All The Claims

1. A method for reducing tissue damage following ischemic injury in a patient, the method comprising:
administering to the patient an anti-ischemic agent which reduces tissue damage due to ischemia and one or more anti-restenotic agent that reduces or prevents restenosis, wherein the anti-ischemic agent and the one or more anti-restenotic agent are administered locally to or near the site of ischemic injury, and wherein the anti-restenotic agent does not reduce the beneficial effects provided by the anti-ischemic agent.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the anti-ischemic agent and anti-restenotic agent are administered in a medical device implanted at or near the site of ischemic injury.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of stents, polymeric delivery devices, polymeric particles and polymeric coatings.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one of anti-ischemic agent and one or more anti-restenotic agent is administered into a blood vessel.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one of anti-ischemic agent is administered for periods of time sufficient to reduce ischemic injury.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the anti-restenotic drug is delivered primarily from a mural side of the medical device, and wherein the anti-ischemic agent is delivered primarily from a luminal side of the medical device.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-restenotic agent and anti-ischemic agent are delivered from an implanted biodegradable polymer.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein the medical device is a stent.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-ischemic agent is insulin.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-restenotic agent is selected from the group of compounds consisting of antineoplastics, antimitotics, antiangiogenics, angiogenic factors, anti-thrombotics, antiproliferatives, and anti-inflammatories.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the anti-restenotic agent is pimecrolimus, sirolimus or paclitaxel.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-ischemic and anti-restenotic agent are delivered from a polymer.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the polymer is in the form of polymeric coatings or particles located at or near an occlusion site.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the anti-ischemic agent, anti-restenotic agent and a biocompatible polymer matrix are deposited within openings in an implantable medical device for local delivery to an occlusion site.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the anti-ischemic agent, anti-restenotic agent and a biocompatible polymer are deposited within openings in an implantable medical device and wherein a barrier region is provided which substantially prevents delivery of the anti-ischemic agent to the artery wall.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the anti-ischemic agent is delivered over a period of about 1 to 72 hours.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the anti-restenotic agent is delivered over a period of about 30 days or longer.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the anti-ischemic agent and the anti-restenotic agent are delivered at different rates.
19. An implantable stent for reducing tissue damage following ischemic injury in a patient, comprising:
an expandable stent structure:
an anti-ischemic agent affixed to the stent structure, wherein the anti-ischemic agent reduces tissue damage due to ischemia; and
one or more anti-restenotic agent that reduces or prevents restenosis wherein the anti-restenotic agent does not reduce the beneficial effects provided by the anti-ischemic agent.
20. The stent of claim 19, wherein the anti-ischemic agent and anti-restenotic agent are released for at least one hour.
21. The stent of claim 19, wherein the anti-ischemic agent is released for about 10 to about 48 hours.
22. The stent of claim 19, wherein the anti-ischemic agent is insulin and the therapeutic dosage is about 5 to about 800 micrograms.
23. The stent of claim 22, wherein the insulin is affixed to the stent by depositing in holes in the stent.
24. The stent of claim 19, wherein the stent further comprises one or more drug sensitizers.
25. The stent of claim 24, wherein the drug sensitizer is an insulin sensitizer.
26. The stent of claim 25, wherein the insulin sensitizer is selected from the group consisting of biguanides, thiazolidinediones, and glitazars.
27. The stent of claim 23, wherein the anti-restenotic agent is affixed to the stent by depositing in holes in the stent.
28. The stent of claim 19, wherein the anti-restenotic agent and anti-ischemic agent are delivered from an implanted biodegradable polymer.
29. The method of claim 19, wherein the anti-ischemic agent is delivered over a period of about 1 to 72 hours.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the anti-restenotic agent is delivered over a period of about 30 days or longer.

