Author: claimsbot

1. Radiation shielding apparatus for use in conjunction with ionizing radiation therapy, comprising:
a flexible sheet-like structure including a radiation absorbent material for moderating x-ray or gamma radiation,
the sheet-like structure having the ability to be manually shaped to a desired size and configuration, and
the sheet-like structure being bio-compatible, for use inside a human patient.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is bio-absorbable.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is non-bio-absorbable.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is a hydrogel.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is hyaluron.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is a polymer.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is a collagen.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is an elastomer.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material comprises a radiation attenuating filler in the sheet-like structure.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said radiation attenuating filler comprises a barium compound.
11. A method of delivering differentiated doses of ionizing radiation from a radiation source to adjacent regions of patient anatomy during brachytherapy, comprising:
placing between the radiation source and an area of patient anatomy within the patient’s tissue, a structure comprising generally a sheet of material including a radiation absorber for moderating x-ray or gamma radiation behind said structure; and
irradiating the patient’s tissue using the radiation source.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the structure is flexible.
13. The method of claim 12, including making an incision in the patient’s skin and adjacent tissue, and wherein the flexible structure is placed subcutaneously within the incision.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the radiation is applied from within a brachytherapy applicatorcomprising a balloon positioned within a surgical cavity from which brachytherapy will be applied, and the flexible structure is affixed to a portion of the balloon.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible structure is positioned within a surgical brachytherapy cavity and affixed directly to at least a portion the tissue surrounding said cavity.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible structure is retained in position within the patient’s tissue by suturing.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein said material is bio-absorbable.
18. A method of delivering differentiated doses of ionizing radiation to adjacent regions of patient anatomy during brachytherapy, comprising:
selecting a spacer device of desired thickness, the spacer device being a substantially flexible structure which is biocompatible,
placing the spacer device between the radiation source and an area of patient anatomy, within the patient’s tissue, and irradiating the patient’s tissue using the radiation source, with the spacer device holding said area of patient anatomy at a desired spacing away from the radiation source, such that radiation received by said area of patient anatomy is attenuated by increased distance from the source.
19. The method of claim 18, including making an incision in the patient’s skin and adjacent tissue, and wherein the spacer device is placed subcutaneously within the incision.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the radiation is applied from within a brachytherapy applicator comprising a balloon positioned within a surgical cavity from which the brachytherapy will be applied, the spacer device being positioned between the balloon and said area of patient anatomy.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein the spacer device is positioned within a surgical brachytherapy cavity and affixed directly to a region of tissue surrounding the cavity, said region of tissue being said area of patient anatomy.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the spacer device is affixed to said region of tissue by suturing.
23. A radiation attenuating device for use in conjunction with ionizing radiation therapy, comprising:
a set of flexible generally sheet-like spacer structures having a series of different thicknesses,
each of the set of spacer structures being biocompatible, for use inside a human patient.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the set of flexible generally sheet-like spacer structures includes spacer structures of varying length or width, as well as thickness.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each of the flexible generally sheet-like spacer structures has the ability to be manually shaped to a desired size and configuration.
26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the flexible generally sheet-like spacer structures are bio-absorbable.

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 method for manufacturing a housing, the method comprising:
providing a hollow cylindrical liner formed of a thermoplastic polymer, said liner having an inner surface, an outer surface and a first open end;
providing a hollow head assembly, said head assembly comprising
a collar portion formed of a thermoplastic polymer, said collar portion including a connecting portion adapted to be joined to said liner at said first open end, and
a barrel portion formed of a fiber-reinforced polymer, said barrel portion being overmolded onto said collar portion so as to at least partially cover said outer side of said collar portion, said barrel portion including an opening on an end opposite said collar portion;

joining said connecting portion of said collar portion to said liner at said first open end; and
overwrapping said outer surface of said liner and an outer side of said head assembly with an overwrap layer comprising wound filaments and a polymeric resin.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said connecting portion of said collar portion is joined to said liner at said first open end by spin-welding.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said head assembly is made by
overmolding a preform formed of said fiber-reinforced polymer with said thermoplastic polymer to form a blank; and
removing material from said blank to form said head assembly.
