Abstract: A vending machine includes a refrigerated enclosure including a housing for storage of an associated pre-packaged food product. The housing has a sidewall with a sidewall opening A door is mounted to the sidewall for closing and opening the sidewall opening. A drive mechanism is operably connected to the door and adapted to mechanically mow the door between a closed position and an opened position. The drive mechanism includes at least one sensing device adapted to determine whether the door is in one of the closed position and the opened position. A door rail is mounted to the sidewall and has a guide track. The door is movably received in the guide track.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a main unit, and a secondary unit separate from and operably connected to the main unit. The secondary unit includes a refrigerated enclosure for housing pre-packaged food products and an oven for selectively cooking the pre-packaged food products. The main unit includes a transfer mechanism adapted to selectively remove one of the pre-packed food products from the enclosure and transfer the one pre-packaged food product to the oven for cooking. The transfer mechanism is further adapted to remove the cooked one pre-packaged food product from the oven and transfer the cooked one pre-packaged food product to a customer receiving area provided in the main unit.

Abstract: Described here are devices and methods for forming a fistula between two vessels. In some instances, the fistula may be formed between a proximal ulnar artery and a deep ulnar vein. The fistula may be formed using an electrode, and may be formed with a first catheter placed in a first blood vessel and a second catheter placed in a second blood vessel. In some instances, access to the proximal ulnar artery may be achieved through a brachial artery, and access to the deep ulnar vein may be achieved through a brachial vein.

Abstract: An automated frothing assembly. The automated frothing assembly has a wand module that includes an elongate member having an inlet, one or more outlets, and a fluid passageway extending between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the plurality of outlets. At least one of the one or more outlets extends parallel to a vertical plane that includes the centerline of the elongate member and at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to both the vertical plane and the centerline of the elongate member. The assembly further includes an actuator configured to be operatively coupled to the wand module and to drive the movement of at least a portion of the wand module along an axis, and an electronic controller configured to be electrically coupled to the actuator and to control the operation of the actuator to control the movement of the wand module.

Abstract: An assembly for product support and deployment for a vending machine includes a product chute, a pusher, a pusher drive assembly, and a controller. The product chute is configured to receive a plurality of products stacked on one another. The product chute includes an exit opening through which a respective product of the plurality of products is dispensed. The pusher drive assembly is operatively connected with the pusher and is configured so as to move the pusher in at least two mutually perpendicular axes. The controller is in communication with the pusher drive assembly. The controller is configured to control operation of the pusher drive assembly such that the pusher pushes the respective product being dispensed towards the exit opening and supports or lifts the remaining products in the chute against the force of gravity prior to the respective product fully exiting the product chute through the exit opening.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a main unit, and a secondary unit separate from and operably connected to the main unit. The secondary unit includes a refrigerated enclosure for housing pre-packaged food products and an oven for selectively cooking the pre-packaged food products. The main unit includes a transfer mechanism adapted to selectively remove one of the pre-packed food products from the enclosure and transfer the one pre-packaged food product to the oven for cooking. The transfer mechanism is further adapted to remove the cooked one pre-packaged food product from the oven and transfer the cooked one pre-packaged food product to a customer receiving area provided in the main unit.

Abstract: A vending machine is adapted for dispensing a pre-packaged food product provided in a refrigerated enclosure housed in the vending machine. The vending machine includes an oven including a housing defining a cavity for receiving the pre-packaged food product. The housing has a sidewall with a sidewall opening providing access to the cavity. A side door is mounted to the sidewall for closing and opening the sidewall opening. A drive mechanism is connected to the side door and adapted to mechanically move the side door of the oven between a closed position and an opened position. The drive mechanism includes a sensing device adapted to determine whether the side door is in one of the closed position and the opened position. A door frame is mounted to the sidewall and has a guide track. The side door is movably received in the guide track.

Abstract: An automated frothing assembly. The automated frothing assembly has a wand module that includes an elongate member having an inlet, one or more outlets, and a fluid passageway extending between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the plurality of outlets. At least one of the one or more outlets extends parallel to a vertical plane that includes the centerline of the elongate member and at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to both the vertical plane and the centerline of the elongate member. The assembly further includes an actuator configured to be operatively coupled to the wand module and to drive the movement of at least a portion of the wand module along an axis, and an electronic controller configured to be electrically coupled to the actuator and to control the operation of the actuator to control the movement of the wand module.

Abstract: An automated frothing assembly. The automated frothing assembly has a wand module that includes an elongate member having an inlet, one or more outlets, and a fluid passageway extending between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the plurality of outlets. At least one of the one or more outlets extends parallel to a vertical plane that includes the centerline of the elongate member and at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to both the vertical plane and the centerline of the elongate member. The assembly further includes an actuator configured to be operatively coupled to the wand module and to drive the movement of at least a portion of the wand module along an axis, and an electronic controller configured to be electrically coupled to the actuator and to control the operation of the actuator to control the movement of the wand module.

Abstract: An automated frothing assembly. The automated frothing assembly has a wand module that includes an elongate member having an inlet, one or more outlets, and a fluid passageway extending between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the plurality of outlets. At least one of the one or more outlets extends parallel to a vertical plane that includes the centerline of the elongate member and at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to both the vertical plane and the centerline of the elongate member. The assembly further includes an actuator configured to be operatively coupled to the wand module and to drive the movement of at least a portion of the wand module along an axis, and an electronic controller configured to be electrically coupled to the actuator and to control the operation of the actuator to control the movement of the wand module.

Abstract: An automated frothing assembly. The automated frothing assembly has a wand module that includes an elongate member having an inlet, one or more outlets, and a fluid passageway extending between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the plurality of outlets. At least one of the one or more outlets extends parallel to a vertical plane that includes the centerline of the elongate member and at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to both the vertical plane and the centerline of the elongate member. The assembly further includes an actuator configured to be operatively coupled to the wand module and to drive the movement of at least a portion of the wand module along an axis, and an electronic controller configured to be electrically coupled to the actuator and to control the operation of the actuator to control the movement of the wand module.

Abstract: An automated frothing assembly. The automated frothing assembly has a wand module that includes an elongate member having an inlet, one or more outlets, and a fluid passageway extending between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the plurality of outlets. At least one of the one or more outlets extends parallel to a vertical plane that includes the centerline of the elongate member and at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to both the vertical plane and the centerline of the elongate member. The assembly further includes an actuator configured to be operatively coupled to the wand module and to drive the movement of at least a portion of the wand module along an axis, and an electronic controller configured to be electrically coupled to the actuator and to control the operation of the actuator to control the movement of the wand module.

Abstract: Described here are devices and methods for forming a fistula between two vessels. In some instances, the fistula may be formed between a proximal ulnar artery and a deep ulnar vein. The fistula may be formed using an electrode, and may be formed with a first catheter placed in a first blood vessel and a second catheter placed in a second blood vessel. In some instances, access to the proximal ulnar artery may be achieved through a brachial artery, and access to the deep ulnar vein may be achieved through a brachial vein.