Author: claimsbot

1. A Stage Pin connector, wherein the State Pin connector includes a connector top and a connector base, comprising,
a contact carrier module, wherein the contact carrier module defines a first module cavity, a second module cavity and a third module cavity and includes a first module top opening communicated with a first module bottom opening via the first module cavity, a second module top opening communicated with a second module bottom opening via the second module cavity and a third module top opening communicated with a third module bottom opening via the third module cavity;
a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor and a third electrical conductor, wherein the first electrical conductor is located within the first module cavity to be communicated with the first module top opening and the first module bottom opening, the second electrical conductor is located within the second module cavity to be communicated with the second module top opening and the second module bottom opening and the third electrical conductor is located within the third module cavity to be communicated with the third module top opening and the third module bottom opening;
a plurality of electrical cables each having a cable conductor, wherein each of the cable conductors is in electrical communication with at least one of the first electrical conductor, second electrical conductor and third electrical conductor via at least one of the first module bottom opening, second module bottom opening and third module bottom opening; and
a connector housing, wherein the connector housing includes an outer-mold material, wherein the outer-mold material covers at least a portion of the plurality of electrical cables and the contact carrier module, such that the first module top opening, second module top opening and third module top opening are uncovered.
2. The Stage Pin connector of claim 1, further comprising a pre-mold material, wherein the pre-mold material is located under the outer-mold material and is configured to cover at least a portion of the contact carrier module and at least a portion of the plurality of the electrical cables.
3. The Stage Pin connector of claim 2, wherein at least one of the pre-mold material and the outer-mold material form a connector knob located proximate the connector base and the plurality of electrical cables.
4. The Stage Pin connector of claim 1, wherein the contact carrier module is configured as at least one of a male contact carrier module and a female contact carrier module.
5. The Stage Pin connector of claim 4, wherein
when the contact module carrier is configured as a male contact carrier module, the first electrical conductor, the second electrical conductor and the third electrical conductor are male contact pins that extend out of the contact carrier module; and
when the contact module carrier is configured as a female contact carrier module, the first electrical conductor, the second electrical conductor and the third electrical conductor are female contact sockets that define a contact socket body cavity configured to receive the male contact pin.
6. The Stage Pin connector of claim 1, wherein the cable conductors include a first cable conductor, a second cable conductor and a third cable conductor, wherein the first cable conductor, second cable conductor and third cable conductor are compressingly secured to the first electrical conductor, second electrical conductor and third electrical conductor, respectively.
7. The Stage Pin connector of claim 2, wherein the pre-mold material is configured to cover the connection of the first cable conductor to the first electrical conductor, the second cable conductor to the second electrical conductor and the third cable conductor to the third electrical conductor, such that the connection of the first cable conductor to the first electrical conductor, the second cable conductor to the second electrical conductor and the third cable conductor to the third electrical conductor is isolated from an external environment.
8. The Stage Pin connector of claim 2, wherein the contact carrier module includes at least one \u2018cored out\u2019 portion and wherein at least one of the pre-mold material and the outer-mold material is configured to at least partially fill in the \u2018cored out\u2019 portion.
9. The Stage Pin connector of claim 3, wherein the connector base has a connector base width (CBW) and the connector knob has a connector knob diameter (CKD), wherein the connector knob diameter (CKD) is larger in size than the connector base width (CBW).
10. The Stage Pin connector of claim 9, wherein the connector base width (CBW) is about 1.46 inches (\xb110%) and the connector knob diameter (CKD) is about 1.94 inches (\xb110%).
11. The Stage Pin connector of claim 1, wherein the contact carrier module is constructed from a thermoset BMC material, polymer material, the pre-mold material is constructed from a thermoplastic material and the over-mold material is constructed from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.
12. The Stage Pin connector of claim 1, further comprising a handle portion, wherein the handle portion includes finger groovesgrips.
13. The Stage Pin connector of claim 1, further comprising a shroud which is configured to extend past the connector top.
14. The Stage Pin connector of claim 13, wherein the shroud is movably associated with the connector to be configurable between a shroud first configuration and a shroud second configuration, wherein
when in the shroud first configuration, the first, second and third electrical conductors are exposed, and
when in the shroud second configuration, the first, second and third electrical conductors are at least partially covered.
