Abstract: A memory device and associated techniques avoid a disturb of a select gate transistor during an erase operation for memory cells in a string. During the erase operation, a channel gradient near the select gate transistors is reduced when the voltages of the drain and source ends of a memory string are increased to an erase level which charges up the channel. In one approach, the voltage of the word line which is adjacent to a select gate line is temporarily increased. Another approach builds off the first approach by temporarily increasing the voltage of the select gate line at the same time as the increase in the word line voltage.

Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are described for reducing or eliminating program disturb in non-volatile storage. In one aspect, the ramp rate of a voltage applied to a dummy word line is reduced during programming of edge word lines. In one embodiment, a slower than normal ramp rate is used for a dummy word line when the word line selected for programming is an edge word line, but a normal ramp rate is used for the dummy word line when the word line selected for programming is a middle word line.

Abstract: A memory device and associated techniques provide a read recovery of data in case of a short circuit between word lines. When cells of a recovery word line WLrec are successfully programmed but cells of an adjacent work line WLrec+1 are not successfully programmed, the data of the cells of WLrec can be recovered. The cells of WLrec+1 are erased so that a low pass voltage on WLrec+1 is adequate to provide these cells in a conductive state during the recovery read of WLrec. Capacitive coupling between the word lines which shifts the apparent threshold voltage of the cells on WLrec is reduced so that a more accurate recovery read can be performed. Read voltages on WLrec can be upshifted compared to baseline read voltages.

Abstract: A memory device and associated techniques provide a uniform erase depth for different blocks of memory cells which are at different distances from pass gates of a voltage source. In one approach, a voltage of a source side select gate transistor of a memory string is a decreasing function of the distance. In another approach, a magnitude or duration of an erase voltage at a source end of a memory string is an increasing function of the distance. Adjacent blocks can be arranged in subsets and treated as being at a common distance. In another approach, an additional erase pulse can be applied when the distance of the block exceeds a threshold. Other variables such as initial erase voltage and step size can also be adjusted as a function of distance.

Abstract: Techniques for reversing damage caused by program-erase cycles in charge-trapping memory to improve long term data retention. A recovery process improves the data retention of a block of memory cells by programming the memory cells to a relatively high threshold voltage and enforcing a time period of several minutes or hours in which the memory cells are inactive and remain at the relatively high Vth levels. Damage such as traps in the memory cells is essentially healed or annealed out during this inactive period. All of the memory cells can be healed at the same time and by relatively equal amounts. At the conclusion of the recovery process, the block is returned to a pool of available blocks. In one approach, an amount of recovery is measured and the period of inactivity is continued for an amount of time which is based on the amount of recovery.

Abstract: Techniques for reversing damage caused by program-erase cycles in charge-trapping memory to improve long term data retention. A recovery process improves the data retention of a block of memory cells by programming the memory cells to a relatively high threshold voltage and enforcing a time period of several minutes or hours in which the memory cells are inactive and remain at the relatively high Vth levels. Damage such as traps in the memory cells is essentially healed or annealed out during this inactive period. All of the memory cells can be healed at the same time and by relatively equal amounts. At the conclusion of the recovery process, the block is returned to a pool of available blocks. In one approach, an amount of recovery is measured and the period of inactivity is continued for an amount of time which is based on the amount of recovery.

Abstract: A NAND string includes dummy memory cells between data memory cells and source-side and drain-side select gates. A gradual increase in threshold voltage (Vth) for the dummy memory cells which occurs due to program-erase cycles is detected by read operations at an initial upper checkpoint voltage. If the Vth has increased beyond the checkpoint, the control gate voltage of the dummy memory cells is increased during subsequent programming operations. This maintains a relatively constant channel voltage in an unselected NAND string under the dummy memory cells during a program voltage. Disturbs which can be caused by an increase in a channel voltage gradient are therefore avoided. The dummy memory cells can be periodically read at successively higher checkpoint voltages and the control gate voltage repeatedly increased. If the control gate voltage reaches a maximum allowed level, the dummy memory cells can be erased and reprogrammed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a battery-driven ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in which the power consumption required for lighting keys little affects an operation time. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus with lit operation keys comprises a power supply unit that switches power to be supplied to the components of the apparatus between power fed from a battery and power fed from the mains, and a lighting adjustor that ceases or minimizes lighting of operation keys when a detected ambient brightness level exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of treating a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease in animals, including humans, by the oral or enteral administration of autoantigens, fragments of autoantigens, or analogs structurally related to those autoantigens, which are specific for the particular autoimmune disease. The method of the invention includes both prophylactic and therapeutic measures.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an improvement in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. More specifically, the invention is directed to the use of bystander antigens (i.e. antigens that suppress cells involved in the autoimmune process) for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The invention also includes pharmaceutical formulations comprising bystander antigens useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases in mammals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating or preventing a disease in mammals having the characteristics of Type 1 diabetes comprising administering insulin or disease suppressive fragments of insulin or analogs thereof in oral or aerosol dosage forms to said mammals. Also disclosed herein are pharmaceutical formulation or dosage forms for use in the methods.

Abstract: Described are methods for treating or preventing type I diabetes and insulitis by oral administration of the bystander antigen glucagon. The methods involve oral administration of glucagon in an amounts that are effective to treat or prevent type I diabetes or insulitis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for suppressing allograft rejection in mammals comprising administering to a mammal about to undergo or having undergone allograft surgery an agent selected from the group consisting of splenic tissue from an allograft donor, splenic extracts, cultured lymphocytes from an allograft donor, extracts of said cultured lymphocytes, MHC antigens, transplantation rejection suppressive fragments and analogs of MHC antigens in an oral or aerosol form. Also disclosed herein are pharmaceutical formulations and dosage forms for use in said methods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for suppressing allograft rejection in mammals comprising administering to a mammal about to undergo or having undergone allograft surgery an agent selected from the group consisting of splenic tissue from an allograft donor, splenic extracts, cultured lymphocytes from an allograft donor, extracts of said cultured lymphocytes, MHC antigens, transplantation rejection suppressive fragments and analogs of MHC antigens in an oral or aerosol form. Also disclosed herein are pharmaceutical formulations and dosage forms for use in said methods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating or preventing a disease in mammals having the characteristics of Type 1 diabetes comprising administering insulin or disease suppressive fragments of insulin or analogs thereof in oral or aerosol dosage forms to said mammals. Also disclosed herein are pharmaceutical formulation or dosage forms for use in the methods.

Abstract: Described are methods for: (a) suppressing the ability of T-cells from a mammal to proliferate in response to stimulation by nonself mammalian tissue; and (b) suppressing immune response which leads to allograft rejection in a mammal receiving an allograft from a donor mammal. The methods involve orally administering to the mammal to be thus treated a composition comprising at least one of: (i) a major histocompatibility complex Class II antigen from a second nonself mammal or from tissue of a mammal syngeneic to said nonself mammal; (ii) at least one synthetic peptide corresponding to a T-cell suppressive fragment of said Class II antigen, said composition being administered in an amount effective to suppress said proliferation. The foregoing compositions are also described.

Abstract: A method and uroflowmeter apparatus for measuring uroflow parameters by flow impulse momentum, providing measurement and print out in real time of such parameters as the flow rate curve and of maximum flow rate, average flow rate, voided volume, voiding time, flow time, and time to maximum flow rate, necessary for medical diagnosis.