Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first stapler half including an anvil surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a second stapler half configured to releasably couple with the first stapler half. The second stapler half is operable to deploy staples toward the anvil surface. The stapler also includes a projection positioned on one of the stapler halves and extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the stapler. The stapler halves are configured to pivot relative to each other about the projection. The stapler further includes a locking member positioned on the other of the stapler halves. The locking member is configured to translate along the longitudinal axis of the stapler between a locked state in which the locking member selectively captures the projection and an unlocked state in which the locking member selectively releases the projection. The locking member is biased proximally toward the locked state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing electrically insulating and anti-corrosive coatings on electrical steel strip by using a phosphate-free aqueous dispersion. Furthermore, the invention relates to such an aqueous dispersion which is particularly suitable for providing electrically insulating and anti-corrosive coatings on electrical steel strip. The aqueous dispersion of the present invention is substantially free of phosphates and organic compounds and comprises silicates dissolved in water as an inorganic binder which forms the coating, and a mixture of oxide pigments of the elements titanium and aluminum. The subject matter of the invention also comprises a laminated electrical steel strip which is made from the electrical steel strip produced in the method according to the invention or from electrical steel strip coated with an aqueous dispersion according to the invention.

Abstract: A method of assessing optical properties of surgical tissue by observing the tissue thermal response to laser irradiation includes exposing the tissue in a surgical region to a short laser pulse for triggering a localized temperature increase, and observing the triggered temperature increase by a thermal sensor. Optical properties of the tissue are then estimated, for determining laser surgery parameters for an eminent procedure, based on the observed temperature increase. In an example configuration, the thermal sensor is a thermal infrared camera, and estimation includes using an Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) for comparing the temperature sensor data with the output of a computational laser-tissue interaction model.

Abstract: A method and a device for displaying a set of high dynamic range sonar or radar data are provided. The method makes it possible to visualize scalar data tables having a high dynamic range. The method consists in producing a first image in colors of essentially uniform shade hue and saturation for ranges of values exhibiting a low dynamic range, in creating a second image containing only the high-amplitude information that is invisible in the first image, in subjecting the second image to a non-linear low-pass filtering creating a halo that becomes all the greater as the information increases in amplitude, then in rendering this second image according to a color map that is of constant luminance but with strong variations of hue and of saturation. These two images are then combined by a weighted average and renormalized in terms of luminance.

Abstract: A method and a device for displaying a set of high dynamic range sonar or radar data are provided. The method makes it possible to visualize scalar data tables having a high dynamic range. The method consists in producing a first image in colors of essentially uniform shade hue and saturation for ranges of values exhibiting a low dynamic range, in creating a second image containing only the high-amplitude information that is invisible in the first image, in subjecting the second image to a non-linear low-pass filtering creating a halo that becomes all the greater as the information increases in amplitude, then in rendering this second image according to a color map that is of constant luminance but with strong variations of hue and of saturation. These two images are then combined by a weighted average and renormalized in terms of luminance.

Abstract: A combine harvester has at least one header for cutting plants to be harvested with the aid of the combine harvester, a feeder for conveying the cut plants in the direction of a threshing mechanism, and a threshing mechanism, with the aid of which fruits can be removed from the cut plants in such a way that the fruits are then present separately from plant residue of the plants. The feeder comprises a revolvingly driveable conveying unit and a conveyor channel within which the cut plants can be conveyed with the conveying unit. The feeder interacts with a measuring unit in the form of a sensor unit that contactlessly detects material feed height of plants conveyed with the aid of the feeder in the conveyor channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing electrically insulating and anti-corrosive coatings on electrical steel strip by using a phosphate-free aqueous dispersion. Furthermore, the invention relates to such an aqueous dispersion which is particularly suitable for providing electrically insulating and anti-corrosive coatings on electrical steel strip. The aqueous dispersion of the present invention is substantially free of phosphates and organic compounds and comprises silicates dissolved in water as an inorganic binder which forms the coating, and a mixture of oxide pigments of the elements titanium and aluminum. The subject matter of the invention also comprises a laminated electrical steel strip which is made from the electrical steel strip produced in the method according to the invention or from electrical steel strip coated with an aqueous dispersion according to the invention.