15. An electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector includes a connector top and a connector base, the electrical connector comprising,
a contact carrier module, wherein the contact carrier module defines a module cavity and includes a module top opening communicated with a module bottom opening via the module cavity;
a electrical conductor located within the module cavity to be communicated with the module top opening and the module bottom opening; and
a connector housing, wherein the connector housing includes an outer-mold material, wherein
the outer-mold material covers the contact carrier module, such that the module top opening is uncovered, wherein the connector housing forms a handle portion located proximate the connector base.
16. The electrical connector of claim 15, further comprising a pre-mold material, wherein the pre-mold material is located under the outer-mold material and is configured to cover at least a portion of the contact carrier module.
17. The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein at least one of the pre-mold material and the outer-mold material form a connector knob located proximate the connector base.
18. The electrical connector of claim 15, further comprising an electrical cable having a cable conductor, wherein the cable conductor is in electrical communication with the electrical conductor via the module bottom opening.
19. The electrical connector of claim 15, wherein the contact carrier module is configured as at least one of a male contact carrier module and a female contact carrier module.
20. The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein
when the contact module carrier is configured as a male contact carrier module, the electrical conductor is a male contact pin that extends out of the contact carrier module; and
when the contact module carrier is configured as a female contact carrier module, the electrical conductor is a female contact socket that defines a contact socket body cavity configured to receive the male contact pin.
21. The electrical connector of claim 20, wherein the cable conductor is compressingly secured to the electrical conductor via a sleeve and a mounting screw.
22. The electrical connector of claim 18, wherein the pre-mold material is configured to cover a portion of the contact carrier module and a portion of the electrical cable to cover the connection of the cable conductor to the electrical conductor, such that the connection of the cable conductor to the electrical conductor is isolated from an external environment.
23. The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the connector base has a connector base width (CBW) and the connector knob has a connector knob diameter (CKD), wherein the connector knob diameter (CKD) is larger in size than the connector base width (CBW).
24. The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein the contact carrier module is constructed from a thermoset BMC material, the pre-mold material is constructed from a thermoplastic material and the over-mold material is constructed from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.
25. The electrical connector of claim 15, wherein the handle portion includes finger groovesgrips.
26. The electrical connector of claim 15, further comprising a shroud which is configured to extend past the connector top.
27. The Stage Pin connector of claim 26, wherein the shroud is movably associated with the connector to be configurable between a shroud first configuration and a shroud second configuration, wherein
when in the shroud first configuration, the electrical conductor is exposed, and
when in the shroud second configuration, the electrical conductor is at least partially covered.
28. An electrical connector, comprising,
a contact carrier module, wherein the contact carrier module defines a module cavity and includes a module top opening communicated with a module bottom opening via the module cavity;
a electrical conductor located within the module cavity to be communicated with the module top opening and the module bottom opening;
an electrical cable having a cable conductor, wherein the cable conductor is in electrical contact with the electrical conductor via the module bottom opening; and
a connector housing, wherein the connector housing includes a pre-mold material and an outer-mold material, wherein
the pre-mold material covers at least a portion of the contact carrier module and at least a portion of the electrical cable, and
the outer-mold material covers the pre-mold material and the contact carrier module, such that the module top opening is uncovered, wherein the connector housing forms a connector knob located proximate the electrical cable.
29. The electrical connector of claim 24, further comprising a connector base proximate the connector knob, wherein the connector base has a connector base width (CBW) and the connector knob has a connector knob diameter (CKD), wherein the connector knob diameter (CKD) is larger in size than the connector base width (CBW).
30. The electrical connector of claim 28, further comprising a shroud which is configured to extend past the connector top.
31. The Stage Pin connector of claim 30, wherein the shroud is movably associated with the connector to be configurable between a shroud first configuration and a shroud second configuration, wherein
when in the shroud first configuration, the electrical conductor is exposed, and
when in the shroud second configuration, the electrical conductor is at least partially covered.

