Author: claimsbot

1. An electronic trading platform for cash and cash futures (options) comprising:
a fixed income cash market; and a fixed income cash futures market; the fixed income cash futures market being aligned with the fixed income cash market.
2. The electronic trading platform of claim 1 wherein the cash and cash futures (options) are selected from the group consisting of: U.S. treasuries, futures on U.S. treasuries, options on U.S. treasuries, and combinations thereof.
3. The electronic trading platform of claim 1 further comprising fixed income futures and fixed income options that mirror an underlying fixed income security.
4. The electronic trading platform of claim 1 further comprising a first-in-first-out (FIFO) matching engine.
5. The electronic trading platform of claim 1 further comprising simultaneous electronic trading among fixed income securities, fixed income futures, and fixed income options markets on a single trading platform.
6. The electronic trading platform of claim 1 further comprising, at settlement, open fixed income futures and fixed income options result in the delivery of an underlying fixed income security.
7. The electronic trading platform of claim 1 further comprising, at settlement, fixed income futures and fixed income options being cleared through a centralized clearinghouse.
8. The electronic trading platform of claim 1 further comprising, at settlement, a netting of open fixed income futures and fixed income options.
9. The electronic trading platform of claim 1 further comprising delivery fails that occur as a result of a fail in the fixed income futures or fixed income options occurring in the cash market.
10. The electronic trading platform of claim 1 further comprising a host, a communications server, and a client.
11. A method of trading comprising aligning a fixed income cash futures market with a fixed income cash market.
12. The method of trading of claim 11 further comprising fixed income futures and fixed income options that mirror an underlying fixed income security.
13. The method of trading of claim 11 further comprising matching on a first-in-first-out (FIFO) basis.
14. The method of trading of claim 11 further comprising simultaneous electronic trading among fixed income securities, fixed income futures, and fixed income options markets on a single trading platform.
15. The method of trading of claim 11 further comprising, at settlement, open fixed income futures and fixed income options result in the delivery of an underlying fixed income security.
16. The method of trading of claim 11 further comprising, at settlement, fixed income futures and fixed income options being cleared through a centralized clearinghouse.
17. The method of trading of claim 11 further comprising, at settlement, a netting of open fixed income futures and fixed income options.
18. The method of trading of claim 11 further comprising delivery fails that occur as a result of a fail in the fixed income futures or fixed income options occurring in the cash market.
19. The method of trading of claim 11 further comprising a host, a communications server, and a client.
20. An electronic trading platform for cash and cash futures (options) comprising fixed income futures being traded in an over-the-counter market.
21. The electronic trading platform of claim 20 wherein the cash and cash futures (options) are selected from the group consisting of: U.S. treasuries, futures on U.S. treasuries, options on U.S. treasuries, and combinations thereof.
22. The electronic trading platform of claim 20 further comprising fixed income futures and fixed income options that mirror an underlying fixed income security.
23. The electronic trading platform of claim 20 further comprising a first-in-first-out (FIFO) matching engine for the fixed income financial instruments.
24. The electronic trading platform of claim 20 further comprising simultaneous electronic trading among fixed income securities, fixed income futures, and fixed income options markets on a single trading platform.
25. The electronic trading platform of claim 20 further comprising, at settlement, open fixed income futures and fixed income options result in the delivery of an underlying fixed income security.
26. The electronic trading platform of claim 20 further comprising, at settlement, fixed income futures and fixed income options being cleared through a centralized clearinghouse.
27. The electronic trading platform of claim 20 further comprising, at settlement, a netting of open fixed income futures and fixed income options.
28. The electronic trading platform of claim 20 further comprising delivery fails that occur as a result of a fail in the fixed income futures or fixed income options occurring in the cash market.
29. The electronic trading platform of claim 20 further comprising a host, a communications server, and a client.
30. A method of trading comprising enabling trading of fixed income futures in an over-the-counter market.
31. The method of trading of claim 30 further comprising fixed income futures and fixed income options that mirror an underlying fixed income security.
