Abstract: A modular surgical instrument system, comprising a handle assembly, comprising a disposable outer housing configured to define a sterile barrier. The disposable outer housing comprises a first housing-portion and a second housing-portion movable relative to the first housing-portion between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The handle assembly further comprises a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A method for securing a palletized load is provided. The method comprises dispensing a first stretch film vertically inserted over a first support member, dispensing a second stretch film having an upper lateral side edge and a lower lateral side edge and being vertically inserted over a second support member, edging at least one of the upper lateral side edge and the lower lateral side edge of the second stretch film to obtain an edged second stretch film, partially overlapping the edged second stretch film and the first stretch film, passing the combined stretch film through a pre-stretcher, and wrapping the combined stretch film around the palletized load. The height of the stretch film can be adjusted using a height adjustment device. A third stretch film can be dispensed and combined with the first and second stretch films.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a label-placement module having a first feeder assembly, including a horizontal delivery platter for receiving a label, and a first drive wheel, positioned adjacent to a distal end of the horizontal delivery platter and rotatable to move the label on the horizontal delivery platter in a first direction. The label-placement module may include a second feeder assembly coupled to an actuator that moves the second feeder assembly vertically to a delivery position associated with the container. The second feeder assembly having a vertical delivery platter for receiving the label from the horizontal delivery platter and a second drive wheel rotatable to move the label forward in the first direction towards the container such that at least a portion of the label may be clamped between the container and a lid of the container thereby attaching the label to the container.

Abstract: An electric tool includes a housing, a motor, a tool interface, a control circuit, a master switch, and a protection circuit. The tool interface is configured to connect to a power supply to supply power to the motor. The master switch is disposed on a current path formed by the tool interface and the control circuit. The master switch has an on state in which electric connection between the tool interface and the control circuit is on and an off state in which the electric connection between the tool interface and the control circuit is off. The protection circuit is connected between the master switch and the control circuit and is configured to disconnect connection between the tool interface and the control circuit in response to the master switch being in the on state before the tool interface connects to the power supply.

Abstract: An assembly for storing sample processing consumables that includes a cover and a tray. The cover includes a flexible panel and a cover wall that extends downward from the perimeter of the panel, where the panel and the cover wall define a cavity. The tray has a top surface that defines a plurality of wells and a side surface that extends downward from the perimeter of the top surface. The panel is situated adjacent the top surface of the tray, where a first portion of the tray is received within the cover cavity, such that a press fit is formed between the side surface of the tray and an inner surface of the cover wall, thereby releasably coupling the cover to the tray. At least a portion of the wells contain a sample processing consumable, and the cover is configured to be decoupled from the tray by applying a force to the panel to overcome the press fit.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a doser assembly includes a hopper assembly configured to receive plant material, a bracket assembly connected to the hopper assembly, and a roller in a hopper opening defined by the hopper assembly extending through the hopper assembly. An interior surface of the hopper assembly may define the hopper opening. The bracket assembly may include a shaft extending across a portion of the hopper opening. The roller may be in the portion of the hopper opening of the hopper assembly and may extend between a first part and a second part of the interior surface of the hopper assembly. The roller may be connected to the shaft and may be configured to rotate with rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: A flexible container carrier and related method for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands forming an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A series of frangible lines of separation are provided between each container receiving opening so that removing a container from the package results in the separation of the frangible lines of separation defining the respective container receiving opening and thus the container and a respective band of the plurality of bands are removed from the package together.

Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a loading unit having a staple cartridge having a cartridge distance and a plurality of staples and an anvil to form the plurality of staples upon firing. The surgical stapler also includes a shaft assembly coupled to the load unit. The shaft assembly includes a drive shaft longitudinally movable within the shaft assembly and configured to actuate the loading unit. The surgical stapler further includes a handle assembly having a power source and a motor coupled to the power source and configured to move the drive shaft longitudinally. The handle assembly also includes a distance setting interface including a plurality of switches each of which corresponds to a travel distance that the motor moves the drive shaft, the travel distance corresponding to the cartridge distance.

Abstract: A standardized shipping tray is disclosed for use in an order fulfillment system. The standardized shipping tray includes a bottom panel that includes raised portions that assist to inhibit rolling on an object within along the bottom panel, and at least two flexible side panels that are adapted to fold inward under a force of a wrapping.

