All The Claims

1. An apparatus for elevating tissue within a body, comprising:
a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and a central axis defined therethrough,
wherein the tubular member comprises a first lumen and a second lumen, separately formed therein;
a balloon secured to a first region of the tubular member,
wherein a second region of the tubular member is engagable with an injection mechanism,
wherein the engaged injection mechanism is engagable to be in communication with the first lumen of the tubular member, and
wherein the first lumen of the tubular member provides a path to an interior of the balloon.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the injection mechanism is one of a syringe, a pump, and a plunger.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guide wire configured to engage with the tubular member and is configured to manipulate the tubular member.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the guide wire is substantially disposed within the second lumen of the tubular member.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the balloon is configured to engage a femoral neck and elevate a tissue within a joint.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the injection mechanism is configured to inject a fluid into the tubular member, through the first lumen of the tubular member, and into the balloon.
7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tubular member is deformable and is configured to rotate about the central axis when the tubular member is manipulated by the guide wire.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the balloon is a textured surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a removable sheath disposed around the tubular member and around the balloon.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the tubular member comprises an angled tip configured to assist with delivery of the tubular member into a tissue within a body.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the injection mechanism comprises a stop valve configured to move between an open position and a closed position.
12. A method of elevating tissue within a body, comprising:
providing a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and a central axis defined therethrough,
wherein a balloon is secured to a first region of the tubular member,
wherein an injection mechanism is configured to inflate the balloon,
wherein a guide wire is configured to engage with the tubular member,
wherein the guide wire is configured to manipulate the tubular member;
inserting the distal end of the tubular member into a joint,
wherein the balloon is disposed, at least partially, within the joint; and
inflating the balloon within the joint, causing a tissue to elevate relative to a position of the tissue prior to inserting the balloon into the joint.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising manipulating the tubular member within the joint.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein inflating the balloon within the joint comprises injecting a fluid into the balloon.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein inflating the balloon causes a capsule tissue to elevate from a femoral neck relative to a position of the capsule tissue prior to inserting the balloon into the joint.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising deflating the balloon within the joint.
17. The method of claim 12, further comprising removing the tubular member from the joint.
18. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a sheath disposed around the balloon and removing the sheath once the balloon is disposed, at least partially, within the joint.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising moving the sheath along the tubular member in a direction that is parallel with the central axis of the tubular member, wherein the balloon is exposed from the sheath.
20. The method of claim 12, further comprising inserting the guide wire into the tubular member and into the joint.
21. The method of claim 12, further comprising removing the tubular member from the joint, wherein the guide wire remains in the joint.
22. A kit for elevating tissue within a body, comprising:
a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end;
a balloon configured to engage with the tubular member;
an injection mechanism configured to engage with the tubular member,
wherein the injection mechanism is configured to inflate the balloon; and
a guide wire configured to engage with the tubular member.

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 mobile IP network system comprising:
a plurality of radio access networks each connected to mobile stations via radio links; and
an IP network to which a home agent node and a plurality of packet nodes each for transferring IP packets destined for one of mobile stations and received from the home agent node to one of said radio access networks are connected,
wherein each of the radio access networks has at least one base station controller and at least one radio base station which is connected to the base station controller to perform radio communications with a plurality of mobile stations, and
wherein each of the base station controllers is connected to the plurality of packet nodes through a network, receives an identifier of a previous packet node from another base station controller when one of the mobile stations moved into a control area of the base station controller from a control area of the another base station controller belonging to another radio access network, and selects either the previous packet node which is communicating IP packets for the moved mobile station with said home agent node or a preliminarily designated specific packet node in accordance with a communication state of the mobile station, thereby to selectively carry out IP packet communication for the moved mobile station between the base station controller and the previous packet node using a previous identifier of a logical connection having been established between the previous packet node and the mobile station or IP packet communication between the base station controller and the specific packet node using an identifier of a new logical connection established between the specific packet node and the moved mobile station, after performing a registration procedure between the moved mobile station and said home agent node, depending on the communication state of the mobile station.
2. A mobile IP network system according to claim 1, wherein each of said base station controllers selects, with respect to the mobile station moved from the control area of said another base station controller to the control area of the base station controller, said previous packet node when the moved mobile station is in a state of communicating IP packets with the previous packet node and requests the previous packet node to communicate IP packets for the moved mobile station with the base station controller.