32. The method of trading of claim 30 further comprising price improvement wherein, if a user attempts to buy or sell at one rate and price improves during the execution process, the user will receive the benefit of the improved price.
33. The method of trading of claim 30 further comprising matching on a first-in-first-out (FIFO) basis.
34. The method of trading of claim 30 further comprising simultaneous electronic trading among fixed income securities, fixed income futures, and fixed income options markets on a single trading platform.
35. The method of trading of claim 30 further comprising, at settlement, open fixed income futures and fixed income options result in the delivery of an underlying fixed income security.
36. The method of trading of claim 30 further comprising, at settlement, fixed income futures and fixed income options being cleared through a centralized clearinghouse.
37. The method of trading of claim 30 further comprising, at settlement, a netting of open fixed income futures and fixed income options.
38. The method of trading of claim 30 further comprising delivery fails that occur as a result of a fail in the fixed income futures or fixed income options occurring in the cash market.
39. The method of trading of claim 30 further comprising a host, a communications server, and a client.
40. An electronic trading platform comprising automatic matching of bids and offers for cash and cash futures (options).
41. The electronic trading platform of claim 40 further comprising fixed income futures and fixed income options that mirror an underlying fixed income security.
42. The electronic trading platform of claim 40 further comprising price improvement wherein if a user attempts to buy or sell at one rate and price improves during the execution process, the user will receive the benefit of the improved price.
43. The electronic trading platform of claim 40 further comprising a first-in-first-out (FIFO) matching engine.
44. The electronic trading platform of claim 40 further comprising simultaneous electronic trading among fixed income securities, fixed income futures, and fixed income options markets on a single trading platform.
45. The electronic trading platform of claim 40 further comprising, at settlement, open fixed income futures and fixed income options result in the delivery of an underlying fixed income security.
46. The electronic trading platform of claim 40 further comprising, at settlement, fixed income futures and fixed income options being cleared through a centralized clearinghouse.
47. The electronic trading platform of claim 40 further comprising, at settlement, a netting of open fixed income futures and fixed income options.
48. The electronic trading platform of claim 40 further comprising delivery fails that occur as a result of a fail in the fixed income futures or fixed income options occurring in the cash market.
49. The electronic trading platform of claim 40 further comprising a host, a communications server, and a client.
50. A method of trading comprising enabling automatic matching of bids and offers for cash and cash futures (options).
51. The method of trading of claim 50 further comprising fixed income futures and fixed income options that mirror an underlying fixed income security.
52. The method of trading of claim 50 further comprising a first-in-first-out (FIFO) matching engine.
53. The method of trading of claim 50 further comprising simultaneous electronic trading among fixed income securities, fixed income futures, and fixed income options markets on a single trading platform.
54. The method of trading of claim 50 further comprising, at settlement, open fixed income futures, and fixed income options result in the delivery of an underlying fixed income security.
55. The method of trading of claim 50 further comprising, at settlement, fixed income futures and fixed income options being cleared through a centralized clearinghouse.
56. The method of trading of claim 50 further comprising, at settlement, a netting of open fixed income futures and fixed income options.
57. The method of trading of claim 50 further comprising delivery fails that occur as a result of a fail in the fixed income futures or fixed income options occurring in the cash market.
58. The method of trading of claim 50 further comprising a host, a communications server, and a client.
59. A financial instrument comprising an over-the-counter futures contract that delivers a specific treasury security at a specific futures date using cash market delivery methods.
60. The financial instrument of claim 59 further wherein the over-the-counter futures contract comprises a single issue standardized forward treasury futures contract.
61. The financial instrument of claim 59 further wherein the over-the-counter futures contract is centrally cleared.
62. The financial instrument of claim 59 further wherein delivery of an underlying asset of the over-the-counter futures contract is netted and settled in the spot market.

