Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to fume hoods, and more particularly to systems and methods for controlling a fume hood airflow using an image (e.g., an optical image, an acoustic image, etc.) of a fume hood opening. A system for controlling a fume hood may include an image capture sensor, a configurator and a controller. The image capture sensor may be positioned to have a field of view that includes at least a portion of a fume hood opening, and may be configured to capture an image that includes at least part of the fume hood opening and/or a person working at the hood. The controller may then provide a control signal to a ventilation device for providing a desired airflow in the fume hood. The control signal may depending on the current size of the fume hood opening as captured by the image capture sensor.

Abstract: A building management system (BMS) for a medical facility that includes a plurality of rooms with at least one of the rooms having a plurality of sensors. An elevated infection risk determination system is operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors for determining when an elevated infection risk occurs in one or more of the rooms. The BMS may include a memory for storing one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters, an input port for receiving an elevated infection risk alert for the particular room in the medical facility, a control port for providing control commands to one or more building components of the building management system, and a controller. The controller may be configured to provide control commands via the control port in response to receiving the elevated infection risk alert for the particular room based at least in part on one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters to help mitigate the elevated infection risk in the particular room.

Abstract: A building management system (BMS) for a medical facility that includes a plurality of rooms with at least one of the rooms having a plurality of sensors. An elevated infection risk determination system is operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors for determining when an elevated infection risk occurs in one or more of the rooms. The BMS may include a memory for storing one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters, an input port for receiving an elevated infection risk alert for the particular room in the medical facility, a control port for providing control commands to one or more building components of the building management system, and a controller. The controller may be configured to provide control commands via the control port in response to receiving the elevated infection risk alert for the particular room based at least in part on one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters to help mitigate the elevated infection risk in the particular room.

Abstract: A disc preparation instrument for use in fusing spinal vertebrae comprises a modular scoring trial and a depth stop releasably attached to the scoring trial. The trial includes an elongate stem supporting a trial device at its distal tip. The trial device is insertable into a disc space and includes a rotatable rasp for scoring opposing vertebral endplates at a scored location. A stop, sized to engage an exterior surface of the vertebrae, is movable on the depth stop stem by rotation of an adjustment knob to a plurality of selectable distances between the proximal end of the trial device and the movable stop. An actuator releasably attached to the trial is operable to rotate the rasp. A plurality of modular trials, each having a trial device of different heights may be provided in a kit. Each scoring trial is selectively releasably attachable to a single depth stop.

Abstract: A modular inserter assembly for use in inserting an interbody fusion cage into the disc space between opposing vertebrae comprises a depth stop and a modular inserter tip releasably attached thereto. The modular inserter assembly includes a cage attachment surface for releasable attachment to an interbody fusion cage, the depth stop including a movable stop axially movable relative to the inserter tip and being sized and configured to engage an exterior surface of one of the vertebrae to establish the depth to which the interbody fusion cage is to be inserted in the disc space. A plurality of modular inserter tips, each being configured for selective releasable attachment to differently sized interbody fusion cages are provided in a kit with the depth stop.

Abstract: An HVAC system and method for characterizing a chosen VAV valve involves measuring the valve's volumetric flow rate versus valve position at just one or at some other limited number of data points and comparing that to the average characteristics a rather large group of similar valves. A custom characterization of airflow versus valve position for the chosen VAV valve is then created based on a difference between the characteristics of the chosen valve and that of the group of valves. In some examples, the VAV valve is of a venturi style such that a generic characterization of the group of valves is substantially linear when their flow rates are expressed logarithmically.

Abstract: A venturi valve having a valve housing that includes a narrowing section extending between a broader upstream end and a narrower valve throat followed by a broadening section downstream of the valve throat, and a valve member configured to be situated in the valve housing and movable along a valve axis in an axial direction of the valve housing. The venturi valve includes a plurality of flow influencing features positioned in a reattachment region of the valve member and/or extending inward from an inner wall of the valve housing. The plurality of flow influencing features are configured to reduce perturbations in an air flow passing through the venturi valve thereby reducing rattle from the venturi valve.

