All The Claims

1-31. (canceled)
32. A method for sterilizing a female patient using an elongated instrument assembly having a distal end, said method comprising:
inserting the distal end of the elongated instrument assembly transcervically into the female patient, the distal end of the elongated instrument having a detachable body which includes a non-biodegradable material;
applying energy from the elongated instrument to a surrounding tissue of a fallopian tube of said female patient;
detaching the detachable body from the distal end of the elongated instrument assembly; and
removing a remaining portion of the elongated instrument assembly from the female patient, wherein a scar formation in a region of the surrounding tissue permanently attaches to the detachable body.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein the energy comprises electrical energy and wherein the scar formation encapsulates the detachable body.
34. A method as in claim 32 wherein said detachable body is resilient and imposes an anchoring force against said surrounding tissue.
35. A method as in claim 32 wherein said elongated instrument assembly comprises a conductive interface which is coupled to a surface assembly which is coupled to said elongated instrument assembly.
36. A method as in claim 32 wherein said elongated instrument assembly comprises an elongate body and a shaft which is disposed within said elongate body.
37. A method as in claim 32 wherein said applying precedes said detaching of said detachable body.
38. A method as in claim 32 wherein said detachable body has a first configuration prior to said detaching and a second configuration after said detaching.
39. A method as in claim 38 wherein said first configuration has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of said fallopian tube.
40. A method as in claim 32 wherein said detachable body comprises a polymer material.
41. A method comprising:
inserting a catheter having an electrically conductive surface assembly mounted on a distal end of the catheter through the vagina and the cervical canal of a patient and into the uterus of the patient;
advancing a detachable assembly, which is coupled to the catheter, into a fallopian tube of the patient, said detachable assembly including a non-biodegradable material;
applying electrical energy to the electrically conductive surface assembly;
detaching the catheter from the detachable assembly, wherein a permanent scar formation in the fallopian tube encapsulates the detachable assembly.
42. A method as in claim 41 wherein said detachable assembly is resilient and imposes an anchoring force against the fallopian tube.
43. A method as in claim 41 wherein said catheter comprises a conductive interface which is coupled to said electrically conductive surface assembly.
44. A method as in claim 41 wherein said catheter comprises an elongate body and a shaft which is disposed within said elongate body.
45. A method as in claim 41 wherein said applying precedes said detaching of said detachable assembly.
46. A method as in claim 41 wherein said detachable assembly has a first configuration prior to said detaching and a second configuration after said detaching.
47. A method as in claim 46 wherein said first configuration has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of said fallopian tube.
48. A method as in claim 41 wherein said detachable assembly comprises a polymer material.
49. A method as in claim 44 wherein said catheter further comprises a lumen through which said shaft is slidable.
50. A method as in claim 41 wherein said applying said electrical energy is through a shaft within a lumen of said catheter.
51. An intrafallopian delivery system for transcervical introduction of a device, the delivery system comprising:
a first portion having an elongate body and a shaft for delivering energy;
a second portion detachably coupled to said elongate body, said second portion including a non-biodegradable material and being sized to fit within a fallopian tube and being detachable from said elongate body to remain permanently within said fallopian tube and wherein said energy causes a scar formation, in said fallopian tube, which attaches to said second portion.
52. A delivery system as in claim 51 wherein said energy comprises electrical energy and wherein said shaft delivers electrical current.
53. A delivery system as in claim 51 wherein said second portion is resilient and imposes an anchoring force against said fallopian tube.
54. A delivery system as in claim 51 wherein said shaft is disposed within a lumen of said elongate body.
55. A delivery system as in claim 51 wherein said energy is delivered before said second portion is detached from said elongate body.
56. A delivery system as in claim 51 wherein said second portion has a first configuration prior to being detached and a second configuration after being detached.
57. A delivery system as in claim 56 wherein said first configuration has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of said fallopian tube.
