Abstract: An electrosurgical generator configured to output radio frequency (RF) energy having a current-source type behavior is provided. The generator has a buck converter having a voltage source, at least one switch and an inductor. The generator also has an RF stage configured to output the RF energy. A sensor circuit configured to measure at least one parameter of the RF energy and a controller configured to receive the measured parameter from the sensor circuit and control the output of the electrosurgical generator based on the measured parameter may also be provided in the electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: A multi-channel controller uses multiple logic gates and multiple control channels to provide fault tolerant protection against undesired events.

Abstract: A multi-channel control system includes at least a first primary control microprocessor and a second primary control microprocessor operable to control a device, and at least a first secondary control microprocessor and a second secondary control microprocessor operable to control the device. Each of the first and second primary control microprocessors and the first and second secondary control microprocessors are arranged as an independent control channel.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting electrosurgical energy from a generator to an electrosurgical instrument are provided. The electrosurgical system includes a generator adapted to generate electrosurgical energy for treating tissue. The generator includes one or more active output terminals which supply energy to the tissue. The active output terminals are operatively connected to one or more active leads. The generator also includes one or more return output terminals which returns energy from the tissue. The return output terminals are operatively connected to at least one return lead. The system also includes an electrosurgical instrument operatively connected to the one or more active leads and one or more return electrodes operatively connected to one or more return leads. The system further includes an electrosurgical cable including one or more active leads and one or more return leads.

Abstract: An electronic control configuration includes at least one secondary microprocessor operable to control a device. The at least one secondary microprocessor assumes protection control of the device responsive to a first type of failure by transmitting a protection control signal to a first effector. The at least one secondary microprocessor assumes backup control of the device responsive to a second type of failure by transmitting a backup control signal to a second effector. The backup control functionality of the at least one secondary microprocessor can be selectively disabled.

Abstract: A method for suppressing arc formation during an electrosurgical tissue treatment procedure includes the steps of supplying pulsed current from an energy source to tissue and measuring the pulsed current supplied from the energy source. The method also includes the steps of comparing an instantaneous measured pulse to a predetermined threshold and controlling the pulsed current supplied from the energy source based on the comparison between the instantaneous measured pulse and the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator configured to output radio frequency (RF) energy having a current-source type behavior is provided. The generator has a buck converter having a voltage source, at least one switch and an inductor. The generator also has an RF stage configured to output the RF energy. A sensor circuit configured to measure at least one parameter of the RF energy and a controller configured to receive the measured parameter from the sensor circuit and control the output of the electrosurgical generator based on the measured parameter may also be provided in the electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, system to manage and delivery electronic documents is disclosed.

Abstract: A collapsible utility cart for holding working materials, such as a five-gallon drywall mud bucket and related drywall tools, is disclosed. The utility cart is expandable from a collapsed configuration to an extended configuration. A base has a plurality of legs that extend downwardly therefrom, each including a rolling means. A plurality of nestable, generally planer shelves each have a central aperture therein and a retaining lip extending upwardly therefrom at least partially around a perimeter thereof. A bucket holder is adapted to hold the five-gallon bucket and has a peripheral wall extending upwardly around a perimeter thereof. A plurality of support poles each have the interlocking means at each end thereof. A handle is included and adapted to interlock with the interlocking means of the top-most support pole, such that the utility cart may be carried thereby, whether the utility cart is in the extended configuration or the collapsed configuration.

Abstract: An electronic control configuration includes at least one secondary microprocessor operable to control a device. The at least one secondary microprocessor assumes protection control of the device responsive to a first type of failure by transmitting a protection control signal to a first effector. The at least one secondary microprocessor assumes backup control of the device responsive to a second type of failure by transmitting a backup control signal to a second effector. The backup control functionality of the at least one secondary microprocessor can be selectively disabled.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of scalable web financing by micropayments that 1) equitably and automatically allocates costs among web site users that may have varying usage patterns; 2) lowers the risk in providing niche websites to smaller groups of users; 3) provides a funding source directly related to web site usage by particular users; 4) allows the web site to scale with demand; and 5) provides incentives for provision of content to a web site that is timely and useful. A microcost is determined for each element of web site content. A micropayment is transferred from a user's web site account to a web site operator account in an amount equivalent to the determined microcost when the user accesses the web site content. Various methods of calculating the microcost are disclosed, as well as methods of compensating content-providers with micropayments or credits, as a means to provide incentives for provision of content.