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 syringe assembly, comprising:
a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end, and an outlet disposed adjacent the distal end in fluid communication with the chamber;
plunger assembly disposed at least partially within the syringe barrel, comprising an elongate plunger rod having a proximal end, a distal end, a locking flange formed thereon between the proximal and distal ends, and a plunger head, the plunger rod being engageable with the plunger head such that the plunger rod is adapted to move the plunger head within the chamber of the syringe barrel through an injection cycle; and
a flange lock disposed at the open proximal end of the barrel,
wherein the plunger rod has a cylindrical shape defining an outer surface extending from the distal end of the plunger rod to the proximal end of the plunger rod and the locking flange is formed on the outer surface of the plunger rod,
wherein the flange lock is integral with the open proximal end of the syringe barrel,
wherein during the injection cycle, the flange lock engages the locking flange of the plunger rod so as to prevent removal of the plunger rod from the syringe barrel, and
wherein the flange lock includes a plurality of flexible protrusions distributed around a periphery of the open proximal end of the syringe barrel.
2. The syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions extend proximally from the open proximal end of the syringe barrel.
3. The syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions extend distally from the open proximal end of the syringe barrel into the chamber of the barrel.
4. The syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible protrusions of the flange lock are adapted to flex toward the inside surface of the barrel as the plunger rod is inserted into the chamber of the barrel, and
during the injection cycle, the protrusions slide along the outer surface of the plunger rod and engage the locking flange on the plunger rod so as to retain the plunger assembly in the barrel of the syringe and disable the syringe assembly.
5. The syringe assembly according to claim 4, wherein
the locking flange on the plunger rod tapers outwardly from the outer surface of the plunger rod so as to form a distally facing beveled surface and a proximally facing abutment surface, and
ends of the flexible protrusions slide over the distally facing beveled surface of the locking flange during the injection cycle and engage the proximally facing abutment surface so as to retain the plunger assembly in the barrel of the syringe.
6. The syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plunger rod further includes a tamper prevention disk located proximal to the locking flange so as to prevent tampering with the engagement between the locking flange and the flange lock.
7. The syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plunger rod has a variable diameter.
8. A syringe assembly, comprising:
a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end, and an outlet disposed adjacent the distal end in fluid communication with the chamber;
a plunger assembly disposed at least partially within the syringe barrel, comprising an elongate plunger rod having, a proximal end, a distal end, a locking flange formed thereon between the proximal and distal ends, and a plunger head, the plunger rod being engageable with the plunger head such that the plunger rod is adapted to move the plunger head within the chamber of the syringe barrel through an injection cycle; and
a flange lock disposed at the open proximal end of the barrel,
wherein the plunger rod has a cylindrical shape defining an outer surface extending from the distal end of the plunger rod to the proximal end of the plunger rod and the locking flange is formed on the outer surface of the plunger rod,
wherein the flange lock is integral with the open proximal end of the syringe barrel,
wherein during the injection cycle, the flange lock engages the locking flange of the plunger rod so as to prevent removal of the plunger rod from the syringe barrel,
wherein the plunger rod has a variable diameter, and
wherein the plunger rod tapers inwardly toward the flange lock.
9. A syringe assembly, comprising:
a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end, and an outlet disposed adjacent the distal end in fluid communication with the chamber;
a plunger assembly disposed at least partially within the syringe barrel, comprising an elongate plunger rod having a proximal end, a distal end, a locking flange formed thereon between the proximal and distal ends, and a plunger head, the plunger rod being engageable with the plunger head such that the plunger rod is adapted to move the plunger head within the chamber of the syringe barrel through an injection cycle; and
a flange lock disposed at the open proximal end of the barrel,
wherein the plunger rod has a cylindrical shape defining an outer surface extending from the distal end of the plunger rod to the proximal end of the plunger rod and the locking flange is formed on the outer surface of the plunger rod,
wherein the flange lock is integral with the open proximal end of the syringe barrel,
wherein during the injection cycle, the flange lock engages the locking flange of the plunger rod so as to prevent removal of the plunger rod from the syringe barrel, and
wherein the plunger head further comprises:
a distal wall, the distal wall having a distal sealing surface defined thereon;
a proximal wall, spaced from the distal wall; and
a central portion extending between the distal wall and the proximal wall, the central portion having a cylindrical core portion and a plurality of fin portions extending radially from the cylindrical core portion, and
wherein the distal wall of the plunger head perimetrically engages the inner surface of the barrel so as to seal the chamber of the barrel.
