Abstract: Surgical tools and assemblies are employed for use in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures. A surgical tool assembly includes a handle assembly and a frame assembly. The handle assembly and frame assembly are designed and constructed to have an articulation input joint and a grounding joint between them. A pitch rotational degree of freedom and a yaw rotational degree of freedom are provided by way of the articulation input joint. The handle assembly is translationally constrained relative to the frame assembly by way of the grounding joint. Intermediate bodies and joints can be provided in certain surgical tool assemblies and architectures.

Abstract: An accessory device for use with a medical device includes a first cuff secured to a distal end of the medical device, a second cuff secured to the medical device proximal of the first cuff, an actuator, and at least one actuation wire extending from the first cuff, through the second cuff, to the actuator.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed, at least in part, to AMPK activators useful for the treatment of conditions or disorders associated with AMPK. In some embodiments, the condition or disorder is associated with the gut-brain axis. In some embodiments, condition or disorder is associated with systemic infection and inflammation from having a leaky gut barrier. In some embodiments, the AMPK activators are gut-restricted compounds. In some embodiments, the AMPK activators are agonists or partial agonists.

Abstract: A wheel well thermal energy management system includes a wheel well liner, and a deflector. The wheel well liner and the deflector both establish a portion of an aperture that is configured to direct a flow of air to a wheel well of a vehicle. A wheel well thermal energy management method includes moving a vehicle and, during the moving, guiding a flow of air through an aperture into a wheel well of the vehicle. The aperture is established by a wheel well liner together with a deflector.

Abstract: The invention relates to an orthopedic device for supporting a back, especially a lower back, of a user, wherein the device comprises an upper body element 48, an upper leg element 4 and a first passive actuator 8, which is configured to apply a force to the upper leg element 4 and/or the upper body element 48 when an angle between the upper leg element 4 and the upper body element 48 is within a first predetermined angular range, wherein the device comprises at least a second passive actuator 10, which is configured to apply a force to the upper leg element 4 and/or the upper body element 48 when the angle is within a predetermined second angular range that is different to the first angular range.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and applying a discrete part to a substrate includes a plurality of transfer puck assemblies, a drive assembly, and a translation mechanism. The plurality of transfer puck assemblies is adapted to convey the discrete part to the substrate, and each transfer puck assembly includes at least one puck segment. The drive assembly is configured to rotate each transfer puck assembly about a drive axis. The translation mechanism is configured to translate the at least one puck segment in an axial direction as the plurality of transfer puck assemblies are being rotated about the drive axis to move the discrete part to a profiled configuration prior to application of the profiled discrete part to the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and applying a discrete part to a substrate includes a plurality of transfer puck assemblies, a drive assembly, and a translation mechanism. The plurality of transfer puck assemblies is adapted to convey the discrete part to the substrate, and each transfer puck assembly includes at least one puck segment. The drive assembly is configured to rotate each transfer puck assembly about a drive axis. The translation mechanism is configured to translate the at least one puck segment in an axial direction as the plurality of transfer puck assemblies are being rotated about the drive axis to move the discrete part to a profiled configuration prior to application of the profiled discrete part to the substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods involving implants positioned within implant pockets through minimally invasive entrance incisions, along with related implants. In some implementations, implants may be folded, rolled, or otherwise compressed to fit within subcutaneous implant pockets, after which they may be decompressed to fit within an implant pocket having one or more dimensions substantially larger than the entrance incision. Such implants may be used for a variety of purposes, including generating electrical energy for various other implants located throughout the body.

Abstract: A portable gas analysis device having a separating column and a detector. The separating column is composed as a multi-capillary unit from parallel individual capillaries and, depending on the length, is bent into a compact shape, preferably even wound into multiple turns. A thermally conductive casing and a thermal stabilizing device are provided for the multi-capillary unit. The thermal stabilizing device comprises a temperature sensor, a heating element and control electronics. The casing protects the sensitive multi-capillary unit from mechanical actions; it acts as a protective space. The temperature-controlled casing also forms a space in which uniform and controlled conditions prevail and which in particular is isolated from the temperature and humidity of the environment, allowing reliable measurements outside a laboratory environment, in the field. This double effect of the casing for the capillaries in conjunction with the compact dimensions forms the true essence of the invention.

Abstract: Frontal splashguard member assemblies and related methods. In some embodiments, one or more splashguard members may be coupled to a frontal portion of a bicycle frame, such as a down tube, by way of one or more splashguard retention members and a plurality of fasteners, which fasteners may extend through openings formed in the one or more splashguard members and around the splashguard retention member.

