1461102239-6a33f2bd-0cfb-4be4-8a65-8fa01ab6f8c8

1. A herbal vaporization device comprising:
a recharging unit for storing therein of a vaporization unit comprising a first housing comprising a heating chamber disposed at a first end thereof for receiving of loose leaf herbal material and for providing of heat thereto, the vaporization unit comprising a second end disposed opposite the first end;
a conductive heating element disposed proximate the heating chamber at the first end for heating of the loose leaf herbal material for at least partial vaporization thereof;
a first battery at least partially disposed within the first housing;
a first control circuit coupled with the first battery and the conductive heating element, the first control circuit for controlling the flow of electrical current from the first battery to the conductive heating element;
a first battery first recharging contact coupled with the first control circuit and a first battery second recharging contact coupled with the first control circuit, wherein the first and second battery recharging contacts and protrude past the first housing;
a switch coupled with the first control circuit for providing a control signal to the first control circuit for affecting the flow of electrical current from the first battery to the conductive heating element;
a fluid pathway extending through the housing from the first end to the second end and fluidly coupled with the heating chamber that places the fluid pathway in fluid communication with an outside environment and for allowing of the at least partially vaporized loose leaf herbal material and ambient air to flow therein from proximate the first end to the second end;
the recharging unit comprising a second housing for receiving at least partially therein the vaporization unit, the recharging unit having disposed therein a second battery having a larger capacity than the first battery and coupled with a second control circuit and coupled with a recharging port, the recharging port for receiving of electrical energy for recharging of the second battery from an external source;
a charging port coupled with the second control circuit for in a first mode of operation for being coupled with the first battery first recharging contact and the first battery second recharging contact for providing of electrical energy from the second battery to the first battery in a controllable manner and for in a second mode of operation for uncoupling of the first battery first recharging contact and the first battery second recharging contact from the charging port, the first and second battery recharging contacts being disposed within the second housing when providing of electrical energy from the second battery to the first battery,
wherein in the second mode of operation upon depressing of the switch, electrical current from the first battery is controllably provided to the conductive heating element and the loose leaf herbal material within the heating chamber is heated by the conductive heating element and where upon creating a low pressure proximate the second end, a lower pressure is created in the fluid pathway and ambient air at a higher pressure flows into the heating chamber and propagates through the loose leaf herbal material and vapor emitted from conductive heating of the loose leaf herbal material is mixed with the ambient air and together flows out of the second end.
2. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 1 wherein the heating chamber comprises other than a metal material and comprises a ceramic material and the conductive heating element is disposed within the heating chamber.
3. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 2 wherein the conductive heating element comprises a ceramic heating element having an annular shape with a center of the ceramic heating element forming an aperture and being in fluid communication with the fluid pathway and for allowing of ambient air and vapor emitted from conductive heating of the loose leaf herbal material to flow together through the aperture of the annular shape ceramic heating element.
4. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 1 wherein the conductive heating element comprises a metallic material and is thermally coupled with an inner surface of the heating chamber.
5. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 1 wherein the fluid pathway comprises a thermally conductive material and allows for cooling of the vapor emitted from conductive heating of the loose leaf herbal material and ambient air propagating therethrough.
6. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 1 wherein the heating chamber comprises a screen mesh disposed therein, the screen mesh comprising a first side for being in contact with the lose leaf herbal material and a second side for being in contact with the conductive heating element, wherein heat emitted from the conductive heating element heats up the screen mesh and heats up the loose leaf herbal material and ambient air and vapor emitted from conductive heating of the loose leaf herbal material propagates through the screen mesh and into the fluid pathway.
7. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 6 wherein the screen mesh comprises a metal material.
8. A herbal vaporization device comprising:
a recharging unit for storing therein of a vaporization unit comprising a first housing comprising a heating chamber disposed at a first end thereof for receiving of loose leaf herbal material and for providing of heat thereto, the vaporization unit comprising a second end disposed opposite the first end;
a conductive heating element disposed proximate the heating chamber at the first end for heating of the loose leaf herbal material for at least partial vaporization thereof;
a first battery at least partially disposed within the first housing;
a first control circuit coupled with the first and the conductive heating element, the first control circuit for controlling the flow of electrical current from the first battery to the conductive heating element;
a first battery first recharging contact coupled with the first control circuit and a first battery second recharging contact coupled with the first control circuit, wherein the first and second battery recharging contacts protrude past the first housing;
a switch coupled with the first control circuit for providing a control signal to the first control circuit for affecting the flow of electrical current from the first battery to the conductive heating element;
a fluid pathway extending through the housing from the first end to the second end and fluidly coupled with the heating chamber that places the fluid pathway in fluid communication with an outside environment and for allowing of the at least partially vaporized loose leaf herbal material and ambient air to flow therein from proximate the first end to the second end;
