All The Claims

We claim:

1. A method of promoting regular withdrawal bleeding in a woman undergoing cyclical progestin administration comprising cyclical vaginal delivery of progestin via a drug delivery system in an amount sufficient to cause secretory transformation of the endometrium while avoiding significant adverse side effects.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the drug delivery system comprises a water-insoluble, water-swellable cross-linked polycarboxylic acid polymer.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the polymer is polycarbophil.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the progestin is progesterone.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the amount of progesterone delivered is about 45 mg to about 90 mg per dose.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the drug delivery system additionally comprises at least one adjuvant.
7. The method of either of claims 2 and 5 wherein the drug delivery system is administered daily during a set portion of every calendar month.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein the woman is also being treated with estrogen.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the woman is also being treated with estrogen.
10. A method of maintaining amenorrhea in a woman undergoing constant progestin administration comprising constant vaginal administration of progestin via a drug delivery system in an amount sufficient to cause endometrial atrophy while avoiding significant adverse side effects.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the drug delivery system comprises a water-insoluble, water-swellable cross-linked polycarboxylic acid polymer.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the polymer is polycarbophil.
13. The method of either of claims 10 and 12 wherein the progestin is progesterone.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the progestin is administered about twice per week.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the progestin is administered about twice per week.

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. In a dispensing system which dispenses a product of the mixing of at least first and second components that pass through separate flow paths to a mixing chamber in which the components are mixed, the improvement comprising a one-directional flow control band in at least one of the separate flow paths that permits forward flow but blocks back flow to prevent cross-over flow of one component into the flow path of the other component.
2. The dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein the one-directional flow control band is a resilient band extending around the periphery of an element of the system that has at least one opening therein for the passage of a component.
3. The dispensing system according to claim 2 wherein the separate flow paths each include a flow control valve comprising a passage having a peripheral wall with at least one exit opening in a peripheral wall, and wherein the one-directional flow control band surrounds the at least one exit opening in the peripheral wall of the passage.
4. The dispensing system according to claim 3 wherein there is a one-directional flow control band in each of the flow paths.
5. The dispensing system according to claim 4 wherein there is a recessed groove in the element for receiving the band.
6. The dispensing system according to claim 4 wherein the one directional flow control band is biased against the at least one exit opening in a normally closed position that does not permit the rearward flow of a component back through the exit opening.
7. The dispensing system according to claim 6 wherein the one-directional flow control band comprises a resilient band that deflects away from the at least one exit to permit forward flow through the at least one exit.
8. The dispensing system according to claim 2 further comprising a nozzle containing the mixing chamber and having an outlet for dispensing product, and an inlet for each component, the inlets forming part of their respective flow paths, each inlet having a peripheral wall with at least one exit and wherein the one-directional flow band extends around the peripheral wall of its inlet and covers the at least one exit.
9. The dispensing system according to claim 8 wherein the resilient band is biased against the at least one exit opening in a normally closed position that prevents back flow through the at least one exit opening.
10. The dispensing system according to claim 2 further comprising a nozzle having at least two inlet passages, each inlet passage having a peripheral wall with at least one exit opening therein; and wherein the one-directional flow band comprises a resilient banding extends around the periphery of each inlet passage and covering the at least one exit opening in the peripheral wall of each of the passages.
11. The dispensing system according to claim 10 wherein the resilient band is biased against the at least one exit opening in a normally closed position that does not permit the back flow of a component through the at least one exit opening.
12. The dispensing system according to claim 5 wherein the resilient band has a generally o-ring shape that is configured to cover the at least one opening in the peripheral wall of a passage.