Abstract: A venturi valve having a valve housing that includes a narrowing section extending between a broader upstream end and a narrower valve throat followed by a broadening section downstream of the valve throat, and a valve member configured to be situated in the valve housing and movable along a valve axis in an axial direction of the valve housing. The venturi valve includes a plurality of flow influencing features positioned in a reattachment region of the valve member and/or extending inward from an inner wall of the valve housing. The plurality of flow influencing features are configured to reduce perturbations in an air flow passing through the venturi valve thereby reducing rattle from the venturi valve.

Abstract: A venturi valve having a valve housing that includes a narrowing section extending between a broader upstream end and a narrower valve throat followed by a broadening section downstream of the valve throat, and a valve member configured to be situated in the valve housing and movable along a valve axis in an axial direction of the valve housing. The venturi valve includes a plurality of flow influencing features positioned in a reattachment region of the valve member and/or extending inward from an inner wall of the valve housing. The plurality of flow influencing features are configured to reduce perturbations in an air flow passing through the venturi valve thereby reducing rattle from the venturi valve.

Abstract: A method of luminance lifetime imaging includes receiving incident photons at an integrated photodetector from luminescent molecules. The incident photons being received through one or more optical components of a point-of-care device. The method also includes detecting arrival times of the incident photons using the integrated photodetector. A method of analyzing blood glucose includes detecting luminance lifetime characteristics of tissue using, at least in part, an integrated circuit that detects arrival times of incident photons from the tissue. The method also includes analyzing blood glucose based upon the luminance lifetime characteristics.

Abstract: A screw-based retractor comprises an elongate rack having a rack axis, a plurality of arms slidably supported for translational movement on the rack, and a plurality of blades, one each supported by a respective arm at a distal portion thereof. At least one of the arms includes at its distal portion a blade releasably attached thereto. Such at least one arm comprises a plurality of links each of which is configured to allow the blade supported by such arm to be moved in plural incrementally discrete positions with each such discrete position being selectively lockable. The blade may have a fixed or variable length. Such blade may be attached to a blade receptacle movably attached to the at least one arm in a manner to provide articulation of the blade receptacle and hence the attached blade about an articulation point spaced from and not located on such arm.

Abstract: A building management system (BMS) for a medical facility that includes a plurality of rooms with at least one of the rooms having a plurality of sensors. An elevated infection risk determination system is operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors for determining when an elevated infection risk occurs in one or more of the rooms. The BMS may include a memory for storing one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters, an input port for receiving an elevated infection risk alert for the particular room in the medical facility, a control port for providing control commands to one or more building components of the building management system, and a controller. The controller may be configured to provide control commands via the control port in response to receiving the elevated infection risk alert for the particular room based at least in part on one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters to help mitigate the elevated infection risk in the particular room.

Abstract: An HVAC system and method for characterizing a chosen VAV valve involves measuring the valve's volumetric flow rate versus valve position at just one or at some other limited number of data points and comparing that to the average characteristics a rather large group of similar valves. A custom characterization of airflow versus valve position for the chosen VAV valve is then created based on a difference between the characteristics of the chosen valve and that of the group of valves. In some examples, the VAV valve is of a venturi style such that a generic characterization of the group of valves is substantially linear when their flow rates are expressed logarithmically.

