Abstract: A printer for printing a barcode by discharging ink droplets from print nozzles that are used for printing bars in the bar code. The printer includes a CPU and a head carriage mechanism. The CPU divides a length of the bars of the barcode into a plurality of segments and changes which of the nozzles that are used as print nozzles in each segment such that the barcode is printed by discharging ink droplets from the print nozzles in each segment. The head carriage mechanism is for moving the print medium relative to the print nozzles. Each bar of the resulting barcode extends in a single, diagonal direction across the plurality of segments. Other printers and printing methods are also provided.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A printer, image registration method, and printer system improve image data processing efficiency by tracking and storing the identical image data that is registered and stored in a printer. The image registration device has a graphics register for registering images in a printer. The graphics register sends the image data to be registered to the printer, receives an identification number from the printer, and records and stores a registered image data information file linking the image data sent to the printer with the printer identification number.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, an access control system that comprises an access control panel coupled to an access control expansion box. The access control panel includes one or more access control boards disposed within a first rack-mount enclosure, each control board providing at least an interface for monitoring and/or controlling access to one or more building entry points or zones via associated sensors and/or intrusion prevention devices, collectively, “security devices.” The access control expansion box includes a plurality of input/output (I/O) boards disposed within a second rack-mount enclosure. The I/O boards provide an interface for at least (i) sending signals received from one or more additional security devices to the control boards, and/or (ii) sending signals received from the control boards to one or more of the additional security devices.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device. In one embodiment, methods and devices are provided for moving an end effector on a distal end of a surgical fastening device. Movement can include rotational movement of the end effector about an axis of the shaft, articulation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and actuation of an end effector, e.g., closing, firing, and/or cutting. In other embodiments, a single cable actuator is provided and is movable between a first position, in which it is effective to rotate an end effector without actuating (i.e., closing and firing) the end effector, and a second position, in which it is effective to actuate the end effector without rotating the end effector. In other aspects, methods and devices are provided for moving a flexible neck formed on a distal end of an accessory channel for use with an endoscope.

Abstract: A dilator retractor and the dilators that are used for minimally invasive spinal surgery or other surgery are configured to accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient as by configuring the cross sectional area in an elliptical shape, or by forming a funnel configuration with the wider end at the proximate end. In some embodiments the distal end is contoured to also accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient so that a cylindrically shaped, funnel shaped, ovoid shaped dilator retractor can be sloped or tunneled to accommodate the bone structure of the patient or provide access for implants. The dilator retractor is made with different lengths to accommodate the depth of the cavity formed by the dilators.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a liquid-containing bag filled with liquid and having a supply port that discharges the liquid; an outer frame accommodating the liquid-containing bag; a detecting plate fixed on the liquid-containing bag for detection of a liquid-exhausted state; and at least one protrusion disposed on the outer frame. The protrusion regulates transfer of the detecting plate in a direction along which the liquid-containing bag is compressed when the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid-containing bag becomes small, and ensures a space through which the liquid can flow in the liquid-containing bag.

Abstract: A printer controller includes an XPS driver operable to cause a printer to perform printing operation in conformation with XPS standard. The XPS driver includes; a receiver, operable to receive a print document; an analyzer, operable to analyze the print document; a determiner, operable to determine, based on a result of analysis, whether or not the print document includes a print instruction for performing printing outside a printable area on a print sheet; a generator, when a result of determination indicates that the print document includes the print instruction for performing printing outside the printable area, operable to generate a scaled-down print image into which a print image generated in accordance with the print document is scaled down at such a scaling factor at which an entire area of the print sheet fits into the printable area; and an outputter, operable to output data of the scaled-down print image to the printer.

Abstract: Access devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve flexible or adjustable cannulas that have a substantially cylindrical insertion configuration and a substantially conical expanded configuration. Various methods and features are provided for transitioning the cannula from the insertion configuration to the expanded configuration while the access device is inserted through tissue to form a conical opening through the tissue. Examples include cables, biasing elements, retaining elements, bimodal rings, and coil springs. The devices and methods disclosed herein can allow for improved retention of the access device, improved angulation of instruments passed through the access device, and can increase the integrity of a seal formed between the access device and surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An implantable restriction system having an antenna capable of being readily and predictably movable to achieve a desired orientation that is effective to communicate with an external device is provided. The antenna can be movably coupled to a housing such that the antenna can float and/or move freely with respect to the housing. The housing can be part of a gimbal element or another component of the system. The antenna can include a weight or a magnetic element to help it achieve the desired orientation. Methods for transcutaneously communicating with an implantable restriction device are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and devices for partitioning or plicating a region of a hollow body organ are described herein. These methods and devices relate generally to medical apparatus and methods and more particularly to devices and methods for affecting a change in the function of a hollow body organ, particularly a stomach, intestine or gastrointestinal tract. These changes can include reducing the volume capacity of the hollow body organ, disrupting or altering the normal function of the organ, functionally excluding certain sections of the organ either by affixing adjacent tissue or excising certain regions, or affecting or correcting the response of the organ to naturally occurring stimuli, such as ingestion.