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 processing an input signal having signal edges, the method comprising the steps of:
in respective reference signal active periods, generating a time stamp that locates a signal edge of the input signal in relation to the reference signal active period;
generating an output bit from the time stamp; and in which
generating a time stamp is carried out in a first portion of each respective reference signal active period; and
generating an output bit from the time stamp is carried out in a second portion of each respective reference signal active period.
2. The method of claim 1 in which the time stamp locates the signal edge in relation to a falling edge of the reference signal active period.
3. A method for processing an input signal having signal edges, the method comprising the steps of:
in respective reference signal active periods, generating a time stamp that locates a signal edge of the input signal in relation to the reference signal active period;
generating an output bit from the time stamp; and
in which generating the time stamp comprises applying the input signal to a hierarchical delay propagation stage, in which successive layers of the hierarchical delay propagation stage increase resolution of the time stamp.
4. The method of claim 3 in which the resolution of each successive layers increases by one-half from layer to layer.
5. The method of claim 3 in which the number of hierarchy levels is scalable with semiconductor process technology.
6. The method of claim 3 in which the number of hierarchy levels is scalable with the number of TDC output bits.
7. The method of claim 3 in which signal transition edges are created as a signal propagates through the hierarchical delay propagation stage.
8. The method of claim 7 in which each signal transition is used as a measure of how close the falling edge of a signal is to a falling edge of the reference signal active period.
9. The method of claim 3 in which signal edges are time stamped by registering their logic level at a falling edge of the reference signal active period.
10. The method of claim 3 in which generating an output bit comprises decoding the time stamps in a decoder.
11. The method of claim 3 in which the input signal is a delay modulated signal.
12. The method of claim 3 in which the reference signal active period is the active period of a clock.
13. The method of claim 3 in which each output bit comprises a digital bit representing the digital value of the time difference between the input signal and the reference signal.
14. The method of claim 3 in which the reference signal active period is the active period of a clock and the time period for the time difference to be converted to a digital output is less than or equal to one clock cycle.
15. The method of claim 1 in which generating an output bit comprises decoding the time stamps in a decoder.
16. A method for processing an input signal having signal edges, the method comprising the steps of:
in respective reference signal active periods, generating a time stamp that locates a signal edge of the input signal in relation to the reference signal active period;
generating an output bit from each time stamp by decoding the respective time stamp in a decoder, and in which;
the time stamps are generated by latches, and the decoder is connected to the latches.
17. The method of claim 1 in which the input signal is a delay modulated signal.
18. The method of claim 1 in which the reference signal active period is the active period of a clock.
19. The method of claim 1 in which the outputs are a digital bit stream representing the digital value of the time difference between the input signal and the reference signal.
20. A method for processing an input signal having signal edges, the method comprising the steps of:
in respective reference signal active periods, generating a time stamp that locates a signal edge of the input signal in relation to the reference signal active period;
generating an output bit from the time stamp, and in which;
the reference signal active period is the active period of a clock and the time period for the time difference to be converted to a digital output is less than or equal to one clock cycle.
21. The method of claim 1 applied in an analog to digital converter or high speed measurement device.
22. Apparatus configured to carry out the method steps of claim 1.
23. A time to digital converter, comprising:
a delay propagation stage connected to an input signal and having time stamps as output, the time stamps being representative of the location of edges of the input signal in relation to a reference signal;
a decoder connected to receive the time stamps and generate output bits; and
in which the delay propagation stage operates to locate a signal edge within a first portion of an active period of the reference signal and the decoder operates within a second portion of the active period to decode the time stamps generated within the first portion of the active period.

1. A modular pillbox which comprises a base unit and a plurality of modules that can be interchangeably coupled to the base unit,
the base unit comprises:
a plurality of interior compartments defined by a top, a bottom and at least one side wall;
openable doors that close the tops of the plurality of interior compartments;
one-way passages in one of the bottoms or the at least one side wall of each interior compartment through which pills can be pushed into the interior compartments; and
an opening in a front portion of the base unit,

the plurality of modules comprise:
a cover plate that couples to the base unit and covers the opening; and
an electronic package that couples to the base unit and covers the opening.
2. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronic package comprises a microphone and a speaker for recording and playing messages.
4. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package comprises a timer and an alarm which is activated by the timer.
5. A modular pillbox according to claim 4, wherein the alarm comprises at least one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm and a mechanical alarm.
6. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package comprises means for sensing when doors of the plurality of compartments have been opened.
7. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package comprises a data transfer device for transferring data between the pillbox and an auxiliary device.
8. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package includes a program for converting spoken information into data that can be displayed as an image or transmitted.
9. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, in combination with a storage magazine which storage magazine is configured to receive a plurality of said modular pillboxes and transfer data between said plurality of modular pillboxes and a remote terminal.
10. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, in combination with a loading tray for loading pills in the compartments of a plurality of the modular pillboxes, the loading tray being configured to couple to a plurality of the modular pillboxes so as to present all of the one-way passages in an array so that pills can be pushed through selected ones of the one-way passages.
11. An electronic interactive pillbox which comprises a base unit and a replaceable electronics module that can be removable coupled to the base unit,
the base unit comprises:
a plurality of interior compartments defined by a top, a bottom and at least one side wall;
openable doors that close the tops of the plurality of interior compartments;
one-way passages in one of the bottoms or the at least one side wall of each interior compartment through which pills can be pushed into the interior compartments; and
an opening in a front portion of the base unit,

