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METAL ALLOY HAVING RHENIUM EFFECT

20240254597 ยท 2024-08-01

    Inventors

    Cpc classification

    International classification

    Abstract

    A medical device that is at least partially formed of a metal alloy that includes at least 15 awt. % rhenium, and a medical device that is partially or fully formed of such metal alloy.

    Claims

    1. A metal alloy that includes rhenium in an amount of at least 15 awt. % of said metal alloy; said metal alloy including one or more alloying metals selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, hafnium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, niobium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rare earth metals, rhodium, ruthenium, scandium, silver, silicon, tantalum, technetium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium; a combined weight percent of rhenium and alloying metals is at least 70 wt. % of said metal alloy; said metal alloy has a) an increase of at least 10% in ductility as compared to said metal alloy that is absent rhenium, and/or b) an increase of at least 10% in tensile strength.

    2. The metal alloy as defined in claim 1, wherein said metal alloy comprises: I) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and 50-78 wt. % iron, and one or more of a) 9-27 wt. % chromium, b) 0.1-26 wt. % nickel, c) 0.01-7 wt. % molybdenum, d) 0.01-16 wt. % manganese, e) 0.01-4 wt. % silicon, f) 0.01-2 wt. % titanium, g) 0.01-1 wt. % selenium, h) 0.01-1 wt. % niobium, i) 0.01-2 wt. % aluminum, j) 0.01-1 wt. % tantalum, k) 0.01-1 wt. % cobalt, 1) 0.01-5 wt. % copper, m) 0.01-1 wt. % vanadium, and n) 0.01-2 wt. % tungsten; or II) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and 35-68 wt. % cobalt, and one or more of a) 12-28 wt. % chromium, b) 0.01-38 wt. % nickel, c) 0.1-30 wt. % molybdenum, d) 0.01-2 wt. % manganese, e) 0.01-1 wt. % silicon, f) 0.01-18 wt. % tungsten, g) 0.01-0.5 wt. % lanthanum, h) 0.01-20 wt. % iron, i) 0.01-5 wt. % titanium, j) 0.01-2 wt. % niobium, k) 0.01-2 wt. % aluminum, 1) 0.01-1 wt. % silicon, m) 0.01-0.5 wt. % boron, and n) 0.01-0.5 wt. % silver; or III) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and 70-91.5 wt. % titanium, and one or more of a) 2-8 wt. % aluminum, b) 0.01-16 wt. % vanadium, c) 0.01-1 wt. % iron, d) 0.01-0.5 wt. % yttrium, e) 0.01-20 wt. % chromium, f) 0-16 wt. % molybdenum, g) 0.01-2 wt. % nickel, h) 0.01-12 wt. % tin, i) 0.01-6 wt. % zirconium, j) 0.01-2 wt. % tantalum, k) 0.01-4 wt. % niobium, 1) 0.01-1 wt. % silicon, and m) 0.01-3 wt. % iron; or IV) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 35-84 wt. % tantalum, and one or more of a) 0.1-25 wt. % tungsten, b) 0.1-30 wt. % molybdenum, c) 0.01-45 wt. % niobium, d) 0.01-5 wt. % chromium, f) 0.01-5 wt. % titanium, g) 0.01-5 wt. % zirconium, and h) 0.01-4 wt. % hafnium; or V) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 40-85 wt. % niobium, and one or more of a) 0.01-20 wt. % molybdenum, b) 0.01-35 wt. % tantalum, c) 0.01-12 wt. % hafnium, d) 0.01-5 wt. % zirconium, e) 0.01-3 wt. % titanium, f) 0.01-15 wt. % tungsten, and g) 0.01-1 wt. % yttrium; or VI) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 30-58 wt. % titanium, and 30-58 wt. % nickel; or VII) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, and one or more of a) 1-85 awt. % chromium, b) 0.1-10 awt. % titanium, c) 0.1-10 awt. % molybdenum, and d) 0.1-10 awt. % zirconium.

