Abstract: A surgical system uses a single entry port in a wide variety of surgeries. To insert multiple surgical instruments into a patient through a single entry port requires that the shaft of at least one of the surgical instruments be bent between the base of the surgical instrument and the point where the shaft contacts a channel in an entry guide. Each surgical instrument is positioned by an instrument manipulator positioning system so that when the shaft is inserted in a channel of the entry guide, any bending of the shaft does not damage the surgical instrument and does not inhibit proper operation of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A patient-side support system includes a base, a platform movably coupled to the base, manipulator assemblies coupled to the platform, instruments, each of the instruments being coupled to a different one of the manipulator assemblies, each of the instruments including a body and a shaft extending from the body, and a guide tube common to the instruments. A first part of the shaft of each individual one of the instruments extends distally from the guide tube to the body. a second part of the shaft of each individual one of the instruments extends through at least a portion of the guide tube. The first part of the shaft of a first instrument of the instruments is articulatable between the body of the first instrument and the guide tube. The guide tube and the instruments are collectively rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the guide tube.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a surgical instrument into engagement with a grip actuator of a teleoperational activation system. The surgical instrument includes movable jaws, and the surgical instrument is received in a prearranged gripping configuration with the jaws gripping a surgical accessory. The method includes generating a first control signal for manipulating the surgical instrument while maintaining the surgical instrument in the prearranged gripping configuration. The method further includes generating a second control signal for manipulating the surgical instrument to move from the prearranged gripping configuration to a second configuration.

Abstract: A variable position sensing device is provided. The device includes a fixed track attached to a track holder. An adjustable sensor holder is adapted to receive a sensor and is capable of sliding and locking into position on the fixed track. The sensor device has particular applicability and the semiconductor manufacturing industry for setting sensors at different positions in a liquid chemical holding vessel.

Abstract: A method of assessing objects in a 3D graphical scene provides discovery of the most important objects in that scene from the viewer's perspective at any instant in time. These objects are then queued in priority order and requests for each object's data sent to the server at a rate determined by the available network bandwidth. The importance of each object is recalculated per scene update and new requests are sent out based on these values. Only data requests that can be responded to within the next update cycle are sent, while most request messages are retained. This allows for immediate response to a changing view position, and reduces visual latency, defined as the time that lapses until an object having a data deficit gets that data. Latency is reduced for important objects at the cost of lesser objects. Because important objects are those which contribute most to the visual scene, the overall richness of the scene appears to grow faster than the number of objects received.

Abstract: An optical device includes a polarization section having a port, the polarization section being for receiving light at the port and for outputting light at the port with a state of polarization orthoconjugate to the light received at the port. The polarization section includes a reflector, a bidirectional nonreciprocal rotator and a bidirectional polarizer. The bidirectional nonreciprocal rotator has first and second ends, the first end being operatively coupled to the port. The bidirectional polarizer has first and second ends, the first polarizer end being operatively coupled to the reflector and the second polarizer end being operatively coupled to the second rotator end.

Abstract: A Faraday rotator glass composition based on a fluoride glass, phosphate glass, fluorophosphate glass or a mixture thereof is doped with a lanthanide in a concentration sufficient to provide a Verdet constant above at least 2870 deg/Tesla-meter [(1 min/cm-Oe).times.(1.667.times.10.sup.4)=1 deg/Tesla-meter] and optical transmission above at least 50 percent in a 25 mm thick polished glass sample at least at one wavelength in the 200 to 400 nm wavelength region. The Faraday rotator glass also includes monovalent non-lanthanide cations such as Na, Li, K or mixtures thereof in a concentration sufficient to provide a Verdet constant above at least 2870 deg/Tesla-meter and optical transmission above at least 50 percent in a 25 mm thick polished glass sample at least at one wavelength in the 200 to 400 nm wavelength region.

Abstract: Phenylalkanoic acids containing a sulphonamido group, and their use in a method of treatment of thromboxane-A.sub.2 mediated diseases are disclosed. A compound of the invention is 4-[4-(phenyl-sulphonamido)phenyl]butyric acid.

Abstract: A gear shaft assembly (42) is provided including a shaft (5) having a first set of gear teeth (6) formed integrally in a second portion (51) thereof and extensions of said teeth extend axially over an adjacent reduced diameter second portion (50) for receivably mounting a second gear (7) for rotation with the shaft.

Abstract: An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine includes a filter element and a housing having the filter element situated therein, with the housing having an outlet for allowing filtered air to flow to the engine and an inlet permitting entry of air into the housing. The outlet includes a venturi which is integral with the outer wall of the housing and which defines a passage through the wall, with the venturi expanding radially on the inner side of the housing's outer wall.

Abstract: Pyridiniomethacrylate polymers are described which are of use in the treatment of elevated serum cholesterol levels. A compound of the invention is cross-linked 3-(N-methyl-3-pyridinio)propyl methacrylate chloride.

Abstract: An unstable resonator laser cavity providing high power radiation with diaction-limited divergence and narrow-bandwidth comprises a gain medium for generating and amplifying laser radiation optically coupled to a reflector via a frequency narrowing element for providing feedback and bandwidth-narrowing of the laser radiation travelling between the gain medium and the reflector. A telescopic ring is optically coupled to the gain medium opposing the reflector.

Abstract: An ultraviolet optical isolater which utilizes a KDP-isomorph crystal as optical element is disclosed.

Abstract: A laser cavity providing high power laser radiation with diffraction-limi divergence and narrow-bandwidth comprises: a stable laser cavity including a gain medium, which generates and amplifies laser radiation, optically coupled to first and second reflectors and an optical coupler; and an unstable laser cavity including the gain medium, the first reflector, the optical coupler and a scraper mirror. The scraper mirror is located between the gain medium and the optical coupler for producing an output beam. The stable laser cavity is restricted to operate on a low order TEM mode by an aperture located between the optical coupler and the second reflector. A frequency narrowing element located between the optical coupler and the second reflector narrows the bandwidth of the laser radiation in the stable laser cavity. The optical coupler couples the narrow bandwidth laser radiation from the stable laser cavity to the unstable laser cavity, thereby producing narrow bandwidth laser radiation in the output beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to phenylsulphonamidolkanoic acids which have thromboxane A.sub.2 receptor antagonist activity.

Abstract: The invention provides a class of alkanoic acids substituted with a benzenesulphonamidopyridyl group. The compounds have activity as thromboxane A.sub.2 -antagonists.

Abstract: This invention relates to 2-pyridine derivatives substituted in the 4-position with a dialkylamino- or piperidinyl- or pyrrolidinylalkyl group. The compounds have histamine H.sub.2 -antagonist activity.