13. A dispensing applicator which dispenses a product of the mixing of at least first and second components that pass through separate flow paths in the applicator to a mixing chamber in which the components are mixed, the improvement comprising a one-directional flow band in each of the separate flow paths to prevent cross-over flow that could permit mixing of the two components in one of the flow paths leading to the mixing chamber.
14. The dispensing applicator according to claim 13 wherein the one-directional flow control band is a resilient band extending around the periphery of an element of the system having at least one opening therein for the passage of a component.
15. The dispensing applicator according to claim 14 wherein the separate flow paths each comprise a passage having a peripheral wall with at least one exit opening in the peripheral wall of the passage, wherein a one-directional flow control band surrounds the at least one exit opening in the peripheral wall of each passage.
16. The dispensing applicator according to claim 15 wherein the resilient band is biased against the exit opening in a normally closed position that does not permit back flow through the exit opening.
17. The dispensing applicator according to claim 16 wherein the resilient band deflects away from the exit opening under normal flow direction pressure, to permit fluid flow to the exit.
18. The dispensing applicator according to claim 17 wherein there is a recessed grove in the element for receiving the resilient band.
19. A nozzle for a two-component dispensing applicator, the nozzle comprising:
first and second inlet passages, each passage having a peripheral wall with at least one exit opening in a peripheral wall of the passage leading to a mixing chamber in the nozzle; and
a one-directional flow control band extending around the periphery of each inlet passage, each flop control band covering the at least one exit opening in the peripheral wall of each of the inlet passages to prevent cross-over flow that could permit mixing of the two components in either of the flow paths leading up to the mixing chamber of the nozzle.
20. The nozzle according to claim 19 wherein the one-directional flow control band comprises a resilient band that is biased against the at least one exit opening in a normally closed position that does not permit the flow of a component back through the at least one exit opening from the mixing chamber.
21. The nozzle according to claim 20 wherein the nozzle is adapted to uniquely connect to one or more tabs on the dispensing applicator.
22. A dispensing applicator for reactive components comprising:
a valve assembly having at least two flow paths being separate from each other such that at least a first component in a first flow path and at least a second component in a second flow path may not mix in the valve assembly;
a passage in each of at least first and second flow paths, the passages having a peripheral wall with one or more exit openings in a peripheral wall of each passage; and
a resilient flow control band extending around the periphery of each passage and the one or more exit openings in the peripheral wall of the each passage to prevent cross-over flow of one component into the flow path of another component.
23. The dispensing applicator according to claim 22 wherein the resilient flow control bands are biased against the one or more exit openings in a normally closed position that restricts the rearward flow of a component back through the exit opening.
24. The dispensing applicator according to claim 23 wherein the resilient flow control bands expand away from the one or more exit openings under normal flow direction pressure, to permit one directional fluid flow to the exit.
25. The dispensing applicator according to claim 24 wherein the first and second passages and resilient flow control bands are included within the valve assembly.
26. The dispensing applicator according to claim 25 wherein the one or more exit openings in the first and second passages lead to a mixing chamber in a nozzle of the dispensing applicator, and the resilient flow control bands only permit one directional flow of components into the mixing chamber.
27. The dispensing applicator according to claim 22, wherein the resilient band has a generally o-ring shape that is configured to cover one or more openings in the peripheral wall of a passage.
28. A dispensing system which dispenses a product of the mixing of at least first and second components that pass through separate flow paths to a mixing chamber in which the components are mixed, the dispensing system comprising:
a mixing chamber; at least first and second flow paths leading to the mixing chamber; a valve in each flow path for controlling the flow of its respective component, each valve comprising a valve member having a passage therethrough opening to a port in the surface of the valve member; a valve cup surrounding at least the portion of the valve member including the port, and having a valve opening therein communicating with the mixing chamber, the valve member and the valve cup being relatively movable between a closed position in which the valve member closes the valve opening in the cup member, and an open position in which the valve member is spaced from the opening in the valve cup; and a one-directional flow band extending around the valve member and resiliently covering the port to prevent back flow that could permit mixing of the two components outside of the mixing chamber.
29. The dispensing gun according to claim 1 wherein each valve member has a recessed grove for receiving the flow band.

