Abstract: A self-supporting surgical retractor is provided for retracting soft tissue and anatomy at a spinal surgical site. The retractor includes a tubular base defining an upper rim and a lower rim and a working channel there between the upper and lower rims, in which the base and lower rim are sized and configured to be seated on adjacent vertebral bodies spanning an intervertebral space. At least two elongated legs are provided, each projecting from the upper rim and each including a fixation feature at a free end thereof. Each of the legs has a length sufficient for the fixation feature to be outside the body of a patient when the lower rim is seated on adjacent vertebral bodies of the patient. The retractor is formed of a radio-transparent or radio-lucent material.

Abstract: A system for levelling and gripping a jacket leg into a hollow foundation pile has a levelling assembly for adjusting the longitudinal axis of a jacket leg partially inserted in a hollow foundation pile with an actuation group arranged about the jacket leg and configured to exert a force parallel to the longitudinal axis between the upper edge of the hollow foundation pile and the jacket leg and selectively attachable to the jacket leg and recoverable for further use in another levelling assembly; and a gripping assembly for locking the jacket leg in a designated position with respect to the hollow foundation pile once leveled.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods that can facilitate increased detector sensitivity and reliability in a scanning laser device. Specifically, the systems and methods utilize detectors with multiple sensors that are configured to receive reflections of laser light pulses from objects within a scan field. These multiple sensors are configured to receive these reflections through the same optical assembly used to scan the laser light pulses out to the scan field. Furthermore, the multiple sensors are configured to at least partially cancel the effects of back reflections from within the optical assembly itself. The cancellation of the effects of back reflections from within the optical assembly can improve the sensitivity of the detector, particularly for the detection of low energy reflections of laser pulses from within the scan field.

Abstract: There is provided an electronically controlled, breath actuated vaporization device for generating vaporized material for inhalation by a user. The vaporization device includes a vaporization chamber for accommodating material to be vaporized and a mesh heater or other heater supported upstream of the vaporization chamber which is operable to heat air that passes through the mesh heater or other heater during an inhalation event. A closed loop control scheme may be employed to control heat generated by the heater to maintain a temperature of the air delivered to the vaporization chamber at or within a predetermined tolerance of a desired vaporization temperature for at least a majority of a duration of the inhalation event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for effecting bariatric procedures are disclosed. Each system includes an instrument, a control valve and, optionally, a suction controller. The instrument is in the form of an elongated, flexible sizing tube having a distal end portion including a plurality of apertures. The control valve enables suction to be applied to the patient's stomach via the apertures to drain gastric fluids and to bring adjacent portions of the patient's stomach into engagement with the sizing tube to provide a visually perceptible delineation line along which a portion of the stomach may be resected, sealed and tested.

Abstract: An inbound message including medical record content may be received. The inbound message may indicate a healthcare entity and a vendor entity. It may be determined, from the healthcare entity and stored correspondences between medical record formats and healthcare entities, that the medical record content of the inbound message is in a first medical record format. Which configuration record of stored configuration records specifying combinations of sets of rules may be determined to apply as a translation to the inbound message based upon the medical record content of the inbound message and the first medical record format. The sets of rules as indicated by the configuration record may be accessed and applied to the inbound message to translate the medical record content in the inbound message from the first medical record format to the standardized format. The standardized format may be transmitted to the vendor entity.

Abstract: Methods and structures for manufacturing one or more System in a Package (SiP) devices, where the functionality of a packaged SiP device may be modified by additional components.

Abstract: Operations and Maintenance Design drawing maintenance, As-Built drawing conformance, and Record drawing conformance processes for protecting the integrity of dynamically modified files for Brownfield Assets through all phases of a drawing's lifecycle.

Abstract: For determining whether oil waste at a field testing site is exempt from selected naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) waste regulations, a measurement apparatus including a detection module that determine radioactivity counts per minute for an oil waste sample is utilized. The measurement apparatus includes an analysis module that uses a first nonlinear transfer function to determine a mass for the oil waste based on a volume of solids determined via BS&W testing. The analysis module uses a second nonlinear transfer function to determine a maximum radioactivity level for the sample which is then normalized to picoCuries/g. The normalized maximum radioactivity level per gram is compared to a NORM exemption level for a selected region and communicated to entities at the field-testing site and optionally to other entities. A system and a method perform the functions of the measurement apparatus.

Abstract: A prelithiated lithium ion battery includes: ion beam implanted lithium; a cathode; and an anode disposed on the cathode and an electrolyte in electrical communication with the cathode and the anode, the cathode or the anode including the ion beam implanted lithium such that: when the cathode includes the ion beam implanted lithium, the ion beam implanted lithium is present in an absence of solid electrolyte interface composition in the cathode; and when the anode includes the ion beam implanted lithium, the ion beam implanted lithium is present in an absence of solid electrolyte interface composition in the anode.