the electronics module comprises:
an electronic package that removably couples to the base unit within the opening so that close the opening and define a front face of the resulting electronic interactive pillbox,

the electronic package coupling the electronic interactive pillbox to a remote terminal at which a healthcare provider can monitor, manage, evaluate and maintain a periodic record of the healthcare of a user of the electronic interactive pillbox.
12. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronic package comprises a microphone and a speaker for recording and playing messages.
13. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronics package comprises a timer and an alarm which is activated by the timer.
14. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 13, wherein the alarm comprises at least one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm and a mechanical alarm.
15. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronics package comprises means for sensing when doors of the plurality of compartments have been opened.
16. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronics package comprises a data transfer device for transferring data between the pillbox and the remote terminal.
17. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronics package includes a program for converting spoken information into data that can be displayed as an image andor transmitted.
18. electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronic package receives symptom input information from a user and transfers the inputted symptom information to the remote terminal to allow the healthcare provider to monitor symptom information.
19. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, in combination with a storage magazine which storage magazine is configured to receive a plurality of said electronic interactive pillboxes and transfer data between said plurality of electronic interactive pillboxes and a remote terminal.
20. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, in combination with a loading tray for loading pills in the compartments of a plurality of the electronic interactive pillboxes, the loading tray being configured to couple to a plurality of the electronic interactive pillboxes so as to present all of the one-way passages in an array so that pills can be pushed through selected ones of the one-way passages.
21. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 16, wherein the electronics package transmits information wirelessly or via a wired connection to either one of a computer terminal or telephone.

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 solar cell electrode wire before being soldered to a solar cell, comprising:
a core material composed of pure Cu having a Cu content of not less than 99.9 mass %, having a volume resistivity of not greater than about 2.3 \u03bc\u03a9\xb7cm, and having a proof stress in a range of about 36.3 MPa to about 85 MPa; and
a hot-dip solder plating layer having a melting point of about 130\xb0 C. to about 300\xb0 C. and disposed on a surface of the core material.
2. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 1, wherein the core material is composed of an annealed pure copper material having an oxygen content of not greater than about 20 ppm.
3. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 1, wherein the core material has a recessed portion arranged along a longitudinal direction of the core material for storing molten solder and the hot-dip solder plating layer is located in the recessed portion.
4. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 3, wherein an opening width of the recessed portion as measured transversely of the core material is not less than about 90% of a width of the core material.
5. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 1, wherein the proof stress of the core material is in a range of about 36.3 MPa to about 49 MPa.
6. A solar cell electrode wire before being soldered to a solar cell comprising:
a core material made of a clad material including an interlayer and first and second surface layers disposed on opposite surfaces of the interlayer; and
a hot-dip solder plating layer having a melting point of about 130\xb0 C. to about 300\xb0 C. and disposed on a surface of the core material; wherein
the first surface layer and the second surface layer are composed of pure Cu having a Cu content of not less than 99.9 mass %;
the interlayer is composed of pure Al having an Al content of not less than 99.0 mass %; and
the core material has an average volume resistivity of not greater than about 2.3 \u03bc\u03a9\xb7cm and has an average proof stress in a range of about 36.3 MPa to about 85 MPa.
7. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 6, wherein the first surface layer and the second surface layer are composed of the same material and have the same thickness.
8. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 6, wherein the first surface layer and the second surface layer are composed of an annealed pure copper material having an oxygen content of not greater than about 20 ppm.
9. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 8, wherein the interlayer has a thickness in a range of about 10% to about 50% of an entire thickness of the clad material.
10. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 6, wherein the core material has a recessed portion arranged along a longitudinal direction of the core material for storing molten solder and the hot-dip solder plating layer is located in the recessed portion.
11. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 10, wherein an opening width of the recessed portion as measured transversely of the core material is not less than about 90% of a width of the core material.
12. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 6, wherein the average proof stress of the core material is in a range of about 36.3 MPa to about 49 MPa.