Abstract: An articulating driver having a ball-in-socket joint. The driver may include a driver tip having a spherical head, a retention cap having a domed surface to mate with the spherical head, an input shaft, a spring disposed in an end of the input shaft and in a recess of the retention cap opposite that of the domed surface, and a housing that receives the input shaft, the spring, the retention cap and the spherical head. The housing may have a tapered end to positionally retain the spherical head therein. In another aspect, the driver may include a driver tip coupled to the input shaft that includes an interface to engage a screw. A bushing may engage the driver tip at one end and receive the screw at the other end to retain the screw within the driver.

Abstract: A point-of-care system with a diagnostic tool and a base station with a display and in communication with the diagnostic tool is described. Used in diagnosing health conditions for a tissue under analysis, the diagnostic tool includes a handle and a head portion. The head portion includes a speculum and optical spectroscopy (OS) data acquisition components positioned within the head portion. The OS data acquisition components are configure to (i) emit light toward the tissue under analysis, (ii) receive light reflected at least in part from the tissue under analysis based on the emitted light, and (iii) determine reflectance spectra associated with the received light. Either the diagnostic tool or a base station includes analytic components configured to (i) generate diagnostic metrics including characteristics of the reflectance spectra and (ii) compare these characteristics to data associated with characteristics of known reflectance spectra associated healthy and/or unhealthy tissue of patients.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method comprising includes identifying a remote control as attempting to pair with a first vehicle, and determining whether the remote control is authorized to pair with the first vehicle, wherein determining whether the remote control is authorized to pair with the first vehicle includes determining whether credentials associated with the remote control indicate that the remote control is authorized to pair with the first vehicle. The method also includes causing the remote control to pair with the first vehicle when it is determined that the remote control is authorized to pair with the first vehicle, wherein causing the remote control to pair with the first vehicle enables the remote control to remotely control the first vehicle.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes obtaining, at a first unit, a first signal, and storing an indication of an arrival time of the first signal in a register of the first unit. The method also includes obtaining a digital signal to be provided to a controller area network (CAN) circuit system, the CAN circuit system being included in the first unit, adding the indication to the digital signal, wherein adding the indication to the digital signal creates an updated digital signal, and providing the updated digital signal to the CAN circuit system.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes detecting at a vehicle which includes an ultra-wideband (UWB) communications system, a presence of a first device, and pairing the vehicle and the first device, wherein pairing the vehicle and the first device causes the vehicle and the first device to communicate using UWB communications. The method also includes exchanging information between the vehicle and the first device using the UWB communications after the vehicle and the first device are paired, and performing an action using the vehicle, wherein the action is based on the information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides cube-shaped satellite primary structures, each comprised of six identical, or nearly identical, rectangular truss panels and internal struts. The struts, all adjustable in length, connect, and are directed between all cube opposite corners and all cube opposite panel centers. All struts meet at the cube center where they attach rigidly to either a block called the “nucleus fitting” or to a hollow sphere. Each strut attaches to either a ball-socket corner fitting located at the interior corner of the cube, or to a ball-socket panel center fitting located at the panel center interior to the cube.

Abstract: A device for leveling a surface; the device includes a shaft, a handle-means and a head-assembly. The shaft is selectively retractable, and the head-assembly is foldable to enable compact storage. The device is for personal use by a user in leveling a surface; for example, a sand bunker/sand trap on a golf course. In some versions, the device further includes an attachment-means for attaching the device to a bag.

Abstract: A valve, including: a valve seat including a seating surface with an outer edge furthest, an inner edge, and a first portion; and a valve body including a sealing surface with an outer edge, an inner edge, and a first portion. In a closed position, the first portion of the sealing surface is in contact with the first portion of the seating surface to block flow through the valve. The sealing surface tapers from the first portion of the sealing surface to the inner edge of the sealing surface or the outer edge of the sealing surface, or the seating surface tapers from the first portion of the seating surface to the inner edge of the seating surface or the outer edge of the seating surface. In the open position, the first portion of the sealing surface is free of contact with the first portion of the seating surface.

Abstract: A retractor includes a first arm, a second arm, and a translating member. The first arm comprises a proximal portion configured to retain a first retractor member and a distal portion configured to rotate relative to the proximal portion about a first axis. The second arm is configured to retain a second retractor member, such that rotation of the distal portion about the first axis causes the first retractor member to pivot toward or away from the second retractor member when the first retractor member and the second retractor member are coupled to the first arm and the second arm, respectively. The translating member is coupled between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and is configured to receive a drive force that causes the translating member to bias the distal portion to pivot relative to the proximal portion about the first axis.