Abstract: A combine harvester has at least one header for cutting plants to be harvested with the aid of the combine harvester, a feeder for conveying the cut plants in the direction of a threshing mechanism, and a threshing mechanism, with the aid of which fruits can be removed from the cut plants in such a way that the fruits are then present separately from plant residue of the plants. The feeder comprises a revolvingly driveable conveying unit and a conveyor channel within which the cut plants can be conveyed with the conveying unit. The feeder interacts with a measuring unit in the form of a sensor unit that contactlessly detects material feed height of plants conveyed with the aid of the feeder in the conveyor channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wet-chemical pretreatment of zinc surfaces prior to applying a corrosion-protection coating, which deposits a thin inorganic coating of oxide and/or metallic iron. An iron layer structure which is applied according to the invention, hereinafter referred to as ferrization, improves the achievable corrosion protection of wet-chemical conversion coatings on zinc surfaces. Furthermore, the ferrization process causes both a reduction of the contact corrosion of joined metal components which have zinc and iron surfaces as well as a reduction of corrosive coating migration on cut edges of galvanized steel strips with coating layer structures. In particular, the invention relates to an alkaline composition containing an iron ion source, a reducing agent based on oxoacids of nitrogen and phosphorus, and water-soluble organic carboxylic acids with an amino group at the ?, ?, or ? position with respect to the acid group and/or the water-soluble salts thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to an at least two-stage method for corrosion protection treatment of metal surfaces, wherein, in a first step (i), an organic coating comprising an aqueous phase (A) is applied to the metal surface and, in a following step (ii), the organic coating applied to the metal surface contacted with an acidic, aqueous composition (B) comprising at least one or more water-soluble compounds containing at least one atom selected from the elements Zr, Ti, Si, Hf, V and/or Ce and one or more water-soluble compounds that release copper ions. The invention further comprises a metal component that is at least partially made of steel, iron, zinc and/or aluminum and the alloys thereof and has been treated by the method according to the invention, and to the use thereof in automobile construction and in the construction industry and for producing household appliances and electronics housings.

Abstract: A transcutaneous access port to a user has a coupling member destined to be anchored in a bone of the user. A first valve system is removably connectable to the coupling member and a second valve system is removably connected to the first valve system. An internal conduit is connected at its proximal end to the access port and at its distal end to a vascular structure of the user. An external conduit is connected to the access port and to an extracorporeal device. A traversing cavity is formed in the bone at an implantation site of the user, passing the internal conduit. The internal conduit is routed through the traversing cavity to connect its distal end to the vascular structure of the user. The coupling member is anchored to the bone at the implantation site. The proximal end of the internal conduit is connected to the access port.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the metallizing pretreatment of galvanized and/or alloy-galvanized steel surfaces or joined metallic components having at least some zinc surfaces, wherein a thin surface layer of iron is deposited on the zinc surfaces from an aqueous electrolyte containing water-soluble compounds that are a source of iron cations. The method is performed at least partially or continuously under application of an electrolytic voltage, the galvanized and/or alloy-galvanized steel surfaces being connected as cathode. The aqueous electrolyte additionally contains an accelerator selected from oxo acids of the elements phosphorus, nitrogen and/or sulfur, the elements phosphorus, nitrogen and/or sulfur being present in moderate oxidation states.

Abstract: Optical communications system (10) and method for transmission of payload data (PD) from a low earth orbit satellite (20) to an optical ground terminal (30), the low earth orbit satellite (20) being connectable with the optical ground terminal (30) via an optical downlink channel (DL), and the optical ground terminal (30) being connectable with the low earth orbit satellite (20) via an uplink channel (UC); wherein said uplink channel (UC) is an acquisition and tracking beacon channel by means of a ground beacon (GB) controlled by a point-acquisition-track subsystem (PAT), the ground beacon (GB) comprising a wide angle beam (W) for acquisition and a guidance beam (G) for tracking; and wherein the ground beacon (GB) for the uplink channel (UC) is a pulse position modulated PPM channel.