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.-39. (canceled)
40. An apparatus for generating flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in an implanted CSF shunt having a shunt valve in symptomatic or asymptomatic patients, said apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a vibrating member disposed within said housing that generates a vibrating force when activated; and
wherein said vibrating member generates pressure and flow of CSF within said CSF shunt when said vibrating member is placed against the skin and over said shunt valve and when said apparatus is energized to activate the shunt valve repeatedly.
41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said vibrating member comprises a reciprocating member having a distal end comprising a foot that forms a surface that activates the shunt valve repeatedly.
42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said surface comprises a plurality of rods.
43. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said vibrating member is pulsated or vibrated for a predetermined period of time.
44. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said vibrating member comprises a force gauge that can measure a force applied by an operator of said apparatus against the skull.
45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said an ideal application force, fl, is defined as 300 g<fI<1000 g.
46. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising a driving member, said driving member comprising one from the group of motors or load cells.
47. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller, said microprocessor or microcontroller controlling a motor that drives said driving member in accordance with a program stored within said microprocessor or microcontroller.
48. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein an operation of said foot vibration is controlled by an operator of said apparatus using controls located on said housing of said apparatus.
49. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said foot comprises a smooth, even surface.
50. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said skin-contacting surface comprises a roughened surface.
51. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein a vibrating device comprises generating a CSF flow in the shunt by vibrating parts of the shunt using frequencies from 1 Hz to 1 kHz.
52. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said predetermined period of time is approximately 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
53. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said foot is powered by an electric motor and a counterweight.
54. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said foot is powered by an electric motor and a cam.
55. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said foot is powered by a solenoid.
56. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said foot is powered by an electromagnetic head.
57. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said foot is powered by a pneumatic motor.
58. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said foot comprises a plurality of sections and wherein each section vibrates separately.
59. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein each of said sections can be activated separately.
60. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said pulsation or vibration are turned on and off in a preprogrammed manner.
61. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said foot is linked to said main body via an elastic membrane.
62. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said foot forms an angle with said housing.
63. A method for generating flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in an implanted CSF shunt having a shunt valve in symptomatic or asymptomatic patients, said method comprising:
applying a displaceable member, disposed within a housing, against the skin over the shunt valve; and
activating said displaceable member to vibrate or pulsate the shunt valve repeatedly in order to generate pressure and flow of CSF within the CSF shunt.
64. The method of claim 63 wherein said step of applying a displaceable member against the skin comprises monitoring an amount of pressure applied by an operator to the skin.
65. The method of claim 63 wherein said step of applying a displaceable member comprises applying a surface against the shunt valve and wherein said surface comprises a plurality of rods.
66. The method of claim 63 wherein said displaceable member is pulsated or vibrated for a predetermined period of time.
67. The method of claim 634 wherein said displaceable member comprises a force gauge that can measure a force applied by an operator of said apparatus against the skull.
68. The method of claim 67 wherein said an ideal application force, fI, is defined as 300 g<fI<1000 g.
69. The method of claim 63 wherein said step of activating said displaceable member comprises activating said displaceable member in accordance with a program stored in a microprocessor or microcontroller in said housing.
70. The method of claim 63 wherein said step of applying a displaceable member comprises applying a surface against the shunt valve and wherein said surface comprises a smooth, even surface.
71. The method of claim 63 wherein said step of applying a displaceable member comprises applying a surface against the shunt valve and wherein said surface comprises a roughened surface.
72. An apparatus for detecting the degree of occlusion in an implanted cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt having a shunt valve in symptomatic or asymptomatic, said apparatus comprising:
a pad that is placed against the skin of a patient over the location of the CSF shunt, said pad comprising a plurality of temperature sensors that are aligned in a first direction and wherein one of said plurality of temperature sensors is aligned with the CSF shunt, each of said temperature sensors generating respective temperature data;
a vibrating device that applies pulsation energy against the shunt valve for a predetermined period when said vibrating device is positioned against the skin over said shunt valve; and
a sensor processing device that is electrically coupled to said pad for receiving temperature data from each of said temperature sensors, said sensor processing device using said temperature data to determine the degree of occlusion of said CSF shunt when a temperature source is applied to said pad for said predetermined period of time.