a central plane axially propagating from the first end to the second end of the first housing of the vaporization unit, the central plane being disposed equally within a geometric center of first housing, wherein the fluid pathway is offset from the central plane and the heating chamber comprises an aperture that is fluidly coupled with the heating chamber and offset from the central plane,
the recharging unit comprising a second housing for receiving at least partially therein the vaporization unit, the recharging unit having disposed therein a second battery having a larger capacity than the first battery and coupled with a second control circuit and coupled with a recharging port, the recharging port for receiving of electrical energy for recharging of the second battery;
a charging port coupled with the second control circuit for in a first mode of operation for being coupled with the first battery first recharging contact and the first battery second recharging contact for providing of electrical energy from the second battery to the first battery in a controllable manner and for in a second mode of operation for uncoupling of the first battery first recharging contact and the first battery second recharging contact from the charging port, the first and second battery recharging contacts being disposed within the second housing when providing of electrical energy from the second battery to the first battery,
wherein in the second mode of operation upon depressing of the switch, electrical current from the first battery is controllably provided to the conductive heating element and the loose leaf herbal material within the heating chamber is heated by the conductive heating element and where upon creating a low pressure proximate the second end, a low pressure is created in the fluid pathway and ambient air at a higher pressure flows into the heating chamber and propagates through the loose leaf herbal material and vapor emitted from conductive heating of the loose leaf herbal material is mixed with the ambient air and together flows out of the second end.
9. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 8 wherein the vaporization unit comprise a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and second portion are separated by the central plane and the first portion comprises the switch and the fluid pathway wherein the second portion comprises the first battery.
10. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 8 wherein the vaporization unit comprise a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and second portion are separated by the central plane and the first portion comprises the fluid pathway and the heating chamber comprises the aperture that is fluidly coupled with the heating chamber, wherein in use, in the second mode of operation the central plane is oriented with the first end closer relative to ground than the second end where a partial amount of vapor emitted from conductive heating of the loose leaf herbal material rises from the second portion to the first portion for flowing through the aperture and into the fluid pathway.
11. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 9 wherein the fluid pathway comprises a thermally conductive material and allows for cooling of the vapor emitted from conductive heating of the loose leaf herbal material and ambient air propagating therethrough.
12. A herbal vaporization device according to claim 8 wherein the heating chamber comprises other than a metal material and comprises a ceramic material and the conductive heating element is formed as a unitary construction with the heating chamber.
13. A method of vaporizing herbal material comprising:
a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;
providing a recharging unit comprising a second housing and having disposed therein a second battery having a second capacity and coupled with a second control circuit;
providing a vaporization unit comprising a housing having at least partially embedded therein a first battery having a first capacity, the vaporization unit comprising a heating chamber disposed at a first end for receiving of loose leaf herbal material and having a second end with a fluid pathway extending from the first end to the second end thereof;
providing a conductive heating element disposed in proximity of the heating chamber proximate the first end;
inserting of loose leaf herbal material into the heating chamber;
in the first mode of operation, electrically coupling of the first battery with the second control circuit;
providing of electrical energy from the second battery to the first battery;
in the second mode of operation, electrically uncoupling of the first battery from the second control circuit and physically uncoupling of the vaporization unit from the recharging unit;
providing of electrical energy from the first battery to the conductive heating element in a controllable manner;
heating of the loose leaf herbal material to generate vapor therefrom;
inhaling from the second end of the fluid pathway;
creating a reduction in ambient air pressure within the fluid pathway;
creating a flow of ambient air to flow past the loose leaf herbal material and mixing with vapor generated as a result of the conductive heating to flow through the fluid pathway;
inhaling a mixture of vaporized loose leaf material and ambient air from the second end;
removing the loose leaf herbal material from the heating chamber;
re-coupling electrically of the first battery with the second control circuit;
in the first mode of operation, recharging of the first battery from electrical current controllably provided by the second battery through the second control circuit.
14. A method of vaporizing herbal material according to claim 13 comprising:
providing an optional storage compartment for storing of the loose leaf herbal material; and
the inserting of loose leaf herbal material into the heating chamber comprises forcefully pushing the heating chamber into the optional storage compartment and having the loose leaf herbal material forced into the heating chamber.
15. A method of vaporizing herbal material according to claim 13 comprising:
providing a cleaning tool disposed within the recharging unit, wherein removing the loose leaf herbal material from the heating chamber comprises:
removing the cleaning tool from the recharging unit; and
picking the loose leaf herbal material out of the heating chamber after the material has been at least vaporized within the heating chamber.
16. A method of vaporizing herbal material according to claim 13 other than comprising a tether for electrically coupling of the vaporization unit to the second battery.