1. A belt or belt segment defining a longitudinal direction and comprising:
a plurality of steel ropes arranged to be essentially mutually in parallel and to extend essentially in said longitudinal direction;
said belt or belt segment having at least one open end whereat said steel ropes have respective rope segments extending outwardly therefrom; and,
an attachment device disposed at said open end and being attached to at least a portion of said rope segments via clamping.
2. The belt or belt segment of claim 1, further comprising essentially an elastomer material with said steel ropes being embedded therein as reinforcement elements.
3. An attachment device for a belt or belt segment defining a longitudinal direction and having a plurality of steel ropes arranged essentially mutually in parallel and extending essentially in said longitudinal direction, the attachment device comprising:
a first component region having a connecting element configured to coact with a corresponding connecting element; and,
a second component region having a clamping unit for receiving said steel ropes at least partially therein and said clamping unit being configured to hold said steel ropes therein by clamping said steel ropes.
4. The attachment device of claim 3, wherein said belt or belt segment comprises essentially an elastomeric material with said steel ropes being embedded therein as reinforcement elements.
5. The attachment device of claim 4, wherein said clamping unit has a plurality of openings for accommodating corresponding ones of said steel ropes therein whereat steel ropes are clamped.

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. Photolinker macromolecule, which is a saccharide-based polymer that contains photoactivable groups apt to be activated at a wavelength of at least 320 nm, and sulfur-containing groups, the sulfur-containing groups being selected from the group consisting of thiol (\u2014SH), thioacid (\u2014COSH), dithioacid (\u2014CSSH), sulfide (\u2014S\u2014) and disulfide (\u2014SS\u2014), attached to a metallic substrate.
2. Macromolecule of claim 1, covalently bonded to a biomolecule in an active form.
3. Macromolecule of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of agarose, dextran, carrageenan, alginic acid, starch, and cellulose, and a derivative thereof.
4. Macromolecule of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is dextran, in particular amino-dextran or carboxymethyl-dextran.
5. Macromolecule of claim 4, wherein the saccharide is amino-dextrane or carboxydextrane, the total amino functions or carboxy functions available for subsequent functionalization with both the photoactivatable groups and the sulfur-containing groups being 0.01 to 0.5 mol per mol glucose monomer.
6. Macromolecule of claim 1, wherein the photoactivable groups are selected from the group consisting of aryldiazirines and benzophenones.
7. Macromolecule of claim 1, wherein the photoactivable groups are selected from the group consisting 4-(p-azidosalicylamido)butylamine, N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidosalicylic acid, p o-phenone-4-maleimide, 4-benzylbenzoic adic succimidyl ester, or -azidophenyl-isothiocyanate, benzophenone-4-isothiocyanate, benz 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-isothiocyanophenyl) diazirine
8. Macromolecule of claim 1, wherein the metal is selected from the group of aluminum, copper, gold, palladium, platinum and silver.
9. Sensing surface of biosensor, which comprises a macromolecule of claim 2.
10. Microarray, which comprises a macromolecule of claim 2.
11. Nanoparticle, nanoassembly or microparticle comprising a macromolecule of claim 2.
12. Method of preparing a preparing a photolinker macromolecule of claim 1 which comprises derivatizing a polysaccharide by multiple substitution with photoactivable groups and sulfur-containing groups, and attaching the derivatized saccharide to a metal by chemisorption or sulfur-metal complex formation processes.
13. Method of preparing a macromolecule of claim 2 which comprises submitting a mixture of a photolinker macromolecule, which is a saccharide-based polymer that contains photoactivable groups apt to be activated at a wavelength of at least 320 nm, and sulfur-containing groups, the sulfur-containing groups being selected from the group consisting of thiol (\u2014SH), thioacid (\u2014COSH), dithioacid (\u2014CSSH), sulfide (\u2014S\u2014) and disulfide (\u2014SS\u2014), attached to a metallic substrate and a biomolecule in an active form to a photoreaction at wavelength of at least 320 nm, in the absence of any incident light below 320 nm.
14. Macromolecule of claim 2, wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of agarose, dextran, carrageenan, alginic acid, starch, and cellulose, and a derivative thereof.
15. Macromolecule of claim 2, wherein the polysaccharide is dextran, in particular amino-dextran or carboxymethyl-dextran.
16. Macromolecule of claim 15, wherein the saccharide is amino-dextrane or carboxydextrane, the total amino functions or carboxy functions available for subsequent functionalization with both the photoactivatable groups and the sulfur-containing groups being 0.01 to 0.5 mol per mol glucose monomer.