Author: claimsbot

1. An antisense oligomer capable of inhibiting production of interleukin-15 (IL-15) by hybridizing to the 5-UTR or 3-UTR regions of the mRNA of IL-15.
2. An oligomer according to claim 1 selected from the group consisting of ODN 1 through ODN 12.
3. An oligomer according to claim 1 which is selected from the group consisting of an oligonucleotide and an oligonucleotide analog.
4. An oligomer according to claim 3, wherein the oligonucleotide is DNA.
5. An oligonucleotide according to claim 3 wherein the oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of phosphodiester, phosphorothioate, ethylphosphonate, methylphosphonate, and methylphosphonothioate oligonucleotides.
6. An oligomer according to claim 3, wherein the oligonucleotide is at least 5 nucleotides in length.
7. An oligomer according to claim 6, wherein the length is from 5 to 50 nucleotides.
8. An oligomer according to claim 3, wherein the oligonucleotide analog is selected from the group consisting of protein nucleic acid morpholino, methylene linkage, boronated, and pteridine oligonucleotide analogs.
9. An oligomer according to claim 3, wherein the oligonucleotide analog is linked at its 5 end or at its 3 end to an intercalator.
10. An oligomer according to claim 9, wherein the intercalator is selected from the group consisting of psoralen and acridine derivatives.
11. An oligomer comprising an oligomer according to claim 1.
12. An oligomer according to claim 1, wherein the oligomer is capable of alleviating inflammatory polyarthopathy.
13. An oligomer according to claim 12, wherein the inflammatory polyarthopathy is associated with rheumatoid arthritis, organ and cell transplant rejections and inflammatory bowel disease.
14. An oligomer according to claim 13 wherein said organ transplant rejection is a kidney transplant rejection.
15. A method of inhibiting production of interleukin-15 (IL-15) by a cell comprising the steps of:
(One) introducing an antisense oligomer according to claim 1 into said cell; and
(Two) allowing said oligomer to hybridize to the mRNA of IL-15, thereby inhibiting the production of IL-15.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the oligomer is dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of injectable preparations, sprays, ointments, creams, gels, tablets, and perfusions.
18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the oligomer is selected from the group consisting of an oligonucleotide and an oligonucleotide analog.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the oligonucleotide analog is selected from the group consisting of protein nucleic acid, morpholino, methylene linkage, boronated, and pteridine oligonucleotide analogs.
20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the oligonucleotide analog is linked at its 5 end or its 3 end to an intercalator.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the intercalator is selected from the group consisting according to psoralen and acridine derivatives.
22. A method according to claim 18, wherein the oligonucleotide is DNA.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of phosphodiester, phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate, and methylphosphonothioate oligonucleotides.
24. A method according to claim 18, wherein the oligonucleotide is at least 5 nucleotides in length.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the length is from 5 to 50 nucleotides.
26. A method according to claim 15 wherein a combination of two or more different said oligomers are introduced into said cell.
27. A pharmaceutical composition for treating diseases associated with the production of IL-15 comprising an antisense oligomer capable of inhibiting production of interleukin-15 (IL-15) by hybridizing to the 5-UTR or 3-UTR regions of the mRNA of IL-15, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
28. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 27 wherein said antisense oligomer is selected from the group consisting of ODN 1 (SEQ. ID. NO 2), ODN2 (SEQ. ID. NO 4), ODN3 (SEQ . ID. NO 5), ODN 4 (SEQ. ID. NO 6), ODN 5 (SEQ. ID. NO. 7), ODN 6 (SEQ. ID. NO. 8), ODN 7 (SEQ. ID. NO. 9), ODN 8 (SEQ. ID. NO. 10), ODN 9 (SEQ. ID. NO. 11), ODN 10 (SEQ. ID. NO. 12), ODN 11 (SEQ. ID. NO. 13) and ODN 12 (SEQ. ID. NO. 14).
29. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 27 wherein said oligomer is selected from the group consisting of an oligonucleotide and an oligonucleotide analog.
30. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 29 wherein the oligonucleotide is DNA.
31. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 29, wherein the oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of phosphodiester, phosphorothioate, ethylphosphonate, methylphosphonate, and methylphosphonothioate oligonucleotides.
32. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 29 wherein the oligonucleotide is at least 5 nucleotides in length.
33. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 32, wherein the length is from 5 to 50 nucleotides.
34. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 28, wherein the oligonucleotide analog is selected from the group consisting of protein nucleic acid, morpholino, methylene linkage, boronated, and pteridine oligonucleotide analogs.
35. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 28, wherein the oligonucleotide analog is linked at its 5 end or its 3 end to an intercalator.
36. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 34, wherein the intercalator is selected from the group consisting of psoralen and acridine derivatives.
37. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 27 comprising a combination of two or more different said oligomers.
38. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 27, wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of injectable preparations, sprays, ointments, creams, gels, tablets, and perfusions.
39. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 27 wherein said disease is an inflammatory polyarthopathy associated with rheumatoid arthritis, organ and cell transplant rejections, asthma, lupus erythematosus and inflammatory bowel disease.
40. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 39 wherein said organ transplant rejection is a kidney transplant rejection.

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 of positioning a device in a patient’s body using an ultrasound probe and a device installation apparatus, the ultrasound probe including an ultrasound transducer that captures images of an imaging plane and a first position sensor mounted so that a geometric relationship between the first position sensor and the ultrasound transducer is known, the device installation apparatus including the device, a device deployment mechanism, and a second position sensor mounted so that a geometric relationship between the second position sensor and the device is known, the method comprising the steps of:
detecting a position of the first position sensor;
detecting a position of the second position sensor;
determining the device’s position with respect to the imaging plane based on (a) the detected position of the first position sensor and the geometric relationship between the first position sensor and the ultrasound transducer and (b) the detected position of the second position sensor and the geometric relationship between the second position sensor and the device;
displaying images of the imaging plane; and
outputting an indication of the device’s position with respect to the imaging plane based on a result of the determining step.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of outputting an indication comprises displaying, on a display of the imaging plane, a projection of at least one point on the device onto the imaging plane.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the device’s position comprises determining a distance in a direction that is perpendicular to the imaging plane, and wherein the step of outputting an indication comprises displaying the determined distance.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of actuating the device deployment mechanism when the determined distance is about zero.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the device’s position comprises the steps of:
determining where the imaging plane is based on the detected position of the first position sensor and the geometric relationship between the first position sensor and the ultrasound transducer;
determining where the device is based on the detected position of the second position sensor and the geometric relationship between the second position sensor and the device; and
computing a projection of at least one point on the device onto the imaging plane.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of outputting an indication comprises displaying, on a display of the imaging plane, where the computed projection hits the imaging plane.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of outputting an indication comprises displaying a distance between the imaging plane and the at least one point on the device.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the device comprises a valve, the device installation apparatus comprises a valve installation apparatus, and the device deployment mechanism comprises a valve deployment mechanism.
9. An apparatus for determining a position of a device in a patient’s body using an ultrasound probe and a device installation apparatus, the ultrasound probe including an ultrasound transducer that captures images of an imaging plane and a first position sensor mounted so that a geometric relationship between the first position sensor and the ultrasound transducer is known, the device installation apparatus including the device, a device deployment mechanism, and a second position sensor mounted so that a geometric relationship between the second position sensor and the device is known, the apparatus comprising:
an ultrasound imaging machine that drives the ultrasound transducer, receives return signals from the ultrasound transducer, converts the received return signals into 2D images of the imaging plane, and displays the 2D images; and
a position tracking system that detects a position of the first position sensor, detects a position of the second position sensor, reports the position of the first position sensor to the ultrasound imaging machine, and reports the position of the second position sensor to the ultrasound imaging machine,
wherein the ultrasound imaging machine includes a processor that is programmed to determine the device’s position with respect to the imaging plane based on (a) the detected position of the first position sensor and the geometric relationship between the first position sensor and the ultrasound transducer and (b) the detected position of the second position sensor and the geometric relationship between the second position sensor and the device, and wherein the processor is programmed to output an indication of the device’s position with respect to the imaging plane.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ultrasound imaging machine displays, on at least one of the 2D images, a projection of at least one point on the device onto the imaging plane.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the ultrasound imaging machine displays a distance between at least one point on the device and the imaging plane.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is programmed to determine the device’s position with respect to the imaging plane by executing the steps of:
determining where the imaging plane is based on the detected position of the first position sensor and the geometric relationship between the first position sensor and the ultrasound transducer,
determining where the device is based on the detected position of the second position sensor and the geometric relationship between the second position sensor and the device, and
computing a projection of at least one point on the device onto the imaging plane.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the ultrasound imaging machine displays, on at least one of the 2D images, where the computed projection hits the imaging plane.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ultrasound imaging machine displays an indication of distance between the imaging plane and the device.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the device comprises a valve, the device installation apparatus comprises a valve installation apparatus, and the device deployment mechanism comprises a valve deployment mechanism.