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 steering apparatus comprising:
a drive source which supplies an auxiliary force; and
a reduction mechanism which transmits the auxiliary force of the drive source to a steering system and comprises:
a worm gear having a single thread tooth; and
a worm wheel engaging with the worm gear,

wherein a plane orthogonal to an axial direction of the worm gear is defined as (W),
a tangent line at an engagement point A between the worm gear and the worm wheel, which appears in a cross section (W-W) of the worm gear along the plane (W), is defined as (C),
a rotation center of the worm gear is defined as (D), and
a straight line, which passes through the rotation center (D), which is parallel to a straight line perpendicular to the tangent line (C), and which is located on the plane (W), is defined as (E),
the worm gear has a shape in which the straight line (E) intersects with an outer periphery of the tooth of the worm gear on the plane (W).
2. The steering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the steering system comprises:
a pinion shaft connected to a steering wheel; and
a rack shaft connected to a steered road-wheel; and further comprising:

a rack-and-pinion mechanism comprising:
a pinion provided at the pinion shaft; and
a rack engaging with the pinion and provided at the rack shaft,

wherein a pressure angle of a tooth root of the rack is greater than that of a tooth tip of the rack.
3. The steering apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein a tooth of the rack has an approximate arc shape in which the pressure angle is gradually increased from the tooth tip to the tooth root.
4. The steering apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein in the worm gear, an arc-shaped connection is made between a tooth tip and an engagement surface engaging with a tooth of the worm wheel.
5. The steering apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein in the cross section (W-W), the tooth of the worm gear is formed by an involute curve at a region ranging from a tooth root to a pitch circle, and is formed into an approximate arc shape at a region ranging from the pitch circle to a tooth tip.
6. The steering apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the worm gear is formed so that a tooth thickness thereof is thicker than a tooth thickness of the worm wheel.
7. The steering apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the worm gear and the worm wheel are slanted with respect to each other.

1461102229-2e23ee05-e84d-495a-acf9-0097bd7542fa

1. An endoscope, having:
an image pick-up unit provided in a distal portion;
a light guide for transmitting light to the distal portion; and
a first connector that is connected to a second connector of an endoscope processor device and that performs electric power reception, control signal communication, and image signal communication in a non-contact manner between the endoscope and the endoscope processor device in order to drive the image pick-up unit, wherein the first connector has a hollow structure determining an internal space and includes a power receiving unit that receives electric power from a power supply unit in a non-contact manner, an image signal transmission unit that transmits an image signal of the image pick-up unit in a non-contact manner, and an endoscope side signal transmission and reception unit that transmits and receives a control signal for controlling the image pick-up unit in a non-contact manner, the power receiving unit, the image signal transmission unit, and the endoscope side signal transmission and reception unit being disposed in the hollow structure,
wherein the first connector includes a first connector case and a second connector case disposed in order from a side of the second connector, and a division line between the first and second connector cases includes an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to an insertion direction of the first and second connectors.
2. The endoscope according to claim 1,
wherein the division line includes a vertical portion that is perpendicular to the insertion direction.
3. The endoscope according to claim 1,
wherein an air and water supply connector and a suction connector are disposed on one side of the first connector case,
the power receiving unit, the image signal transmission unit, and the endoscope side signal transmission and reception unit are disposed in the hollow structure on the other side of the first connector case, and
the inclined portion of the division line becomes closer to the second connector toward the other side from the one side.
4. The endoscope according to claim 2,
wherein an air and water supply connector and a suction connector are disposed on one side of the first connector case,
the power receiving unit, the image signal transmission unit, and the endoscope side signal transmission and reception unit are disposed in the hollow structure on the other side of the first connector case, and
the inclined portion of the division line becomes closer to the second connector toward the other side from the one side.
5. The endoscope according to claim 1,
wherein the second connector case has at least one of an auxiliary water supply connector and a balloon connector.
6. The endoscope according to claim 2,
wherein the second connector case has at least one of an auxiliary water supply connector and a balloon connector.
7. The endoscope according to claim 3,
wherein the second connector case has at least one of an auxiliary water supply connector and a balloon connector.
8. The endoscope according to claim 4,
wherein the second connector case has at least one of an auxiliary water supply connector and a balloon connector.
9. The endoscope according to claim 1,
wherein the second connector case has at least one of a ventilation connector and an S connector.
10. The endoscope according to claim 2,
wherein the second connector case has at least one of a ventilation connector and an S connector.
11. The endoscope according to claim 3,
wherein the second connector case has at least one of a ventilation connector and an S connector.
12. The endoscope according to claim 4,
wherein the second connector case has at least one of a ventilation connector and an S connector.
13. The endoscope according to claim 5,
wherein the first connector comprises a third connector case disposed on an opposite side to the first connector case with respect to the second connector case, and
the third connector case has at least one of an S connector and a ventilation connector.
14. The endoscope according to claim 6,
wherein the first connector comprises a third connector case disposed on an opposite side to the first connector case with respect to the second connector case, and
the third connector case has at least one of an S connector and a ventilation connector.
15. The endoscope according to claim 7,
wherein the first connector comprises a third connector case disposed on an opposite side to the first connector case with respect to the second connector case, and
the third connector case has at least one of an S connector and a ventilation connector.
16. The endoscope according to claim 1,
wherein the first connector has a reduced diameter portion toward the other side from one side of the second connector.
17. The endoscope according to claim 16,
wherein the division line is formed so as to be closer to the second connector than the reduced diameter portion is.
18. The endoscope according to claim 1,
wherein the power supply unit is a primary coil connected to a power source, and the power receiving unit is a secondary coil electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil.
19. The endoscope according to claim 1,
wherein the power receiving unit is disposed so as to be closer to the second connector than the image signal transmission unit and the endoscope side signal transmission and reception unit.
20. The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:
a circuit board on which the image signal transmission unit and the endoscope side signal transmission and reception unit are mounted.