73. A method for detecting the degree of occlusion in an implanted cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt having a shunt valve in symptomatic or asymptomatic patients, said method comprising:
applying a plurality of temperature sensors against the skin over the location of the CSF shunt and aligned in a first direction, and wherein only one of said plurality of temperature sensors is aligned with the CSF shunt;
applying a temperature source over the CSF shunt and upstream of said plurality of temperature sensors for a predetermined period;
applying a vibrating device against the skin positioned over the shunt valve for applying a pulsation procedure for said predetermined period of time;
collecting temperature data from said plurality of temperature sensors during said predetermined period of time;
determining the degree of occlusion in said CSF shunt based on said collected data.
74. The method of claim 73 wherein said step of determining the degree of occlusion in said CSF shunt comprises determining CSF shunt resistance.
75. The method of claim 74 wherein said step of determining the degree of occlusion comprises a thermo dilution process.
76. The method of claim 74 wherein said step of determining the degree of occlusion comprises a radionuclide process.
77. The method of claim 74 wherein said determination of CSF shunt resistance is determined for asymptomatic patients.
78. The method of claim 74 wherein said determination of CSF shunt resistance is determined for symptomatic patients.
79. The method of claim 77 wherein said determination of CSF shunt resistance comprises no natural flow of CSF in the shunt.
80. The method of claim 78 wherein said determination of CSF shunt resistance comprises no natural flow of CSF in the shunt.
81. The method of claim 77 said determination of CSF shunt resistance comprises a natural flow of CSF in the shunt.
82. The method of claim 73 wherein said determination of CSF shunt resistance comprises a natural flow of CSF in the shunt.
83. A method for tracking shunt resistance in order to detect possible cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt obstruction in a CSF shunt, having a shunt valve, implanted within a patient, said method comprising:
applying a plurality of temperature sensors against the skin over the location of the CSF shunt and aligned in a first direction, and wherein only one of said plurality of temperature sensors is aligned with the CSF shunt;
applying a temperature source over the CSF shunt and upstream of said plurality of temperature sensors for a predetermined period;
applying a vibrating device against the skin positioned over the shunt valve for applying a pulsation procedure for said predetermined period of time;
collecting temperature data from said plurality of temperature sensors during said predetermined period of time;
identifying a maximum temperature drop; and
comparing said maximum temperature drop to a look up table that correlates shunt resistance therewith.

What is claimed is:

1. A two textured pet food product comprising:
an inner component has a moisture content range of about 12 to about 20%;
a outer component has a moisture content range of about 10 to about 30%;
wherein the inner component and outer component form a unitary, nutritionally complete, shelf stable pet food product.
2. The product of claim 1, wherein the moisture content of the inner component is about 18%.
3. The product of claim 1, wherein the moisture content of the outer component is about 26% to about 28%.
4. The product of claim 1, wherein the inner component has a water activity of about 0.8 to about 1.0.
5. The product of claim 1, wherein the outer component has a water activity of about 0.8 to about 1.0.
6. The product of claim 1, wherein the outer component further comprises about 10% to about 20% by weight protein, about 2% to about 10% by weight of fat and about 40% to about 78% by weight carbohydrate.
7. The product of claim 1, wherein the product has a shape of a beef T-bone, pork chop, chicken drumstick, turkey drumstick, beef rib or pork rib.
8. A two textured pet food product produced by a process selected from the group consisting of injection molding, extrusion-clamshell, clam shell-clam shell molding and extrusion.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A method for identifying an unknown base sequence present in a target single-stranded nucleic acid comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing a probe array in which single-stranded nucleic acid probes of No. 1 to No. n (n2) are arranged as isolated spots on a substrate, the probes each having a base sequence complementary to one of plural base sequences expected to be the unknown base sequence;
(b) reacting a single-stranded nucleic acid, which has a base sequence fully complementary to a base sequence of one of the single-stranded nucleic acid probes and is fluorescence-labeled, with the probe array under such conditions that single-stranded nucleic acids complementary to each other form a double-stranded nucleic acid;
removing the unreacted labeled single-stranded nucleic acid, and
measuring fluorescence intensity of each spot of the probe array to obtain a first template pattern showing a relationship between location of the probes and fluorescent characteristics;
(c) performing the same operation as the step (b) for each of remaining single-stranded nucleic acid probes using a second to a nth single-stranded nucleic acid, and obtaining template patterns of No. 2 to No. n showing a relationship between location and fluorescent characteristics of the probes;
(d) performing the same operation as the step (b) using a sample containing the target single-stranded nucleic acid of unknown base sequence to obtain a sample pattern showing relationship between a position and fluorescent characteristics; and
(e) comparing the sample pattern obtained in the step (d) with n pieces of template patterns obtained in the steps (b) and (c), to identify a template pattern showing substantially the same pattern as the sample pattern and identifying the base sequence of the single-stranded nucleic acid used for the preparation of the identified template pattern as the unknown base sequence of the target single-stranded nucleic acid.