16. An ultrasound probe for use with an ultrasound system comprising:
a housing having a flexible shaft and a distal end;
an ultrasound transducer housed within the distal end of the housing;
an interface that permits the transducer to be driven by the ultrasound system; and
a position sensor disposed in the distal end of the housing so that a geometric relationship between the position sensor and the ultrasound transducer is known.
17. The probe of claim 16, wherein the geometric relationship is permanently fixed by mounting the ultrasound transducer in a fixed position with respect to the housing and by mounting the position sensor in a fixed position with respect to the housing.
18. The probe of claim 17, wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a phased array ultrasound transducer with a plurality of elements that are configured so that the elements can be driven individually and independently, and wherein the elements of the ultrasound transducer are stacked so that each element is displaced in an azimuthal direction with respect to at least one adjacent element.
19. The probe of claim 18, wherein the position sensor uses a magnetic-based technology.
20. The probe of claim 18, wherein the position sensor uses a RF-based technology.

1. An electrical connector for mounting on a printed circuit board comprising:
an insulative housing comprising a mounting surface for mounting on the printed circuit board, a front face and an opposite rear face, and at least one receiving space extending from the rear face toward the front face; and
at least one terminal unit assembled to the insulative housing and comprising a plurality of signal contacts received in the housing, a first switch contact comprising a first base portion retained in the housing, a first spring arm extending from the first base portion, and an insulative separator disposed about the first spring arm and extending into the receiving space, and a second switch contact comprising a second base portion retained in the housing and a second arm extending from the second base portion, wherein when a mating plug inserts into the receiving space, the separator is engaged by the mating plug to move in roughly a radial direction perpendicular to a mating axial direction, and thus drive the first switch contact to connect the second switch contact;
a cavity being formed in the front face of the housing;
a mating port defining a rear section received in said cavity, and a front circular section extending beyond the front face of the housing under a condition that one grounding contact defines a distal contacting end disnosed in the mating port around a joint portion of said rear section and said front section;
a metallic shield enclosing said housing and including a front wall covering the front face with a corresponding circular opening through which the front circular section extends;
the separator defining a position where said mating plug is engaged, said position being located in an innermost area of the receiving space and far away from said distal contacting end of the grounding contact.
2. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the first spring arm defines a pair of openings in opposite sides of the free end thereof.
3. The electrical connector as described in claim 2, wherein the separator defines an engaging groove engaging with the openings of the first spring arm.
4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front circular section of the mating port defines a recess in which the distal contacting end of said grounding contact is protectively received and hidden.
5. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein each switch contact defines a tail portion extending vertically from a bottom edge of the base portion.
6. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the housing defines a plurality of first and second slots communicating with the receiving space to receive the signal contacts and the first and second switch contacts, respectively.
7. The electrical connector as described in claim 6, wherein the first switch contact and the second switch contact are alternately arranged in the housing.
8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front circular section of the mating port defines a recess in which the distal contacting end of said grounding contact is protectively received and hidden.
9. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
an insulative housing defining a mating face and a receiving space extending therefrom inwardly;
a first switch contact disposed in the housing and defining a first spring arm extending around the receiving space;
a second switch contact disposed in the housing; and
an insulative separator moveable relative to the housing and essentially located in an insertion path of a plug which is adapted to be inserted into the receiving space; wherein
when said plug is inserted into the receiving space, said insulative separator is engaged with said plug and moved to actuate the first switch contact to be commonly moved to shift an engagement status between said first switch contact and said second switch contact;
a cavity being formed in the mating face of the housing;
a mating port defining a rear section received in said cavity, and a front circular section extending beyond the mating face of the housing under a condition that one grounding contact defines a distal contacting end disposed in the mating port around a joint portion of said rear section and said front section;
a metallic shield enclosing said housing and including a front wall covering the mating face with a corresponding circular opening through which the front circular section extends;
the separator defining a position where said mating plug is engaged, said position being located in an innermost area of the receiving space and far away from said distal contacting end of the grounding contact.
10. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 9, wherein both said first switch contact and said second switch contact are not directly engaged with the inserted plug.
11. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 9, wherein said first switch contact is engaged with the second switch contact when said plug is inserted into the receiving space, and said first switch contact is disengaged from the second switch contact when said plug is removed from the receiving space.
12. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 9, wherein said insulative separator is discrete from the housing and attached to the first switch contact.
13. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 9, wherein both said separator and said first switch contact are moved generally in a radial direction.
14. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein the front circular section of the mating port defines a recess in which the distal contacting end of said grounding contact is protectively received and hidden.
15. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
an insulative housing defining a mating face and a receiving space extending therefrom inwardly;
a first switch contact disposed in the housing;
a second switch contact disposed in the housing; and
an insulative separator being moveable relative to the housing in roughly a radial direction perpendicular to a mating direction, and disposed around said first switch contact, and essentially located in an insertion path of a plug which is adapted to be inserted into the receiving space along the mating direction; wherein
when said plug is inserted into the receiving space, none of said first switch contact and said second switch contact but said insulative separator is engaged with said plug under a condition that said insulative separator is moved so as to shift an engagement status between said first switch contact and said second switch contact;
a cavity being formed in the mating face of the housing:
a mating port defining a rear section received in said cavity, and a front circular section extending beyond the mating face of the housing under a condition that one grounding contact defines a distal contacting end disposed in the mating port around a joint portion of said rear section and said front section;
a metallic shield enclosing said housing and including a front wall covering the mating face with a corresponding circular opening through which the front circular section extends;
the separator defining a position where said mating plug is engaged, said position being located in an innermost area of the receiving space and far away from said distal contacting end of the grounding contact.
16. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 15, wherein said first switch contact is engaged with the second switch contact when said plug is inserted into the receiving space, and said first switch contact is disengaged from the second switch contact when said plug is removed from the receiving space.
17. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 15, wherein the insulative separator is constantly engaged with the first switch contact.
18. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 15, wherein the insulative separator is discrete from the housing but constantly fastened to the first switch contact.

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 system for monitoring the compression of the chest of a patient during CPR, said system comprising:
a chest compression monitor comprising an accelerometer adapted to sense upward and downward acceleration of the chest compression monitor, said compression monitor further adapted to output an acceleration signal indicative of the upward and downward acceleration of the chest, said compression monitor housed in a module adapted to be held in fixed relationship to a CPR provider’s wrist while the CPR provider is manually compressing the patient’s chest.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a releasable fixing mechanism for attaching the chest compression monitor to a CPR provider’s wrist.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer programmed to process the acceleration signal to determine the depth of chest compression and produce a compression signal indicative of the depth of compression of the patient’s chest.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to provide an audible signal modulated to indicate when the proper chest displacement is achieved by the CPR provider.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to determining the start of a compression without reference to a signal derived from a source external to the module, and thereafter calculate downward displacement of the chest using the acceleration signal; said computer further programmed to output a compression signal.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the computer is further programmed to determine the start of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the computer is further programmed to determine the end of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module.
8. A method for monitoring the compression of the chest of a patient during CPR, said system comprising:
providing a chest compression monitor comprising an accelerometer adapted to sense upward and downward acceleration of the chest compression monitor, said compression monitor further adapted to output an acceleration signal indicative of the upward and downward acceleration of the chest, said compression monitor housed in a module fixed to a releasable fixing mechanism for fixing the module to the CPR provider’s wrist;
attaching the chest compression monitor to a CPR provider’s wrist with the releasable fixing mechanism;
measuring an acceleration signal provided by the accelerometer while the CPR provider is compressing the chest of the patient;
providing a computer operable to process the acceleration signal to determine the depth of chest compression and produce a compression signal indicative of the depth of compression of the patient’s chest, and processing the acceleration signal to determine the depth of chest compression and produce a compression signal indicative of the depth of compression of the patient’s chest.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of operating the computer to provide an audible signal modulated to indicate when the proper chest displacement is achieved by the CPR provider.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of operating the computer to determine the start of a compression without reference to a signal derived from a source external to the module, and thereafter calculate downward displacement of the chest using the acceleration signal.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of operating the computer to determine the start of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module.
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of operating the computer to determine the end of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module.