Abstract: An anchoring device will cooperate with a slotted aperture in a planked surface, such as a deck or boat dock, is disclosed. An example of the invention includes an internal tube that is telescopically mounted within a hollow cylindrical external tube. A support flange that is mounted to the bottom of the internal tube at one end and to a support flange at the other end extends through the bottom of the external tube. A spring is mounted between the bottom of the internal tube and the bottom of the external tube, so that the spring may be compressed by sliding the internal tube into the external tube. The sliding of the internal tube into the external tube causes the support flange to extend, so that the planked surface may be gripped between the support flange and the bottom of the external tube.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a frame and at least one fertilizer opener carried by the frame for opening a trench in soil. Each fertilizer opener includes an opener disc positioned at an angle relative to a working direction, a boot positioned behind the opener disc relative to the working direction, and at least one fertilizer tube positioned behind the boot relative to the working direction. The boot includes a recess at a trailing edge thereof. The recess at least partially surrounds at least one fertilizer tube.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a frame and at least one fertilizer opener carried by the frame for opening a trench in soil. Each fertilizer opener includes an opener disc positioned at an angle relative to a working direction, a boot positioned behind the opener disc relative to the working direction, and at least one fertilizer tube positioned behind the boot relative to the working direction. The boot includes a recess at a trailing edge thereof. The recess at least partially surrounds at least one fertilizer tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cryosurgical catheter which is heated in order to prevent its freezing within the lumen of an endoscope. The catheter is to be used with an endoscope to perform cryoablation on an internal tissue; e.g., the esophagus. Electric conductivity to produce heat employs an electrical conductive coating on the catheter. Also, disclosed is a fitting for use with a catheter comprising both a connection for receiving gas and an electrical connection.

Abstract: A method for provisioning servers in a computer arrangement allows more than one administrator to utilize the servers and prevents the servers from being influenced by more than one administrator at the same time. The computer arrangement includes at least one server, at least one administrator operable to control the usage of the servers by making provisioning decisions, and a deployment server operable to provision the servers according to the provisioning decisions of the administrators. An administrator is required to exclusively reserve the server before the administration unit can use the server. This prevents the server from being used by two or more interfering administrators, meanwhile allowing a flexible assignment between servers and administrators.

Abstract: A computer arrangement for providing services to clients over a network includes: at least two servers, each server hosting at least one application, an automated administrator configured to automatically provision the servers to provide the services, and at least one network load balancer connected to the clients and the servers. The network load balancer is responsible for at least one of the services and is configured to gather state information on the state of the servers and/or the applications hosted on the servers and is operable to route incoming requests of clients to at least one of the servers. The network load balancer provides the automated administrator with the state information. The automated administrator provides the network load balancer with provisioning information regarding which servers are provisioned to provide the at least one service for which the network load balancer is responsible.

Abstract: Methods of using hepatic progenitors in treating liver dysfunction are provided. More particularly, methods of using hepatic progenitor cells, including hepatic stem cells, in treating liver dysfunction in the absence of immune-suppressing amounts of an immunosuppressant.

Abstract: An integral cast seed boot is provided with a mounting assembly for securing the seed boot to a planting unit frame. A single furrow opener disc is rotatively mounted to the planting unit frame by a bearing assembly. The seed boot defines a seed entry passage having an inlet for receiving seed from a seed meter and an outlet for depositing metered seed into a seed planting furrow formed by the furrow opener. The seed inlet is located in front of the mounting assembly. The seed entry passage slopes continuously and uniformly downwardly and rearwardly from the inlet to the outlet. The outlet is located below the bearing assembly of the furrow opener disc.

Abstract: A thrust vector control system for a flight vehicle comprises a fixed nozzle defining a first thrust vector direction and at least one exhaust deflector moveable to a location downstream of said fixed nozzle to provide a second thrust vector direction. Movement of the at least one exhaust deflector may allow for simultaneous control of both thrust vector direction and nozzle throat area. Translational motion of each exhaust deflector may be independently controlled. A flight vehicle incorporating a thrust vector control apparatus, and a method for thrust vector control are also disclosed.