Abstract: Various methods and devices for driving fluid from a syringe are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a syringe driver is provided having a frame that is adapted to seat a syringe, a driver that is slidably disposed within the frame and that is adapted to seat a plunger of a syringe, and a puller that is slidably disposed within the frame and that has a latch formed thereon for mating to an engagement element on the frame. The device can also include a force-delivery element, such as a constant force spring, that is coupled to and extends between the driver and the puller.

Abstract: A control circuit of an image reader having at least one light source includes: a light source control portion that controls ON and OFF of the light source by performing current switching for adjusting a value of a current supplied to the light source; a black reference data creating portion that creates black reference data used for shading correction under control of the light source control portion; an image reading portion that reads image data under control of the light source control portion; and a shading correction portion that performs shading correction of the image data using the black reference data. The black reference data creating portion adds a noise, which is equivalent to a noise added to the image data by the current switching, to the black reference data, and the shading correction portion removes the noise added to the image data by performing the shading correction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a print controlling apparatus for controlling the operation of a printer. The print controlling apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes: a setting information storing section that memorizes language type information and country area information that are set for the print controlling apparatus; a status acquiring section that acquires status information of the printer; an image acquiring section that transmits the language type information and the country area information to a server when it is necessary to display a status notification screen for notifying a user of the status of the printer on the basis of the acquired status information of the printer, and then acquires image data corresponding to the language type information and the country area information from the server; and a display controlling section that commands an image based on the image data to be displayed in the status notification screen.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for providing direction to surgical tools. In one embodiment, a surgical device can include a cannulated elongate shaft with a cannulated curved distal tip. The device can be configured to be introduced into a body of a patient, and one portion of the device can be configured to be positioned on a proximal side of a tissue wall and a distal-most portion of the device including at least a portion of the curved distal tip can be configured to be positioned on the other, distal side of the tissue wall. A surgical tool can be configured to be advanced through the device to pass the surgical tool through the tissue wall with the curved distal tip providing direction for the surgical tool.

Abstract: A photocurable ink composition includes: a polymerizable compound; a radical photopolymerization initiator; a hindered amine compound; and a metallic pigment, the polymerizable compound including an active hydrogen-containing functional group.

Abstract: An image source apparatus includes: a driver, operable to send the image data to the printer and to cause the printer to execute the printing based on the image data, in accordance with a prescribed standard; an application processor; and a storage. When the driver receives an initialization request from the application processor, the driver, after notifying the application processor of an acknowledgement of the initialization request, carries out an initialization process in accordance with the received initialization request, and the driver, after finishing the initialization process, acquires information on a plurality of items related to a specification of the printer from the printer in accordance with the prescribed standard and stores the information in the storage.

Abstract: Various powering devices are provided for transferring and/or generating energy from numerous sources to a communicating member implanted in a patient. The energy transferred to or generated by the communicating member can be used to provide power to an implantable restriction system configured to form a restriction in a pathway.

Abstract: Devices and methods for reducing a size of a lumen are provided. In one embodiment, a lumen reduction device is provided having an end effector with a trough formed therein for receiving tissue surrounding a lumen, and a plurality of fasteners configured to engage the tissue disposed within the trough. In use, the end effector can be actuated to deliver the fasteners to the tissue, and one or more sutures coupled to the fasteners can be used to pull the fasteners together and thereby cinch the tissue to reduce the size of a lumen.

Abstract: An instrument for manipulating a spinal fixation element relative to a bone anchor includes a bone anchor grasping mechanism, a first adjustment mechanism, and a second adjustment mechanism. The bone anchor grasping mechanism includes a first arm having a distal end configured to engage an opening provided in the bone anchor. The first adjustment mechanism includes a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm. The second arm has a distal end configured to engage an opening provided in the bone anchor and is operable to adjust a spinal fixation element in a first direction upon pivoting relative to the first arm. The second adjustment mechanism is removably and replaceably coupled to the bone anchor grasping mechanism and is movable relative to the bone anchor grasping mechanism to adjust the spinal fixation element in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, relative to the bone anchor.