Abstract: Recent advances in minimally invasive surgical procedures have created a demand for smaller scale tools with improved performance characteristics. Attempts to scale down modern tools to the meso level (1-5 mm) have caused severe performance losses. Surgical tools of the present invention provide significant improvements in operable range and force application for both grasping and spreading when compared to currently used endoscopic forceps.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for designing shapes for a software module. Drawing software modules typically provide master shapes that are used as templates in creating drawings. The function of master shapes is generally controlled by behaviors. The invention improves upon existing approaches to designing master shapes by providing a uniform procedure for creating master shapes. The present invention supports the creation of a uniform set of behaviors that are stored independently of the master shapes. The stored behaviors are the preferred methods for controlling the functions of the master shapes. Individual stored behaviors can be selected and used to create the characteristics of a master shape. Using a uniform set of stored behaviors that are implemented in a preferred manner facilitates the management and maintenance of the behaviors and the master shapes they control.

Abstract: Biopsy devices which can be used with a flexible endoscope are described herein. Inventive biopsy devices can be used in minimally invasive procedures and other biopsy applications. Inventive biopsy devices can be used through an endoscope channel to perform zero invasive biopsies on the gastrointestinal system and other organs. Actuation devices for use to twist or manipulate the biopsy device even when it is at the end of the endoscopic cable are provided according to embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: A distributed charge pump system uses a delay element and frequency dividers to generate out of phase pump clock signals that drive different charge pumps, to offset peak current clock edges for each charge pump and thereby reduce overall peak power. Clock signal division and phase offset may be extended to multiple levels for further smoothing of the pump clock signal transitions. A dual frequency divider may be used which receives the clock signal and its complement, and generates two divided signals that are 90° out of phase. In an illustrative embodiment the clock generator comprises a variable-frequency clock source, and a voltage regulator senses an output voltage of the charge pumps, generates a reference voltage based on a currently selected frequency of the variable-frequency clock source, and temporarily disables the charge pumps (by turning off local pump clocks) when the output voltage is greater than the reference voltage.

Abstract: A distributed charge pump system uses a delay element and frequency dividers to generate out of phase pump clock signals that drive different charge pumps, to offset peak current clock edges for each charge pump and thereby reduce overall peak power. Clock signal division and phase offset may be extended to multiple levels for further smoothing of the pump clock signal transitions. A dual frequency divider may be used which receives the clock signal and its complement, and generates two divided signals that are 90° out of phase. In an illustrative embodiment the clock generator comprises a variable-frequency clock source, and a voltage regulator senses an output voltage of the charge pumps, generates a reference voltage based on a currently selected frequency of the variable-frequency clock source, and temporarily disables the charge pumps (by turning off local pump clocks) when the output voltage is greater than the reference voltage.

Abstract: This invention relates to an adhesive composition comprising a functionalized random propylene polymer (FRPP) having at least 0.1 wt % of a functional group, a heat of fusion of between 0.5 and 70 J/g, and an mm triad tacticity index of at least 75%, where the adhesive has a T-Peel adhesion on a polar substrate at 20° C. of at least 175 N/m (1 lb/in) and a T-Peel adhesion on a non-polar substrate at 20° C. of at least 175 N/m (1 lb/in) where the polarity of the polar substrate is at least 0.10 units higher than the polarity of the non-polar substrate. Methods to produce the adhesive and articles comprising the adhesive are also disclosed.

Abstract: A switched-capacitor charge pump comprises a two-phase charging circuit, cross-coupled transistors connected to output nodes of the switched capacitors, and a pump output connected to source terminals of the cross-coupled transistors. The charge pump has side transistors for boosting charge transfer, and gating logic of the side transistors includes level shifters which control connections to the pump output or a reference voltage. Negative and positive charge pump embodiments are provided. The charging circuit advantageously utilizes non-overlapping wide and narrow clock signals to generate multiple gating signals. The pump clock circuit preferably provides independent, programmable adjustment of the widths of the wide and narrow clock signals. An override mode can be provided using clamping circuits which shunt the pump output to the second nodes of the switched capacitors.