Abstract: Techniques for path selection in a network include a first node in a mesh network receiving, from a second node in the mesh network, a first battery life metric for a path through the mesh network, determining a value representing a remaining battery life of the first node, calculating a second battery life metric based on at least one of the first battery life metric for the path or the value representing the remaining battery life for the first node, and transmitting, to a third node in the mesh network, the second battery life metric.

Abstract: Methods and structures for manufacturing one or more System in a Package (SiP) devices, where the functionality of a packaged SiP device may be modified by additional components.

Abstract: A turbo machine including a plenum is formed within a double wall structure including an opening configured to provide fluid communication of a first flow of fluid between the plenum through the double wall structure, and an outer wall forming a passage configured to receive a second flow of fluid separate from the first flow of fluid, wherein a flowpath structure is formed at least in part within an inner wall, the flowpath structure configured to receive a third flow of fluid therethrough, the third flow of fluid separate from the first flow of fluid, the flowpath structure comprising an exit opening configured to provide fluid communication from the flowpath structure to the flowpath.

Abstract: Techniques for path selection in a network include a first node in a mesh network receiving, from a second node in the mesh network, a first battery life metric for a path through the mesh network, determining a value representing a remaining battery life of the first node, calculating a second battery life metric based on at least one of the first battery life metric for the path or the value representing the remaining battery life for the first node, and transmitting, to a third node in the mesh network, the second battery life metric.

Abstract: For determining whether oil waste at a field testing site is exempt from selected naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) waste regulations, a measurement apparatus including a detection module that determine radioactivity counts per minute for an oil waste sample is utilized. The measurement apparatus includes an analysis module that uses a first nonlinear transfer function to determine a mass for the oil waste based on a volume of solids determined via BS&W testing. The analysis module uses a second nonlinear transfer function to determine a maximum radioactivity level for the sample which is then normalized to picoCuries/g. The normalized maximum radioactivity level per gram is compared to a NORM exemption level for a selected region and communicated to entities at the field-testing site and optionally to other entities. A system and a method perform the functions of the measurement apparatus.

Abstract: A wireless network includes nodes configured to implement an improved parent and path selection process to efficiently and reliably manage energy consumption of a battery powered device node. When a given node selects a path, the node transmits requests to multiple potential parent nodes. Each potential parent node transmits a metric that is indicative of the remaining battery life of the nodes in the path that includes the respective potential parent node. The given node then selects a parent node, and corresponding path, based on the metrics. More specifically, the given node selects a path, where at least one node on the selected path is less likely to prematurely exhaust the remaining battery life of the node, relative to the nodes in the other potential paths. As a result, the given node selects a path that optimizes battery consumption of the various battery powered nodes in the wireless network.

Abstract: A pre-pack assembly for use with an air gun and for use with a magazine that is removably insertable into the air gun, the pre-pack assembly includes a pre-pack that contains a gas canister, wherein inserting the pre-pack into the chamber of the magazine fluidly connects the gas canister with the magazine.

Abstract: A data collection device capable of communicating with an endpoint device over a network comprises a first communication means for low data rate messaging, a second communication means for high data rate messaging, and a controller configured to send a wake-up command including a request for data to the endpoint device at a low data rate via the first communication means, the wake-up command requiring the requested data to be transmitted at a high data rate, and receive the requested data from the endpoint device at the high data rate via the second communication means. When transmission via a high data rate is not required, data may be transmitted to the data collection device at the low data rate via the first communication means. The wake-up command may involve a regularly scheduled request for data, an unscheduled request for data, and/or an alarm event. Various methodologies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A frame for a heat engine, the frame including an inner wall extended from an inlet end to an outlet end, the inner wall forming at least in part a core flowpath, the inner wall comprising a plenum formed between an outer portion of the inner wall and an inner portion of the inner wall, wherein a cavity is formed inward of the inner portion of the inner wall, and wherein the inner wall includes a first plenum opening providing fluid communication between the cavity and the plenum, and wherein the inner wall comprises a second plenum opening providing fluid communication between the plenum and the core flowpath.

Abstract: A portable training device includes a first and second elongated members, a coupling device, a base, a holder device, and a member holder. An elongated slot is positioned between a distal end and a proximate end on at least one side of each of the first and second elongated members. The first elongated member and second elongated member are each received by the coupling device to form a post that extends in a system vertical direction. The member holder has an engagement portion and a member receiving portion. The engagement portion includes a resilient member and a trapezoidal portion. The resilient member and the trapezoidal portion are slidably received in the elongated slot of the first and second elongated members such that the member holder is positioned into a plurality of positions within the elongated slots of the first and second elongated members.