Abstract: A simulation environment is disclosed. In embodiments, the simulation environment includes deep learning neural networks trained to generate photorealistic geotypical image content while preserving spatial coherence. The deep learning networks are trained to correlate geo-specific datasets with input images of increasing detail and resolution to iteratively generate output images until the desired level of detail is reached. The correlation of image input with geo-specific data (e.g., labeled data elements, land use data, biome data, elevational data, near-IR imagery) preserves spatial coherence of objects and image elements between output images, e.g., between adjacent levels of detail and/or between adjacent image tiles sharing a common level of detail.

Abstract: Systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products that can facilitate a transformation of a model of an entity by a model of a plurality of entities are provided. According to an embodiment, a computer-implemented method can comprise identifying a plurality of parameters of a model of a plurality of entities; generating a model of an entity based on collected data of an operation of the entity, wherein the model of the entity comprises a subset of the plurality of parameters; and transforming the model of the entity based the model of the plurality of entities such that a first result from the model of the plurality of entities and a second result from the model of the entity have a relationship that satisfies a defined criterion, given same values used for the subset of the plurality of parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for rendering a three-dimensional (3D) polygon mesh includes a processor, and a memory storing instructions, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to obtain a plurality of multi-view images corresponding to a plurality of captured images obtained by capturing an object at different capture camera positions, obtain a 3D polygon mesh for the object, select one or more of the plurality of multi-view images as one or more texture images based on a render camera position and capture camera positions of the plurality of multi-view images, and render the 3D polygon mesh as a two-dimensional (2D) image based on the selected one or more texture images.

Abstract: A surgical robot comprising a surgical robot arm and a surgical instrument. The surgical robot arm terminates at its distal end in a drive assembly comprising a first drive interface element. The surgical instrument comprises a shaft, an articulation attached to the distal end of the shaft, and a driving mechanism at the proximal end of the shaft. The articulation is for articulating an end effector, the articulation driveable by at least a first driving element and a second driving element. The driving mechanism comprises a first instrument interface element to which the first driving element is connected and a second instrument interface element to which the second driving element is connected.

Abstract: An apparatus for affixing a first tissue to a second tissue and methods of manufacturing and using the same. The apparatus comprises an elongated needle; a handle disposed at a proximal end of the elongated needle; a superelastic anchor disposed within the elongated needle, the anchor comprises: at least one normally-expanded elongated hook that is biased to a contracted state to fit within the elongated needle; a securing element; and an advancement mechanism triggerable by the handle and being configured to: eject the anchor out of a distal end of said elongated needle to allow the elongated hook to extend distally outward from the longitudinal axis of the elongated needle, into or beyond a tissue, and following the ejection of the anchor, eject the securing element from the apparatus to prevent movement of the anchor in at least one direction.

Abstract: A system, method or compute program product for generating stereoscopic images. One of the methods includes identifying, in a first three-dimensional coordinate system of a first three-dimensional virtual environment, a location and orientation of a first virtual object that is a virtual stereoscopic display object; identifying an eyepoint pair in the first virtual environment; identifying, in a second three-dimensional coordinate system of a second three-dimensional virtual environment, a location and orientation of a second virtual object that is in the second virtual environment; for each eyepoint of the eyepoint pair, rendering an inferior image of the second virtual object; for each eyepoint of the eyepoint pair, render a superior image of the first virtual environment, comprising rendering, in the superior image for each eyepoint, the corresponding inferior image onto the virtual stereoscopic display object; and display, on a physical stereoscopic display, the first virtual environment.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves and methods of use of prosthetic heart valves may be provided. In one implementation, a prosthetic heart valve configured to transition between radially compressed and radially expanded configurations may be provided. The prosthetic heart valve may include an outer frame, an inner frame, and at least one tissue anchor extending from at least one of the frames. The prosthetic heart valve may be configured to maintain a first distance between the downstream ends of the inner and outer frames when the prosthetic heart valve is in the radially compressed configuration and a second distance between the downstream ends of the inner and outer frames when the prosthetic heart valve is in the radially expanded configuration, the first distance being greater than the second distance.

Abstract: Devices and methods for cutting a tether are described herein. Devices described herein generally comprise a proximal handle, a catheter, and an inner shaft and a cutting blade disposed within the lumen of the catheter, where the cutting blade is movably disposed over the inner shaft. The proximal handle comprises an actuation mechanism to control the movement of the components of the device. Methods described herein generally comprise advancing a tether-cutting device over a tether, loading the tether through the catheter and inner shaft, applying tension to the tether, and rotating and distally translating a cutting blade in order to cut the tether.

Abstract: A tessellation method uses vertex tessellation factors. For a quad patch, the method involves comparing the vertex tessellation factors for each vertex of the quad patch to a threshold value and if none exceed the threshold, the quad is sub-divided into two or four triangles. If at least one of the four vertex tessellation factors exceeds the threshold, a recursive or iterative method is used which considers each vertex of the quad patch and determines how to further tessellate the patch dependent upon the value of the vertex tessellation factor of the selected vertex or dependent upon values of the vertex tessellation factors of the selected vertex and a neighbor vertex. A similar method is described for a triangle patch.

