Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes an elongated shaft, a housing connected with the elongated shaft, a trigger, a gear train, and a firing system disposed in the housing. The trigger is squeezed for commencing a firing cycle. The firing system includes a storage reel, a spool connected to the storage reel, a drive wheel located distal to the storage reel and the spool, a constant torque spring having a proximal end connected to the spool and a distal end connected to the drive wheel, and a flexible member in contact with the drive wheel. The flexible member has a proximal end connected to the storage reel and a length configured to be driven by the drive wheel toward the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section and an articulating distal shaft section extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing, an actuator that is engageable for commencing a firing cycle of the firing system, and an articulation lever provided on the housing for selectively articulating the articulating distal shaft section of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument includes a cam plate disposed within the housing that is linked with the articulating distal shaft section and that coupled with the articulation lever for being rotated by the articulation lever between a first or horizontal position for straightening the articulating distal shaft section and a second or vertical position for articulating the articulating distal shaft section.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an elongated conduit extending through the elongated shaft. A firing system is disposed within the housing. The firing system has an insertion tool having a top surface that extends proximal and distal ends thereof and a stripper ramp that projects above the top surface. An actuator activates the firing system to commence a firing cycle. During the firing cycle, the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft. The elongated conduit has a top wall with a top notch formed therein. The stripper ramp slides through the top notch for guiding movement of the insertion tool as the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: A method of dispensing surgical fasteners includes providing an applicator instrument having a housing with a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing for dispensing surgical fasteners, and an actuator for activating the firing system. The method includes forming a surgical opening in tissue, inserting a distal end of the elongated shaft into the surgical opening, inserting a cartridge containing a plurality of first surgical fasteners into the cartridge opening, and engaging the actuator for dispensing one of the first surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, and a cartridge insertable into the cartridge opening, the cartridge having a plurality of surgical fasteners pre-loaded into the cartridge. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed within the housing, and an actuator for activating the firing system to commence a firing cycle for removing one of the surgical fasteners from the cartridge and driving the removed surgical fastener from the housing to a distal end of the elongated shaft. In one embodiment, the cartridge includes a cartridge body having an upper end and a lower end insertable into the cartridge opening. The surgical fasteners are arrayed in a stack that extends between the upper and lower ends of the cartridge body.

Abstract: An applicator instrument having a reconfigurable handle for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a handle coupled with the proximal end of the housing, and a trigger coupled with the handle. The applicator instrument has a firing system including an energy storing assembly that is disposed within the housing, and a gear train disposed within the handle and coupled with the trigger. The trigger is squeezed for commencing a firing cycle and storing energy in the energy storing assembly. The applicator instrument includes a handle reconfiguration actuator having a first position for locking the handle in place relative to the housing and a second position for enabling the handle to rotate relative to the housing between a pistol configuration and an in-line configuration.

Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first die having a first alignment structure that includes a plurality of first transmission columns arranged in a pattern and a second die positioned on the first die, the second die having a second alignment structure that includes a plurality of second transmission columns arranged in the same pattern as the first transmission columns. The first and second transmission columns are each coplanar with a first surface and a second surface of the first and second die, respectively.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section and a distal shaft section. The proximal shaft section includes an outer sheath and the distal shaft section includes a segmented member moveable between straight and articulated configurations. A handle is secured to the proximal shaft section, and an actuator is provided on the handle that is coupled with the outer sheath. An articulation band is disposed within the outer sheath and extends from the handle to the segmented member. The articulation band has a proximal end coupled with the actuator and a distal end attached to the segmented member. The actuator is moveable in a first direction for retracting the outer sheath, exposing the segmented member, and applying tension to the articulation band for moving the segmented member into the articulated configuration.

Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first die having a first alignment structure that includes a plurality of first transmission columns arranged in a pattern and a second die positioned on the first die, the second die having a second alignment structure that includes a plurality of second transmission columns arranged in the same pattern as the first transmission columns. The first and second transmission columns are each coplanar with a first surface and a second surface of the first and second die, respectively.

Abstract: A method for managing a storage appliance. The method includes determining an input/output (I/O) workload characterization (IWC) for the storage appliance. The method further includes determining an optimized temperature for the storage modules in the storage appliance based on the IWC, determining that a current temperature of the storage modules is not the optimized temperature, and modifying operation of at least one active cooling component in the storage appliance to change the current temperature of the storage modules to the optimized temperature.

