X-ray cassette holder apparatus

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6652140
  • Patent Number
    6,652,140
  • Date Filed
    Monday, March 20, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 25, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
An apparatus to couple rigid items to a patient support including a patient support coupler and a holder.
Description




BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to hospital beds. More particularly, the present invention permits a patient to be x-rayed while positioned on the bed.




It is known to provide hospital beds having a support surface that is transparent to x-rays so that x-rays of a patient's upper body can be performed without removing the patient from the bed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,149.




According to the present invention, an apparatus is provided to couple rigid items to a patient support. The apparatus includes a patient support coupler and a holder. The patient support coupler is adapted to couple to the patient support and is made of a material having a coefficient of friction. The holder is coupled to the patient support coupler and is configured to receive and hold a rigid item. The holder includes a surface having a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the patient support coupler.




In addition, according to the present invention, an apparatus is provided to couple rigid items to a patient support. The apparatus includes a patient support coupler adapted to couple to the patient support and a holder coupled to the patient support coupler. The holder is configured to receive and hold a rigid item and is made of a pliable material.




Further, according to the present invention, an apparatus is provided to couple rigid items to a patient support that includes a support surface. The apparatus includes a patient support coupler adapted to couple to the patient support and a holder coupled to the patient support coupler. The holder is configured to receive and hold a rigid item and is positioned on an upper surface of the support surface.




Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a hospital bed and an x-ray apparatus exploded away from the hospital bed;





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the x-ray apparatus and a portion of the hospital bed showing the x-ray apparatus including a bed coupler and an x-ray cassette holder positioned on an upper surface of a mattress of the hospital bed and a separate receptacle adapted to receive and hold an x-ray cassette:





FIG. 3

is a sectional view taken along line


3





3


of

FIG. 2

showing the x-ray cassette positioned in the x-ray cassette holder;





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an x-ray apparatus; and





FIG. 5

is a sectional view, similar to

FIG. 3

, taken along line


5





5


of

FIG. 4

showing the x-ray cassette positioned in the x-ray holder.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




A hospital bed or patient support


10


having an x-ray apparatus


12


is shown in FIG.


1


. The hospital bed


10


includes a head end


14


, a foot end


16


, a frame


18


, an articulating deck


20


movable relative to frame


18


, and a mattress or patient support surface


22


positioned on deck


20


. The x-ray apparatus


12


is coupled to head end


14


of bed


10


so that a rigid item such as an x-ray cassette or CPR board can be positioned between mattress


22


and a patient lying on mattress


22


.




The mattress


20


, shown in

FIGS. 1-3

, includes a head portion


24


at the head end


14


of the bed


10


, a foot portion


26


at the foot end


16


of the bed


10


, and a central portion


28


positioned between head and foot portions


24


,


26


. The x-ray apparatus


12


is coupled to head portion


24


of mattress


22


by sliding x-ray apparatus


12


in direction


30


onto head portion


24


of mattress


22


. Preferably, the head portion


24


of mattress


22


is positioned upwardly at an angle relative to the central portion


28


, as shown in

FIG. 1

, when the caregiver slides x-ray apparatus


12


onto mattress


22


.




The x-ray apparatus


12


includes a patient support or bed coupler


32


and an item holder


34


, as shown, for example, in

FIGS. 1-3

. The holder


34


includes first and second receptacles


36


,


38


that receive and hold a rigid item such as an x-ray cassette


40


. In the illustrated embodiment, the first receptacle


36


is a pouch having spaced-apart first and second sides


42


,


44


, spaced-apart first and second ends


46


,


48


extending between the first and second sides


42


,


44


, and upper and lower layers


50


,


52


. The upper and lower layers


50


,


52


are coupled at their first and second ends


46


,


48


and at portions of their first and second sides


42


,


44


adjacent to the ends


46


,


48


to define a cavity


62


. Openings


64


,


66


in communication with cavity


68


are defined on first and second sides


42


,


44


by the portions of upper and lower layers


50


,


52


which are not coupled to each other. The upper layer


50


of first receptacle


36


includes a lower surface


68


facing into and defining cavity


62


and an upper surface


70


on which a patient lies when lying in bed


10


as shown in FIG.


3


. The lower layer


52


of first receptacle


36


includes an upper surface


72


facing into and defining cavity


62


and a lower surface


74


facing toward and lying on mattress


22


.