3. A mobile IP network system according to claim 2, wherein each of said base station controllers has means for monitoring communication packets of the mobile station which has moved from the control area of said another base station controller, thereby to close the communication between the base station controller and the previous packet node, and to establish the new logical connection between the moved mobile station and said specific packet node via the base station controller, upon detecting that data transmission and reception of the moved mobile station is ceased.
4. A mobile IP network system according to claim 1, wherein each of said packet nodes has a foreign agent function for transferring an IP packet received from the home agent node connected to the IP network to any of the base station controllers.
5. A mobile IP network system comprising:
a plurality of radio access networks each connected to mobile stations via radio links; and
an IP network to which a plurality of packet nodes for transferring IP packets are connected,
wherein each of the radio access networks has at least one base station controller and at least one radio base station which is connected to base station controller to perform radio communications with a plurality of mobile stations,
wherein each of the base station controllers, in the radio access network is connected to the plurality of packet nodes through a network, receives an identifier of a previous packet node from another base station control when one of the mobile stations moved into a control area of the base station controller from a control area of the another base station controller, and selects either the previous packet node of a preliminarily designated specific packet node in accordance with a communication state of the moved mobile station, thereby to selectively carry out IP packet communication for the moved mobile stations using a previous identifier of a logical connection having been established between the previous packet node and the moved mobile station or an identifier of a new logical connection established between the specific packet node and the moved mobile station depending on the communication state of the moved mobile station,
wherein each of said base station controllers selects, with respect to the moved mobile station moved from the control area of said another radio access network to the control area of the base station controller, said previous packet node when the moved mobile station is in a state of communicating IP packets with the previous packet node and the requests the previous packet node to communicate IP packets for the mobile station with the base station controller,
wherein each of said base station controllers has means for monitoring communication packets of the moved mobile station which has moved from the control area of said another base station controller, thereby to close the communication between the base station controller and the previous packet node, and to establish the new logical connection between the moved mobile station and said specific packet node via the base station controller, upon detecting that the data transmission and reception of the moved mobile station is ceased, and
wherein said specific packet node has means for notifying to a home agent node of the moved mobile station which is connected to the IP network that the mobile station is in a control area of the specific packet node after setting of the new logical connection for the moved mobile station so that the home agent node having received the notification transfers IP packets, which are destined for the moved mobile station and received thereafter from the IP network, to the specific packet node.
6. A method of switching a connection for communication between a mobile station connected to any of a plurality of radio access networks via a radio link and a plurality of packet nodes connected to an IP network, comprising:
a step of establishing a first logical connection to be used for IP packet communication between a mobile station connected to a first radio access network and a first packet node which is preliminarily related with the first radio access network;
a step of transferring, by said first packet node, IP packets for the mobile station which are received from a home agent node of the mobile station, to the first radio access network using an identifier of the first logical connection;
a step of connecting the mobile station to a second radio access network adjacent to the first radio access network when the mobile station moves into an area of the second radio access network; and
a step of requesting from the second radio access network to the first packet node to communicate IP packets for the mobile station with the second radio access network while maintaining the first logical connection,
wherein IP packets are communicated between the mobile station and the first packet node using the identifier of the first logical connection via the second radio access network without performing a registration procedure between the mobile station and said home agent node until communication of IP packets for the mobile station is ceased.
7. A connection switching method according to claim 6, further comprising:
a step of closing, upon detecting that data transmission and reception ceased, the first logical connection and establishing a new logical connection to be used for IP packet communication between the mobile station and a second packet node via the second radio access network, said second packet node being preliminarily related with the second radio access network.
8. A base station controller for a radio access network for transmitting and receiving an IP packet to and from a packet node which is connected to an IP network and has a foreign agent function for transferring IP packets from a home agent node to mobile stations, comprising:
a first communication interface for connection to a radio base station, a second communication interface for communication with a plurality of packet nodes connected to the IP network, and a control unit connected to the first and second communication interfaces,
wherein the control unit selectively establishes a logical connection to be used for an IP packet communication of a mobile station moved into a control area of the base station controller to established a new logical connection to be used for IP packet communication between the base station and the packet node or to transfer IP packets for the mobile station to the base station controller using a previous identifier of a logical connection having been used when the mobile station was connected to another radio access network, via the second interface;
wherein said control unit has means for selecting, when the mobile station has moved into the control area of the base station controller from said another radio access network, a first packet node which is communicating with the mobile station in the another radio access network, to request the first packet node to transfer IP packets for the mobile station to the base station controller using said previous identifier of the logical connection having been used in the another radio access network;

wherein said control unit comprises:
means for monitoring communication packets for the mobile station which is communicating with said first packet node; and
means for switching a first logical connection having been established between the mobile station and the first packet node to another new logical connection which is established between the mobile station and a second packet node preliminarily related to the base station controller when it is detected by the monitoring means that the transmission of communication packets for the mobile station is stopped;
wherein establishing said another new logical connection after performing a registration procedure between the moved mobile station and said home agent node.