2. A method for identifying an unknown base sequence present in a target single-stranded nucleic acid comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing a probe array in which single-stranded nucleic acid probes of No. 1 to No. n (n2) are arranged as isolated spots on a substrate, the probes each having a base sequence complementary to one of plural base sequences expected to be the unknown base sequence;
(b) reacting a single-stranded nucleic acid which has a base sequence fully complementary to a base sequence of one of the single-stranded nucleic acid probes and is fluorescence-labeled, with the probe array under such conditions that single-stranded nucleic acids complementary to each other form a double-stranded nucleic acid;
removing the unreacted labeled single-stranded nucleic acid, and
measuring fluorescence intensity of each spot of the probe array to obtain a first template pattern showing a relationship between location of the probes and fluorescent characteristics;
(c) analyzing the first template pattern to locate probes and to calculate a mean value of fluorescence intensities (Fi) of the double-stranded nucleic acids having i of mismatched base pairs, where i is an integer not less than 1;
(d) calculating a difference (F1, 0) between the fluorescence intensity of the fully complementary double-stranded nucleic acid without mismatch (F0) and the mean value of the fluorescence intensities of the double-stranded nucleic acids having one-base mismatch (F1), further calculating a difference (Fi1, i) between a fluorescence intensity of a double-stranded nucleic acid having (i1) base mismatches (Fi1) and a fluorescence intensity of a double-stranded nucleic acid having i-base mismatches (Fi), and identifying i being Fi1, i <<Fi, i-1;
(e) assuming a target DNA which base sequence is complementary to the second probe sequence, then obtaining the second template pattern formed by the probe position where the number of mismatched base pairs to the target having the complementary sequence to the second probe sequence is not more than i;
(f) performing the same operation as the step (e) for each of remaining single-stranded nucleic acid probes using a third to a nth single-stranded nucleic acid, and obtaining template patterns of No. 3 to No. n showing a relationship between location and fluorescent characteristics of the probes, wherein the template patterns are formed from the positions of the probes having a base sequence that forms mismatched base pairs in a number not more than i;
(g) performing the same operation as the step (b) using a sample containing the target single-stranded nucleic acid of unknown base sequence to obtain a sample pattern showing relationship between a position and fluorescent characteristics; and
(h) comparing the sample pattern obtained in the step (g) with n pieces of template patterns obtained in the steps (b), (c) and (e), to identify a template pattern showing essentially the same pattern as the sample pattern and identifying the base sequence of the single-stranded nucleic acid used for the preparation of the identified template pattern as the unknown base sequence of the target single-stranded nucleic acid.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step (g) further comprises the substep of obtaining a two-valued pattern of the fluorescence intensity by using the threshold fluorescence intensity Fi.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the length of the probe is 8 mer to 30 mer.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the length of the probe is 12 mer to 25 mer.
6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the number of the mismatched base pairs (i) is 1.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the steps (b), (c) and (d), the probes in the probe array are heat-denatured in a solution containing the single-stranded nucleic acid, and cooled to a temperature suitable for a double-stranded formation reaction while the substrate is soaked in the solution.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the length of the single-stranded nucleic acid probe is 18 mer, the temperature for performing the heat denaturation is 70 C. or more, the temperature for the double-strand formation reaction is 40 C. or more, and 100 mM sodium chloride is contained in the sample solution at that time.