Abstract: An obturator assembly includes an obturator positionable within a lumen of a device and movable within the lumen between a first position and a second position. The obturator includes a distal tip portion, wherein, with the obturator in the first position, the distal tip portion limits fluid communication through the lumen and, with the obturator in the second position, the distal tip portion provides fluid communication through the lumen.

Abstract: Foldable aircraft wings are disclosed. An example aircraft includes a foldable wing having a fixed wing portion, a foldable wing portion and a hinge to pivotally couple the foldable wing portion relative to the fixed wing portion. The hinge includes a wing transition portion including wing hinge ribs and wing stub ribs, respective ones of the wing hinge ribs coupled to corresponding respective ones of the wing stub ribs. The hinge also includes a tip transition portion including tip hinge ribs, where respective ends of the tip hinge ribs positioned between corresponding respective ones of the wing hinge ribs and the wing stub ribs.

Abstract: Methods including precipitated and mined calcium carbonate lost circulation materials for use in subterranean formation operations. The precipitated calcium carbonate lost circulation materials are formed under a chosen set of precipitation conditions, including in situ in a subterranean formation. The mined calcium carbonate lost circulation materials are obtained in a desired morphological form under naturally occurring mined conditions. The precipitated and mined calcium carbonate lost circulation materials may be needle-shaped aragonite having an aspect ratio of about 1.4 to about 15.

Abstract: Metallic fittings for coupling composite ribs to skin panels of aircraft wings are described. An example metallic fitting includes a through hole configured to receive a fastener. The fastener is configured to couple the metallic fitting to a composite rib of an aircraft wing. The example metallic fitting further includes a bore configured to receive a bolt. The example metallic fitting further includes a cavity intersecting the bore. The cavity has an access opening. The example metallic fitting further includes a barrel nut located within the cavity. The barrel nut is configured to threadably engage the bolt to couple the metallic fitting to a skin panel of the aircraft wing. The example metallic fitting further includes a seal located within the cavity. The seal is configured to close the access opening.

Abstract: Aircraft wing composite ribs having electrical grounding paths are described. An example composite rib includes a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) panel, a metallic rib post, a metallic fitting, and a metallic grounding member. The metallic rib post is coupled to the CFRP panel and configured to be coupled to a spar of an aircraft wing, the spar being coupled to a current return network (CRN) cable. The metallic fitting is coupled to the CFRP panel and configured to be coupled to a skin panel of the aircraft wing. The metallic grounding member is positioned between the CFRP panel and the metallic fitting. The metallic grounding member provides an electrical grounding path extending from the metallic fitting to the metallic rib post.

Abstract: A device may operate a guide wire and be operable by a single operator digit. The device may include an insertion control device for advancing the guide wire in a forward and in a reverse direction and along a longitudinal axis of the guide wire; and a rotary device for rolling a guide wire about the longitudinal axis. A robotic instrument driver may be operatively coupled to the device and configured to control axial movement of the guide wire along the longitudinal axis according to input received from the insertion control device and to control rotational movement of the guide wire according to input received from the rotary device.

Abstract: A system may include a controller configured to determine a user interface status, wherein the user interface status includes user interaction of a user interface. The controller may also be configured to determine a drive mechanism location relative to a first limit and a second limit and select a clutching location based on the user interface status and drive mechanism location.

Abstract: A smart obturator assembly includes a hub forming a central passage. The hub is configured to couple to a proximal end of a device that forms a lumen such that the central passage is in fluid communication with the lumen. A collar on the hub includes electronic circuitry in signal communication with remote reception circuitry. An obturator is movably positionable within the lumen. The obturator is movable within the lumen between a first position and a second position. The obturator includes a distal end and a sensor at the distal end. The sensor is configured to sense an environmental characteristic within a patient's blood stream, generate a signal representative of the environmental characteristic, and transmit the signal to the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry is configured to receive the signal and transmit the signal to the remote reception circuitry.