The second receptacle


38


includes a cavity


76


and an opening


78


into cavity


76


as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

. The x-ray cassette


40


is positioned in cavity


76


of second receptacle


38


by sliding the cassette


40


through the opening


78


into cavity


76


. In the illustrated embodiment, the x-ray cassette


40


has a length


80


of 18⅛ inches, a width


82


of 15⅛ inches, and a thickness


84


of ½ inch. To facilitate insertion of x-ray cassette


40


into second receptacle


38


, second receptacle


38


has an interior length


86


greater than 18⅛ inches, an interior width


88


greater than 15⅛ inches, and an interior height


90


greater than ½ inch.




Once the cassette


40


is positioned in second receptacle


38


, the second receptacle


38


is slid through one of openings


64


,


66


of the first receptacle


36


into cavity


62


of first receptacle


36


. To facilitate placement of x-ray cassette


40


relative to a patient positioned on bed


10


to obtain a desired x-ray image, openings


64


,


66


along sides


42


,


44


of the first receptacle


36


have a length


92


that is substantially greater than length


86


of second receptacle


38


.




The bed coupler


32


of x-ray apparatus


12


includes a receptacle


94


coupled to first end


46


of first receptacle


36


of holder


34


and first and second straps


96


,


98


coupled to second end


48


of first receptacle


36


of holder


34


. The receptacle


94


defines a cavity


110


in which a section of head portion


24


of mattress


22


is positioned as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

. In the illustrated embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1-3

, the mattress


22


includes an upper surface


112


, a lower surface


114


, a head end edge


116


extending between the upper and lower surfaces


112


,


114


, and a step vertical surface


118


dividing portions of the lower surface


114


. The step vertical surface


118


permits the mattress


22


to fit in a step articulating deck


20


(stepped portion of the deck not shown).




The receptacle


94


of bed coupler


32


includes five walls


120


,


122


,


124


,


126


, which define the outer limits of the receptacle


94


and cover a section of the head portion


24


of the mattress


22


. The first wall is an upper wall


120


which abuts the upper surface


112


of the mattress


22


. The second and third walls are side walls


122


, which abut sides of the mattress


22


. The fourth wall is an end wall


124


which abuts the head end edge


116


of mattress


22


. The fifth wall is a lower wall


126


which abuts the lower surface


118


of the mattress


22


. These five walls


120


,


122


,


124


,


126


surround a section of the head portion


24


of the mattress


22


to couple the x-ray apparatus


12


to bed


10


. In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle


94


is integral with lower layer


52


of first receptacle


36


of holder


34


as shown in FIG.


3


. In alternative embodiments, the receptacle may be a separate component coupled to the holder. In alternative embodiments, the receptacle may include an additional component to provide a more positive interaction or coupling between the bed coupler and mattress. For example, in alternative embodiments, elastic material may be coupled to the walls or interactive latches may be coupled to one or more of the walls and one or more of the mattress or bed.




The straps


96


,


98


are coupled to respective sides


42


,


44


of holder


34


adjacent to second end


48


of holder


34


as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. In the illustrated embodiment, the bed


10


includes handles


128


on each side of the bed


10


and the straps


96


,


98


are adapted to attach to the handles


128


. In preferred embodiments, each of the straps


96


,


98


includes a fastener


130


that is used to coupled straps


96


,


98


to bed


10


. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener


130


is a hook


132


and loop


134


type fastener, although any suitable fastener such as snaps, ties, etc., can be used. In alternative embodiments, the straps


96


,


98


may also be secured to other structure of the bed or components coupled to the bed.




The straps


96


,


98


and handles


128


comprise interactive latches with one component being part of the bed


10


and a mating part being part of the x-ray apparatus


12


. In alternative embodiments, other types of interactive latches such as detent/notch mechanisms may be used. In preferred embodiments, the interactive latches are adjustable so that the latches can be used regardless of the elevation of the head portion


24


of the mattress


22


.




In the illustrated embodiment, bed coupler


32


and first receptacle


36


of holder


34


are made from a water impermeable material such as Penn-nyla Po-88 or Penn-nyla Po-238. In preferred embodiments, the upper and lower


50


,


52


of first receptacle


36


and straps


96


,


98


are coupled by ultrasonic welding. However, in alternative embodiments, these components may be coupled by coupled by heat welding, radio frequency (“RF”) welding, stitching, or any other conventional method.




The second receptacle


38


of holder


34


is made from a material that has a lower coefficient of friction compared to the water impermeable material of the first receptacle


36


. In the preferred embodiment, the second receptacle


38


is made from a denier rip stop nylon. The surface of the rip stop nylon is smooth and substantially slicker than water impermeable material to permit the second receptacle


38


to slide easily into the cavity


62


of the first receptacle


36


.




