U.S. patent application number 12/554590 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-31 for devise holder apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to BARIL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Daniel J. Baril.
Application Number | 20090321457 12/554590 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41446171 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090321457 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baril; Daniel J. |
December 31, 2009 |
Devise Holder Apparatus
Abstract
In one aspect, a medical device holder apparatus may include a
housing molded into a predetermined shape and size that
accommodates the medical device. Also included is a flange attached
to the housing. The flange has a surface attachment side in which
an adhesive is disposed on and aids in attaching the flange to a
surface. The flange is made from a pliable material capable of
conforming to a surface and adapting to surface movement and
flexing. In another aspect, the housing is comprised of a
stretchable substrate conformable to the shape of the medical
device. In another aspect, a medical device holder kit may include
a medical device holder, similar to those described earlier. Also
included is at least one coupling medium held between a surface and
the device by the device holder.
Inventors: |
Baril; Daniel J.; (Hampton,
NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARIL CORP./GTPP
55 So. Commercial St.
Manchester
NH
03101
US
|
Assignee: |
BARIL CORPORATION
Haverhill
MA
|
Family ID: |
41446171 |
Appl. No.: |
12/554590 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11020767 |
Dec 23, 2004 |
|
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12554590 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/600 ;
29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49826 20150115;
A61B 8/4209 20130101; A61B 8/4236 20130101; A61B 8/4281
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/600 ;
29/428 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/00 20060101
B65D025/00 |
Claims
1. A medical device holder apparatus for holding a medical device
against the skin of a patient, the holder having a predetermined
shape and size, the apparatus comprising: a housing comprised of a
first material, the housing molded into a shape that is
complementary to the shape and size of the medical device, the
housing defining at least one opening therein; a flange attached to
the housing, the flange having a skin attachment side for
attachment to the skin; and an adhesive disposed on the skin
attachment side of the flange, wherein the flange comprises a
second material that is different from the first material, the
second material capable of conforming to the skin surface and
adapting to movements and flexibility of the skin allowing the
flange to remain in contact with the skin surface.
2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a
hydrogel adhesive.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first material is capable
of being injection or blow molded.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is molded and the
flange is cut from a sheet.
5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the flange further
comprises a tab having a predetermined size and shape.
6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the flange further
comprises a slit extending through the flange to the housing.
7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said adhesive is a
repositionable adhesive.
8. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing defines
at least one hole of adequate dimension to provide for manipulation
of controls on the device.
9. A medical device holder apparatus for holding a medical device
against skin, the apparatus comprising: a housing comprised of a
stretchable substrate conformable to the shape of the medical
device the housing having an open portion and a closed portion, and
the housing defining at least one opening therein; a flange
attached to the housing, the flange having an adhesive side, the
adhesive side being on the same side as the open portion of the
housing; and an adhesive disposed on the adhesive side of the
flange, wherein the flange comprises a pliable material capable of
conforming to the skin surface and adapting to movements and
flexibility of the skin and muscle allowing the flange to remain in
contact with the skin surface, and wherein the housing comprises a
material that is different than the flange material.
10. The apparatus set forth in claim 9, wherein the flange further
comprises a tab having a predetermined size and shape.
11. The apparatus set forth in claim 9, further comprising a
release liner, the release liner at least partially covering the
adhesive on the adhesive side of the flange.
12. The apparatus set forth in claim 9, wherein the flange further
comprises a slit extending through the flange to the housing.
13. The apparatus set forth in claim 9, wherein the flange further
comprises a repositionable adhesive.
14. The apparatus set forth in claim 9, wherein the housing defines
at least one hole of adequate dimension to provide for manipulation
of controls on the device.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein housing comprises a moldable
thermopolymer and the flange comprises woven or non-woven
fabric.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flange is comprised of
rubber, silicone, latex, polyurethane or fabric.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is
transparent.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a
mini-flange constructed and arranged to be joined to the
flange.