Abstract: A jet engine support structure includes an inboard support fitting that is configured to be operatively attached to the jet engine, an outboard support fitting that is configured to be operatively attached to the jet engine, an inboard longeron that is configured to be attached to the inboard support fitting and an exterior underside surface of an aircraft wing, an outboard longeron that is configured to be attached to the outboard support fitting and the exterior underside surface of the wing, and a drag brace fitting that is configured to be attached to the inboard longeron and the outboard longeron and operatively attached to the jet engine. These component parts are employed in operatively attaching the jet engine to the aircraft wing. The same set of component parts is employed in operatively attaching the jet engine to either a left side or port side wing or to operatively attach a jet engine to a right side or starboard side wing.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling the operation of a first electronic device having a first display screen, the method comprising obtaining (101; 111) measurements of a position of the first electronic device relative to a second electronic device, an orientation of the first display screen, and/or an orientation of a second display screen of a second electronic device; determining (103; 113), using the obtained measurements, one or both of (i) whether a first user using the first electronic device can view the second display screen, and (ii) whether a second user using the second electronic device can view the first display screen; and controlling (105; 115) the display of information on the first display screen based on the result of the step of determining.

Abstract: An actuator of a process control device continuously monitors actuator force and records high force values at each position point by continuously executing a routine in a processor of the actuator. The routine includes receiving from a position sensor a current position value indicating a position of a valve element in the valve, and from a force sensor a current force value indicating a force applied by the actuator. The routine also includes retrieving, from a memory device coupled to the processor, a previous force value measured at the current position, and comparing the current force values for the current position with the previous force value for the current position. If the current force value for the current position exceeds the previous force value for the current position, the routine replaces the previous force value for the current position with the current force value for the current position in memory.

Abstract: A method for preparing carpet by using polyurethane to anneal secondary backing to a greige, comprising fibers attached to a primary backing using a roller application system. The greige is conditioned prior to coating and the polyurethane coated greige is contacted with the secondary backing and the laminate is tensioned and supported to maintain the laminate structure substantially through the polyurethane curing process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for introducing and driving flexible members in a patient's body are described herein. In one embodiment, a robotic method includes positioning a flexible elongated member that has a preformed configuration, wherein at least a part of the flexible elongated member has a first member disposed around it, and wherein the first member includes a first wire for bending the first member or for maintaining the first member in a bent configuration, releasing at least some tension in the first wire to relax the first member, and advancing the first member distally relative to the flexible elongated member while the first member is in a relaxed configuration.

Abstract: A wing assembly comprises a raked wing tip having an outboard portion hinged to one of a main wing having at least one moveable control surface and an inboard raked wing tip portion. The outboard portion of the raked wing tip does not carry any moveable flight control surfaces.

Abstract: A smart obturator assembly includes a hub forming a central passage. The hub is configured to couple to a proximal end of a device that forms a lumen such that the central passage is in fluid communication with the lumen. A collar on the hub includes electronic circuitry in signal communication with remote reception circuitry. An obturator is movably positionable within the lumen. The obturator is movable within the lumen between a first position and a second position. The obturator includes a distal end and a sensor at the distal end. The sensor is configured to sense an environmental characteristic within a patient's blood stream, generate a signal representative of the environmental characteristic, and transmit the signal to the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry is configured to receive the signal and transmit the signal to the remote reception circuitry.

Abstract: A catheter system having one or more needle position indicators to assist an operator in withdrawing the introducer needle to a “parked” position, as part of a catheterization procedure, wherein the needle position indicator provides a visual indication to the operator.

Abstract: A method for preparing carpet by using polyurethane to anneal secondary backing to a greige, comprising fibers attached to a primary backing using a roller application system. The greige is conditioned prior to coating and the polyurethane coated greige is contacted with the secondary backing and the laminate is tensioned and supported to maintain the laminate structure substantially through the polyurethane curing process.

Abstract: Among the methods provided is a method comprising: providing an oil-based fluid formed by combining components that comprise a glycol ether additive comprising a glycol ether, wherein the glycol ether additive substantially increases the low-shear viscosity of the oil-based fluid at temperatures between approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) and 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius); and using the oil-based fluid to drill at least a portion of a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for driving a flexible medical instrument to a target in an anatomical space with robotic assistance are described herein. The flexible instrument may have a tracking sensor embedded therein. An associated robotic control system may be provided, which is configured to register the flexible instrument to an anatomical image using data from the tracking sensor and identify one or more movements suitable for navigating the instrument towards an identified target. In some embodiments, the robotic control system drives or assists in driving the flexible instrument to the target.