Abstract: Extensible architecture and data flow in a web based diagram visualization service is accomplished by enabling a diagram update engine to launch custom data modules. Data modules for data sources that are not inherently supported are created by third parties through a specially defined interface (e.g. .NET® assemblies) and made visible for the web based diagram services and callable from a diagram update engine. Thus, a number of data sources from which diagram data can be retrieved and the way incoming data is manipulated and aggregated is extensible through code.

Abstract: A switched-capacitor charge pump comprises a two-phase charging circuit, cross-coupled transistors connected to output nodes of the switched capacitors, and a pump output connected to source terminals of the cross-coupled transistors. The charge pump has side transistors for boosting charge transfer, and gating logic of the side transistors includes level shifters which control connections to the pump output or a reference voltage. Negative and positive charge pump embodiments are provided. The charging circuit advantageously utilizes non-overlapping wide and narrow clock signals to generate multiple gating signals. The pump clock circuit preferably provides independent, programmable adjustment of the widths of the wide and narrow clock signals. An override mode can be provided using clamping circuits which shunt the pump output to the second nodes of the switched capacitors.

Abstract: A polycrystalline mesoscale component is provided that has an overall length L divided into multiple segments with a second segment extending from a first segment at a nonlinear angle. The first segment has a first segment height H1 and a first segment thickness T1, while the second segment has a second segment height H2 and a second segment thickness T1, with the lesser of H1 and H2 defining a minimum segment height Hmin and the lesser of T1 and T2 defining a minimum segment thickness Tmin. The resultant component has a ratio of L:Hmin:Tmin of 20-80:1:0.5-10 where Hmin is between 5 and 500 microns. In specific instances, the nonlinear angle is acute, the multiple segments are rectilinear in cross section, and a segment thickness has an edge resolution of between 0.1 and 2 microns. A process for forming a polycrystalline mesoscale component is provided that includes filling a mold cavity formed in a photoresist with a mold fill.

Abstract: A suturing device includes an elongated sheath and a suturing assembly. The elongated sheath has a working end for insertion through a working channel in an endoscope and has an inner passage. The suturing assembly includes an elongated flexible base member, a first suturing arm and a second suturing arm. The suturing arms each have a proximal end interconnected with the elongated base member and an opposite distal end. A needle receiver is disposed at the distal end of each suturing arm. The suturing arms are movable between an open position wherein the distal ends are spaced apart by a first distance and a closed position wherein the distal ends are spaced apart by a second distance less than the first distance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adhesive composition comprising: a random propylene polymer component having a heat of fusion of between 1 and 70 J/g and an mm triad tacticity index of at least 75%; and a functionalized polymer component comprising a C2-C20 olefin comprising at least 0.1 wt % of a functional group; wherein the adhesive composition has a T-Peel adhesion on a polar substrate at 20° C. of at least 175 N/m (1 lb/in) and a T-Peel adhesion on a non-polar substrate at 20° C. of at least 175 N/m Pa (1 lb/in) and where the polarity of the polar substrate is at least 0.10 units higher than the polarity of the non-polar substrate. Methods to produce the adhesive and articles comprising the adhesive are also disclosed.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for high-performance rasterization of a vector graphic on a server computer. A vector graphic loader receives the vector graphic and generates an intermediate data structure from the vector graphic. A vector graphic renderer receives the intermediate data structure and renders the intermediate data structure to a render surface. An imaging component encodes the contents of the render surface to a raster image in a standard image format. The vector graphic loader and the vector graphic renderer are configured for multi-threaded and multi-processor execution on a server computer, which provides high performance.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for refreshing data-linked diagrams on a server computer and viewing and consuming the refreshed diagrams via a Web browser. A drawing program allows equations within a diagram definition to define how external data is utilized to modify the attributes of a diagram element. When the diagram is published to a server computer, the definition is converted to server-legible definition. A published diagram is generated that includes a diagram representation defined by the server-legible definition. Upon a request for the published diagram, the external data is refreshed and the diagram definition is updated. The equations are recalculated to generate new element attributes. The diagram representation is then updated with the new attributes and returned for display by a client Web browser. An interface provides exploration tools and a client API exposes methods for surfacing external data and annotating the diagram.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for recalculating data-bound vector graphics on a server computer. A drawing program allows formulas to define how external data is utilized modify the attributes of a shape. When a request is received to publish a drawing to a server computer, any formulas are converted to server-optimized formulas. Once the formulas have been converted to server-optimized formulas, a published drawing is generated that includes the server-optimized formulas, a representation of the drawing in a vector format, and data identifying bindings between shapes within the drawing and external data. When a request to view the published drawing is received, the data bindings for the drawing are refreshed. The server-optimized formulas are then recalculated using updated values to generate new values for the shape attributes. The vector representation of the drawing is then updated with the new values and rasterized for display in a browser.