Abstract: Frontal splashguard member assemblies and related methods. In some embodiments, one or more splashguard members may be coupled to a frontal portion of a bicycle frame, such as a down tube, by way of one or more splashguard retention members and a plurality of fasteners, which fasteners may extend through openings formed in the one or more splashguard members and around the splashguard retention member.

Abstract: Divided jardiniére suspension and/or watering systems for vandaceous orchids. In some embodiments, the system may comprise two receptacle pieces that may be coupled together to define a complete receptacle for a vandaceous orchid. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more watering elements, such as a watering manifold that may deliver water through one or more outtake ports through water delivery members that may extend from the watering manifold and be wrapped around the roots of the vandaceous orchid to deliver water and/or nutrients continuously via capillary action.

Abstract: A framework for in-row cooling is described herein. The cooling system employs a fan unit with a plurality of smaller fans for improving the spread of air flowing through a V-shaped heat exchanger. The use of multiple smaller fans and the V-shaped heat exchanger enables the cooling system to be cooled using ambient temperature water or processed water at ambient temperature.

Abstract: An orthopedic device that includes a foot part, a lower-leg part, and a thigh part. The foot part is connected to the lower-leg part for pivoting about a first pivot axis by an ankle joint. The lower-leg part is connected to the thigh part for pivoting about a second pivot axis by a knee joint. The foot part is connected to the thigh part by a force-transmitting apparatus. The force-transmitting apparatus causes a dorsal flexion of the foot part in the event of a knee flexion over a first knee flexion angle range and causes a plantar flexion of the foot part in the event of further knee flexion after a knee flexion limit angle has been exceeded.

Abstract: The invention relates to an orthopedic device for supporting a back, especially a lower back, of a user, wherein the device comprises an upper body element 48, an upper leg element 4 and a first passive actuator 8, which is configured to apply a force to the upper leg element 4 and/or the upper body element 48 when an angle between the upper leg element 4 and the upper body element 48 is within a first predetermined angular range, wherein the device comprises at least a second passive actuator 10, which is configured to apply a force to the upper leg element 4 and/or the upper body element 48 when the angle is within a predetermined second angular range that is different to the first angular range.

Abstract: A torque transmission device for a powertrain of a motor vehicle has an input area and an output area. A torque path runs from the input area to the output area. A torsional vibration damping unit is positioned first, followed by a gear unit, along the torque path between the input area and the output area. The torsional vibration damping unit provides a first spatial area and an adjoining second spatial area along the torque path, and the gear unit provides an adjoining third spatial area.

Abstract: A portable gas analysis apparatus for conducting a gas flow, in particular for highly volatile compounds, includes a seeker measurement path and a separation measurement path. The seeker measurement path extends from a sample gas inlet opening to a first air exit opening, wherein a connecting path branches off from the seeker measurement path to a separation measurement path, and said separation measurement path extends from the connecting path to a second air exit opening and is connected to a carrier gas inlet opening, wherein the gas analysis apparatus has a control element which is designed for reversing the gas flow in the connecting path.

Abstract: Lysing surgical instruments and related systems and methods. In some embodiments, the instrument may comprise a lysing tip comprising a plurality of beads and at least one lysing member defining at least one lysing segment extending between each pair of adjacent beads or between a tip of the instrument and an adjacent bead. Some embodiments may comprise rearward-facing lysing segments to facilitate retrograde lysing movement through patient tissue.

Abstract: A mass damper system has a damper mass carrier and a damper mass movably received at the damper mass carrier a lubricant supply, a lubricant collector, and a lubricant distributor radially offset to one another with the damper mass carrier, the lubricant supply arranged at a shorter radial distance from a central axis than the lubricant collector, and the lubricant distributor arranged at a greater radial distance from the central axis than the lubricant collector to collect lubricant supplied by the lubricant supply and to guide the lubricant through the lubricant distributor to the damper mass. A stop arrangement limits a deflection path of the damper mass relative to the damper mass carrier, and the lubricant distributor has a lubricant feed that leads from the lubricant collector to a constructional unit requiring intensive lubrication.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a stand for holding industrial consumables, and more specifically to a stand with sensors for detecting the presence or absence of industrial consumables fitted with identification tags and for wirelessly transmitting that information to a computer. Such a stand is used in such industries as construction and mining. In mining, the stand is for holding mining consumables, and more specifically is a stand comprising a wireless transmitter and one or more radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers capable of detecting mining consumables with RFID tags placed on the stand. The invention also relates to a method of monitoring industrial consumables using a stand with a wireless transmitter and at least one RFID reader wherein the industrial consumables have RFID tags, and the presence or absence of industrial consumables is relayed to a computer.