10. A syringe assembly, comprising:
a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end, and an outlet disposed adjacent the distal end in fluid communication with the chamber;
a plunger assembly disposed at least partially within the syringe barrel, comprising an elongate plunger rod having a proximal end, a distal end, a locking flange formed thereon between the proximal and distal ends, and a plunger head, the plunger rod being engageable with the plunger head such that the plunger rod is adapted to move the plunger head within the chamber of the syringe barrel through an injection cycle; and
a flange lock disposed at the open proximal end of the barrel,
wherein the plunger rod has a cylindrical shape defining an outer surface extending from the distal end of the plunger rod to the proximal end of the end plunger rod and the locking flange is formed on the outer surface of the plunger rod,
wherein the flange lock is integral with the open proximal end of the syringe barrel,
wherein during the injection cycle, the flange lock engages the locking flange of the plunger rod so as to prevent removal of the plunger rod from the syringe barrel,
wherein the distal end of the plunger rod is slidably connected to the plunger head,
wherein the plunger head includes a cylindrical connecting portion extending from a proximal wall of the plunger head, the cylindrical connecting portion having an annular lip at a proximal end thereof,
the plunger rod has a hollow cylindrical shape defining an outer surface and an inner diameter, the inner diameter of the plunger rod having an internal annular ring adapted to engage the annular lip of the cylindrical connecting portion such that the internal annular ring of the plunger rod is able to slide over the annular lip in the distal direction and retain the annular lip of the cylindrical connecting portion within the plunger rod, and
the plunger rod slides with respect to the cylindrical connecting portion of the plunger head such that the internal annular ring of the plunger rod engages the annular lip of the cylindrical connecting portion during aspiration and the distal end of the plunger rod engages the proximal wall of the plunger head during injection.
11. The syringe assembly according to claim 10, wherein a force necessary to advance the plunger rod relative to the plunger head during the injection cycle between aspiration and injection is less than a force necessary to sustain injection.
12. The syringe assembly according to claim 10, wherein the plunger rod further includes an annular flange extending from the outer surface of the plunger rod at the distal end of the plunger rod, the annular flange having a diameter slightly less than or equal to a diameter of the inside surface of the syringe barrel.
13. A plunger assembly for a syringe, the plunger assembly comprising:
an elongate plunger rod having a proximal end, a distal end, and a locking flange formed thereon between the proximal and distal ends; and
a plunger head, the plunger head including a cylindrical connecting portion,
wherein the plunger rod is engageable with the plunger head such that the plunger rod is adapted to move the plunger head within the chamber of as ne barrel through an injection cycle,
wherein the distal end of the plunger rod is slidably connected to the plunger head,
wherein during the injection cycle, the locking flange of the plunger rod is configured to engage a flange lock on the syringe so as to prevent removal of the plunger rod from the syringe barrel,
wherein the plunger rod has a hollow cylindrical shape defining an outer surface and an inner diameter, and the cylindrical connecting portion of the plunger head fits within the inner diameter of the plunger rod, and
wherein the plunger head further comprises:
a distal wall, the distal wall having a distal sealing surface defined thereon;
a proximal wall, spaced from the distal wall; and
a central portion extending between the distal wall and the proximal wall, the central portion having a cylindrical core portion and a plurality of fin portions extending radially from the cylindrical core portion,
wherein the distal wall of the plunger head is configured to perimetrically engage an inner surface of the syringe barrel so as to seal a chamber of the syringe barrel.
14. The plunger assembly according to claim 13, wherein the plunger rod further includes a tamper prevention disk located proximal to the locking flange so as to prevent tampering with the engagement between the locking flange and the flange lock.
