Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a set of ground engaging elements that perform a ground engaging operation. The agricultural machine includes a rearward sensor mounted to the agricultural machine to sense an area of ground behind the agricultural machine and generate a rearward sensor signal. The agricultural machine includes rearward zone generator logic that determines a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone and the second zone represent portions of the area of ground behind the agricultural machine. The agricultural machine includes rearward residue generator logic configured to receive the rearward sensor signal and determine a first residue metric indicative of the amount of residue in the first zone. The agricultural machine includes control logic that controls one or more aspects of the ground engaging operation on the area of ground based on the first residue metric.

Abstract: A flow device, method, and system are provided for determining the fluid particle composition. An example flow device includes a fluid sensor configured to monitor at least one particle characteristic of fluid flowing through the fluid sensor. The example flow device also includes at least one processor configured to, upon determining the at least one particle characteristic satisfies a particle criteria, generate a control signal for an external device. The example flow device also includes a fluid composition sensor configured to be powered based on the control signal and further configured to capture data relating to the fluid particle composition. The example flow device is also configured to generate one or more particle profiles of at least one component of the fluid based on the data captured by the fluid composition sensor.

Abstract: A protected substrate includes a planar substrate having a surface and a burn-off temporary protective layer positioned over at least a portion of the surface. The burn-off temporary protective layer includes a wax, a polyolefin, a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyether, or some combination thereof. The burn-off temporary protective layer is removable by a heat treatment process that does not substantially damage the surface. Various other protected substrates and methods for protecting a substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling the level relative to ground of moveable wings in a spray system that includes the moveable wings mounted to a common center frame support structure attached to an associated work vehicle to form a pair of opposed independently moveable wings extending laterally from the associated work vehicle. An initial control signal is determined for moving the moveable wings based on positions of the moveable wings relative to the ground. A compensating signal is determined for compensating the initial control signal, wherein the compensating signal is derived independent from the position of the moveable wings relative to the ground and includes a flexure component dependent upon one or more flexural properties of the associated work vehicle. A level control output signal is generated for controlling the level of the moveable wings based on a combination of the initial control signal and the compensating signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating an adaptive radiotherapy system. An apparatus includes a housing formed from a first material having a first appearance under a selected imaging modality and a target that is inserted into the housing. The target includes a plurality of target components formed from a second material having a second appearance under the selected imaging modality. The plurality of target components are manipulable to assume at least a first configuration comprising a first subset of the plurality of target components and a second configuration comprising a second subset of the plurality of target components that is different from the first subset of the plurality of target components.

Abstract: Non-planar holographic beam shaping lenses for acoustics are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic therapy system that is configured to apply ultrasound to a target in a body includes: an ultrasonic transducer configured to generate the ultrasound; and a customizable holographic lens configured to focus the ultrasound onto a focal area of a target that is an object or a portion of the object in the body. The customizable holographic lens is designed and produced based on the target. Furthermore, the customizable holographic lens is curved to mate with a front surface of the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge assembly positioned in the first jaw is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a plurality of staples, a plurality of staple drivers, and a cartridge body. The cartridge body comprises a deck surface configured to support patient tissue, a longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body, a plurality of staple cavities, and a longitudinal wall extending vertically below the deck surface. The longitudinal wall comprises a first zone comprising a first wall height and a second zone comprising a second wall height. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises a sled movable longitudinally through the cartridge body, wherein the sled is sized and configured resist deflection of the cartridge body during the firing stroke within the second zone.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a cartridge body, a plurality of staples, a plurality of staple drivers, a sled, and a support plane is disclosed. The cartridge body comprises a deck, a plurality of staple cavities defined in the deck, a longitudinal slot defined in the deck, and an outer cartridge wall. The support plane extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, wherein the sled is positioned under an inner cartridge wall in the support plane, wherein the inner cartridge wall comprises a first lateral pillar width and a first pillar height in the support plane, wherein the outer cartridge wall comprises a second lateral pillar width and a second pillar height in the support plane, and wherein the first lateral pillar width is wider than the second lateral pillar width.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a staple cartridge including a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, and staple drivers movable within the cartridge body to eject, or deploy, the staples from the cartridge body is disclosed herein. The staple drivers and the cartridge body comprise control surfaces that promote the efficient deployment of the staples from the cartridge body.