Abstract: A removal composition and process for cleaning post-chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) contaminants and ceria particles from a microelectronic device having said particles and contaminants thereon. The composition achieves highly efficacious removal of the ceria particles and CMP contaminant material from the surface of the microelectronic device without compromising the low-k dielectric, silicon nitride, or tungsten-containing materials.

Abstract: Cryogranulation systems with improved dispenser assemblies are provided for use in manufacturing frozen pellets of pharmaceutical substances in a fluid medium. Methods of cryogranulating the pharmaceutical substance in the fluid medium are also provided. In particular embodiments, the dispenser assembly is used with suspensions or slurries of pharmaceutical compositions including biodegradable substances, such as proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical substance can be adsorbed to any pharmaceutically acceptable carrier particles suitable for making pharmaceutical powders. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical carrier can be, for example, diketopiperazine-based microparticles. The dispenser assembly improves the physical characteristics of the cryopellets formed and minimizes product loss during processing.

Abstract: A cleaning composition and process for cleaning an in-process microelectronic device substrate, e.g., by post-chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) cleaning, to remove residue from a surface thereof, wherein the cleaning composition may be especially effective for cleaning a substrate surface that includes exposed metal such as cobalt, copper, or both, along with dielectric or low k dielectric material, and wherein the cleaning composition includes corrosion inhibitor to inhibit corrosion of the exposed metal.

Abstract: A sensor system for sensing contaminants within a fluid stream of a fluid system includes a sensor body and an arm extending from the sensor body to a distal end of the arm, a laser light source configured to direct a laser beam outwardly from an outlet of the sensor body, and a light sensor. A fiber optic light guide is disposed in the sensor body and extends from the light sensor to an inlet of the sensor body for directing light to the light sensor. A beam dump is positioned at the distal end opposite the laser light source to absorb at least a portion of the laser beam directed towards the distal end. A blocking member of the arm is disposed intermediate between the sensor body and the distal end and is configured to partially restrict a field of intake of light at the inlet.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and devices for calibrating contrast measurements from laser speckle imaging systems to accurately determine unknown particle motion characteristics, such as flow rate. The calibration stores to memory calibration data, which may include a set of measurements from samples with known particle characteristics and/or estimates of noise, including the effects on contrast arising from undesired signals unrelated to the unknown particle motion characteristics. The calibration data may be accessed and used to correct an empirical measurement of contrast and/or interpolate a value of the unknown particle motion characteristic. The system may include a light source, photodetector, processor, and memory, which can be combined into a single device, such as a wearable device, for providing calibrated flow measurements. The device may be used, for example, to measure blood flow, cardiac output, and heart rate, and can be used to amplify the pulsatile signal.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a removal composition and process, particularly useful for cleaning ceria particles and CMP contaminants from microelectronic devices having said particles and CMP contaminants thereon, in particular microelectronic devices having PETEOS, Silicon Nitride, and Poly-Si substrates. In one aspect, the invention provides treatment of the microelectronic substrate having ceria particles thereon utilizing complexing agents free of Sulfur and Phosphorous atoms.

Abstract: A removal composition and process for cleaning post-chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) contaminants and ceria particles from a microelectronic device having said particles and contaminants thereon. The composition achieves highly efficacious removal of the ceria particles and CMP by-product contaminant material from the surface of the microelectronic device without compromising the low-k dielectric, silicon nitride, or tungsten-containing materials.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a composition and process for cleaning residue and/or contaminants from microelectronic devices having said residue and contaminants thereon. The residue may include post-CMP, post-etch, and/or post-ash residue. The compositions and methods are particularly advantageous when cleaning a microelectronic surface comprising copper, low-k dielectric materials, and barrier materials comprising at least one of tantalum-containing material, cobalt-containing material, tantalum-containing, tungsten-containing, and ruthenium-containing material.

Abstract: An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

Abstract: A pumping system utilizes a linear actuator to move a shaft attached to two pistons within cylinders to pump a working fluid. A housing is designed with coolant passageways and one-way valves such that movement of the shaft also pumps coolant past cooling fins and over a motor. The shaft is formed of several sections joined by couplers which slide within a bore of the housing. The couplers have a non-round shape and the bore has a complimentary non-round cross section such that rotation of the shaft is prevented.

Abstract: An improved bearing cage is disclosed herein. The bearing cage assembly generally consists of two cage halves that are connected, fixed, or joined to each other directly via mating components formed integrally with the two cage halves. The cage halves are joined to each other via engagement of integrally formed sockets and posts defined on radially extending arms of the cage halves.