    3. The metal alloy as defined in claim 1, wherein said metal alloy includes up to 75 wt. % rhenium.

    4. The metal alloy as defined in claim 2, wherein said metal alloy includes up to 50 wt. % rhenium.

    5. The metal alloy as defined in claim 1, wherein said metal alloy includes less than 35 wt. % rhenium.

    6. The metal alloy as defined in claim 2, wherein said metal alloy includes less than 35 wt. % rhenium.

    7. The metal alloy as defined in claim 1, wherein said metal alloy includes less than 25 wt. % rhenium.

    8. The metal alloy as defined in claim 2, wherein said metal alloy includes less than 25 wt. % rhenium.

    9. A medical device that is partially or fully formed of a metal alloy; said metal alloy includes rhenium in an amount of at least 15 awt. % of said metal alloy; said metal alloy including one or more alloying metals selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, hafnium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, niobium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rare earth metals, rhodium, ruthenium, scandium, silver, silicon, tantalum, technetium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium; a combined weight percent of rhenium and alloying metals is at least 70 wt. % of said metal alloy; said metal alloy has a) an increase of at least 10% in ductility as compared to said metal alloy that is absent rhenium, and/or b) an increase of at least 10% in tensile strength.

    10. The medical device as defined in claim 9, wherein said metal alloy comprises: I) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and 50-78 wt. % iron, and one or more of a) 9-27 wt. % chromium, b) 0.1-26 wt. % nickel, c) 0.01-7 wt. % molybdenum, d) 0.01-16 wt. % manganese, e) 0.01-4 wt. % silicon, f) 0.01-2 wt. % titanium, g) 0.01-1 wt. % selenium, h) 0.01-1 wt. % niobium, i) 0.01-2 wt. % aluminum, j) 0.01-1 wt. % tantalum, k) 0.01-1 wt. % cobalt, 1) 0.01-5 wt. % copper, m) 0.01-1 wt. % vanadium, and n) 0.01-2 wt. % tungsten; or II) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and 35-68 wt. % cobalt, and one or more of a) 12-28 wt. % chromium, b) 0.01-38 wt. % nickel, c) 0.1-30 wt. % molybdenum, d) 0.01-2 wt. % manganese, e) 0.01-1 wt. % silicon, f) 0.01-18 wt. % tungsten, g) 0.01-0.5 wt. % lanthanum, h) 0.01-20 wt. % iron, i) 0.01-5 wt. % titanium, j) 0.01-2 wt. % niobium, k) 0.01-2 wt. % aluminum, 1) 0.01-1 wt. % silicon, m) 0.01-0.5 wt. % boron, and n) 0.01-0.5 wt. % silver; or III) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and 70-91.5 wt. % titanium, and one or more of a) 2-8 wt. % aluminum, b) 0.01-16 wt. % vanadium, c) 0.01-1 wt. % iron, d) 0.01-0.5 wt. % yttrium, e) 0.01-20 wt. % chromium, f) 0-16 wt. % molybdenum, g) 0.01-2 wt. % nickel, h) 0.01-12 wt. % tin, i) 0.01-6 wt. % zirconium, j) 0.01-2 wt. % tantalum, k) 0.01-4 wt. % niobium, 1) 0.01-1 wt. % silicon, and m) 0.01-3 wt. % iron; or IV) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 35-84 wt. % tantalum, and one or more of a) 0.1-25 wt. % tungsten, b) 0.1-30 wt. % molybdenum, c) 0.01-45 wt. % niobium, d) 0.01-5 wt. % chromium, f) 0.01-5 wt. % titanium, g) 0.01-5 wt. % zirconium, and h) 0.01-4 wt. % hafnium; or V) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 40-85 wt. % niobium, and one or more of a) 0.01-20 wt. % molybdenum, b) 0.01-35 wt. % tantalum, c) 0.01-12 wt. % hafnium, d) 0.01-5 wt. % zirconium, e) 0.01-3 wt. % titanium, f) 0.01-15 wt. % tungsten, and g) 0.01-1 wt. % yttrium; or VI) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 30-58 wt. % titanium, and 30-58 wt. % nickel; or VII) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, and one or more of a) 1-85 awt. % chromium, b) 0.1-10 awt. % titanium, c) 0.1-10 awt. % molybdenum, and d) 0.1-10 awt. % zirconium.