9. A base station controller according to claim 8, wherein said control unit has means for notifying the base station controller in adjacent one of the other radio access networks of identification information of a previous packet node which has been communicating with the mobile station when the mobile station moved out from the control area of the base station controller to a control area of the adjacent radio access network.
10. A base station controller for a radio access network for communicating IP packets with one of packet nodes each of which is connected to an IP network and has a foreign agent function, comprising:
a first communication interface for connection the base station controller to a radio base station, a second communication interface for communication with a plurality of packet nodes connected to the IP network, and a control unit connected to the first and second communication interfaces,
wherein the control unit selectively requests one of the packet nodes selected in accordance with a communication state of a mobile station connected to the radio base station via a radio channel to establish a new logical connection to be used for IP packet communication between the mobile station and the packet node or to transfer IP packets for the mobile station to the base station controller using a previous identifier of a logical connection having been established between a mobile station and the packet node, via the second interface,
wherein said control unit comprises:
means for selecting, when a mobile station has moved into a control area of the base station controller from another radio access network, a first packet node which has been communicating with the moved mobile station in the another radio access network, to request the first packet node to transfer IP packets for the moved mobile station to the base station controller using said previous identifier of the logical connection having been established,
means for monitoring communication packets for the moved mobile station which is communicating with said first packet node, and
means for switching a first logical connection having been established between the moved mobile station and the first packet node to a logical connection which is established between the moved mobile station and a second packet node preliminarily related to the base station controller when it is detected by the monitoring means that the transmission of communication packets for the moved mobile station is stopped, and
wherein said second communication interface is connected to a communication network for connecting the plurality of packet nodes, and said switching means closes the first logical connection by requesting said first packet node to communicate IP packets for said the moved mobile station with the base station controller and establishes said second logical connection by requesting said second packet node to communicate IP packets for the moved mobile station with the base station controller, when said monitoring means detects that the transmission of communication packets has stopped.

1. A memory device, comprising:
a memory cell array;
an output buffer receiving data addressed from the memory cell array, and outputting the data based on a latency signal; and
a latency circuit selectively associating at least one transfer signal with at least one sampling signal based on CAS latency information to create a desired timing relationship between the associated sampling and transfer signals, storing read information in accordance with at least one of the sampling signals, and generating the latency signal based on the transfer signal associated with the sampling signal used in storing the read information.
2. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the latency circuit comprises:
a mapping unit selectively mapping a plurality of sampling signals to a plurality of transfer signals; and
a signal generator generating the latency signal based on the plurality of sampling signals mapped to the plurality of transfer signals.
3. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the latency circuit comprises:
a transfer signal generator generating a plurality of transfer signals based on a first signal; and
a sampling signal generator generating a plurality of sampling signals based on a second signal.
4. The memory device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of sampling signals and the plurality of transfer signals have a frequency substantially equal to a frequency of the external signal divided by a maximum number of CAS latency modes supported by the latency circuit.
5. The memory device of claim 3, further comprising:
a first internal signal generator generating the first signal based on an external signal, the first signal having a same frequency as the external signal and offset from the external signal by a period of time to output the data from the output buffer.
6. The memory device of claim 5, further comprising:
a second internal signal generator generating the second signal based on the first signal, the second signal having a same frequency as the external signal and offset from the first signal by a period of time to output the data from the output buffer plus a period of time to generate the read information.
7. The memory device of claim 6, wherein the second internal signal generator generates the second signal to have reduced jitter as compared to the first signal.
8. The memory device of claim 6, wherein the first internal signal generator generates the first signal using a delay locked loop circuit.