58. A delivery system as in claim 51 wherein said second portion comprises a polymer material.
59. A delivery system as in claim 51 further comprising an introducer through which said elongate body is inserted.
60. A delivery system as in claim 51 wherein said second portion has a surface which attaches to said scar formation.
61. An intrafallopian catheter system for transcervical introduction of an intrafallopian device, said catheter system comprising:
an elongate body having a shaft for delivering electrical energy;
a detachable body which is detachably coupled to said elongate body, said detachable body including a non-biodegradable material and being sized to fit within a fallopian tube and being detachable from said elongate body to remain permanently within said fallopian tube and wherein said electrical energy causes a scar formation, in said fallopian tube, which encapsulates said detachable body.
62. A catheter system as in claim 61 wherein said detachable body is resilient and imposes an anchoring force against said fallopian tube.
63. A catheter system as in claim 61 wherein said shaft is disposed within a lumen of said elongate body.
64. A catheter system as in claim 61 wherein said electrical energy is delivered before said detachable body is detached from said elongate body.
65. A catheter system as in claim 61 wherein said detachable body has a first configuration prior to being detached and a second configuration after being detached.
66. A catheter system as in claim 65 wherein said first configuration has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of said fallopian tube.
67. A catheter system as in claim 61 wherein said detachable body comprises a polymer material.
68. A catheter system as in claim 61 further comprising an introducer through which said elongate body is inserted.
69. A catheter system as in claim 61 wherein said detachable body has a surface which attaches to said scar formation.
70. A method for sterilizing a female patient, said method comprising:
delivering a body transcervically into the female patient, said body including a non-biodegradable material;
delivering energy to a surrounding tissue of a fallopian tube of said female patient;
wherein a scar formation in a region of the surrounding tissue permanently attaches to the body.
71. The method of claim 70 wherein the energy comprises electrical energy and wherein the scar formation encapsulates said body.
72. A method as in claim 70 wherein said body is resilient and imposes an anchoring force against said surrounding tissue.
73. A method as in claim 70 wherein an elongated instrument assembly delivers said body and is detachably coupled to said body.
74. A method as in claim 70 wherein said body is not expelled from said fallopian tube.
75. A method as in claim 70 wherein said body comprises a polymer material.
76. A method as in claim 70 wherein said body has a first configuration prior to said delivering and a second configuration after said delivering.
77. A method as in claim 76 wherein said first configuration has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of said fallopian tube.
78. A method as in claim 70 wherein said body comprises an open outer wall which allows tissue ingrowth into said body.
79. An intrafallopian delivery system for transcervical introduction of a device, the delivery system comprising:
a first portion having an elongate body;
a second portion detachably coupled to said elongate body, said second portion including a non-biodegradable material and being sized to fit within a fallopian tube in an area exposed to energy to damage tissue in said fallopian tube and being detachable from said elongate body to remain permanently within said fallopian tube and wherein said energy causes a scar formation, in said fallopian tube, which attaches to said second portion.
80. A delivery system as in claim 79 wherein said energy comprises electrical energy.
81. A delivery system as in claim 79 wherein said second portion is resilient and imposes an anchoring force against said fallopian tube.
82. A delivery system as in claim 79 wherein said energy is delivered before said second portion is detached from said elongate body.
83. A delivery system as in claim 79 wherein said second portion has a first configuration prior to being detached and a second configuration after being detached.
84. A delivery system as in claim 83 wherein said first configuration has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of said fallopian tube.
85. A delivery system as in claim 79 wherein said second portion comprises a polymer material.
86. A method for sterilizing a female patient, said method comprising:
delivering a body transcervically into the female patient, said body having an open outer wall which allows tissue ingrowth into said body;
delivering energy to a surrounding tissue of a fallopian tube of said female patient;
wherein a scar formation in a region of the surrounding tissue permanently attaches to said body.
87. The method of claim 86 wherein the energy comprises electrical energy and wherein the scar formation encapsulates said body.
88. A method as in claim 86 wherein said body is resilient and imposes an anchoring force against said surrounding tissue.
89. A method as in claim 86 wherein an elongated instrument assembly delivers said body and is detachably coupled to said body.
