Abstract: An automatic plant tissue sampler and a method for operating the same are provided. The sampler can include a plant handler configured to transport a plurality of plants to an imager. The imager may be configured to image plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler also includes a sampler configured to remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of plants, and a collection vessel configured to receive the tissue samples. The automatic plant tissue sampler may transport a plurality of plants to an imager and images the plurality of plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler can remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of the plurality of plants and store the tissue samples in a collection vessel for testing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an aspiration assembly for attaching to an endoscope. The aspiration assembly comprises an extendable suction tube for aspirating an object (e.g., smoke, blood, blood clot, bone debris, or tissue debris) at or near a surgical site during an endoscopic surgery. The aspiration assembly can further comprise an irrigation tube for directing a fluid to the surgical site for cleaning the endoscope lens. By integrating an extendable suction tube with the endoscope, the technology described herein obviate the need for instrument switching and/or multiple surgeons during the surgery.

Abstract: A pipetting device includes a housing, a valve assembly, and an actuator assembly. The housing includes a tip for receiving a capillary tube. The valve assembly includes a shuttle valve having a filling position and a dispensing position and a valve rod. The actuator assembly includes an actuator, a valve trigger, a piston mount, and an indexing mechanism. The actuator extends from the housing and has a push button coupled to a push rod. The valve trigger being configured to engage the valve assembly and includes an aperture configured to receive the piston mount therein. The indexing mechanism is configured to index a rotated position of the push button to a predefined volume of dispensed fluid.

Abstract: An automatic plant tissue sampler and a method for operating the same are provided. The sampler can include a plant handler configured to transport a plurality of plants to an imager. The imager may be configured to image plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler also includes a sampler configured to remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of plants, and a collection vessel configured to receive the tissue samples. The automatic plant tissue sampler may transport a plurality of plants to an imager and images the plurality of plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler can remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of the plurality of plants and store the tissue samples in a collection vessel for testing.

Abstract: An automatic plant tissue sampler and a method for operating the same are provided. The sampler can include a plant handler configured to transport a plurality of plants to an imager. The imager may be configured to image plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler also includes a sampler configured to remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of plants, and a collection vessel configured to receive the tissue samples. The automatic plant tissue sampler may transport a plurality of plants to an imager and images the plurality of plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler can remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of the plurality of plants and store the tissue samples in a collection vessel for testing.

Abstract: A pipetting device includes a housing, a valve assembly, and an actuator assembly. The housing includes a tip for receiving a capillary tube. The valve assembly includes a shuttle valve having a filling position and a dispensing position and a valve rod. The actuator assembly includes an actuator, a valve trigger, a piston mount, and an indexing mechanism. The actuator extends from the housing and has a push button coupled to a push rod. The valve trigger being configured to engage the valve assembly and includes an aperture configured to receive the piston mount therein. The indexing mechanism is configured to index a rotated position of the push button to a predefined volume of dispensed fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an aspiration assembly for attaching to an endoscope. The aspiration assembly comprises an extendable suction tube for aspirating an object (e.g., smoke, blood, blood clot, bone debris, or tissue debris) at or near a surgical site during an endoscopic surgery. The aspiration assembly can further comprise an irrigation tube for directing a fluid to the surgical site for cleaning the endoscope lens. By integrating an extendable suction tube with the endoscope, the technology described herein obviate the need for instrument switching and/or multiple surgeons during the surgery.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and a device for expediting delivery of an agent to a damaged bacterial cell. In one embodiment, the methods and devices are useful for screening candidate antibiotics. In another embodiment, the methods and devices described herein are used to determine susceptibility of bacteria to an antibiotic. The methods also provide a method for determining an appropriate antibiotic to treat an individual having a bacterial infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for separation and concentration of particles from liquid and fluid samples. In some embodiments, the separation/concentration is achieved by sequential centrifugation steps. In particular, one aspect of the invention relates to a separation/concentration device which comprises at least a first chamber and a second chamber connected by a first valve, whereby operation of the first valve controls the material transfer from the first chamber to the second chamber. In some embodiments, valve operation can be manually, semi-manually or automatically. Other aspects of the invention relate to single- or multi-chambered separation/concentrator devices, and methods and systems for use. Other aspects of the invention relate to devices for operation of the valves, e.g., semi-manual actuation devices, and automatic inertial activation devices and mechanical actuation devices present in purpose-built centrifuges.

Abstract: A dental implant includes an upper connector portion and lower implantation portion, the connector portion receiving a dental crown or similar prosthesis, the implantation portion having rectangular cross section and linear vertical profile with machine taper. An outer surface of the implantation portion provides frictional fit with a correspondingly shaped surrounding bone surface. A bone removal tool includes a hand-held actuator generating high-frequency, small-amplitude vibration, and an attached metal tool tip having elongated head portion and curved neck portion. The head portion has rectangular cross section and linear taper, and an outer surface of the head portion has a saw-toothed grinding pattern for removing bone. The neck portion is dimensioned and configured to establish mechanical resonance of the tool tip including axial reciprocating action of the head portion in response to the actuator vibration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for separation and concentration of particles from liquid and fluid samples. In some embodiments, the separation/concentration is achieved by sequential centrifugation steps. In particular, one aspect of the invention relates to a separation/concentration device which comprises at least a first chamber (101) and a second chamber (103) connected by a first valve (111), whereby operation of the first valve controls the material transfer from the first chamber to the second chamber. In some embodiments, valve operation can be manually, semi-manually or automatically. Other aspects of the invention relate to single- or multi-chambered separation/concentrator devices, and methods and systems for use. Other aspects of the invention relate to devices for operation of the valves, e.g., semi-manual actuation devices, and automatic inertial activation devices and mechanical actuation devices present in purpose-built centrifuges.