The x-ray apparatus


12


is coupled to bed


10


by lifting head portion


24


of mattress


22


, as shown in

FIG. 1

, and sliding receptacle


94


of bed coupler


32


over head portion


24


of mattress


22


. The first receptacle


36


of holder


34


is then positioned over mattress


22


, as shown in

FIG. 2

, and straps


96


,


98


of bed coupler


32


are coupled to bed


10


.




To use the x-ray cassette apparatus


12


to assist in taking an x-ray of a patient positioned on bed


10


, x-ray cassette


40


is inserted into second receptacle


38


of holder


34


and the second receptacle


38


and x-ray cassette


40


are slid into first receptacle


36


of holder


34


as shown in FIG.


3


. Once the x-ray cassette


40


is placed in holder


34


in the desired position, the cassette


40


may be used to obtain the desired x-ray image.




A second embodiment of the x-ray apparatus


150


is shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. X-ray apparatus


150


includes a bed coupler


152


and a holder


154


. The holder


154


is a receptacle that includes first and second ends


156


,


158


, first and second sides


160


,


162


extending between the ends


156


,


158


, first and second upper layers


164


,


166


, and a lower layer


168


. The layers


164


,


166


,


168


are coupled to each other and the bed coupler


152


at the first and second ends


156


,


158


and portionsx of the first and second sides


160


,


162


adjacent to the ends


156


,


158


. The first upper layer


164


includes an upper surface


170


on which a patient in the bed


10


lies.




The second upper layer


166


and lower layer


168


define a cavity


172


and openings


174


,


176


that are in communication with the cavity


172


. Openings


174


,


176


are defined on first and second sides


160


,


162


by the portions of second upper layer


166


and lower layer


168


which are not coupled to each other. The second upper layer


166


includes a lower surface


178


facing into cavity


172


and the lower layer


168


includes an upper surface


180


which similarly faces into cavity


172


. The lower layer


168


also includes a lower surface


178


which faces toward bed coupler


152


.




The bed coupler


152


includes five walls


182


,


184


,


186


,


188


,


190


which define the outer limits of the bed coupler


152


and cover a section of the head portion


24


of the mattress


22


. The first wall is an upper wall


182


which abuts the upper surface


112


of the mattress


22


. The second and third walls are side walls


184


,


186


which abut sides of the mattress


22


. The fourth wall is an end wall


188


which abuts the head end edge


116


of mattress


22


. The fifth wall is a lower wall


190


which abuts the lower surface


118


of the mattress


22


. These five walls


182


,


184


,


186


,


188


,


190


surround a section of the head portion


24


of the mattress


22


to couple the x-ray apparatus


150


to bed


10


.




The bed coupler


152


and first upper layer


164


of holder


154


are formed from an appropriate water impermeable material such as Penn-nyla. To facilitate insertion of an x-ray cassette


40


into holder


154


, second layer


166


and lower layer


168


of holdler


154


are made of a material having a lower coefficient of friction compared to the water impermeable material used to make bed coupler


152


and first upper layer


164


of holder


154


. In preferred embodiments, the second upper layer


166


and lower layer


168


of holder


154


are made of rip stop nylon.




To couple the x-ray apparatus


150


to bed


10


, the bed coupler


152


is slid over head portion


24


of mattress


22


to the position shown in FIG.


5


. The x-ray cassette


40


may then be slid through one of the openings


174


,


176


in the sides


160


,


162


of holder


154


and positioned in holder to obtain


154


to obtain the desired x-ray image. To facilitate placement of x-ray cassette


40


relative to a patient positioned on bed


10


to obtain a desired x-ray image, openings


174


,


176


along sides


160


,


162


of the holder


154


have a length


192


that is substantially greater than the length


80


of cassette


40


.




The materials used to make the x-ray apparatus


12


,


150


are pliable materials which do not interfere with the interaction or interface pressures between the patient and the mattress


22


. While both embodiments of x-ray apparatus


12


,


150


have been described as being fabricated from Penn-nyla and rip stop nylon, it is to be understood that x-ray apparatus fabricated from other suitable materials are within the teaching of this disclosure.




In alternative embodiments, the relatively low friction layers


166


,


168


of x-ray apparatus


150


and the relatively low friction second receptacle


38


of x-ray apparatus


12


may be used with either of the bed couplers


32


,


152


of x-ray apparatus


12


,


150


. In other alternative embodiments, the x-ray apparatus


12


,


150


may be rotated 180° and coupled to the bed


10


so that the x-ray cassette


40


is positioned between the mattress


22


and the support deck


20


of frame


18


. In addition, the x-ray apparatus


12


,


150


may be placed at any desired location relative to the mattress such as on the foot portion


26


or central portion


28


.




Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. An apparatus for coupling a rigid item to a patient support, the apparatus comprisinga patient support coupler adapted to couple to the patient support, the patient support coupler being made of a material having a first coefficient of friction, and a holder coupled to the patient support coupler, the holder being configured to receive and hold the rigid item, the holder including a surface having second coefficient of friction that is less than the first coefficient of friction, and the surface of the holder being adapted to abut the rigid item.
  • 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder includes a first material having a first material coefficient of friction and a second material including a surface having a second material coefficient of friction which is less than the first material coefficient of friction.
  • 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second materials are coupled to each other and the second material defines a cavity which receives the rigid item.
  • 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder includes first and second receptacles, the first receptacle is coupled to the patient support and defines a cavity adapted to receive the second receptacle, and the second receptacle defines a cavity adapted to receive the rigid item.
  • 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first receptacle includes a first receptacle coefficient of friction and the second receptacle includes a surface having second receptacle coefficient of friction that is less than the first receptacle coefficient of friction.
  • 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient support coupler includes a receptacle adapted to cover a portion of a support surface of the patient support.
  • 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient support coupler and patient support include interactive latches.
  • 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the interactive latch of the patient support coupler includes a strap adapted to couple to the patient support.
  • 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the patient support coupler further includes a receptacle adapted to couple to an end of a support surface of the patient support.
  • 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receptacle is spaced apart from the interactive latch of the patient support coupler.
  • 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the holder includes spaced-apart first and second ends, the receptacle is coupled to the first end of the holder, and the interactive latch of the patient support coupler is coupled to the second end of the holder.
  • 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient support coupler includes first and second couplers that are spaced-apart from each other.
  • 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder includes a first opening to receive an x-ray cassette.
  • 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the holder includes a second opening to receive an x-ray cassette.
  • 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the holder includes first and second sides and first and second ends which extend between the first and second sides, the first opening is on the first side of the holder, and the second opening is on the second side of the holder.
  • 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient support coupler is made of a pliable material.
  • 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder is made of a pliable material.
  • 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the patient support coupler is made of a pliable material.
  • 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder is positioned on an upper surface of a mattress of a patient support.
  • 20. An apparatus for coupling a rigid item to a patient support, the apparatus comprisinga patient support coupler adapted to couple to the patient support, and a holder coupled to the patient support coupler, the holder being configured to receive and hold the rigid item, and the holder being made of a pliable material.
  • 21. An apparatus for coupling a rigid item to a patient support, the apparatus comprisinga patient support coupler adapted to couple to the patient support, a holder coupled to the patient support coupler, the holder being configured to receive and hold the rigid item, and the holder being made of a pliable material; and wherein the holder includes a first material having a first material coefficient of friction and a second material including a surface having a second material coefficient of friction which is less than the first material coefficient of friction.
  • 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second materials are coupled to each other and the second material defines a cavity which receives the rigid item.
  • 23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the holder includes first and second receptacles, the first receptacle is coupled to the patient support and defines a cavity adapted to receive the second receptacle, and the second receptacle defines a cavity adapted to receive the rigid item.
  • 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first receptacle includes a first receptacle coefficient of friction and the second receptacle includes a surface having second receptacle coefficient of friction that is less than the first receptacle coefficient of friction.
  • 25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the patient support coupler includes a receptacle adapted to cover a portion of a support surface of the patient support.
  • 26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the patient support coupler and patient support include interactive latches.
  • 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the interactive latch of the patient support coupler includes a strap adapted to couple to the patient support.
  • 28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the patient support coupler further includes a receptacle adapted to couple to an end of a support surface of the patient support.
  • 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the receptacle is spaced apart from the interactive latch of the patient support coupler.
  • 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the holder includes spaced-apart first and second ends, the receptacle is coupled to the first end of the holder, and the interactive latch of the patient support coupler is coupled to the second end of the holder.
  • 31. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the patient support coupler includes first and second couplers that are spaced-apart from each other.
  • 32. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the holder includes a first opening to receive an x-ray cassette.
  • 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the holder includes a second opening to receive an x-ray cassette.
  • 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the holder includes first and second sides and first and second ends which extend between the first and second sides, the first opening is on the first side of the holder, and the second opening is on the second side of the holder.
  • 35. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the patient support coupler is made of a pliable material.