Abstract: A facility for linking data from an external data source to shapes in a diagram is provided. The facility is implemented as a component of a graphical visualization program, and provides a modeless data window that is operable to display data from a data source through a two dimensional table. Users can use the facility to import data from a data source and display the imported data in the modeless data window. Users can then use the modeless data window to select and drag rows displayed in the modeless data window onto shapes on a drawing surface of the graphical visualization program to link the dragged rows to the shapes. Users can also drag rows displayed in the modeless data window onto a blank section of the drawing surface to create shapes on the drawing surface and link the rows to the created shapes.

Abstract: A distributed charge pump system uses a delay element and frequency dividers to generate out of phase pump clock signals that drive different charge pumps, to offset peak current clock edges for each charge pump and thereby reduce overall peak power. Clock signal division and phase offset may be extended to multiple levels for further smoothing of the pump clock signal transitions. A dual frequency divider may be used which receives the clock signal and its complement, and generates two divided signals that are 90° out of phase. In an illustrative embodiment the clock generator comprises a variable-frequency clock source, and a voltage regulator senses an output voltage of the charge pumps, generates a reference voltage based on a currently selected frequency of the variable-frequency clock source, and temporarily disables the charge pumps (by turning off local pump clocks) when the output voltage is greater than the reference voltage.

Abstract: A design structure for a circuit that has a limited switch dynamic logic gate having a front end logic circuit and a latch. The output of the front end logic circuit is connected to an input of the latch, and the front end logic circuit evaluates a set of input signals applied to the front end logic circuit to generate an output signal. The latch receives and holds the output signal. The circuit also has a logic circuit having an output connected to a clock input in the front end logic circuit. The logic circuit generates a modified clock signal in response to receiving a clock signal from a clock source, and the modified clock signal has a duration that provides a minimum period of time for the front end logic to evaluate the set of input signals and generate the output signal.

Abstract: A circuit that has a limited switch dynamic logic gate having a front end logic circuit and a latch. The output of the front end logic circuit is connected to an input of the latch, and the front end logic circuit evaluates a set of input signals applied to the front end logic circuit to generate an output signal. The latch receives and holds the output signal. The circuit also has a logic circuit having an output connected to a clock input in the front end logic circuit. The logic circuit generates a modified clock signal in response to receiving a clock signal from a clock source, and the modified clock signal has a duration that provides a minimum period of time for the front end logic to evaluate the set of input signals and generate the output signal.

Abstract: A switched-capacitor charge pump comprises a two-phase charging circuit, cross-coupled transistors connected to output nodes of the switched capacitors, and a pump output connected to source terminals of the cross-coupled transistors. The charge pump has side transistors for boosting charge transfer, and gating logic of the side transistors includes level shifters which control connections to the pump output or a reference voltage. Negative and positive charge pump embodiments are provided. The charging circuit advantageously utilizes non-overlapping wide and narrow clock signals to generate multiple gating signals. The pump clock circuit preferably provides independent, programmable adjustment of the widths of the wide and narrow clock signals. An override mode can be provided using clamping circuits which shunt the pump output to the second nodes of the switched capacitors.