    11. The medical device as defined in claim 9, wherein said metal alloy includes up to 75 wt. % rhenium.

    12. The medical device as defined in claim 10, wherein said metal alloy includes up to than 50 wt. % rhenium.

    13. The medical device as defined in claim 9, wherein said metal alloy includes less than 35 wt. % rhenium.

    14. The medical device as defined in claim 10, wherein said metal alloy includes less than 35 wt. % rhenium.

    15. The medical device as defined in claim 9, wherein said metal alloy includes less than 25 wt. % rhenium.

    16. The medical device as defined in claim 10, wherein said metal alloy includes less than 25 wt. % rhenium.

    17. The medical device as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one region of said medical device includes at least one biological agent.

    18. The medical device as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one region of said medical device includes at least one polymer.

    19. The medical device as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one region of said medical device includes at least one polymer, said at least one polymer at least partially coats, encapsulates, or combinations thereof said at least one biological agent.

    20. The medical device as defined in claim 9, wherein said medical device includes an expandable frame formed of said metal alloy; said expandable frame including a plurality of struts; said expandable frame is configured to be crimped to a crimped state such that a maximum outer diameter of said expandable frame when in said crimped state is less than a maximum outer diameter of said expandable frame when fully expanded to an expanded state; a) said expandable frame has a recoil of less than 5% after being subjected to a first crimping process; b) said expandable frame has a recoil of less than 5% after being expanded from said crimped state to said expanded state; c) said metal alloy has a hydrophilicity wherein a contact angle of a water droplet on a surface of said metal alloy is 25-45?; d) said metal alloy has a maximum ion release of a primary component of said metal alloy when inserted or implanted on or in the body of the patient of no more than 0.5 ?g/cm.sup.2 per day, wherein said primary component constitutes at least 2 wt. % of said metal alloy; and/or e) said metal alloy has an absolute increase in ion release per dose of metal alloy in tissue about said medical device of no more than 50 days after inserted or implanted on or in the body of a patient.

    21. The medical device as defined in claim 10, wherein said medical device includes an expandable frame formed of said metal alloy; said expandable frame including a plurality of struts; said expandable frame is configured to be crimped to a crimped state such that a maximum outer diameter of said expandable frame when in said crimped state is less than a maximum outer diameter of said expandable frame when fully expanded to an expanded state; a) said expandable frame has a recoil of less than 5% after being subjected to a first crimping process; b) said expandable frame has a recoil of less than 5% after being expanded from said crimped state to said expanded state; c) said metal alloy has a hydrophilicity wherein a contact angle of a water droplet on a surface of said metal alloy is 25-45?; d) said metal alloy has a maximum ion release of a primary component of said metal alloy when inserted or implanted on or in the body of the patient of no more than 0.5 ?g/cm.sup.2 per day, wherein said primary component constitutes at least 2 wt. % of said metal alloy; and/or e) said metal alloy has an absolute increase in ion release per dose of metal alloy in tissue about said medical device of no more than 50 days after inserted or implanted on or in the body of a patient.