  • 36. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the holder is positioned on an upper surface of a patient support.
  • 37. An apparatus for coupling a rigid item to a patient support having a support surface, the apparatus comprisinga patient support coupler adapted to couple to the patient support, and a holder coupled to the patient support coupler, the holder being configured to receive and hold the rigid item, and the holder being positioned on an upper surface of the support surface.
  • 38. An apparatus for coupling a rigid item to a patient support having a support surface, the apparatus comprisinga patient support coupler adapted to couple to the patient support, a holder coupled to the patient support coupler, the holder being configured to receive and hold the rigid item, and the holder being positioned on an upper surface of the support surface; and wherein the holder includes a first material having a first material coefficient of friction and a second material including a surface having a second material coefficient of friction which is less than the first material coefficient of friction.
  • 39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first and second materials are coupled to each other and the second material defines a cavity which receives the rigid item.
  • 40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the holder includes first and second receptacles, the first receptacle is coupled to the patient support and defines a cavity adapted to receive the second receptacle, and the second receptacle defines a cavity adapted to receive the rigid item.
  • 41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the first receptacle includes a first receptacle coefficient of friction and the second receptacle includes a surface having second receptacle coefficient of friction that is less than the first receptacle coefficient of friction.
  • 42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the patient support coupler includes a receptacle adapted to cover a portion of a support surface of the patient support.
  • 43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the patient support coupler and patient support include interactive latches.
  • 44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the interactive latch of the patient support coupler includes a strap adapted to couple to the patient support.
  • 45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the patient support coupler further includes a receptacle adapted to couple to an end of a support surface of the patient support.
  • 46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the receptacle is spaced-apart from the interactive latch of the patient support coupler.
  • 47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the holder includes spaced-apart first and second ends, the receptacle is coupled to the first end of the holder, and the interactive latch of the patient support coupler is coupled to the second end of the holder.
  • 48. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the patient support coupler includes first and second couplers that are spaced apart from each other.
  • 49. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the holder includes a first opening to receive an x-ray cassette.
  • 50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the holder includes a second opening to receive an x-ray cassette.
  • 51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the holder includes first and second sides and first and second ends which extend between the first and second sides, the first opening is on the first side of the holder, and the second opening is on the second side of the holder.
  • 52. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the patient support coupler is made of a pliable material.
  • 53. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the holder is made of a pliable material.
  • 54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the patient support coupler is made of a pliable material.
  • 55. An apparatus for coupling a rigid item to a patient support having a support surface, the apparatus comprisinga patient support coupler adapted to couple to the patient support, the patient support coupler including a receptacle configured to receive and cover an end portion of the support surface of the patient support; and a holder coupled to the patient support coupler, the holder being configured to receive and hold the rigid item.
  • 56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the patient support coupler and the patient support include interactive latches.
  • 57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the interactive latch of the patient support coupler includes a strap adapted to couple to he patient support.
  • 58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the interactive latch of the patient support, coupler is spaced-apart From the receptacle.
  • 59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the holder includes spaced-apart first and second ends, the receptacle is coupled to the first end of the holder, and the interactive latch of the patient support coupler is coupled to the second end of the holder.
  • 60. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the patient support coupler is made of a pliable material.
  • 61. The apparatus of claim 55, whereinthe support surface is defined by a mattress; and the receptacle includes an upper wall configured to abut the support surface, a pair of side walls coupled to the upper wall and configured to abut sides of the mattress, an end wall coupled to the upper wall and configured to abut a head end edge of the mattress, and a lower wall coupled to the pair of side walls and configured to abut a lower surface of the mattress.
  • 62. An apparatus for coupling a rigid item to a patient support having a support surface, the apparatus comprising:a patient support coupler adapted to couple to the patient support; a first receptacle coupled to the patient support coupler and defining a first cavity; and a second receptacle configured to be received within the first cavity of the first receptacle, the second receptacle defining a second cavity adapted to receive the rigid item.
  • 63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the first receptacle includes a surface having a first receptacle coefficient of friction and the second receptacle includes a surface having second receptacle coefficient of friction that is less than the first receptacle coefficient of friction.
  • 64. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the first receptacle includes first and second sides, first and second ends which extend between the first and second sides, a first opening formed in the first side, and a second opening formed in the second side.
  • 65. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the rigid item comprises an x-ray cassette.
  • 66. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the holder is made of a pliable material.
  • 67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the coupler is made of a pliable material.
Parent Case Info

This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/125,375 filed Mar. 19, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

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Entry
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Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/125375 Mar 1999 US