Abstract: A firearm having a top surface to which an optical sight is to be attached having a first portion and an adjacent second portion stepped down from the first portion. An adaptor plate is received in the second portion, its shape corresponding to the second portion to properly orient the adaptor plate. The bottom of the second portion and the underside of the adaptor plate having features to receive a spring. An optical sight is attached with at least one fastener to the first portion and directly to the slide of the pistol with a part of the optical sight cantilevered over the second portion and on the adaptor plate. The upper surface of the adaptor plate has a topography that corresponds to a complimentary topography on the underside of that portion of the optical sight.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described by which a first sequence of ultrasound images of an organ such as the heart is acquired at a first image acquisition rate. The first sequence preferably images a larger volume or area in which a region of interest is located. Then a second sequence of three-dimensional ultrasound images of a sub-volume covering a part of anatomy of interest in the first sequence is acquired at a second image acquisition rate which is greater than the first acquisition rate. A third sequence of three-dimensional ultrasound images of a reference sub-volume is acquired at the second image rate. The second and third sequences of three-dimensional images are compared, enabling a clinician to focus on synchronism defects in the anatomy of interest with more precision and with a faster acquisition time.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (100) has a radio frequency system (114, 116, 120, 124, 126) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (142, 144, 156). The radio frequency system includes a coil (124) with multiple antenna elements (126). The MRI system further includes a processor (133) for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system. Execution of instructions (140, 170, 172, 174) cause the processor to: acquire (200) calibration magnetic resonance data (142) from a first field of view within the imaging zone using the multiple antenna elements, calculate (202, 300, 302, 304, 400) modified magnetic resonance data (144) by interpolating the calibration magnetic resonance data to a second field of view, calculate (204, 500, 502, 504, 602) a coil sensitivity kernel (146) by deconvolving the modified magnetic resonance data, and calculate (206, 604, 610) a coil sensitivity (148) by transforming each coil sensitivity kernel into image space.

Abstract: A delivery tool connectable with a syringe can be used to deliver a viscoelastic solution. The tool includes a first segment, a second segment and an inner lumen defined by the first and second segments. A distal portion extends from the second segment in a curved manner.

Abstract: A beverage vending machine (1) comprising a cup storage (3), a cup support device (9) in a cup filling station (7), and a stirrer dispenser (6) to feed a stirrer (6a) to a cup (4) in the cup support device (9). The cup support device (9) is defined by a body in the form of an open ring (11) with a vertical axis (12), a cup supporting surface (15), and a lateral opening (13) to allow the cup to be transversally extracted from the open ring body (11). The supporting surface (15) has at least one projecting area (19) configured to cause the planarity of the cup supporting surface (15) imperfect so as to cause the cup (4) to tilt, with respect to the cup support device (9), in response to the supply of a stirrer (6a) to the cup (4).

Abstract: An apparatus that performs a bypass procedure includes a steerable body portion and at least one transducer controlled by at least one controller. The system may include one or more acts of transluminally detaching at least a portion of a first artery from connective tissue of a chest wall that is attached to the first artery by applying ultrasound signals of a first type emitted by the at least one transducer situated within the first artery; steeling the detached portion of the first artery from a current location to a bypass location by applying a force from the steerable body portion, which is located outside of the first artery, to at least a portion of the detached portion of the first artery; and coupling the first artery to a target artery at the bypass location to establish flow communication between the first artery and the target artery.

Abstract: A transaction instrument and a method of making a transaction instrument by continuous liquid interface production. The transaction instrument such as a transaction card may have many features or components made by or using continuous liquid interface production.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for controlling a software defined network (SDN) is disclosed. The method includes providing one or more client portals configured for facilitating users controlling networked devices, generating configuration data based on input received from users via the client portals, and providing a master SDN controller for managing data flow control on the SDN network. The master SDN controller is operable to route data for the networked devices, generate a plurality of discrete co-controllers each associated with a particular end user with each co-controller having configuration data and routing data for an associated networked device, dispatching the co-controllers to the networked devices associated with the respective end users, installing the co-controllers on the networked devices, and registering the installed co-controllers with the master SDN controller for controlling the routing of data and configuration of the networked devices.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for analyzing an image of an aortic valve structure to enable assessment of aortic valve calcifications. The system comprises an image interface for obtaining an image of an aortic valve structure, the aortic valve structure comprising aortic valve leaflets and an aortic bulbus. The system further comprises a segmentation subsystem for segmenting the aortic valve structure in the image to obtain a segmentation of the aortic valve structure. The system further comprises an identification subsystem for identifying a calcification on the aortic valve leaflets by analyzing the image of the aortic valve structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining a position of a first object (14) within a second object (13), wherein the first object (14) contacts the second object (13) at a contact region. The apparatus (1) comprises a provision unit (2) for providing a three-dimensional model (20) of the second object (13). A projection unit (5, 6, 7, 21) generates a two-dimensional projection image (26) of the first object (14) and of the second object (13), and a registration unit (8) registers the three-dimensional model (20) with the two-dimensional projection image (26). A determination unit (9) determines the position of the contact region from the position of the first object (14) on the two-dimensional projection image (26) and the registered three-dimensional model (20) of the second object (13), wherein the position of the contact region is the position of the first object (14) within the second object (13).