19. A method of fabricating a holder for a medical device where the
medical device is to be maintained adjacent the patient's skin, the
method comprising: molding a housing to substantially conform to
the medical device; forming a flange designed to adhere to the
patient's skin; and attaching the flange to the housing to form the
holder.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising molding a mini-flange
into the housing.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/020,767, titled "DEVICE HOLDER APPARATUS"
filed Dec. 23, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated
by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a device holder apparatus.
Devices are often required to be close to a surface in which the
device is intended to effect, detect or otherwise interact. Many
devices are portable. Devices include electronic devices and
non-electronic devices. Examples of electronic devices are medical
devices, time keeping devices, cell phones, PDAs, organizers, music
devices such as MP3 player and portable personal stereos, as well
as other devices known in the art.
[0003] To keep the device close to the surface, oftentimes a holder
is used. A holder is any apparatus capable of holding something. A
holder can hold the entire device or part of the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The subject matter of the present disclosure may involve, in
some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a
particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of a
single system or article.
[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the
disclosure includes a device holder apparatus including a housing
having a predetermined shape and size that accommodates the device.
Also included is a flange attached to the housing. The flange has a
surface attachment side which attaches to a surface.
[0006] Some aspects of this embodiment may include one of more of
the following: Where the flange further includes an adhesive on the
surface attachment side; where the adhesive is a hydrogel adhesive;
where the device holder includes a release liner at least partially
covering the adhesive on the adhesive side of the flange; where the
housing includes an open portion and a closed portion; where the
flange includes a tab of a predetermined size and shape; where
the
housing further includes at least one opening having a
predetermined size; and where the flange further includes a slit
extending through the flange to the housing.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
the disclosure includes a device holder apparatus including a
housing having a shape and size complementary to the device, the
housing having an open portion and a closed portion. Also included
is a flange attached to the housing, the flange having an adhesive
side, the adhesive side being on the same side as the open portion
of the housing.
[0008] Some aspects of this embodiment may include one of more of
the following: where the device holder further includes at least
one opening having a predetermined size; where the flange of the
device holder further includes a slit extending through the flange
to the housing; where the device holder further includes an
adhesive on the adhesive side of the flange; where the flange
includes a tab having a predetermined size and shape; and where the
device holder further include a release liner, the release liner at
least partially covers the adhesive on the adhesive side of the
flange.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
the disclosure includes a device holder kit. The kit includes a
device holder and at least one coupling medium. Some aspects of
this embodiment include one or more of the following: where the
device holder includes a housing having a shape and size
complementary to the device, the housing having an open portion and
a closed portion, and a flange attached to the housing, the flange
having an adhesive side, the adhesive side being on the same side
as the open portion of the housing; where the device holder further
includes at least one opening having a predetermined size; where
the flange further includes a slit extending through the flange to
the housing; where an adhesive is included on the adhesive side of
the flange; where the flange further includes a tab having a
predetermined size and shape; where the kit includes a release
liner, the release liner at least partially covering the adhesive
on the adhesive side of the flange; where the kit further includes
a slip sheet; and where the coupling medium is at least one
ultrasound gel pad.
[0010] In another aspect, a medical device holder apparatus for
holding a medical device against skin is provided, the apparatus
comprising a housing comprised of a first material, the housing
molded into a shape that is complementary to the shape and size of
the medical device, the housing defining at least one opening
therein, a flange attached to the housing, the flange having a skin
attachment side for attachment to the skin, and an adhesive
disposed on the skin attachment side of the flange, wherein the
flange comprises a second material that is different from the first
material, the second material capable of conforming to the skin
surface and adapting to movements and flexibility of the skin
allowing the flange to remain in contact with the skin surface.
[0011] In another aspect, a medical device holder apparatus for
holding a medical device against skin is provided, the apparatus
comprising a housing and a flange attached to the housing, wherein
the housing is comprised of a stretchable substrate conformable to
the shape of the medical device, the housing having an open portion
and a closed portion and the housing defining at least one opening
therein, and wherein an adhesive is disposed on an adhesive side of
the flange, whereby the adhesive side is on the same side as the
open portion of the housing, and wherein the flange comprises a
flexible, resilient, pliable material capable of conforming to the
skin surface and adapting to movements and flexibility of the skin
allowing the flange to remain in contact with the skin surface.