    22. A method for forming a metal alloy that includes at least 15 awt. % rhenium comprising: a. providing metal powder; said metal powder having i) an average particle size of 2-62 microns, ii) an average density of greater than 5 g/cm3, and/or iii) Hall flow (s/50 g) of less than 30 seconds; said metal powder at least partially having a metal composition of at least 15 awt. % rhenium and one or more alloying metals selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, hafnium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, niobium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rare earth metals, rhodium, ruthenium, scandium, silver, silicon, tantalum, technetium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium; a combined weight percent of rhenium and alloying metals is at least 70 wt. % of said metal alloy; and b. using 3D printing technology or direct metal printing technology to form said metal powder into a) a metal rod, b) a metal film, c) a metal sheet, d) a metal tube, e) a component of a medical device, or f) a medical device.

    23. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein said metal powder comprises: I) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and 50-78 wt. % iron, and one or more of a) 9-27 wt. % chromium, b) 0.1-26 wt. % nickel, c) 0.01-7 wt. % molybdenum, d) 0.01-16 wt. % manganese, e) 0.01-4 wt. % silicon, f) 0.01-2 wt. % titanium, g) 0.01-1 wt. % selenium, h) 0.01-1 wt. % niobium, i) 0.01-2 wt. % aluminum, j) 0.01-1 wt. % tantalum, k) 0.01-1 wt. % cobalt, 1) 0.01-5 wt. % copper, m) 0.01-1 wt. % vanadium, and n) 0.01-2 wt. % tungsten; or II) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and 35-68 wt. % cobalt, and one or more of a) 12-28 wt. % chromium, b) 0.01-38 wt. % nickel, c) 0.1-30 wt. % molybdenum, d) 0.01-2 wt. % manganese, e) 0.01-1 wt. % silicon, f) 0.01-18 wt. % tungsten, g) 0.01-0.5 wt. % lanthanum, h) 0.01-20 wt. % iron, i) 0.01-5 wt. % titanium, j) 0.01-2 wt. % niobium, k) 0.01-2 wt. % aluminum, 1) 0.01-1 wt. % silicon, m) 0.01-0.5 wt. % boron, and n) 0.01-0.5 wt. % silver; or III) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and 70-91.5 wt. % titanium, and one or more of a) 2-8 wt. % aluminum, b) 0.01-16 wt. % vanadium, c) 0.01-1 wt. % iron, d) 0.01-0.5 wt. % yttrium, e) 0.01-20 wt. % chromium, f) 0-16 wt. % molybdenum, g) 0.01-2 wt. % nickel, h) 0.01-12 wt. % tin, i) 0.01-6 wt. % zirconium, j) 0.01-2 wt. % tantalum, k) 0.01-4 wt. % niobium, 1) 0.01-1 wt. % silicon, and m) 0.01-3 wt. % iron; or IV) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 35-84 wt. % tantalum, and one or more of a) 0.1-25 wt. % tungsten, b) 0.1-30 wt. % molybdenum, c) 0.01-45 wt. % niobium, d) 0.01-5 wt. % chromium, f) 0.01-5 wt. % titanium, g) 0.01-5 wt. % zirconium, and h) 0.01-4 wt. % hafnium; or V) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 40-85 wt. % niobium, and one or more of a) 0.01-20 wt. % molybdenum, b) 0.01-35 wt. % tantalum, c) 0.01-12 wt. % hafnium, d) 0.01-5 wt. % zirconium, e) 0.01-3 wt. % titanium, f) 0.01-15 wt. % tungsten, and g) 0.01-1 wt. % yttrium; or VI) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 30-58 wt. % titanium, and 30-58 wt. % nickel; or VII) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, and one or more of a) 1-85 awt. % chromium, b) 0.1-10 awt. % titanium, c) 0.1-10 awt. % molybdenum, and d) 0.1-10 awt. % zirconium.

    24. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein at least 10 vol. % of said metal powder is spherical-shaped.