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 substantially pure, isolated or recombinant polypeptide which is selected from the group consisting of:
a) the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1;
b) a derivative having one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions relative to the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1; or
c) a fragment of a polypeptide as defined in a) or b) above, which is at least ten amino acids long.
2. A polypeptide as claimed in claim 1 which is provided as part of a fusion polypeptide.
3. A polypeptide as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fusion polypeptide is Selected from the group consisting of Green Fluorescent Protein and DsRed Fluorescent Protein.
4. An isolated or recombinant nucleic acid molecule which is selected from the group consisting of:
a) the DNA sequence shown in FIG. 1 or its RNA equivalent;
b) a sequence which is complementary to the sequences of a);
c) a sequence which codes for the same polypeptide, as the sequences of a) or b);
d) a sequence which shows substantial identity with any of those of a), b) and c); and
e) a sequence which codes for a derivative or fragment of an amino acid molecule shown in FIG. 1.
5. A vector comprising one or more nucleic acid molecules as defined in claim 4.
6. A host cell transformedtransfected with a vector as defined in claim 5.
7. A method of screening for andor diagnosis of breast cancer in a subject which comprises the step of detecting andor quantifying the amount of a polypeptide as defined in claim 1 in a biological sample obtained from said subject.
8. An antibody, which binds to a polypeptide as defined in claim 1 or to a fragment of such a polypeptide.
9. An antibody as claimed in claim 8 which binds specifically to said polypeptide.
10. An antibody as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 which is conjugated to a therapeutic moiety.
11. An antibody as claimed in claim 10 wherein the therapeutic moiety is selected from a second antibody, a fragment thereof, a derivative thereof, a cytotoxic agent and a cytokine.
12. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising at least one active agent selected from a polypeptide as defined in claim 1, a fragment thereof, at least one nucleic acid molecule as defined in claim 4, and at least one antibody to said polypeptide, optionally together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, carriers or diluents.
13. A pharmaceutical formulation as claimed in claim 12 comprising a vaccine.
14. A pharmaceutical formulation as claimed in claim 13 whherein said vaccine includes one or more suitable adjuvants.
15. A method for the prophylaxis andor treatment of breast cancer in a subject, which comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one active agent as defined in claim 12.
16. A method of screening for compounds that modulate, ie up-regulate or down-regulate, the expression of a polypeptide as defined in claim 1, which comprises the step of determining the presence or absence andor quantifying at least one polypeptide as defined in claim 1 or at least one antibody as defined in claim 8 or claim 9 in a biological sample.
17. A method for monitoringassessing breast cancer treatment in a patient, which comprises the step of determining the presence or absence andor quantifying at least one polypeptide as defined in claim 1 or at least one antibody as defined in claim 8 or claim 9 in a biological sample obtained from said patient.
18. A method for the identification of metastatic breast cancer cells in a biological sample obtained from a subject, which comprises the step of determining the presence or absence andor quantifying at least one polypeptide as defined in claim 1 or at least one antibody as defined in claim 8 or claim 9.