to the signal inputoutput circuit through the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit as the signal to be outputted.
8. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 7 wherein said antenna connection switching means includes an antenna selection switch responsive to a command from the terrestrial control means for selectively connecting one of said stationary and portable terrestrial communication antennas with the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit.
9. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 7 wherein said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit comprises:
transmission means for transmitting the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit by coding the supplied signal, by digitally modulating a transmission signal using the coded signal as a modulation signal and by supplying the transmission signal to the selected one of the stationary and portable terrestrial communication antenna; and
reception means for digitally demodulating and decoding the signal received by the selected one of the stationary and portable terrestrial communication antennas,
wherein when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is in connection with the signal inputoutput circuit, said terrestrial control means causes the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to be sent to the transmission means and also causes the reception means to send the decoded signal to the signal inputoutput circuit as the signal to be outputted.
10. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 7 wherein said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit comprises:
transmission means for transmitting the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit by analog modulating a transmission signal using the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit as a modulation signal and by supplying the transmission signal to the selected one of the stationary and portable terrestrial communication antennas; and
reception means for demodulating the signal received by the selected one of the stationary and portable terrestrial communication antennas into an analog signal,
wherein when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is in connection with the signal inputoutput circuit, said terrestrial control means causes the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to be sent to the transmission means and also causes the reception means to send the demodulated signal to the signal inputoutput circuit as the signal to be outputted.
11. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 7 wherein said satellite transceiver further includes:
a satellite communication antenna fixedly mounted on the vehicle to perform a wireless signal transmissionreception between the mobile communication terminal equipment and an artificial satellite, said satellite transmissionreception circuit supplying the signal to be transmitted to the satellite communication antenna and receiving a signal from the satellite communication antenna; and
satellite control means responsive to the connection of the satellite transmissionreception circuit with the signal inputoutput for causing the signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to be transmitted from the satellite communication antenna to the artificial satellite through the satellite transmissionreception circuit and for causing a signal received by the satellite communication antenna from the artificial satellite to be sent to the signal inputoutput circuit through the satellite transmissionreception circuit as the signal to be outputted, said satellite control means providing a signal indicative of the connection between the satellite transceiver and the portable set to the satellite control means,
wherein said terrestrial control means responsive to the absence of the signal from the satellite control means indicative of the connection between the satellite transceiver and the portable machine for controlling the antenna connection switching means to connect the portable terrestrial communication antenna with the signal inputoutput circuit, said terrestrial control means further responsive to both the connections between the signal inputoutput circuit and the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit and between the satellite transceiver and the portable set for controlling the antenna connection switching means to connect the stationary terrestrial communication antenna with the signal inputoutput circuit.
12. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 1;
wherein the satellite transceiver includes a satellite control means for monitoring the signal reception state at the satellite transmissionreception circuit;
wherein the portable set further includes a terrestrial control means for monitoring the signal reception state at the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit and for reporting, to the satellite control means, when the portable set is in connection with the satellite transceiver; and
wherein said satellite control means judges the signal reception state of the satellite transmissionreception circuit and the signal reception state of the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit reported from the terrestrial control means by comparing with a predetermined reference condition, the satellite control means controls the connection switching means solely or in cooperation with the terrestrial control means to connect the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit with the signal inputoutput circuit when said satellite control means judges that the signal reception state of the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is sufficient to continue a signal reception at the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit, said satellite control means further controls the connection switching means solely or in cooperation with the terrestrial control means to connect the satellite transmissionreception circuit with the signal inputoutput circuit when the signal reception state of the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is not sufficient to continue the signal reception at the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit and a relatively good communication can be attained by executing a signal reception at the satellite transmissionreception circuit.
13. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 12 wherein said predetermined reference conditions are reference reception levels set for respective ones of the signal reception states at the satellite and terrestrial transmissionreception circuits or reference error rates set for respective ones of the signal reception states at the satellite and terrestrial transmissionreception circuits.
14. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal inputoutput circuit includes a microphone for receiving voice signals from the user with voice and a loudspeaker for outputting signals from the user as sound.
15. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 1;
wherein said satellite transceiver includes satellite control means for controlling the signal transmissionreception at the satellite transmissionreception circuit,
wherein said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit includes terrestrial control means for controlling the signal transmissionreception at the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit,
wherein said signal inputoutput circuit further includes command input means for inputting a user’s command relating the operation of at least one of said satellite transmissionreception circuit, said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit and said connection switching means, and display control means for displaying at least one of the operational state of said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit, the signal transmissionreception state of said satellite transmissionreception circuit, the operational state of said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit, the signal transmissionreception state of said terrestrial the signal transmissionreception circuit, the operational state of said connection switching means and the signal inputoutput state of said signal inputoutput circuit;
wherein said signal inputoutput circuit is controlled by the satellite control means when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit and by the terrestrial control means when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit; and
wherein control signals are transmitted and received between the satellite control means, the terrestrial control means and the signal inputoutput circuit, said control signals including information which is indicative at least one of the signal reception state of the satellite transmissionreception circuit, the signal reception state of the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit, the operational state of the connection switching means and a command from the command input means.
16. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 15 wherein said command input means inputs the command from operating key means operable by the user.
17. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 15;
wherein said connecting switching means includes a first switch for selectively supplying a signal from the signal inputoutput circuit to one of said satellite and terrestrial transmissionreception circuits and for selectively supplying a signal from one of said satellite and terrestrial transmissionreception circuits to the signal inputoutput circuit as a signal to be outputted and a second switch for switching a control signal path between a first channel for connecting the satellite control means to the signal inputoutput circuit and a second channel for connecting the terrestrial control means to the signal inputoutput circuit; wherein the user’s commands through the command input means includes a switching command indicative of which one of said satellite and terrestrial transmissionreception circuits should be connected with the signal inputoutput circuit, the terrestrial control means for controlling the first and second switches to connect the satellite transmissionreception circuit with the signal inputoutput circuit when the switching command indicates that the satellite transmissionreception circuit should be connected to the signal inputoutput circuit and also for controlling the first and second switches to connect the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit with the signal inputoutput circuit when the switching command indicates that the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit should be connected to the signal inputoutput circuit.
18. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 17;
wherein the satellite transceiver and portable set include connectors electrically connectabledisconnectable with each other; and
wherein when the connector in the satellite transceiver is electrically connected to the connector in the portable set, the mobile communication terminal equipment selectively executes one of the communications through the satellite and terrestrial wireless communication systems, and when the connector in the satellite transceiver is electrically disconnected from the connector in the portable machine, the mobile communication terminal equipment executes the communication through the terrestrial wireless communication system.
19. A mobile communication terminal equipment comprising:
a satellite transceiver including a satellite transmissionreception circuit for transmitting and receiving signals through a satellite wireless communication system; and
a portable set disconnectable from the satellite transceiver and including
a terrestrial transmissionreception circuit for transmitting and receiving signals through a terrestrial wireless communication system,
a signal inputoutput circuit for inputting signals from the user and for outputting signals to the user, and
a connection controller and switching means for selectively connecting the signal inputoutput circuit to one of the satellite transceiver and terrestrial transmissionreception circuits when said portable set is connected to said satellite transceiver and for connecting said signal inputoutput circuit to said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit when said portable set is disconnected from said satellite transceiver, wherein when said portable set is disconnected from said satellite transceiver, a user of said portable set may carry out terrestrial wireless communication immediately without the necessity of making any further reconnections of communication equipment components, and further wherein a size of said satellite transceiver is reduced by eliminating therefrom the need for any inputoutput device by virtue of said signal inputoutput circuit being provided in said portable set.
20. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 19,
wherein said satellite transceiver further includes satellite control means for controlling the signal transmissionreception at the satellite transmissionreception circuit,
wherein said portable set further includes terrestrial control means for controlling the signal transmissionreception at the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit, and
wherein said signal inputoutput circuit is controlled by the satellite control means when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit, and controlled by the terrestrial control means when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit.
21. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 20,
wherein said connection controller includes command input means for inputting a user’s command relating the operation of said switching means, and
wherein control signals are transmitted and received between the satellite control means, the terrestrial control means and the command input means, said control signals including information which is indicative at least one of the signal reception state of the satellite transmissionreception circuit, the signal reception state of the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit, the operational state of the switching means, and a command from the command input means.
22. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 20,
wherein said connection controller includes command input means for inputting a user’s command for changing over the switching means, the user’s command from the command input means is inputted into the satellite control means and the satellite control means instructs the terrestrial control means the changing-over when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit, and inputted into the terrestrial control means when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit, and
wherein the terrestrial control means controls the switching means in response to an instruction by the satellite control means when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit, and controls the switching means in response to the user’s command from the command input means when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit.
23. A mobile communication terminal equipment comprising:
a satellite transceiver including a satellite transmissionreception circuit for transmitting and receiving signals through a satellite wireless communication system; and
a portable set disconnectable from the satellite transceiver and including
a terrestrial transmissionreception circuit for transmitting and receiving signals through a terrestrial wireless communication system,
a signal inputoutput circuit for inputting signals from the user and for outputting signals to the user, and
a connection controller and switch for selectively connecting the signal inputoutput circuit to one of the satellite transceiver and terrestrial transmissionreception circuits when said portable set is connected to said satellite transceiver and for connecting said signal inputoutput circuit to said terrestrial transmissionreception circuit when said portable set is disconnected from said satellite transceiver, wherein when said portable set is disconnected from said satellite transceiver, a user of said portable set may carry out terrestrial wireless communication immediately without the necessity of making any further reconnections of communication equipment components, and further wherein a size of said satellite transceiver is reduced by eliminating therefrom the need for any inputoutput device by virtue of said signal inputoutput circuit being provided in said portable set.
24. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 23,
wherein said satellite transceiver further includes a satellite controller for controlling the signal transmissionreception at the satellite transmissionreception circuit,
wherein said portable set further includes a terrestrial controller for controlling the signal transmissionreception at the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit, and wherein said signal inputoutput circuit is controlled by the satellite controller when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit, and controlled by the terrestrial controller when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit.
25. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 24,
wherein said connection controller includes command input means for inputting a user’s command relating the operation of said switch, and
wherein control signals are transmitted and received between the satellite controller, the terrestrial controller and the command input means, said control signals including information which is indicative at least one of the signal reception state of the satellite transmissionreception circuit, the signal reception state of the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit, the operational state of the switch, and a command from the command input means.
26. A mobile communication terminal equipment as defined in claim 24,
wherein said connection controller includes command input means for inputting a user’s command for changing over the switch, the user’s command from the command input means is inputted into the satellite controller and the satellite controller instructs the terrestrial controller the changing-over when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit, and inputted into the terrestrial controller when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit, and
wherein the terrestrial controller controls the switch in response to an instruction by the satellite controller when the satellite transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit, and controls the switch in response to the user’s command from the command input means when the terrestrial transmissionreception circuit is connected to the signal inputoutput circuit.

1. An apparatus for reducing particle contamination of a reticle surface, the apparatus comprising:
a reticle-holding device that holds a reticle on a surface of the reticle-holding device;
a thermophoresis device situated relative to and spaced from the surface of the reticle-holding device, the thermophoresis device producing a thermophoretic force, in a gas flowing past and contacting a surface of the reticle being held by the reticle-holding device, sufficient to inhibit particles in the gas from contacting the reticle surface; and
an electrophoresis device situated relative to and spaced from the surface of the reticle-holding device and situated relative to a region of the reticle surface contacted by the gas, the electrophoresis device being configured to deflect particles, having an electrostatic charge, in the gas away from the region as the gas flows past the region.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the thermophoresis device produces the thermophoretic force by establishing a temperature gradient in the gas relative to the reticle being held by the reticle-holding device; and
the electrophoresis device comprises an electrode situated and configured to produce a voltage gradient relative to the region of the reticle being held by the reticle-holding device, the voltage gradient being sufficient to attract charged particles away from the region of the reticle surface.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the region is irradiated by a lithographic energy beam propagating to the reticle surface along an irradiation path;
the thermophoresis device is configured to deliver a flow of the gas in a first direction relative to the reticle surface, the gas being at a temperature appropriate for producing the thermophoretic force, and to direct a portion of the gas flow, in the vicinity of the region, in a second direction opposite the first direction and then away from the region along a trajectory including at least a portion of the irradiation path so as to allow the lithographic energy beam to impart charges to the particles in the directed portion of the gas flow in the second direction; and
the electrophoresis device is configured to deflect the charged particles, in the directed portion of the gas flow, away from the region.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:
the reticle surface is reflective; and
the lithographic energy beam is a beam of extreme ultraviolet light.