9. The memory device of claim 6, wherein
the transfer signal generator includes a first ring shift register clocked by the first signal, each position in the first ring shift register serving as one of the plurality of transfer signals; and
the sampling signal generator includes a second ring shift register clocked by the second signal, each position in the second ring shift register serving as one of the plurality of sampling signals.
10. The memory device of claim 9, wherein
the first signal is a data output clock signal; and further including,
an internal clock signal generator generating an internal clock signal based on the data output clock signal; and wherein
the second signal generator generates the second signal as a master clock signal based on the internal clock signal.
11. The memory device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sampling signals and the plurality of transfer signals have a frequency substantially equal to a frequency of the external signal divided by a maximum number of CAS latency modes supported by the latency circuit.
12. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the latency circuit comprises:
a plurality of latches, each latch clocked by a respective sampling signal and latching the read information; and
a switch associated with each latch, each switch selectively outputting output from the associated latch based on a respective transfer signal.
13. The memory device of claim 12, wherein the latency circuit further comprises:
a latency latch latching output from the switches, and an output of the latency latch serving as the latency signal.
14. The memory device of claim 12, wherein a number of the latches equals a maximum number of CAS latency modes supported by the latency circuit.
15. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the latency circuit selectively associates at least one of the sampling signals with at least one of the transfer signals by selectively activating at least one of a plurality of sampling signals.
16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the latency circuit further comprises:
a sampling signal generator selectively generating a number of active sampling signals, the number being based on the CAS latency information.
17. The memory device of claim 16, wherein the sampling signal generator comprises:
a ring shifter clocked by a clock signal, each position in the ring shift register serving as a sampling signal; and
control logic cooperatively associated with the ring shifter and selectively activating at least one position of the ring shifter to selectively activate an associated sample signal based on the CAS latency information.
18. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the latency circuit selectively associates at least one of the transfer signals with at least one of the sampling signals by selectively activating at least one of a plurality of transfer signals.
19. The memory device of claim 18, wherein the latency circuit further comprises:
a transfer signal generator selectively generating a number of active transfer signals, the number being based on the CAS latency information.
20. The memory device of claim 19, wherein the transfer signal generator comprises:
a ring shifter clocked by a clock signal, each position in the ring shift register serving as a transfer signal; and
control logic cooperatively associated with the ring shifter and selectively activating at least one position of the ring shifter to selectively activate an associated transfer signal based on the CAS latency information.
21. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the latency circuit selectively associates at least one of the sampling signals with at least one of the transfer signals by selectively activating at least one of a plurality of sampling signals and at least one of a plurality of transfer signals.
22. The memory device of claim 21, wherein the latency circuit further comprises:
a sampling signal generator selectively generating a first number of active sampling signals, the first number being based on the CAS latency information; and
a transfer signal generator selectively generating a second number of active transfer signals, the second number being based on the CAS latency information.
23. The memory device of claim 22, wherein the first and second number are equal.
24. The memory device of claim 22, wherein
the transfer signal generator includes,
a first ring shifter clocked by a first signal, and
first control logic cooperatively associated with the first ring shifter and selectively controlling a first number of stages in a first shift loop of the first ring shifter based on the CAS latency information, each stage included in the first shift loop generating an active transfer signal; and

the sampling signal generator includes,
a second ring shifter clocked by a second signal, and
second control logic cooperatively associated with the second ring shifter and selectively controlling a second number of stages in a second shift loop of the second ring shifter based on the CAS latency information, each stage included in the second shift loop generating an active sampling signal.
25. The memory device of claim 22, wherein
the transfer signal generator includes,
a first ring shifter clocked by a first signal, each position in the first ring shift register serving as a transfer signal, and
first control logic cooperatively associated with the first ring shifter and selectively activating at least one position of the first ring shifter to selectively activate an associated transfer signal based on the CAS latency information; and

the sampling signal generator includes,
a second ring shifter clocked by a second signal, each position in the second ring shift register serving as a sampling signal, and
second control logic cooperatively associated with the second ring shifter and selectively activating at least one position of the second ring shifter to selectively activate an associated sample signal based on the CAS latency information.
26. The memory device of claim 25, wherein
the first control logic controls a loop length of the first ring shifter; and
the second control logic controls a loop length of the second ring shifter.
27. The memory device of claim 25, further comprising:
a first internal signal generator generating the first signal based on an external signal, the first signal having a same frequency as the external signal and offset from the external signal by a period of time to output the data from the output buffer.