15. The plunger assembly according to claim 13, wherein the locking flange on the plunger rod tapers outwardly from the outer surface of the plunger rod so as to form a distally facing beveled surface and a proximally facing abutment surface.
16. A plunger assembly for a syringe, the plunger assembly comprising:
an elongate plunger rod having a proximal end, a distal end, and a locking flange formed thereon between the proximal and distal ends; and
a plunger head, the plunger head including a cylindrical connecting portion,
wherein the plunger rod is engageable with the plunger head such that the plunger rod is adapted to move the plunger head within the chamber of a syringe barrel through an injection cycle,
wherein the distal end of the plunger rod is slidably connected to the plunger head,
wherein during the injection cycle, the locking flange of the plunger rod is configured to engage a flange lock on the syringe so as to prevent removal of the plunger from the syringe barrel,
wherein the plunger rod has a hollow cylindrical shape defining an outer surface and an inner diameter, and the cylindrical connecting portion of the plunger head fits within the inner diameter of the plunger rod, and
wherein the cylindrical connecting portion of the plunger head extends from a proximal wall of the plunger head and has an annular lip at a proximal end thereof,
the inner diameter of the plunger rod has an internal annular ring adapted to engage the annular lip of the cylindrical connecting portion such that the internal annular ring of the plunger rod is able to slide over the annular lip in the distal direction and retain the annular lip of the cylindrical connecting portion within the plunger rod, and
the plunger rod slides with respect to the cylindrical connecting portion of the plunger head such that the internal annular ring of the plunger rod engages the annular lip of the cylindrical connecting portion during aspiration and the distal end of the plunger rod engages the proximal wall of the plunger head during injection.
17. The plunger assembly according to claim 16, wherein the plunger rod further includes an annular flange extending from the outer surface of the plunger rod at the distal end of the plunger rod.

1. A data processing method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the method comprising:
a data extraction step for acquiring data corresponding to a same predetermined depth, out of a plurality of pieces of ultrasonic data acquired by ultrasonic transmissionreception means for acquiring the plurality of pieces of ultrasonic data by performing a plurality of times of ultrasonic transmittingreceiving operations in a same sound ray direction and at predetermined time intervals;
a filtering step for inputting the data corresponding to the same predetermined depth, acquired in the data extraction step, into filters each having a predetermined characteristic, and extracting echo data from a moving part in a body;
a first amplitude value calculating step for calculating a first autocorrelation amplitude value based on the echo data, when the echo data from the moving part in the body, acquired in the filtering step, is delayed by a first predetermined time period;
a second amplitude value calculating step for calculating a second autocorrelation amplitude value based on the echo date, when the echo data from the moving part in the body, acquired in the filtering step, is delayed by a second predetermined time period; and
a colorization step for relating an average value obtained by averaging, using an averaging processor, the first autocorrelation amplitude value by the second autocorrelation amplitude value, to the luminance of a predetermined hue.
2. The data processing method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transmittingreceiving operations in the data extraction step are performed using an ultrasonic probe.
3. The data processing method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined filters are MTI filters.
4. A data processing method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the method comprising:
an ultrasonic data acquisition step for acquiring a plurality of pieces of ultrasonic data by performing a plurality of times of ultrasonic transmittingreceiving operations in a same sound ray direction and at predetermined time intervals;
a data extraction step for acquiring data corresponding to a same predetermined depth, out of the plurality of pieces of ultrasonic data acquired in the ultrasonic data acquisition step;
a filtering step for inputting the plurality of pieces of data corresponding to the same predetermined depth, acquired in the data extraction step, into predetermined filters, and extracting echo data from a moving reflector including a blood flow;
a first amplitude value calculating step for calculating a first autocorrelation amplitude value based on the echo data, when the echo data from the moving reflector, extracted in the filtering step, is delayed by a first predetermined time period;
a second amplitude value calculating step for calculating a second autocorrelation amplitude value based on the echo data, when the echo data from the moving reflector, extracted in the filtering step, is delayed by a second predetermined time period; and
a colorization step for relating an average value obtained by averaging, using an averaging processor, the first autocorrelation amplitude value by the second autocorrelation amplitude value, to the luminance of a predetermined hue.