5. An apparatus for reducing particle contamination of a reticle surface, the apparatus comprising:
a reticle-holding device that holds a reticle on a surface of the reticle-holding device;
a thermophoresis device situated relative to and spaced from the surface of the reticle-holding device and configured to flow a gas stream in a space substantially parallel to a surface of a reticle being held by the reticle-holding device, the gas stream having a temperature lower than a temperature of the reticle surface so as to establish a thermophoretic temperature gradient between the gas and the reticle surface, the temperature gradient creating a thermophoretic force inhibiting particles from contacting the reticle surface; and
an electrophoresis device situated relative to and spaced from the surface of the reticle-holding device and situated relative to the reticle surface and the thermophoresis device, the electrophoresis device comprising at least one electrode situated in the gas stream, the at least one electrode being configured, when energized, to establish a voltage gradient in the gas stream urging migration of charged particles in the gas away from the reticle surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the thermophoresis device comprises a gas-discharge nozzle that flows the gas stream by discharging the gas stream in a manner by which the gas is adiabatic cooled so as to establish the thermophoretic temperature gradient.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the thermophoresis device is further configured to bleed off a portion of the gas stream, in a space adjacent a region of the reticle surface, to the electrophoresis device.
8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one electrode of the electrophoresis device is connected to a DC-voltage source.
9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the reticle being held by the reticle-holding device is configured to be irradiated by a lithographic energy beam under a vacuum condition.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a first vacuum chamber, a second vacuum chamber, and a barrier wall separating the first and second vacuum chambers, wherein:
the reticle-holding device is in the first vacuum chamber;
the barrier wall defines an opening allowing the first and second vacuum chambers to communicate with each other; and
the opening is situated so as to allow the lithographic energy beam to pass from the second vacuum chamber to the first vacuum chamber in which the lithographic energy beam illuminates a selected region on the reticle being held by the reticle-holding device and reflects from the selected region, back into the second vacuum chamber.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:
the surface of the reticle-holding device in the first vacuum chamber is situated substantially parallel to the barrier wall, thereby defining a substantially uniform-width space between the surface of the reticle-holding device and the baffler wall;
the thermophoresis device is configured to flow the stream of gas substantially parallel to the reticle being held by the reticle-holding device and baffler wall through the space, and to bleed off a portion of the stream through the opening from the space into the second chamber away from the reticle; and
the at least one electrode of the electrophoresis device attracts the charged particles, in the bled-off portion of the stream, exiting the first chamber through the opening, to move away from the reticle.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lithographic energy beam is a beam of extreme ultraviolet light.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lithographic energy beam has sufficient energy to impart charges to particles entrained in the bled-off portion of the gas stream, so as to render the particles attractive to the at least one electrode.
14. An apparatus for reducing particle contamination of a lithographic reticle surface, the apparatus comprising:
reticle-holding means including surface means for holding a lithographic reticle;
thermophoresis means for producing a thermophoretic force, in a gas flowing past and contacting the reticle surface, sufficient to inhibit particles in the gas from contacting the reticle surface; and
electrophoresis means for deflecting particles, having an electrostatic charge, in the gas away from a region of the reticle surface contacted by the gas as the gas flows past the region.
15. An apparatus for reducing particle contamination of a lithographic reticle surface, the apparatus comprising:
reticle-holding means including surface means for holding a lithographic reticle;
thermophoresis means for flowing a gas stream, having a temperature lower than a temperature of the reticle surface, in a space substantially parallel to the reticle surface so as to establish a thermophoretic temperature gradient between the gas and the reticle surface, and for creating, from the temperature gradient, a thermophoretic force inhibiting particles from contacting the reticle surface; and
electrophoresis means for establishing a voltage gradient urging migration of charged particles in the gas stream away from the reticle surface.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reticle stage that supports the reticle-holding device and moves the reticle-holding device along at least one direction.
17. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a reticle stage that supports the reticle-holding device and moves the reticle-holding device along at least one direction.

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

1-11. (canceled)
12. An implantable medical device to be implanted at an implantation site comprising a proximal end (P), a central portion (C) and a distal end (D), comprising at at least one of the proximal end (P), the distal end (D) and the central portion (C), at least one positioning means for positioning the implantable device at a precise point of a branching (E) of a blood vessel (V) comprising a closed mesh defining an orifice for the passage of a guide or guide wire intended to be introduced into a secondary branch of said branching (E) of the blood vessel, a main branch (V1) of which is reached by a stenosis to be treated.
13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one closed mesh of the positioning means comprises a circular or ring shape, at said proximal end P.
14. The device as claimed in claim 12, comprising two closed meshes.
15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the two closed meshes are located substantially diametrically opposite.
16. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the positioning means comprises at least one closed mesh defining an orifice, produced at the distal end (D).
17. The device as claimed in claim 16, comprising two closed meshes.
18. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the two closed meshes are located substantially diametrically opposite.
19. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the positioning means is located in the central portion (C) and comprises at least one closed mesh defining an orifice for the passage of a guide or guide wire.
20. The device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising reinforcing means for reinforcing the device structure, thereby resulting in no substantial deformation of the implantable medical device when using a guide or guide wire exerting an action on at least one of the proximal end (P), of the distal end (D) and of the central portion (C).
21. The device as claimed in claim 12, which consists essentially of a stent or endoprosthesis comprising one or more filament elements configured with bends or zigzags, resulting in a form selected from an annular turn form, an helical turn form, and a combination of both.
22. The device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising structure reinforcing means comprising one link or several links between successive zigzags or bends of the proximal end (P) of the stent or endoprosthesis.
23. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least some of the adjacent bends or zigzags of successive turns are provided with one or several link arms ensuring continuity of the device from the proximal end to the distal end.
24. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said device is produced in a medically compatible metal or alloy.
25. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said medically compatible metal or alloy is selected from the group consisting of nitinol, a cobalt-based metal or a cobalt-based alloy, a medically compatible steel, and a 316L steel.
26. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the device is essentially consisting of a stent coated with at least one coating layer that improves at least one property selected from biocompatibility, deformability, mechanical resistance, and reducing the risk of restenosis.
27. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the device is essentially consisting of a stent comprising several filament elements with bends or zigzags in the form of successive annular turns, at least some of which adjacent bends or zigzags are provided with one or several link arm(s) ensuring continuity of the device from the proximal end to the distal end.
28. An angioplasty method of implanting the implantable medical device of claim 12, comprising:
a) the provision of at least one said implantable medical device or endoprosthesis as described in claim 12;
b) the provision of at least one dilating catheter on the balloon of which is mounted said implantable medical device;
c) the provision of at least one delivery catheter or guide catheter in which the dilating catheter is inserted;
d) the provision of at least one main guide or guide wire, and at least one secondary guide or guide wire, said main guide wire being provided for implantation in the main branch of a branching of a blood vessel, which comprises at least one stenosis to be treated, the secondary guide or guide wire being intended to be implanted in the secondary branch of said blood vessel, in which there is no restenosis to be treated, said stenosis to be treated being situated in immediate proximity to the branching of said blood vessel, called an ostial lesion;
e) using said guide catheter and the dilating catheter, on the one hand, the fitting of the implantable medical device in the vicinity of the branching of the blood vessel whose main branch includes the stenosis to be treated, and on the other hand the fitting of each of the two respectively main and secondary guides being careful to ensure that the main guide guiding the implantable medical device penetrates into the main branch and that the secondary guide penetrates into the secondary branch of the branching of the blood vessel;
f) the precise fitting of the implantable medical device at the branching itself, by exerting a push on the main guide or guide wire toward the distal end, the secondary guide or guide wire forming a stop abutment against the edge of the branching of the blood vessel;
g) the deployment of the implantable medical device to apply it firmly against the wall of the blood vessel including the ostial stenosis;
f) after deployment of the implantable medical device, the dilating catheter or the fitting system is first removed; then, the respectively secondary and main guides or guide wires and finally the guide catheter are removed.