[0012] In another aspect, a method of fabricating a holder for a
medical device where the medical device is to be maintained
adjacent the patient's skin is provided, the method comprising
molding a housing to substantially conform to the medical device,
forming a flange designed to adhere to the patient's skin, and
attaching the flange to the housing to form the holder.
[0013] In another aspect, a medical device holder kit is provided,
the kit comprising a medical device holder capable of holding a
medical device against skin, the device holder having a housing and
a flange attached to the housing, wherein the housing is molded
into a shape that is complementary to the shape and size of the
device, the housing having an open portion and a closed portion, an
adhesive is disposed on an adhesive side of the flange, whereby the
adhesive side is on the same side as the open portion of the
housing, and at least one coupling medium, wherein the coupling
medium is held between the surface and the device by the device
holder through adherence of the adhesive side of the flange to the
surface, and wherein the flange comprises a pliable material
capable of conforming to the skin surface and adapting to movements
and flexibility of the skin, thus allowing the flange to remain in
contact with the skin surface
[0014] These aspects of the disclosure are not meant to be
exclusive and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art when read in conjunction with the appended claims
and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will be better understood by reading the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken together with
the drawings wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1A is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 1B is an exploded pictorial view of the embodiment of
the present invention shown in FIG. 1A;
[0018] FIG. 2A is a pictorial view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1A with a device inside the housing;
[0019] FIG. 2B is an exploded pictorial view of the embodiment of
the present invention shown in FIG. 2A;
[0020] FIG. 3A is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B with
the addition of the slip sheet, making it one embodiment of the
kit; and
[0021] FIG. 3B is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A with
the addition of the coupling medium.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The present disclosure is a holder for a device. In one
exemplary embodiment, the device is a medical device. However, in
other embodiments, the device is any device where the ability of
the device to attach to a surface is desired. The device holder of
the present disclosure holds the device and allows the device,
while held, to be attached to any surface. The device is either
held leaving the device directly interfacing with the surface (open
housing) or else the housing is closed (closed housing) and the
device does not touch the surface directly. Thus, in the open
embodiment of the present disclosure, the device is held securely
against a surface by the holder in such a way that the device
itself is actually in direct contact with the surface (open portion
of housing faces the surface).
[0023] In some embodiments, in addition to the opening, a coupling
medium can be placed between the device and the surface. The device
holder holds both the device and the coupling medium in place,
against the surface. The coupling medium can be any substance and
does not require adhesive characteristics, since the device holder
will hold the coupling medium as well as the device against the
surface.
[0024] Referring first to FIG. 1A, one embodiment of the present
invention is shown. The device holder 10 includes a housing 12 and
a flange 14. As shown in FIG. 1A, the housing 12 is shaped to
complement the device. Thus, in one embodiment of the present
invention, the housing is molded into a shape that is complementary
to the device it is intended to hold. The housing 12 can be made
from a variety of materials. For example, a molded substrate,
flexible film or foam or any other material capable of cupping or
holding the device. However, in other embodiments, the device
holder 10 is not molded, but rather, is made from any material
having a stretchable characteristic and therefore, inherently will
conform generally to the shape of the device once the device is
inserted into the housing 12.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2A, the housing 12 cups the device so
as to hold the device 30 in a stable manor. The dimensions of the
housing 12 vary depending on the device in which it is intended to
hold. Thus, although in the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the housing 12 is shaped so as to complement and hold
an ultrasound device 30, the invention is not limited to the
ultrasound device 30, but to any device, independent of shape or
utility.