4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps:
boring a hole through said overwrap layer and said collar portion; and
installing a side port in said hole.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said side port comprises a tubular body portion and a flange portion, and wherein said installing step further comprises:
providing a counter bore in an inner side of said collar to form a seat surrounding said hole; and
engaging said flange portion of said side port with said seat with said tubular body portion extending through said collar portion and said overwrap layer.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein an O-ring is captured between said flange portion and said seat.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said outer side of said head assembly includes an annular first bulge, said first bulge including a tapered side portion proximal to said opening in said barrel portion, and wherein said overwrap layer covers said tapered side portion of said first bulge.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein an annular slot is formed in an inner side of said barrel portion opposite said first bulge, said slot being adapted to receive a split ring for retaining an end plug within said barrel portion.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein an inner diameter of said head assembly proximal to said opening in said barrel portion is greater than an inner diameter of said liner.
10. The method according to claim 9 wherein an inner side of said head assembly includes an annular first bevel.
11. The method according to claim 7 wherein said outer side of said head assembly includes an annular second bulge, said second bulge being located intermediate said first bulge and said liner.
12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the liner is formed of an olefinic thermoplastic polymer or copolymer.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein no fibers or other reinforcing fillers are present in the liner.
14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said head assembly is made by a molding process in which a molten polymer used to form one of the barrel portion or the collar portion is injected into a mold containing the other of the barrel portion or the collar portion or a precursor thereof.

1. A computer-aided design apparatus (2) for the design of three-dimensional objects to be fabricated, the apparatus comprising:
a base generator operable to generate a topology for a design of a three-dimensional object by generating a plurality of different generations of bases, wherein each generation of bases comprises a plurality of bases, each base comprising a local coordinate system, and wherein the bases in the second and any subsequent generation are located in the local coordinate system of a base in a preceding generation;
a base identifier operable to identify bases having a defined relationship; and
a content generator operable to generate content objects for the identified bases.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base identifier is operable to identify bases comprising bases in different local coordinate systems having a defined relationship.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base identifier is operable to identify bases having a defined geometrical relationship.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
an attribute generator operable to generate attributes for the bases generated by the base generator;
and wherein the base identifier is operable to identify bases having a defined attribute relationship.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the base identifier is operable to identify bases having a first relationship and bases having a second, different relationship; and
the content generator is operable to generate first content objects for the bases having the first relationship and second, different content objects for the bases having the second relationship.
6. A computer-aided design apparatus (2) for the design of three-dimensional objects to be fabricated, the apparatus comprising:
a base generator operable to generate a topology for a design of a three-dimensional object by generating a plurality of different generations of bases, wherein each generation of bases comprises a plurality of bases, each base comprising a local coordinate system, and wherein the bases in the second and any subsequent generation are located in the local coordinate system of a base in a preceding generation;
a content generator operable to generate content objects in the bases; and
a feature identifier operable to identify features comprising content objects having a defined relationship andor operable to identify features comprising at least one base and at least one content object having a defined relationship;
and wherein the content generator is operable to generate further content objects for the identified features.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the feature identifier is operable to identify features having a defined geometrical relationship.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:
an attribute generator operable to generate attributes for at least one of the bases and the content objects;
and wherein the feature identifier is operable to identify features having a defined attribute relationship.
9. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
the feature identifier is operable to identify features having a first relationship and features having a second, different relationship; and
the content generator is operable to generate first further content objects for the features having the first relationship and second, different further content objects for the features having the second relationship.
10. A method of operating a computer-aided design apparatus (2) to design a three-dimensional object to be fabricated, the method comprising:
generating a topology for a design of a three-dimensional object by generating a plurality of different generations of bases, wherein each generation of bases comprises a plurality of bases, each base comprising a local coordinate system, and wherein the bases in the second and any subsequent generation are located in the local coordinate system of a base in a preceding generation;
identifying bases having a defined relationship; and
generating content objects for the identified bases.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein bases are identified comprising bases in different local coordinate systems having a defined relationship.
12. A method according to claim 10, wherein bases having a defined geometrical relationship are identified.
13. A method according to claim 10, wherein attributes are generated for the bases, and wherein bases having a defined attribute relationship are identified.
14. A method according to claim 10, wherein:
bases having a first relationship and bases having a second, different relationship are identified; and
first content objects are generated for the bases having the first relationship and second, different content objects are generated for the bases having the second relationship.
15. A method of operating a computer-aided design apparatus (2) to design a three-dimensional object to be fabricated, the method comprising:
generating a topology for a design of a three-dimensional object by generating a plurality of different generations of bases, wherein each generation of bases comprises a plurality of bases, each base comprising a local coordinate system, and wherein the bases in the second and any subsequent generation are located in the local coordinate system of a base in a preceding generation;
generating content objects in the bases;
identifying features comprising content objects having a defined relationship andor identifying features comprising at least one base and at least one content object having a defined relationship; and
generating further content objects for the identified features.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein features having a defined geometrical relationship are identified.