90. A method as in claim 86 wherein said body is not expelled from said fallopian tube.
91. A method as in claim 86 wherein said body comprises a polymer material.
92. A method as in claim 86 wherein said body has a first configuration prior to said delivering and a second configuration after said delivering.
93. A method as in claim 92 wherein said first configuration has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of said fallopian tube.
94. An intrafallopian delivery system for transcervical introduction of a device, the delivery system comprising:
a first portion having an elongate body;
a second portion detachably coupled to said elongate body, said second portion having an open outer wall which allows tissue ingrowth into said second portion and being sized to fit within a fallopian tube in an area exposed to energy to damage tissue in said fallopian tube and being detachable from said elongate body to remain permanently within said fallopian tube and wherein said energy causes a scar formation, in said fallopian tube, which attaches to said second portion.
95. A delivery system as in claim 94 wherein said energy comprises electrical energy.
96. A delivery system as in claim 94 wherein said second portion is resilient and imposes an anchoring force against said fallopian tube.
97. A delivery system as in claim 94 wherein said energy is delivered before said second portion is detached from said elongate body.
98. A delivery system as in claim 94 wherein said second portion has a first configuration prior to being detached and a second configuration after being detached.
99. A delivery system as in claim 98 wherein said first configuration has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of said fallopian tube.
100. A delivery system as in claim 94 wherein said second portion comprises a polymer material.
101. A delivery system as in claim 94 further comprising an introducer through which said elongate body is inserted.
102. A delivery system as in claim 94 wherein said second portion has a surface which attaches to said scar formation.

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 process for producing a passivation layer on crystalline silicon comprising the steps of
a) coating the silicon with a solution containing at least one polysilazane of the formula (1),
\u2014(SiR\u2032R\u2033\u2014NR\u2032\u2033)n-\u2003\u2003(1)
where R\u2032, R\u2033, R\u2032\u2033 are identical or different and are each, independently of one another, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, vinyl or (trialkoxysilyl)alkyl radical and n is an integer and n has such a value that the polysilazane has a number average molecular weight of from 150 to 150 000 gmol,
b) removing the solvent by evaporation, resulting in polysilazane layer having a thickness of 50-500 nm remaining on the silicon wafer, and
c) heating the polysilazane layer to 200-1000\xb0 C. at atmospheric pressure in the presence of air or nitrogen, resulting in the ceramic layer liberating hydrogen during the heat treatment to effect volume passivation of the silicon.
2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ceramic layer
SiuNvHwOxCy\u2003\u2003(4)
wherein
u=1; v=1.3-0; w=3-0; x=1.3-0; y=1.5-0,
is formed on the substrate
and the ceramic layer serves as hydrogen diffusion source for volume passivation.
3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polysilazane solution contains at least one perhydropolysilazane wherein R\u2032, R\u2033 and R\u2032\u2033=H.
4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein coating takes place in the presence of air and phases of the composition in which x>v, where v<1 and x<1.3 and are not equal to zero, and w=2.5-0 and y<0.5, with u in each case being 1, are formed.
5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein coating takes place in the presence of nitrogen and phases of the composition in which v<1.3 and x<0.1 and w=2.5-0 and y<0.2, with u in each case being 1, are formed.
6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ceramic layer has a thickness in the range from 10 to 200 nm.
7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polysilazane solution contains a catalyst and optionally, further additives.
8. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ceramic layer is applied to n-type silicon.
9. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ceramic layer is applied to p-type silicon.
10. A passivation layer on crystalline silicon produced using a polysilazane solution containing at least one polysilazane of the formula (1)
\u2014(SiR\u2032R\u2033\u2014NR\u2032\u2033)n-\u2003\u2003(1)
where R\u2032, R\u2033, R\u2032\u2033 are identical or different and are each, independently of one another, hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, vinyl or (trialkoxysilyl)alkyl radical and n is an integer and n has such a value that the polysilazane has a number average molecular weight of from 150 to 150 000 gmol.