[0026] Referring back to FIG. 1A, the device holder 10 includes a
flange 14 surrounding the housing 12. The flange 14 can have any
dimensions and the dimensions will vary depending on the device
that the device holder 10 is designed to hold. The flange 14 allows
the device holder 10 to be attached to a surface (not shown). In
one embodiment, the flange 14 includes an adhesive on the bottom
side (see 20, FIG. 1B). That is, the adhesive is on the attachment
side of the device holder 10.
[0027] The disclosure is not limited to any type of adhesive. In
the preferred embodiment, the adhesive is hydrogel. However, in
other embodiments, and depending on the type of device and the type
of surface in which the device holder will attach to, the adhesive
varies. In alternate embodiments, the adhesive is acrylic or rubber
based. The hydrogel is preferable for use with devices requiring
repositioning on the surface. For example, in the exemplary
embodiment, the device holder is shown to accommodate an ultrasound
device. In this embodiment, the user of the ultrasound device
likely will desire a device holder that attaches to the patient's
skin and maintain its position and has the ability to change the
position of the device on the patient's skin, and have the device
holder maintain that new position. Therefore, in this embodiment,
hydrogel is the most preferred adhesive. However, in other
embodiments, other repositionable and non-repositionable adhesive
systems such as acrylic or rubber-based are used depending on the
application and device to be adhered.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the flange 14 includes a tab
18. In some embodiments where the flange 14 includes an adhesive,
the tab 18 does not include the adhesive. However, in other
embodiments, the tab 18 includes an adhesive or else includes a
substrate to "kill" its adhesive properties. In some embodiments,
the release liner covers the tab 18 with an adhesive and is cut so
that the release liner can be removed from the adhesive on the
flange separately from the adhesive on the tab. Among other
functions, the tab 18 facilitates the removal of the device from
the housing 12.
[0029] Still referring to FIG. 1A, some embodiments of the housing
12 include at least one opening 16 of a predetermined size to
accommodate external elements of the device, or to allow for user
interaction with the device. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1A shows
one opening. In this embodiment, the opening accommodates a wire
from the device. Referring to FIG. 2A, the wire from the ultrasound
device 30 is shown emerging from the housing 12 through the opening
16. However, any element of any device can be accommodated by an
opening 16. In some embodiments, the housing 12 includes multiple
openings. The number of opening 16 is dependent on the type of
device being held in the device holder 10. In some embodiments, the
opening serves as a window to allow for manipulation of the
device.
[0030] Referring back to FIG. 1A, in embodiments using an adhesive,
a release liner 22 covers the adhesive so that the adhesive
maintains its cleanliness and adhesion qualities before the device
holder 10 is used. The release liner 22 can have any desired
dimensions, however, in the preferred embodiment, the release liner
22 covers the adhesive completely and is of a complimentary shape
to the adhesive. In the preferred embodiment, the release liner 22
is any substrate coated with silicone or a fluoropolymer treatment.
However, in other embodiments, the substrate is coated with any
other treatment known and used in the art.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2B, a slit 24 is included both in the
adhesive 20 and the release liner 22. In some embodiments, the slit
24 is not included in either the release liner 22 or the adhesive
20, and in still other embodiments, the slit 24 is included in
either the release liner 22 or the adhesive 20. The slit 24 extends
from the tab 18 into the housing 12. In embodiments not including
the tab 18, the slit extends from the outside of the flange 14 to
the housing 12. In still other embodiments, the slit 24 is located
anywhere on the flange 14. The slit 24 functions to reduce the peel
force necessary to remove the device holder from the surface to
which it is attached. The slit 24 additionally aids in the removal
of the release liner 22 from the adhesive 20. Additionally, the
slit 24 allows for better accommodation of wires and other external
elements through the opening 16.
[0032] Referring next to FIGS. 3A and 3B, one preferred embodiment
of the kit embodiment of the present disclosure is shown 34. The
kit 34, 36 includes the device holder 10, including the housing 12
and the flange 14. In embodiments including an adhesive, the
adhesive 20 is also included, as well as the release liner 22.