Abstract: A mobile device having first and second RF transceivers performs a communication function in accordance with a communication protocol of the second RF transceiver. During performance of this function, the mobile device estimates the RF interference on a channel of the first RF transceiver, and stores parameters which characterize the estimated RF interference in association with an identifier corresponding to the function. These actions are repeated for a plurality of channels of the first RF transceiver, as well as for a plurality of different communication functions. When performing a communication function again, the mobile device receives an identifier corresponding to the function and retrieves stored parameters corresponding to the received identifier. The mobile device applies the retrieved parameters to the first RF transceiver for reducing the adverse effect of RF interference during reception on the channel of the first RF transceiver.

Abstract: An automatic plant tissue sampler and a method for operating the same are provided. The sampler can include a plant handler configured to transport a plurality of plants to an imager. The imager may be configured to image plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler also includes a sampler configured to remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of plants, and a collection vessel configured to receive the tissue samples. The automatic plant tissue sampler may transport a plurality of plants to an imager and images the plurality of plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler can remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of the plurality of plants and store the tissue samples in a collection vessel for testing.

Abstract: A system employs wave energy harvesting apparatus and a water vessel (e.g., a ship) carrying an energy storage apparatus (e.g., array of batteries). The energy harvesting apparatus is preferably also carried by the water vessel, but may be fixed or carried by a separate water vessel. The water vessel is operated in an energy storing mode at an energy harvesting location subject to wave activity, during which the energy storage apparatus stores energy from the wave activity as harvested by the energy harvesting apparatus. The water vessel is operated in an energy transporting mode to transport the stored energy from the energy harvesting location to an energy releasing location (preferably onshore, but may be offshore) having a connection to an electrical power grid. The water vessel is operated at the energy releasing location in an energy releasing mode in which the stored energy is transformed into appropriate AC electricity supplied to the electrical power grid.

Abstract: A system employs wave energy harvesting apparatus and a water vessel (e.g., a ship) carrying an energy storage apparatus (e.g., array of batteries). The energy harvesting apparatus is preferably also carried by the water vessel, but may be fixed or carried by a separate water vessel. The water vessel is operated in an energy storing mode at an energy harvesting location subject to wave activity, during which the energy storage apparatus stores energy from the wave activity as harvested by the energy harvesting apparatus. The water vessel is operated in an energy transporting mode to transport the stored energy from the energy harvesting location to an energy releasing location (preferably onshore, but may be offshore) having a connection to an electrical power grid. The water vessel is operated at the energy releasing location in an energy releasing mode in which the stored energy is transformed into appropriate AC electricity supplied to the electrical power grid.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and a device for expediting delivery of an agent to a damaged bacterial cell. In one embodiment, the methods and devices are useful for screening candidate antibiotics. In another embodiment, the methods and devices described herein are used to determine susceptibility of bacteria to an antibiotic. The methods also provide a method for determining an appropriate antibiotic to treat an individual having a bacterial infection.

Abstract: A mobile device having first and second RF transceivers performs a communication function in accordance with a communication protocol of the second RF transceiver. During performance of this function, the mobile device estimates the RF interference on a channel of the first RF transceiver, and stores parameters which characterize the estimated RF interference in association with an identifier corresponding to the function. These actions are repeated for a plurality of channels of the first RF transceiver, as well as for a plurality of different communication functions. When performing a communication function again, the mobile device receives an identifier corresponding to the function and retrieves stored parameters corresponding to the received identifier. The mobile device applies the retrieved parameters to the first RF transceiver for reducing the adverse effect of RF interference during reception on the channel of the first RF transceiver.

Abstract: An expandable tubular includes a plurality of leaves formed from sheet material that have curved surfaces. The leaves extend around a portion or fully around the diameter of the tubular structure. Some of the adjacent leaves of the tubular are coupled together. The tubular is compressed to a smaller diameter so that it can be inserted through previously deployed tubular assemblies. Once the tubular is properly positioned, it is deployed and coupled or not coupled to a previously deployed tubular assembly. The tubular is useful for all types of wells and boreholes.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and a device for expediting delivery of an agent to a damaged bacterial cell. In one embodiment, the methods and devices are useful for screening candidate antibiotics. In another embodiment, the methods and devices described herein are used to determine susceptibility of bacteria to an antibiotic. The methods also provide a method for determining an appropriate antibiotic to treat an individual having a bacterial infection.

Abstract: A system employs wave energy harvesting apparatus and a water vessel (e.g., a ship) carrying an energy storage apparatus (e.g., array of batteries). The energy harvesting apparatus is preferably also carried by the water vessel, but may be fixed or carried by a separate water vessel. The water vessel is operated in an energy storing mode at an energy harvesting location subject to wave activity, during which the energy storage apparatus stores energy from the wave activity as harvested by the energy harvesting apparatus. The water vessel is operated in an energy transporting mode to transport the stored energy from the energy harvesting location to an energy releasing location (preferably onshore, but may be offshore) having a connection to an electrical power grid. The water vessel is operated at the energy releasing location in an energy releasing mode in which the stored energy is transformed into appropriate AC electricity supplied to the electrical power grid.