    25. A metal alloy that includes rhenium; said metal alloy comprises: I) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, at least 50 wt. % iron, and one or more alloy I alloying metals selected from a) 10-28 wt. % chromium, b) 0-35 wt. % nickel, b) 0-4 wt. % molybdenum, d) 0-2 wt. % manganese, e) 0-0.75 wt. % silicon, f) 0-5 wt. % titanium, g) 0-10 wt. % niobium, h) 0-5 wt. % copper, i) 0-4 wt. % aluminum, j) 0-10 wt. % tantalum, k) 0-1 wt. % selenium, 1) 0-2 wt. % vanadium, and m) 0-2 wt. % tungsten; and wherein a combined weight percent of said rhenium, iron and said alloy I alloying metals is greater than 95 wt. %; or II) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 30-68 wt. % cobalt, 15-32 wt. % chromium, and one or more alloy II alloying metals selected from a) 1-36% wt. % nickel, b) 2-18 wt. % molybdenum, c) 0-18 wt. % iron, d) 0-1 wt. % titanium, e) 0-0.15 wt. % manganese, f) 0-0.15 wt. % silver, g) 0-16 wt. % tungsten, h) 0-2 wt. % silicon, i) 0-2 wt. % aluminum, and j) 0-1 wt. % iron; and wherein a combined weight percent of said rhenium, cobalt, chromium and said alloy II alloying metals is greater than 95 wt. %; or III) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 5.5-6.75 wt. % aluminum, 3.5-4.5 wt. % vanadium, 85-93 wt. % titanium, and one or more alloy III alloying metals selected from a) 0-0.4 wt. % iron, b) 0-0.05 wt. % yttrium; and wherein a combined weight percent of said rhenium, aluminum, vanadium, titanium and said alloy III alloying metals is greater than 95 wt. %; or IV) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 40-85 wt. % niobium, and one or more alloy IV alloying metals selected from a) 0.01-20 wt. % molybdenum, b) 0.01-35 wt. % tantalum, c) 0.01-12 wt. % hafnium, d) 0.01-5 wt. % zirconium, e) 0.01-3 wt. % titanium, f) 0.01-15 wt. % tungsten, and g) 0.01-1 wt. % yttrium; and wherein a combined weight percent of said rhenium, niobium, and said alloy IV alloying metals is greater than 95 wt. %; or VI) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, 30-58 wt. % titanium, and 30-58 wt. % nickel; and wherein a combined weight percent of said rhenium, titanium, and nickel is greater than 95 wt. %; or VII) at least 15 awt. % rhenium, and one or more of a) 1-85 awt. % chromium, b) 0.1-10 awt. % titanium, c) 0.1-10 awt. % molybdenum, and d) 0.1-10 awt. % zirconium; and wherein a combined weight percent of said rhenium, chromium, titanium, molybdenum, and zirconium is greater than 95 wt. %; or VII) at least 15 awt. % rhenium and one or more Type VII alloying metals selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, hafnium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, niobium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rare earth metals, rhodium, ruthenium, scandium, silver, silicon, tantalum, technetium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium; and wherein a combined weight percent of said rhenium, said alloy VII alloying metals is greater than 95 wt. %.

    Description

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

    [0156] The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purposes of illustrating the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and not for the purposes of limiting the same.

    [0157] FIGS. 1-3 provide a comparison of the tensile strength, the yield strength and the ductility of a titanium alloy, a cobalt-chromium alloy and a molybdenum-rhenium alloy.

    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS

    [0158] Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.

    [0159] The singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

    [0160] As used in the specification and in the claims, the term comprising may include the embodiments consisting of and consisting essentially of. The terms comprise(s), include(s), having, has, can, contain(s), and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that require the presence of the named ingredients/steps and permit the presence of other ingredients/steps. However, such description should be construed as also describing compositions or processes as consisting of and consisting essentially of the enumerated ingredients/steps, which allows the presence of only the named ingredients/steps, along with any unavoidable impurities that might result therefrom, and excludes other ingredients/steps.

    [0161] Numerical values in the specification and claims of this application should be understood to include numerical values which are the same when reduced to the same number of significant figures and numerical values which differ from the stated value by less than the experimental error of conventional measurement technique of the type described in the present application to determine the value.