Finally, in some embodiments, a slip sheet 32 is included. A device
30 is shown for illustration only, the device 30 is not included as
part of the kit 34, 36.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, some embodiments of the
present disclosure 34, 36 include a slip sheet 32. The slip sheet
32 can have any dimensions desired. The slip sheet 32 can be made
from any material. In the preferred embodiment, the slip sheet 32
is slightly larger than the release liner 22 and is made of the
same material as the release liner. When using an adhesive such as
hydrogel, the adhesive has a tendency to migrate. The slip sheet 32
works to maintain the adhesive 20, specifically, to prevent the
adhesive from migrating and affixing to the packaging for the
device holder.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 3B, an embodiment of the kit 36 of the
present disclosure is shown. In this embodiment, the kit 36
includes the device holder 10, including the housing 12 and the
flange 14, the adhesive 20, the release liner 22, the slip sheet 32
and a coupling medium 38. The coupling medium 38 can be any
coupling medium that complements the device being held by the
device holder 10. In the exemplary embodiment, the device 30 is an
ultrasound device, and the coupling medium 38 is an ultrasound gel
pad. In other embodiments, more than one type of coupling medium 38
is included. In other exemplary embodiments, more than one
ultrasound gel pad 38 is included.
[0035] Referring back to FIG. 1B, the device holder includes an
adhesive 20 in some embodiments. However, in other embodiments, the
device holder does not include an adhesive. In these embodiments,
the device holder can be fastened to the surface by any means known
in the art.
[0036] Although in the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the invention is molded to the shape of the device that
it will hold, other embodiments do not employ this method. By
molding the shape of the housing, the device holder provides the
preferred hold of the device. However, this could also be
accomplished by using a stretchable or other conformable substrate
or the housing could be shaped in such a way that it holds a
variety of different devices. Thus, the housing can be any generic
shape.
[0037] In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A and 2B and
described above, the housing 12 and the flange 14 are one molded
part from the same material. In other embodiments, however, the
housing 12 and flange 14 can be fabricated from different materials
and subsequently joined together to form the device holder.
[0038] It has been found when the housing and flange are made from
a rigid material that the device may be too rigid and unable to
conform to patient's skin surfaces. The rigid flange may lose
contact with the skin when the patient moves or is moved and may be
uncomfortable to the patient. It has also been determined that the
entire device, including the housing and the flange, may be
difficult to mold as one piece and that, despite common belief to
the contrary, a two-piece device may actually be more cost
effective even though it requires additional forming and adhering
steps. As a result, a preferred set of embodiments includes a
flange made of a material having sufficient flexibility such that
the flange will adapt to movement and flexing of a surface upon
which it is attached, while the housing can be made of a different
material that may be transparent.
[0039] The flange may be made from any pliable and flexible
material that will conform generally to the shape of the desired
surface, such as a patient's skin. Because the material is able to
adapt to movements and flexibility of the skin and muscle, the
flange is more likely to remain in contact with the skin surface
and likelihood of detachment is decreased. The flange (and/or
adhesive) may be made of a material that is suitable for contact
with human skin while the housing may be made from a broader range
of materials.
[0040] The flange provides support for the adhesive. The flange can
also be used to fasten the device holder to any surface, absent an
adhesive. The flange can be any size to allow for a different
amount of adhesive area available for attachment to the surface. In
this way, any device of any weight or size can be held onto the
surface. The flange may be made from either natural or synthetic
flexible and resilient materials such as fabrics, polymers and/or
copolymers. Examples include polyurethane, latex, natural rubber,
nylon (polyamides), polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC,
fluoroplastics, silicone, block copolymers, polyethers, composites
and woven and non-woven fabrics. The flange material may be elastic
and may, in some embodiments, have a Young's Modulus (GPa) of less
than 1.0, less than 0.5, less than 0.2 or less than 0.1. In one set
of embodiments the flange is made from a nonwoven fabric such as a
spunlace. An example of this material is DuPont Spunlace
Sontara.RTM.. The hardness of the flange material may be measured
on the Shore A hardness scale and may be less than 100, less than
90, less than 70 or less than 50. The flange may be die cut from a
sheet and need not be molded. Those skilled in the art will
understand that any other material suitable for similar medical
applications may also be used.