17. A method according to claim 15, wherein attributes are generated for at least one of the bases and the content objects, and wherein features having a defined attribute relationship are identified.
18. A method according to claim 15, wherein:
features having a first relationship and features having a second, different relationship are identified; and
first content objects are generated for the features having the first relationship and second, different content objects are generated for the features having the second relationship.
19. A physically-embodied computer program product having computer program instructions to program a programmable processing apparatus to become configured as an apparatus comprising:
a base generator operable to generate a topology for a design of a three-dimensional object by generating a plurality of different generations of bases, wherein each generation of bases comprises a plurality of bases, each base comprising a local coordinate system, and wherein the bases in the second and any subsequent generation are located in the local coordinate system of a base in a preceding generation;
a base identifier operable to identify bases having a defined relationship; and
a content generator operable to generate content objects for the identified bases.
20. A physically-embodied computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the computer program instructions are such that the base identifier is operable to identify bases comprising bases in different local coordinate systems having a defined relationship.
21. A physically-embodied computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the computer program instructions are such that the base identifier is operable to identify bases having a defined geometrical relationship.
22. A physically-embodied computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the computer program instructions comprise instructions to program the programmable processing apparatus to become configured as an apparatus further comprising:
an attribute generator operable to generate attributes for the bases generated by the base generator;
and wherein the computer program instructions are such that the base identifier is operable to identify bases having a defined attribute relationship.
23. A physically-embodied computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the computer program instructions are such that:
the base identifier is operable to identify bases having a first relationship and bases having a second, different relationship; and
the content generator is operable to generate first content objects for the bases having the first relationship and second, different content objects for the bases having the second relationship.
24. A physically-embodied computer program product having computer program instructions to program a programmable processing apparatus to become configured as an apparatus comprising:
a base generator operable to generate a topology for a design of a three-dimensional object by generating a plurality of different generations of bases, wherein each generation of bases comprises a plurality of bases, each base comprising a local coordinate system, and wherein the bases in the second and any subsequent generation are located in the local coordinate system of a base in a preceding generation;
a content generator operable to generate content objects in the bases; and
a feature identifier operable to identify features comprising content objects having a defined relationship andor operable to identify features comprising at least one base and at least one content object having a defined relationship;
and wherein the content generator is operable to generate further content objects for the identified features.
25. A physically-embodied computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the computer program instructions are such that the feature identifier is operable to identify features having a defined geometrical relationship.
26. A physically-embodied computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the computer program instructions comprise instructions to program the programmable processing apparatus to become configured as an apparatus further comprising:
an attribute generator operable to generate attributes for at least one of the bases and the content objects;
and wherein the computer program instructions are such that the feature identifier is operable to identify features having a defined attribute relationship.
27. A physically-embodied computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the computer program instructions are such that:
the feature identifier is operable to identify features having a first relationship and features having a second, different relationship; and
the content generator is operable to generate first further content objects for the features having the first relationship and second, different further content objects for the features having the second relationship.

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

1. A device for axially maintaining a cylindrical element, the device comprising:
a coupling bushing comprising external threads, first nut strips which extend axially beyond the external threads, and a first internal pressure surface;
a covering nut comprising a second internal pressure surface configured to engage and deform ends of the first nut strips radially inwardly and towards the cylindrical element when the cylindrical element is introduced into the coupling bushing and the covering nut; and
a sleeve comprising second nut strips and an external diameter which is at most equal to an internal diameter of the coupling bushing, whereby the sleeve, with the second nut strips being introduced first, is adapted to be introduced into the coupling bushing,
wherein the first internal pressure surface is configured to engage and deform ends of the second nut strips radially inwardly and towards the cylindrical element when the cylindrical element is introduced into the coupling bushing and the covering nut.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical element comprises a cable.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second internal pressure surfaces are configured to cause the first and second nut strips to be anchored in the cylindrical element when the covering nut is tightened.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second internal pressure surfaces comprise tapered surfaces.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second internal pressure surfaces comprise tapered surfaces which face in opposite directions.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tubular packing seal adapted to be inserted in, a final assembled position, between the cylindrical element and the sleeve.
7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tubular packing seal adapted to be inserted in, a final assembled position, between the cylindrical element and the first nut strips.