Abstract: Enhanced methods and systems for generating both a geometry model and an optical-reflectance model (an object reconstruction model) for a physical object, based on a sparse set of images of the object under a sparse set of viewpoints. The geometry model is a mesh model that includes a set of vertices representing the object's surface. The reflectance model is SVBRDF that is parameterized via multiple channels (e.g., diffuse albedo, surface-roughness, specular albedo, and surface-normals). For each vertex of the geometry model, the reflectance model includes a value for each of the multiple channels. The object reconstruction model is employed to render graphical representations of a virtualized object (a VO based on the physical object) within a computation-based (e.g., a virtual or immersive) environment. Via the reconstruction model, the VO may be rendered from arbitrary viewpoints and under arbitrary lighting conditions.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has an ultrasonic blade that connects to a distal end of an ultrasonic waveguide. A clamp arm assembly is moveable from an opened position for receiving a tissue, toward a closed position for clamping the tissue. A clamp arm actuator connected to the clamp arm assembly directs the clamp arm assembly from the opened position toward the closed position. An outer sheath surrounds at least a portion of the ultrasonic waveguide. The outer sheath includes a cover removably received against a sheath body, and a sheath securement feature able to detachably couple the cover to the sheath body such that the cover can be detached from the sheath body for accessing the ultrasonic waveguide within the outer sheath.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, interfaces, and methods for implementing the systems, apparatuses, and interfaces include capturing an image, displaying the image on a display devise, scanning and identifying objects and/or attributes associated with the image and/or objects therein, generating a 3D AR environment within the display overlaid on the image, generating a ray pointer for improved interaction with the image and the generated 3D AR environment, where the environment includes virtual constructs corresponding to the image objects and/or attributes, and selecting, activating, animating, and/or manipulating the virtual constructs within the 3D AR environment.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: an elongate endovascular element such as a wire; an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element for ultrasonically exciting a distal tip portion thereof to facilitate the crossing through the obstruction, and one or more damping features, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element to attenuate lateral displacement of the endovascular element at positions away from the distal tip portion.

Abstract: Provided herein is an occlusion device comprising: (a) a substantially solid marker band having an inner and outer diameter, a proximal end, and a distal end; and (b) a resilient mesh body attached within the marker band, wherein the body is a length y, and wherein the body comprises a bolus of additional resilient mesh material of a length x, wherein y is greater than x, and wherein the body extends distally from the marker band having a first delivery shape and a second expandable deployed shape. Also provided herein is a kit comprising the occlusion device disclosed herein and a means for delivery thereof. Methods of manufacture and use of the occlusion device disclosed herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for thrombus detection comprising employing an elongate tube having at least one opening at a distal end of the elongate tube. A coupling is attached or formed at the proximal end of the elongate tube. The detection of the presence of a thrombus is performed by using a syringe to withdraw blood through the at least one thrombus detection opening at the distal end of the elongate tube. If little or no blood is withdrawn, or if the withdrawal of blood is more difficult than expected, the presence of a thrombus obstructing the openings is indicated.

Abstract: A technique for rendering virtual content to a user stores map data of features in a physical environment of the user and measures the location of the user with stationary sensors placed at respective locations within the environment. A server provides the location of the user and portions of the map data to a headset worn by the user. The headset is thus enabled to render virtual content at apparent locations that are based on the measured location of the user and the features described by the map data.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate generally to mechanisms and processes relating to artificially rendering images using viewpoint interpolation and extrapolation. According to particular embodiments, a method includes applying a transform to estimate a path outside the trajectory between a first frame and a second frame, where the first frame includes a first image captured from a first location and the second frame includes a second image captured from a second location. The process also includes generating an artificially rendered image corresponding to a third location positioned on the path.

Abstract: Various embodiments describe systems and processes for capturing and generating multi-view interactive digital media representations (MIDMRs). In one aspect, a method for automatically generating a MIDMR comprises obtaining a first MIDMR and a second MIDMR. The first MIDMR includes a convex or concave motion capture using a recording device and is a general object MIDMR. The second MIDMR is a specific feature MIDMR. The first and second MIDMRs may be obtained using different capture motions. A third MIDMR is generated from the first and second MIDMRs, and is a combined embedded MIDMR. The combined embedded MIDMR may comprise the second MIDMR being embedded in the first MIDMR, forming an embedded second MIDMR. The third MIDMR may include a general view in which the first MIDMR is displayed for interactive viewing by a user on a user device. The embedded second MIDMR may not be viewable in the general view.

Abstract: One embodiment is a lead introducer including an outer needle, an inner needle, a splittable member, and an annular seal member. The outer needle, inner needle, and splittable member each include a body and hub. The splittable member fits over the outer needle body and the inner needle body and can be separated longitudinally. The splittable member hub receives at least portions of both the inner needle hub and the outer needle hub within the splittable member hub. The annular seal member is formed by either a) the inner needle hub or b) a combination of the inner needle hub and outer needle hub. The annular seal member forms a fluid-resisting seal with the interior surface of the splittable member hub when the portions of the inner needle hub and outer needle hub are received within the splittable member hub.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising means for: causing display of at least one world-locked volumetric object having at least one non-viewable region; determining a change in a user's viewing position relative to the at least one world-locked volumetric object; determining if the change in the user's viewing position relative to the at least one world-locked volumetric object will cause display of at least a portion of the at least one non-viewable region of the at least one world-locked volumetric object; and if it is determined that the change in the user's viewing position will cause display of at least a portion of the at least one non-viewable region, cause the at least one world-locked volumetric object to be user-locked.