[0041] The housing may be made from any material capable of being
molded to the shape of the device. However, in other embodiments,
the housing may be made from a conformable substrate, the substrate
having more rigidity than the flange material. The housing may be
made from either natural or synthetic materials such as polymers
and/or copolymers and other materials suitable for use with medical
applications. Examples include nylon (polyamides), polyimides,
polycarbonate, polyester, polystyrene, polypropylene, ABS, PET,
polyethylene, PVC, fluoroplastics, block copolymers, polyethers and
composites thereof. These materials may be transparent so that an
observer can look at readings or indicators on the device being
held. The hardness of the housing material may be measured on the
Shore A or Shore D scale and may be greater than 0, greater than
10, greater than 20 greater than 30 or greater than 50 on the D
scale. Of course, softer moldable materials may also be used in
other embodiments.
[0042] The flange may be joined to the housing by methods known to
those of skill in the art including, for example, adhesives and
ultrasonic welding. In some cases, one material may be overmolded
onto the other material. For instance, the flange may be overmolded
onto the housing. The housing may include a mini-flange that can be
used in attaching the housing to the flange. The mini-flange may be
arranged so that it is in substantially the same plane as is the
flange. The flange can then be secured to the mini-flange by, for
example, an adhesive, welding or by overmolding.
[0043] Referring again to FIG. 3B, an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure is shown. In this embodiment, an ultrasound
device 30 is held by the device holder 10. The ultrasound device 30
is placed into the housing 12 of the device holder 10. A wire from
the ultrasound device 30 is allowed through the opening 16. The
release liner 22 is then removed from the adhesive 20, the
ultrasound gel pad 38 is placed in the location desired, and the
flange 14 is pressed onto the skin of a patient. Thus, the
ultrasound device 30 is now touching the ultrasound gel pad 38, and
the device holder 10 is maintaining the ultrasound device 30 and
ultrasound gel pad 38 in the desired location on the patient's
skin. In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive 20 is a hydrogel.
However, when desired, the device holder 10 is pulled from the
skin, and the device holder 10 is moved to a new location on the
patient. The flange 14 is then pressed onto the skin, the hydrogel,
being reusable, securely fastens the ultrasound device 30 against
the patient's skin in this second location. This can be repeated
any number of times.
[0044] In other embodiments, the device is an insulin pump, a
tocodynamometer, a fetal heart beat monitor, or any other medical
device where it is desirable to maintain the device in a stable
position, and at the same time, maintain the ability to move the
device when desired. The present invention allows for attachment to
the skin or any other surface, and then removal and re-attachment
of the device to another location. In other embodiments,
non-medical devices are used with the device holder. These include
MP3 or other personal music players or personal stereos, cell
phones, PDAs, smartphones such as BLACKBERRYS and any other device
where the user desires the device to attach to a surface and/or
their skin, and/or have the ability to remove the device when
desired, and/or to change the location of the device easily.
[0045] While several embodiments of the present disclosure have
been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in
the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or
structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the
results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and
each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within
the scope of the present disclosure. More generally, those skilled
in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions,
materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be
exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials,
and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or
applications for which the teachings of the present invention
is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to
ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many
equivalents to the specific embodiments of the disclosure described
herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing
embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the
disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described and claimed. The present disclosure is directed to each
individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method
described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such
features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if
such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods
are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the
present invention.
[0046] All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be
understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in
documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of
the defined terms.
[0047] The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used herein in the
specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the
contrary, should be understood to mean "at least one."
[0048] The phrase "and/or," as used herein in the specification and
in the claims, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the
elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively
present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases.
Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements
specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, whether related or
unrelated to those elements specifically identified, unless clearly
indicated to the contrary.
[0049] All references, patents and patent applications and
publications that are cited or referred to in this application are
incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.
* * * * *