8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a packing seal adapted to slide over the cylindrical element and into the sleeve.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the packing seal comprises a first part having a first external diameter and a second part having a different second external diameter.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, wherein the first diameter corresponds substantially to an internal diameter of the sleeve, and wherein the second diameter corresponds substantially to the internal diameter of the coupling bushing.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the covering nut comprises internal threads configured to threadably engage the external threads of the coupling bushing.
12. A method of fixing the cylindrical element using the device of claim 1, the method comprising:
arranging the coupling bushing on the cylindrical element with the first nut strips facing in a first direction;
arranging the sleeve on the cylindrical element with the second nut strips facing in a second opposite direction;
arranging the covering nut on the cylindrical element;
moving the covering nut towards the coupling bushing;
engaging and deforming ends of the second nut strips radially inwardly with the first internal pressure surface by moving the covering nut towards the coupling bushing;
threadably engaging internal threads of the covering nut and the external threads of the coupling bushing; and
engaging and deforming ends of the first nut strips radially inwardly with the second internal pressure surface by moving the covering nut further towards the coupling bushing.
13. A device for fixing a cable to a plug or a socket, the device comprising:
a coupling bushing comprising external threads, first strips which extend axially from one end of the coupling bushing, and a first internal tapered pressure surface;
a nut comprising internal threads and a second internal tapered pressure surface configured to engage and deform ends of the first strips radially inwardly;
the internal threads of the nut being configured to threadably engage the external threads of the coupling bushing;
a sleeve comprising second strips which extend axially from one end of the sleeve; and
the sleeve being configured to slide within the coupling bushing,
wherein the first internal tapered pressure surface is configured to engage and deform ends of the second strips radially inwardly when the nut moves towards the coupling bushing.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first and second internal tapered pressure surfaces are configured to cause the first and second strips to be anchored in the cable when the nut is tightened onto the coupling bushing.
15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first and second internal tapered pressure surfaces face in opposite directions.
16. The device of claim 13, further comprising a tubular packing seal adapted to be inserted between the cable and the sleeve.
17. The device of claim 13, further comprising a tubular packing seal adapted to be inserted between the cable and the first strips.
18. The device of claim 13, further comprising a packing seal adapted to slide over the cable and into the sleeve.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the packing seal comprises a first part having a first external diameter and a second part having a different second external diameter.
20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, wherein the first diameter corresponds substantially to an internal diameter of the sleeve, and wherein the second diameter corresponds substantially to the internal diameter of the coupling bushing.
21. A method of fixing a cable to a plug or a socket using the device of claim 13, the method comprising:
arranging the coupling bushing on the cable with the first strips facing in a first direction;
arranging the sleeve on the cable with the second strips facing in a second opposite direction;
arranging the nut on the cable;
moving the nut towards the coupling bushing;
engaging and deforming ends of the second strips radially inwardly with the first internal tapered pressure surface by moving the nut towards the coupling bushing;
threadably engaging the internal threads of the nut and the external threads of the coupling bushing; and
engaging and deforming ends of the first strips radially inwardly with the second internal tapered pressure surface by moving the nut further towards the coupling bushing.
22. A device for fixing a cable to a plug or a socket, the device comprising:
a coupling bushing comprising external threads, first strips which extend axially from one end of the coupling bushing, and a first internal tapered pressure surface;
a nut comprising internal threads and a second internal tapered pressure surface configured to engage and deform ends of the first strips radially inwardly;
the internal threads of the nut being configured to threadably engage the external threads of the coupling bushing;
a sleeve comprising second strips which extend axially from one end of the sleeve;
the sleeve being configured to slide within the coupling bushing; and
a tubular packing seal adapted to be inserted partially into the sleeve and the coupling bushing,
wherein the first internal tapered pressure surface is configured to engage and deform ends of the second strips radially inwardly when the nut moves towards the coupling bushing.
23. A method of fixing a cable to a plug or a socket using the device of claim 22, the method comprising:
arranging the coupling bushing on the cable with the first strips facing in a first direction;
arranging the sleeve on the cable with the second strips facing in a second opposite direction;
arranging the tubular packing seal on the cable;
arranging the nut on the cable;
moving the nut towards the packing seal until the second internal tapered surface engages the packing seal;
causing the sleeve and the packing seal to slide into the coupling bushing;
moving the nut towards the coupling bushing;
engaging and deforming ends of the second strips radially inwardly with the first internal tapered pressure surface by moving the nut and the packing seal towards the coupling bushing;
threadably engaging the internal threads of the nut and the external threads of the coupling bushing; and
engaging and deforming ends of the first strips radially inwardly with the second internal tapered pressure surface by moving the nut further towards the coupling bushing.