    [0162] All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the recited endpoint and independently combinable (for example, the range of from 2 grams to 10 grams is inclusive of the endpoints, 2 grams and 10 grams, and all the intermediate values).

    [0163] The terms about and approximately can be used to include any numerical value that can vary without changing the basic function of that value. When used with a range, about and approximately also disclose the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints, e.g., about 2 to about 4 also discloses the range from 2 to 4. Generally, the terms about and approximately may refer to plus or minus 10% of the indicated number.

    [0164] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is illustrated a comparison of the tensile strength, the yield strength, and the ductility of a titanium alloy, a cobalt-chromium alloy, and a molybdenum-rhenium alloy. The titanium alloy is a Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The cobalt-chromium alloy is a MP35N alloy. The molybdenum-rhenium alloy is a 50 wt. % molybdenum and 50 wt. % rhenium alloy. As illustrated in the FIGS. 1-3, as the titanium alloy and cobalt-chromium alloy are cold worked and the cross-sectional area is reduced, the ductility of the two metal alloys reduces. However, as the molybdenum-rhenium alloy is cold worked and the cross-sectional area is reduced, the ductility of the molybdenum-rhenium increases. This increase in ductility was observed in other metal alloys that included rhenium. This increase in ductility of a cold worked metal alloys is referred to as the rhenium effect. When sufficient quantities of rhenium are included in a metal alloy, it was found that the ductility of the metal alloy with the rhenium addition cither a) reduced at a significantly less rate as compared to the metal alloy that was absent sufficient amounts of rhenium, or b) increase in ductility as compared to a reduction in ductility as compared to the metal alloy that was absent sufficient amounts of rhenium. The rhenium effect was observed in several metal alloys once the atomic weight of the rhenium in the metal alloy was at least 15%.

    [0165] FIGS. 1-3 also illustrate that the percentage yield and tensile strength increases in the molybdenum-rhenium alloy that has been cold worked and the cross-sectional area has been reduced is greater than the percentage yield and tensile strength increases of the titanium alloy and the cobalt-chromium alloy that has been similarly cold worked and has the cross-sectional area reduced. After the molybdenum-rhenium alloy had been cold worked and the cross-sectional area had been reduced by 50%, the yield tensile strength increased by about 33% (150 ksi to 200 ksi) and the yield strength increased about 29% (175 ksi to 225 ksi). After the molybdenum-rhenium alloy had been cold worked and the cross-sectional area had been reduced by 100%, the yield tensile strength increased by about 73% (150 ksi to 260 ksi) and the yield strength increased about 71% (175 ksi to 300 ksi). The percentage increase in tensile strength of the molybdenum-rhenium is greater than the percentage increase in tensile strength of the titanium alloy and the cobalt-chromium alloy that has been similarly cold worked and has the cross-sectional area reduced.

    [0166] Although the operations of exemplary embodiments of the disclosed method may be described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that disclosed embodiments can encompass an order of operations other than the particular, sequential order disclosed. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Further, descriptions and disclosures provided in association with one particular embodiment are not limited to that embodiment, and may be applied to any embodiment disclosed.

    [0167] For the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways (readily discernable, based on this disclosure, by one of ordinary skill in the art) in which the disclosed system, method and apparatus can be used in combination with other systems, methods and apparatuses. Additionally, the description sometimes uses terms such as produce and provide to describe the disclosed method. These terms are abstractions of the actual operations that can be performed. The actual operations that correspond to these terms can vary depending on the particular implementation and are, based on this disclosure, readily discernible by one of ordinary skill in the art.

    [0168] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the constructions set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The disclosure has been described with reference to preferred and alternate embodiments. Modifications and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the detailed discussion of the disclosure provided herein. This disclosure is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the disclosure herein described and all statements of the scope of the disclosure, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

    [0169] To aid the Patent Office and any readers of this application and any resulting patent in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words means for or step for are explicitly used in the particular claim.