Abstract: A recovery device assembly comprises an actuator element and a mechanically radially expandable and contractible recovery device operably connected to the actuator element is provided. The recovery device has proximal and distal toroidal balloon blocking elements and a central portion between the blocking elements. The recovery device is at least partially placeable in a first, radially collapsed configuration and in a second, radially expanded configuration by manipulation of the actuator element. When in the second, radially expanded configuration, the proximal and distal blocking elements have radial dimensions greater than the radial dimension of the central portion thereby at least partially defining a collection chamber at the central portion. Also provided are methods of isolating an organ and recovering blood from an organ that use the recovery device assembly provided.

Abstract: A method and system for providing high throughput communications via a Radio Frequency (RF) satellite are disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of information bit streams intended for a plurality of downlinks; modulating an uplink stream including the plurality of information bit streams with an uplink modulation scheme to generate an uplink signal; transmitting the uplink signal to the satellite; and partitioning, at the satellite, the uplink signal into a plurality of downlink signals, each one intended for one of the plurality of downlinks. In the method, the uplink stream includes the plurality of information bit streams.

Abstract: A method for closing a subcutaneous arterial wound is provided which utilizes a patient's whole blood by homogenously exposing the patient's whole blood to a porous matrix to initiate the clotting cascade of the patient's whole blood and situating the patient's whole blood at a position proximate to the arterial wound as the patient's whole blood is clotting. The method may include holding a subcutaneous mass comprising the patient's whole blood in position proximate the arterial wound as the patient's whole blood continues to clot, whereby a hemostatic closure comprising the patient's whole blood is formed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically re-ranging a satellite terminal. A satellite system may comprise a satellite comprising an inroute channel and an outroute channel, and a terminal configured to receive an outroute signal from the satellite on the outroute channel and transmit an inroute signal to the satellite on the inroute channel. The satellite terminal may automatically determine when to perform ranging by monitoring the quality of the outroute signal; monitoring the quality of the inroute signal; and determining if there has been a sustained degradation in the monitored inroute signal quality or the monitored outroute signal quality.

Abstract: Data is stored as a first collection of memory blocks distributed across a first set of memory devices. It is determined that a first memory device in the first set is in a degraded state. Data is recovered corresponding to a first memory block in the first collection of memory blocks that is stored in the first memory device, which is configured to include a first number of memory blocks. The recovered data is stored in a second memory device as a new memory block, which is added to the first collection of memory blocks. The first memory device is removed from the first set and reconfigured with a second number of memory blocks that is less than the first number of memory blocks. Memory blocks in a second collection of memory blocks distributed across a second set of memory devices is stored in the reconfigured first memory device.

Abstract: A converter system and inverter system are disclosed with individual real and reactive power control for each phase of a poly-phase system. The converter system includes a controller, bidirectional single-phase inverters with AC sides coupled to an AC line filter and DC sides connected in parallel to a link capacitor coupled to DC/DC converters. Each inverter handles a separate AC phase. The controller controls the inverters and DC/DC converters so the current amplitude of each AC phase is independent, and the phase difference of each AC phase is independent. The inverters can be galvanically isolated between the DC and AC sides. The inverters can be non-isolated inverters having line and neutral connectors coupled to an isolated transformer winding, and the output windings of the transformer can be wired in a Wye configuration. The inverters can have local controllers.

Abstract: A method of starting an aircraft having at least a first starter/generator (S/G) and a second S/G using at least one inverter/converter and at least one of an AC power source and a first DC power source, the method includes selectively starting at least one of the first S/G or second S/G in an AC start mode and in a DC start mode.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a food safety management system, including a web portal for management and reporting and a handheld computing device for checklist completion. A checklist of tasks to be performed in a food service establishment is obtained and displayed on a touchscreen of the handheld computing device. Confirmation is obtained on the touchscreen whether a task has been completed. An identifier at a location in the food service establishment is inputted to verify that a task has been completed. Temperature and humidity readings are obtained from one or more stationary sensors monitoring a food storage environment. Task completion data, temperature data, and humidity data are sent to a server.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for an elongate wire is provided, and includes a housing that supports a first cutter that has a body, a recess, and a cutting blade. The cutting blade is disposed upon a wall of the body that defines the recess, the first cutter is fixed with respect to the housing. The housing additionally supports a second cutter that has a body, a recess, and a cutting blade, wherein the cutting blade is disposed upon a wall of the body that defines the recess. The second cutter is normally positioned with respect to the first cutter such that the recess of the first cutter is aligned with the recess of the second cutter, and is movable to a second position where the recess of the second cutter translates with respect to the recess of the first cutter, such that the respective cutting blades translate toward each other.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a sensor device can include a base module including a battery and including a transceiver configured to communicate with a computing device. The sensor device may further include one or more sensor modules configured to releasably couple to the base module.

Abstract: A kit contains mast modules that may be erected and connected in a variety of configurations to provide a barrier to accomplish any one or more of the following: guide traffic, protect and rope off an accident or crime scene, warn pedestrians and motorists of dangerous conditions, and shelter an area and/or first responders from sun and precipitation. Masts, coupling sleeves, coupling slots, slits and bases are interconnected to form a barrier.

Abstract: Plasma discharges and electromagnetic fields may be applied to a liquid, such as water, to treat unwanted material in the liquid.

Abstract: A patient transfer device includes a patient support surface having a top surface adapted for positioning a patient thereon and a bottom surface defining one or more areas having a concave curvature for passage of air flow therethrough. Passage of the air flow along the one or more areas having a concave curvature provides an air bearing below at least a portion of the bottom surface. Exemplary patient transfer systems and methods of moving a patient are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of a dermatological cosmetic treatment and imaging system and method can include use of transducer and a reflective surface to simultaneously produce multiple cosmetic treatment zones in tissue. The system can include a hand wand, a removable transducer module, a control module, a graphical user interface and/or a parabolic reflector. In some embodiments, the cosmetic treatment system may be used in cosmetic procedures, including brow lifts, fat reduction, sweat reduction, and treatment of the décolletage. Skin tightening, lifting and amelioration of wrinkles and stretch marks are provided.

Abstract: In various embodiments, techniques are provided for utilizing a WPAN (e.g., BLE) and an in-home LAN (e.g., Wi-Fi network) together to provision and/or configure hardware elements of a home automation system. In one embodiment, a first WPAN-discoverable hardware element (e.g., a host controller) of the home automation system advertises its presence on a WPAN. The first WPAN-discoverable hardware element receives user-provided network credentials from a mobile app, which are used to configure the first WPAN-discoverable hardware element on the in-home LAN, and which are stored in a storage device of the first WPAN-discoverable hardware element. To provision a second WPAN-discoverable hardware element (e.g., a device) of the home automation system on the in-home LAN, the first WPAN-discoverable hardware element transfers the network credentials back to the mobile app via the in-home LAN, and causes the mobile app to forward the network credentials via the WPAN to the second hardware element.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method may include preparing building forms including at least some cementitious materials. The method for preparing forms may include mixing substantially dry cementitious material particles with closed cell foam particles to form a substantially dry composition. In some embodiment, at least some of the cementitious material particles may adhere to at least some surface deformations on the surface of the closed cell foam particles. In some embodiments, the method may include mixing a second portion of water with the substantially dry composition for a second period of time to form a partially wet composition. In some embodiments, a method may include forming a building form including at least some cementitious materials from the partially wet composition. In some embodiments, the closed cell foam particles may include expanded polystyrene. In some embodiments, a ratio of the water to cementitious material particles may range from 0.20 to 0.40.