Abstract: A bead feeder serially delivering beads to a downstream location comprises a bead supply wheel connected to rotate about a vertical axis. The bead supply wheel includes a bead supply bowl and a plurality of radially and outwardly extending bead passageway connected to rotate with the bowl and dimensioned to receive a single line of beads. A plurality of openings in the bead supply bowl is spaced around a lower portion thereof with the openings in alignment with the radially and outwardly extending passageways each of which has an outer exit end. A metering plate is connected to rotate about the same vertical axis as the bead supply wheel, and metering plate has a plurality of equally spaced apart openings directly below the outer ends of the passageways for receiving the lowermost beads in the passageways.

Abstract: An inflatable protective packaging unit and associated inflation systems are disclosed. The unit can include an inflatable component that includes overlaid flexible plies connected to each other to define a fluid chamber therebetween. The inflatable component can define an inflation region in fluid communication with the fluid chamber to allow fluid from the inflation region into the fluid chamber. The unit can further include a receiver separably attached to the inflatable component at the inflation region and configured to direct fluid into the inflation region. The inflation system can be configured to discretely engage the inflatable protective packaging unit and provide fluid for inflation. Once inflated, the system may eject the unit, and cause the inflatable component to separate from the receiver.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides devices for loading a surgical bolster material. In accordance with some forms, the device includes a tray defining a guide channel for receipt of a bolster material. The guide channel may be configured to align and/or direct the device onto which the bolster material is to be loaded onto the bolster material.

Abstract: A flexible bag comprising a first wall and a second wall superposed over the first wall, the walls being connected to each other along their longitudinal edges by two gussets. As per a bag formation process, successively: the bag is closed with a flap extending from one of the walls and held on the other wall to form a closed end of the bag; the first wall of the bag is gripped at a predetermined distance from the closed end with the lower grippers and the second wall by the upper grippers and the walls are separated to form a side on the gussets; the second wall is released by the upper grippers and the closed end is folded by a folding device on to the second wall, thus making the bottom.

Abstract: A method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector comprises positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material. The adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge. The anvil is in an open position relative to the staple cartridge during the act of positioning the buttress assembly between the anvil and the staple cartridge. The method further comprises moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge then moving the anvil back to the open position. The buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open position. The adhesive material comprises a bioabsorbable polymer.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft extended through a handle and having an end effector arranged at a distal end thereof, a rack extending along a portion of the shaft and operatively coupled to a knife located at the end effector, a first actuation system housed within the handle and operable to drive the rack and thereby advance or retract the knife at the end effector, the first actuation system including a sector gear engageable with the rack and including a tooth-free zone, and a second actuation system housed within the handle and operable to cause z-axis translation of the shaft through the handle. Rotating the sector gear such that the tooth-free zone faces the rack decouples the shaft from the first actuation system to allow the shaft to freely move in z-axis translation.

Abstract: An outer container forms a windowed conduit holding an inner tray aligned within the windowed conduit. A containment membrane is supported in the tray window. A pair of frangible sheathes covering each end of the windowed conduit. The containment membrane is filled with content(s) to be delivered and the membrane secured within the inner tray. The tray is held within the outer container such that the containment membrane is positioned within the container such that it may be eventually delivered through a first outer window. The first outer window is positioned on one side of the container and covered with a first frangible element. A second outer window is aligned with the first window at the opposite side of the container forming the conduit. A second frangible element covers the second window such that the containment membrane sits between the pair of aligned windows.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical apparatus. The end effector comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot and an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot. A folded surgical buttress configured to overlie each of the tissue contacting surfaces of the staple cartridge and anvil plate and configured to retain the surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate. The surgical buttress having a first longitudinal portion, a second longitudinal portion, and middle longitudinal portion between the first and second longitudinal portions, wherein the middle longitudinal portion is folded and configured to fit within the central longitudinal slot of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for inserting a nail into at least one component part, the nail having a nail head, a nail shank and a nail tip. The method includes (i) arranging the at least one component part, (ii) positioning the nail, and (iii) driving-in the nail. A force is applied to the nail in the direction of the component part, such that it is pressed into the at least one component part. In addition to the application of force, vibrations are coupled into the nail, and a multipart nail is used.

Abstract: A method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector comprises positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material. The adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge. The anvil is in an open position relative to the staple cartridge during the act of positioning the buttress assembly between the anvil and the staple cartridge. The method further comprises moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge then moving the anvil back to the open position. The buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open position. The adhesive material comprises a bioabsorbable polymer.