Abstract: A screw-based retractor comprises an elongate rack having a rack axis, a plurality of arms slidably supported for translational movement on the rack, and a plurality of blades, one each supported by a respective arm at a distal portion thereof. At least one of the arms includes at its distal portion a blade releasably attached thereto. Such blade is attached to a blade receptacle movably attached to the at least one arm in a manner to provide articulation of the blade receptacle and hence the attached blade about an articulation point spaced from and not located on such arm. Such blade is additionally movable relative to the rack in multiple degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A building management system (BMS) for a medical facility that includes a plurality of rooms with at least one of the rooms having a plurality of sensors. An elevated infection risk determination system is operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors for determining when an elevated infection risk occurs in one or more of the rooms. The BMS may include a memory for storing one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters, an input port for receiving an elevated infection risk alert for the particular room in the medical facility, a control port for providing control commands to one or more building components of the building management system, and a controller. The controller may be configured to provide control commands via the control port in response to receiving the elevated infection risk alert for the particular room based at least in part on one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters to help mitigate the elevated infection risk in the particular room.

Abstract: A modular inserter assembly for use in inserting an interbody fusion cage into the disc space between opposing vertebrae comprises a depth stop and a modular inserter tip releasably attached thereto. The modular inserter assembly includes a cage attachment surface for releasable attachment to an interbody fusion cage, the depth stop including a movable stop axially movable relative to the inserter tip and being sized and configured to engage an exterior surface of one of the vertebrae to establish the depth to which the interbody fusion cage is to be inserted in the disc space. A plurality of modular inserter tips, each being configured for selective releasable attachment to differently sized interbody fusion cages are provided in a kit with the depth stop.

Abstract: A building management system (BMS) for a medical facility that includes a plurality of rooms with at least one of the rooms having a plurality of sensors. An elevated infection risk determination system is operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors for determining when an elevated infection risk occurs in one or more of the rooms. The BMS may include a memory for storing one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters, an input port for receiving an elevated infection risk alert for the particular room in the medical facility, a control port for providing control commands to one or more building components of the building management system, and a controller. The controller may be configured to provide control commands via the control port in response to receiving the elevated infection risk alert for the particular room based at least in part on one or more programmable infection risk compliance parameters to help mitigate the elevated infection risk in the particular room.

Abstract: A disc preparation instrument for use in fusing spinal vertebrae comprises a modular scoring trial and a depth stop releasably attached to the scoring trial. The trial includes an elongate stem supporting a trial device at its distal tip. The trial device is insertable into a disc space and includes a rotatable rasp for scoring opposing vertebral endplates at a scored location. A stop, sized to engage an exterior surface of the vertebrae, is movable on the depth stop stem by rotation of an adjustment knob to a plurality of selectable distances between the proximal end of the trial device and the movable stop. An actuator releasably attached to the trial is operable to rotate the rasp. A plurality of modular trials, each having a trial device of different heights may be provided in a kit. Each scoring trial is selectively releasably attachable to a single depth stop.

Abstract: A modular inserter assembly for use in inserting an interbody fusion cage into the disc space between opposing vertebrae comprises a depth stop and a modular inserter tip releasably attached thereto. The modular inserter assembly includes a cage attachment surface for releasable attachment to an interbody fusion cage, the depth stop including a movable stop axially movable relative to the inserter tip and being sized and configured to engage an exterior surface of one of the vertebrae to establish the depth to which the interbody fusion cage is to be inserted in the disc space. A plurality of modular inserter tips, each being configured for selective releasable attachment to differently sized interbody fusion cages are provided in a kit with the depth stop.

Abstract: A disc preparation instrument for use in fusing spinal vertebrae comprises a modular scoring trial and a depth stop releasably attached to the scoring trial. The trial includes an elongate stem supporting a trial device at its distal tip. The trial device is insertable into a disc space and includes a rotatable rasp for scoring opposing vertebral endplates at a scored location. A stop, sized to engage an exterior surface of the vertebrae, is movable on the depth stop stem by rotation of an adjustment knob to a plurality of selectable distances between the proximal end of the trial device and the movable stop. An actuator releasably attached to the trial is operable to rotate the rasp. A plurality of modular trials, each having a trial device of different heights may be provided in a kit. Each scoring trial is selectively releasably attachable to a single depth stop.