1. A fiber containing an eggshell membrane component therein.
2. The fiber according to claim 1, further containing polyphenols.
3. The fiber according to claim 2, wherein the polyphenols contain catechins.
4. The fiber according to claim 3, wherein the catechins contain at least one of epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate and attributes thereof.
5. The fiber according to claim 1, further containing a polymer molecule.
6. The fiber according to claim 1, wherein a content of the eggshell membrane component is 20 mass % or more.
7. The fiber according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the fiber is 0.01 \u03bcm or more and 3 \u03bcm.
8. A fiber assembly produced by assembling the fiber according to claim 1.
9. A method for producing the fiber according to claim 1, wherein a spinning is performed using a solution containing an eggshell membrane component by employing an electrospinning method.
10. The method for producing the fiber according to claim 9, wherein the solution containing the eggshell membrane component contains polymer molecule.
11. The method for producing the fiber according to claim 9, wherein a fiber having a coresheath structure is spun by employing the electrospinning method.
12. The method for producing the fiber according to claim 11, wherein a solution containing the eggshell membrane component is used for forming a core portion, and a polymer solution is used for forming a sheath portion.
13. The method for producing the fiber according to claim 11, wherein the sheath portion is removed after the coresheath structure is formed by spinning.
14. The method for producing the fiber according to claim 9, wherein a cross-linking process is conducted for the spun fiber.
15. The fiber according to claim 7, wherein the diameter of the fiber is from 0.1 \u03bcm to 1.8 \u03bcm.
16. The fiber according to claim 5, wherein said polymer is polyurethane, silicone, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene imide, polyaniline, polyethylene sulfide, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic resin, polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, starch, casein, collagen, nucleic acid, catechin, gelatin, sericin, fibroin, chitin, chitosan, organosilica or organotitanium.
17. The fiber according to claim 6, wherein the content of the eggshell membrane component is 50 mass % or more.
18. The fiber of claim 1, further comprising a polymer sheath spun from a solution.
19. A fiber blend comprising an eggshell membrane component and a polymer molecule.

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

What is claimed is:

1. Broadcasting receiver comprising:
program selection means for choosing signal of at least one program from digital broadcasting signals received;
program record means for creating file or directory to storage media, and for recording said program chosen by said record program selection means;
free space administration means for controlling and updating free space of the storage media by counting sum total space of program recorded in storage media by said program record means; and
space alarm display control means for controlling to display alarm on display when free space controlled and updated by said free disk space administration means becomes less than predetermined value.
2. Broadcasting receiver comprising:
program selection means for choosing signal of at least one program from digital broadcasting signals received;
program record means for creating file or directory to storage media, and for recording said program chosen by said program selection means;
related information administration means for controlling and updating information relevant to storage record and playback of the program recorded in said media by said program record means; and
related information display control means for controlling display of said related information of record playback controlled and updated by said related information administration means.
3. Broadcasting receiver as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said related information administration means holds and controls at least one attribute of recordable space, expiry date, playback count and record time of program recorded by said program record means.
4. Broadcasting receiver as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said related information administration means sorts files or directory of recorded programs at least one in order of record time, record volume, expiry date or playback count, and designate said related information display control means to display at least one.
5. Broadcasting receiver as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said related information administration means administrate expire date of each program recorded in storage media, and delete the program which pass expire date.
6. Broadcasting receiver comprising:
program selection means for choosing signal of at least one program from digital broadcasting signals received;
program record means for creating file or directory to storage media, and for recording said program chosen by said program selection means;
related information administration means for controlling and updating information relevant to record and playback of the program recorded in said storage media by said program record means; and
inquiry words display control means for controlling display of inquiry words regarding program controlled and updated by said related information administration means.
7. Broadcasting receiver as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said inquiry words display control means controls display whether recorded program is transmitted to other storage media.
8. Broadcasting receiver as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said inquiry words display control means controls so that transmission inquiry may be displayed at the time of record reservation of program.
9. Broadcasting receiver as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said inquiry words display control means controls so that transmission inquiry may be displayed at the time of read-out of program.