5. The data processing method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic transmittingreceiving operations in the data extraction step are performed using an ultrasonic probe.
6. The data processing method for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined filters are MTI filters.

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. An apparatus comprising:
a base that is moveable; and
release mechanisms associated with the base, wherein the release mechanisms engage features of a space structure to secure the space structure to the base when the base is in a first position and the release mechanisms move at substantially a same time to disengage from the features and release the space structure from the base during acceleration without imparting a transverse load to the space structure when the base moves towards a second position resulting in deployment of the space structure.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a biasing system that moves the base from the first position to the second position.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a housing having an opening, wherein the base and the release mechanisms are located within the housing and wherein the space structure is located inside the housing when the space structure is secured to the base; and
a door that moves between a closed position and an open position and covers the opening when in the closed position.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:
a vibration reduction structure associated with the door, wherein the vibration reduction structure contacts the space structure such that vibrations in the space structure are reduced when the space structure is secured to the base by the release mechanisms and the door is in the closed position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:
a locking system that holds the base in the first position when the door is in the closed position.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the release mechanisms are in closed positions when the base is in the first position and move at substantially the same time to open positions to release the space structure from the base without imparting the transverse load to the space structure when the base moves from the first position towards the second position to deploy the space structure.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a retaining system that prevents the release mechanisms from moving to release the space structure when the base is in the first position.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a release mechanism in the release mechanisms comprises:
a contact point associated with the base, wherein the contact point supports a feature on the space structure;
a lever that is moveable and secures the feature to the contact point when the lever is in a closed position; and
a biasing device that moves the lever from the closed position to an open position when the base moves from the first position towards the second position such that the feature disengages from the contact point.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the contact point comprises:
a structure extending from a surface of the base and having a shape that engages the feature on the space structure.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the release mechanisms comprise:
three release mechanisms.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of tumbling of the space structure or shock applied to the space structure is reduced when the space structure is deployed.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the space structure is selected from one of a satellite, a space station, and a spacecraft.
13. A method for deploying a space structure, the method comprising:
securing the space structure to a base with release mechanisms that engage features of the space structure when the base is in a first position;
moving the base from the first position to a second position to deploy the space structure; and
moving the release mechanisms at substantially a same time to disengage from the features and release the space structure from the base without imparting a transverse load to the space structure when the base moves from the first position towards the second position to deploy the space structure.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the base and the space structure are located in a housing when the base is in the first position and further comprising:
opening a door for the housing to expose an opening in the housing for deploying the space structure from the housing, wherein the space structure moves out of the housing through the opening when the base moves from the first position to the second position.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
contacting the space structure with a vibration reduction structure associated with the door in the housing in which the space structure is located, wherein the vibration reduction structure reduces vibrations in the space structure when the door is closed.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein moving the base comprises:
moving the base from the first position to the second position with a biasing system after the door opens.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the space structure has features that are engaged with the release mechanisms when the base is in the first position, and wherein moving the release mechanisms comprises:
rotating levers in the release mechanisms from closed positions to open positions when the base moves from the first position towards the second position;
applying an axial force, perpendicular to the base, to the space structure at features on the space structure engaged with contact points in the release mechanisms while the base moves from the first position towards the second position such that the space structure accelerates in a direction of the axial force when deploying the space structure; and
disengaging the features of the space structure from the contact points when at least one of decelerating of the base or reaching the second position by the base occurs.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein rotating the levers comprises:
rotating the levers with biasing devices to move the release mechanisms from the closed positions to the open positions when the base moves from the first position towards the second position such that the levers no longer secure the features to the contact points.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of tumbling of the space structure or shock applied to the space structure is reduced when the space structure is deployed.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the space structure is selected from one of a satellite, a space station, and a spacecraft.