Abstract: Optical downlink system (10) and method of optical data transmission between a remote terminal (20) having a number of n optical communication terminals (OT1-OTn), and a ground terminal (30) comprising a cluster of n optical ground stations (OGS1-OGSn) connected by n optical downlink channels (DL1-DLn) respectively n optical uplink channels (UC1-UCn) characterised by a spatial separation of the optical downlink channels (DL1-DLn) and a temporal separation of the optical uplink channels (UC1-UCn).

Abstract: The invention relates to a wet-chemical pretreatment of zinc surfaces prior to applying a corrosion-protection coating, which deposits a thin inorganic coating of oxide and/or metallic iron. An iron layer structure which is applied according to the invention, hereinafter referred to as ferrization, improves the achievable corrosion protection of wet-chemical conversion coatings on zinc surfaces. Furthermore, the ferrization process causes both a reduction of the contact corrosion of joined metal components which have zinc and iron surfaces as well as a reduction of corrosive coating migration on cut edges of galvanized steel strips with coating layer structures. In particular, the invention relates to an alkaline composition containing an iron ion source, a reducing agent based on oxoacids of nitrogen and phosphorus, and water-soluble organic carboxylic acids with an amino group at the ?, ?, or ? position with respect to the acid group and/or the water-soluble salts thereof.

Abstract: A file (FI) is transmitted via a first channel (CH1). In addition, a second channel (CH2) is used to transmit play parameters (D1, D2, R1, R2) which comprise at least one set (Di, Ri) of information about a play rate (R1, R2) and a delay time (D1, D2) for the file (FI) which is to be transmitted by the first channel (CH1). On the basis of the play parameters (D1, D2, R1, R2), it is possible to determine a time for starting to process the file (FI) which is to be transmitted.

Abstract: Implantable access device for removal and/or return of fluids to a patient, comprising a casing attached to an internal conduit to be connected with a lumen of the patient; a connector attached at the casing and connected to an external conduit, and arranged for attachment of an extracorporeal lumen to the device; and an actuator unit within the casing to selectively allow or block the fluid communication between the internal conduit and the external conduit; the device further comprising a fixation unit integrated in or attached at the casing arranged for fixation of the device to a bone of the patient; wherein the fixation unit extends axially along the longitudinal axis of the device. The disclosed access device can be used for high volume removal and/or return of blood or other fluids from the patient.

Abstract: A pressure gauge comprises a pressure gauge assembly and a connecting assembly. The pressure gauge assembly includes a measuring pressure port for the pressure to be measured and the connecting assembly includes a pressure measuring port. The pressure gauge assembly is adapted to be connected to the connecting assembly. In order to permit a relative rotation between the pressure gauge assembly and the connecting assembly, the pressure gauge assembly and/or the connecting assembly supports at least one annular passage section connecting the measuring pressure port to the pressure measuring port.

Abstract: The invention relates to an at least two-stage method for corrosion protection treatment of metal surfaces, wherein, in a first step (i), an organic coating comprising an aqueous phase (A) is applied to the metal surface and, in a following step (ii), the organic coating applied to the metal surface contacted with an acidic, aqueous composition (B) comprising at least one or more water-soluble compounds containing at least one atom selected from the elements Zr, Ti, Si, Hf, V and/or Ce and one or more water-soluble compounds that release copper ions. The invention further comprises a metal component that is at least partially made of steel, iron, zinc and/or aluminum and the alloys thereof and has been treated by the method according to the invention, and to the use thereof in automobile construction and in the construction industry and for producing household appliances and electronics housings.

Abstract: A transcutaneous access port to a user has a coupling member destined to be anchored in a bone of the user. A first valve system is removably connectable to the coupling member and a second valve system is removably connected to the first valve system. An internal conduit is connected at its proximal end to the access port and at its distal end to a vascular structure of the user. An external conduit is connected to the access port and to an extracorporeal device. A traversing cavity is formed in the bone at an implantation site of the user, passing the internal conduit. The internal conduit is routed through the traversing cavity to connect its distal end to the vascular structure of the user. The coupling member is anchored to the bone at the implantation site. The proximal end of the internal conduit is connected to the access port.