Abstract: A method for managing persistent storage. The method includes selecting a page for a proactive read request, where the page is located in the persistent storage. The method further includes issuing the proactive read request to the page, receiving, in response to the proactive read request, a bit error value (BEV) for data stored on the page, obtaining a BEV threshold (T) for the page, wherein T is determined using a program/erase cycle value associated with the page and a retention time of the data stored on the page, making a first determination that the BEV is greater than T, based on the first determination: identifying an m-page, where the m-page is a set of pages and the page is in the set of pages, and setting the m-page as non-allocatable for future operations.

Abstract: A method for managing persistent storage. The method includes selecting a page for a proactive read request, where the page is located in the persistent storage. The method further includes issuing the proactive read request to the page, receiving, in response to the proactive read request, a bit error value (BEV) for data stored on the page, obtaining a BEV threshold (T) for the page, wherein T is determined using a program/erase cycle value associated with the page and a retention time of the data stored on the page, making a first determination that the BEV is greater than T, based on the first determination: identifying an m-page, where the m-page is a set of pages and the page is in the set of pages, and setting the m-page as non-allocatable for future operations.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a handle and an articulating shaft extending from the distal end of the handle. The articulating shaft includes a proximal shaft section, a distal shaft section, and an articulating joint. An articulation control element is coupled with the proximal shaft section for articulating the distal shaft section relative to the proximal shaft section via the articulating joint. The applicator instrument includes an incompressible member interconnecting the proximal and distal shaft sections that maintains a fixed distance between the distal end face of the distal shaft section and the distal end of the handle as the articulating shaft moves between a straight configuration and an articulated configuration to ensure a consistent firing stroke.

Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first die having a first alignment structure that includes a plurality of first transmission columns arranged in a pattern and a second die positioned on the first die, the second die having a second alignment structure that includes a plurality of second transmission columns arranged in the same pattern as the first transmission columns. The first and second transmission columns are each coplanar with a first surface and a second surface of the first and second die, respectively.

Abstract: A method for managing persistent storage. The method includes selecting a page for a proactive read request, where the page is located in the persistent storage. The method further includes issuing the proactive read request to the page, receiving, in response to the proactive read request, a bit error value (BEV) for data stored on the page, obtaining a BEV threshold (T) for the page, wherein T is determined using a program/erase cycle value associated with the page and a retention time of the data stored on the page, making a first determination that the BEV is greater than T, based on the first determination: identifying an m-page, where the m-page is a set of pages and the page is in the set of pages, and setting the m-page as non-allocatable for future operations.

Abstract: A method for reading data from persistent storage. The method includes receiving a client read request that includes a logical address for data from a client, determining a physical address using the logical address where the physical address includes a page number for a physical page in the persistent storage, determining a retention time for the data, determining a program/erase (P/E) cycle value associated with the physical page, obtaining at least one read threshold value using the P/E cycle value, the retention time, and the page number, issuing a control module read request including the at least one read threshold value to a storage module that includes the physical page, and obtaining the data from the physical page using the at least one read threshold value.

Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first die having a first alignment structure that includes a plurality of first transmission columns arranged in a pattern and a second die positioned on the first die, the second die having a second alignment structure that includes a plurality of second transmission columns arranged in the same pattern as the first transmission columns. The first and second transmission columns are each coplanar with a first surface and a second surface of the first and second die, respectively.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, a firing system disposed in the housing and being moveable in distal and proximal directions along a first axis, and an elongated shaft extending from the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal section and a distal section that is oriented at an angle relative to the proximal section. A plurality of surgical fasteners are disposed in the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has a handle that extends upwardly from the housing along a second axis that defines an acute angle with the first axis. A trigger is mounted on the handle, and a linkage couples the trigger with the handle and the firing system. When the trigger is squeezed, the linkage guides the trigger along a linear path of movement relative to the handle.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for user-specified fine-tuned protein expression levels, by controlling the initiation of protein translation; and a model for analysis of expression. This method of control can be used to vary, tune, and optimize protein production in genetically engineered organisms, cells, or devices.