Abstract: A level shifting circuit receives a first input signal and complement of the first input signal as inputs and generates a level shifted first output signal and complement of the first output signal as outputs. The level shifting circuit includes a number of transistors that support body biasing. One set of body bias signals applied to certain ones of those transistors is generated as a function of the logical combination of the first input signal and the first output signal. Another set of body bias signals applied to certain other ones of those transistors is generated as a function of the logical combination of the complement of the first input signal and the complement of the first output signal. The conditional body bias applied to the transistors of the level shifting circuit makes the circuit operational for level shift at very low supply voltage levels.

Abstract: A device for cleaning a surface (11) comprises at least one rotatable brush (3,4) which is provided with flexible brush elements (18) for contacting the surface (11) and picking up dirt particles (10) and liquid which are present on the surface (11) during a dirt pick-up period of each revolution of the brush (3, 4), and means for driving the brush (3, 4). A linear mass density of the flexible brush elements (18) is chosen such as to be lower than 50 g per 10 km, at least at tip portions, and an acceleration at tips of the brush elements (18) is set such as to be at least 3,000 m/sec2, at least at some time during another period of each revolution of the brush (3, 4) than the dirt pick-up period, namely a period in which the brush elements (18) are free from contact to the surface (11).

Abstract: A system includes (100) includes a display (112) that sequentially displays images from an image data set at a predetermined rate, an optical attention monitoring device (120) that senses a characteristic indicative of a clinician's attention to each displayed image of the image data set, and a processor (106) that executes an attention detection module (118) that detects a lapse in attention with respect to one or more of the displayed images based on the sensed characteristic indicative of the clinician's attention and generates a signal indicating the one or more of the displayed images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical electrode, which comprises an annular adhesive pad (203) to be attached to a living being, a conductive pad (205) disposed in the central hole (207) of the annular adhesive pad, a first conductive snap element (209), a conductive element (211) and a sealing film (213). The conductive element (211) is configured to establish electrical communication between the conductive pad (205) and the first conductive snap element (209) and the sealing film (213) is attached to the annular adhesive pad (203) and to fix at least a portion of the conductive element (211) between the annular adhesive pad (203) and the sealing film (213). The flexibility and/or length of the conductive element is chosen to be large enough so as to allow the first conductive snap element (209) to move without causing the conductive pad (205) to move, resulting in reliable electrical contact between the conductive pad and the skin of the living being.

Abstract: The present application relates to a steam iron head (30). The steam iron head (30) has a steam pathway (40) along which steam flows. A cyclonic chamber (61) is along the steam pathway (40). The steam iron head (30) also has a flow inlet (62) to the cyclonic chamber (61), a flow outlet (63) from the cyclonic chamber (61), and a conduit (67) in the cyclonic chamber (61) defining the flow outlet (63). The conduit (67) upstands in the cyclonic chamber (61) and has an opening in a free end (68) of the conduit through which the flow of steam exits the cyclonic chamber (61). The conduit (67) is provided with a rib (91) to restrict the flow of water droplets formed on an outer surface of the conduit from passing through the flow outlet (63). The present application also relates to a steam system iron (10) having a steam iron head (30).

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for microscopically imaging a sample, with a digital scanner comprising a sensor including a 2D array of pixels and to a digital scanning microscope carrying out this method. It is notably provided a method for microscopically imaging a sample with a scanner comprising a sensor including a 2D array of pixels in an XY coordinate system, the axis Y being substantially perpendicular to the scan direction, wherein the scanner is arranged such that the sensor can image an oblique cross section of the sample, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: • activating a first sub-array of the 2D array of pixels, the first sub-array extending mainly along the Y axis at a first X coordinate (X1), • creating a first image by imaging a first area of the sample by means of the first sub-array of pixels. According to aspects of the invention, it is further proposed a scanner carryout this method and using the same 2D array sensor for imaging and auto-focusing purpose.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI00690’, characterized by its relatively compact and upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong flowering stems; freely flowering habit with typically three racemes per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; and showy purple-colored flowers densely covered with large red purple-colored spots.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI00708’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong flowering stems; and freely flowering habit with typically three racemes per plant with each inflorescence with numerous yellow-colored flowers.

Abstract: A shaving device comprises a head structure (2) and a base structure (4). The head structure (2) is configured to retain and support at least one shaving head (30A, 30B, 30C). The head structure (2) is releasably retainable on the base structure (4). The base structure (4) is free of support elements in an area of an outer circumference of the head structure (2) such that the head structure (2), when coupled to the base structure (4), is not supported in the area of its outer circumference. The head structure (2), when coupled to the base structure (4), is substantially only retained on the base structure (4) by a retaining force provided by a retaining structure of the base structure (4).