28. The memory device of claim 27, further comprising:
a second internal signal generator generating the second signal based on the first signal, the second signal having a same frequency as the external signal and offset from the first signal by a period of time to output the data from the output buffer plus a period of time to generate the read information.
29. A latency circuit, comprising:
a signal generator generating a latency signal based on a plurality of sampling signals and a plurality of transfer signals; and
a mapping unit mapping a plurality of reference signals to the signal generator as the plurality of sampling signals based on CAS latency information.
30. A memory device, comprising:
a memory cell array;
an output buffer receiving data addressed from the memory cell array, and outputting the data based on a latency signal; and
a latency circuit selectively activating a first number of a plurality of sampling signals and a second number of a plurality of transfer signals based on CAS latency information to create a desired timing relationship between the first number of activated sampling signals and the second number of activated transfer signals, storing read information in accordance with at least one of the first number of activated sampling signals, and generating the latency signal based on an activated transfer signal associated with the activated sampling signal used in storing the read information.
31. A method of controlling output of data from a memory device, comprising:
storing data for output in a buffer;
outputting the data from the buffer based on a latency signal; and
selectively activating a first number of a plurality of sampling signals and a second number of a plurality of transfer signals based on CAS latency information to create a desired timing relationship between the first number of activated sampling signals and the second number of activated transfer signals;
storing read information in accordance with at least one of the first number of activated sampling signals; and
generating the latency signal based on an activated transfer signal associated with the activated sampling signal used in storing the read information.

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. A linear bearing comprising:
a linear guide on which a carriage is adapted to be translationally moved;
a plurality of balls between the linear guide and the carriage that are located in a contact area between the linear guide and the carriage on a straight line;
ball deflection sections each adjoining one end of the line outside the contact area and, following the ball deflection sections, an adjoining ball return section so that the balls can revolve continuously along the line between the linear guide and the carriage, the ball deflection sections and the ball return section,
each of the ball deflection sections comprising an end part and a ball deflector, the end part including a trough-shaped depression which guides the balls, the ball deflector including a hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section, and a deflection path for the balls between the trough-shaped depression and the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section in a mounted state of the linear bearing.
2. The linear bearing according to claim 1, wherein the ball deflector also includes a pin-shaped section extending from the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section.
3. The linear bearing according to claim 2, wherein the pin-shaped section is located stationary in the linear guide.
4. The linear bearing according to claim 3, wherein the ball deflector is mushroom-shaped.
5. The linear bearing according to claim 4, wherein a section of the end part adjoining a portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector matches the portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector in shape.
6. The linear bearing according to claim 3, wherein a section of the end part adjoining a portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector matches the portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector in shape.
7. The linear bearing according to claim 2, wherein the ball deflector is mushroom-shaped.
8. The linear bearing according to claim 2, wherein a section of the end part adjoining a portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector matches the portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector in shape.
9. The linear bearing according to claim 1, wherein the ball deflector is mushroom-shaped.
10. The linear bearing according to claim 1, wherein a section of the end part adjoining a portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector matches the portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector in shape.
11. The linear bearing according to claim 1, wherein the deflection path is formed at least in part by a machined section provided at the end part.
12. A linear bearing comprising:
a linear guide on which a carriage can be translationally moved;
a plurality of balls between the linear guide and the carriage that are located in an area between the linear guide and the carriage on a straight line;
a ball deflection section positioned at each end of the line to direct the balls to an adjoining ball return section so that the balls can revolve continuously along the line between the linear guide and the carriage, along the ball deflection sections and along the ball return section,
each of the ball deflection sections comprising:
an end part provided with a ball-guiding trough-shaped depression leading to a deflection path; and
a ball deflector including a section providing a convex surface which faces the deflection path.
13. The linear bearing according to claim 12, wherein the convex surface is provided by a hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector.
14. The linear bearing according to claim 13, wherein the ball deflector also includes a pin-shaped section extending from the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section.
15. The linear bearing according to claim 14, wherein the pin-shaped section is stationarily located in the linear guide.
16. The linear bearing according to claim 12, wherein the ball deflector is mushroom-shaped.
17. The linear bearing according to claim 12, wherein a section of the end part adjoining a portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector matches the portion of the hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal section of the ball deflector in shape.