Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. The method comprises generating at least one electrical signal. The at least one electrical signal is monitored against a first set of logic conditions. A first response is triggered when the first set of logic conditions is met. A parameter is determined from the at least one electrical signal.

Abstract: A method for determining motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic surgical device over multiple frequencies of a transducer drive signal. The method may comprise, at each of a plurality of frequencies of the transducer drive signal, oversampling a current and voltage of the transducer drive signal, receiving, by a processor, the current and voltage samples, and determining, by the processor, the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and the frequency of the transducer drive signal.

Abstract: Provided herein are an optical test platform and corresponding method of manufacturing the same. The test platform may include a shell defining a cavity for receiving a sample tube, a first aperture, and a second aperture. The first aperture and the second aperture of the shell may each be configured to optically couple the cavity with an exterior of the shell. The test platform may further include a first window and a second window embedded in the shell. The first window may seal a first aperture and the second window may seal a second aperture. The first window and second window may each permit the optical coupling of the cavity with the exterior of the shell. The first window and the second window may be optically coupled via the cavity, and the shell may prohibit optical coupling between the first window and the second window through the shell.

Abstract: An interactive control unit is disclosed. The interactive control unit includes an interactive touchscreen display, an interface configured to couple the control unit to a surgical hub, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive input commands from the interactive touchscreen display located inside a sterile field and transmit the input commands to the surgical hub to control devices coupled to the surgical hub located outside the sterile field.

Abstract: A vehicle and a traffic infrastructure device both determine their respective locations, at least one of which uses a positioning device to determine its location. At least one sends its respective location to the other, which compares the two locations, identifies a location difference, generates calibration information based on the location difference, and either calibrates the positioning device based on the calibration information or transmits the calibration information to the other device for the other device to calibrate the positioning device.

Abstract: A vehicle and a traffic infrastructure device both determine their respective locations, at least one of which uses a positioning device to determine its location. At least one sends its respective location to the other, which compares the two locations, identifies a location difference, generates calibration information based on the location difference, and either calibrates the positioning device based on the calibration information or transmits the calibration information to the other device for the other device to calibrate the positioning device.

Abstract: A method of measuring creep strain in a gas turbine engine component, where at least a portion of the component has a material disposed thereon, and where the material has a plurality of markings providing a visually distinct pattern. The method may include capturing an image of at least a portion of the markings after an operational period of the gas turbine engine, and determining creep strain information of the component. The creep strain information may be determined by correlating the image captured after the operational period to an image captured before the operational period.

Abstract: A method of measuring creep strain in a gas turbine engine component, where at least a portion of the component has a material disposed thereon, and where the material has a plurality of markings providing a visually distinct pattern. The method may include capturing an image of at least a portion of the markings after an operational period of the gas turbine engine, and determining creep strain information of the component. The creep strain information may be determined by correlating the image captured after the operational period to an image captured before the operational period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mammalian Lhx3 nucleic acids and proteins encoded thereby. More specifically, the invention discloses novel porcine and human Lhx3 genes and isoforms thereof. The invention further relates to genomic mapping of the human Lhx3 coding region to the subtelomeric region of Chromosome 9. The invention also relates to methods and kits relating to the nucleic and amino acids encoding Lhx3 and uses therefor.

Abstract: A method for preventing artifacts in an electronic image decoded from a block-transform coded representation of an image, the method comprises the steps of: receiving blocks of the electronic image decoded from the transform-coded representation of the image; determining whether a portion of the decoded image contains low detail pixels; determining boundary pixels as pixels within a predetermined area of a predetermined number of low detail pixels; filtering the boundary pixels with one of a plurality of directionally-oriented smoothing filters for obtaining one or more boundary replacement pixel values; and reconstructing the image by replacing one or more pixels in the boundary with one or more of the boundary replacement pixel values.