Abstract: Surgical staple cartridges with sled configurations configured to be coupled to a firing driver of a compatible surgical stapling instrument such that the sled is retractable from a fired position within the staple cartridge to a released position wherein the firing driver decouples from the sled at a location that is distal to an unfired position of the sled.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector comprising first and second jaws, and a longitudinal channel; an articulation joint assembly. The end effector extends along a central longitudinal axis in an unarticulated position, and wherein the end effector is articulatable about an articulation joint toward a fully articulated position on a first side of the unarticulated position. A flex circuit is to transmit at least one of data or power through the articulation joint. The flex circuit is offset from the central longitudinal axis, and comprises a proximal flex-circuit portion positioned in the shaft, a distal flex-circuit portion positioned in the end effector, and an intermediate flex-circuit portion positioned in a cavity defined by the articulation joint assembly. The intermediate flex-circuit portion maintains a relaxed curved state with an unchanged effective length as the end effector is articulated toward the fully articulated position.

Abstract: A method for sequential firings of staple cartridges is disclosed. The sequential firings including a first firing that deploys first staples into a first tissue portion from a first staple cartridge and a second firing that deploys second staples into a second tissue portion from a second staple cartridge. The method comprises monitoring a parameter indicative of a tissue response associated with the first firing, assessing the tissue response based on the parameter, and adjusting an operational parameter associated with the second firing based on the tissue response during the first firing.

Abstract: A method of assembling a staple cartridge is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method comprises attaching a pan to a cartridge body, the cartridge body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a deck, longitudinal rows of staple cavities extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. The method further comprises positioning staples in the staple cavities, positioning a support in the longitudinal slot such that an end of the support extends above the deck, and positioning a sled in the cartridge body proximal to the support such that the sled is longitudinally aligned with the support.

Abstract: A stapling assembly comprising a cartridge body, staple drivers, staples, and a sled assembly is disclosed. The cartridge body comprises a deck, a longitudinal slot, and staple cavities defined in the deck. The sled assembly is configurable in a first configuration and a second configuration. The sled assembly is movable distally in the first configuration during a staple firing stroke. The sled assembly is movable proximally in the second configuration during a retraction stroke. The sled assembly comprises a first component and a second component. The first component comprises a base and at least one rail extending from the base. The rail comprises a distal-facing ramp configured to engage the staple drivers to eject the staples from the staple cavities during the staple firing stroke. The rail is comprised of metal. The second component is movable within the longitudinal slot. The first component is movable relative to the second component.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system is disclosed. The stapling system comprises a motor, a drive assembly comprising a drive train coupled to the motor to actuate a function of a surgical end effector, wherein the drive train is actuatable by the motor through a drive stroke, and a control circuit coupled to the drive assembly. The control circuit is configured to monitor a first parameter of the drive assembly during the drive stroke, determine a stored kinetic energy of the drive assembly based on the first parameter, monitor a second parameter of the drive assembly during the drive stroke, wherein the first parameter and the second parameter are different, compare the monitored second parameter to a parameter threshold indicative of a motor stall condition, and determine a motor setting of the motor based on the determined stored kinetic energy and the comparison of the monitored second parameter to the parameter threshold.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw and a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises a translatable closure driver configured to engage the second jaw and move the second jaw into a closed position. The second jaw comprises control surfaces which interface with the closure drive to control and/or limit the movement of the second jaw relative to the first jaw.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument comprises a shaft, a multi-axis articulation joint assembly defining a cavity therein, and a wiring assembly disposed within the shaft and the multi-axis articulation joint assembly. The multi-axis articulation joint assembly comprises a first articulation joint and a second articulation joint. The wiring assembly comprises a wiring harness having a thickness and a width greater than the thickness, and a preset twist. An articulation joint assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.

Abstract: An optical film includes a plurality of alternating first and second polymeric layers, such that the first polymeric layers have a smaller average in-plane index of refraction than the second polymeric layers and the first polymeric layers have a glass transition temperature of at least 107 deg. C. The optical film may be a reflective polarizer. An optical stack includes a linear absorbing polarizer and the reflective polarizer disposed on, and bonded to, the absorbing polarizer. The reflective polarizer has an optical reflectance of at least 60% for a first polarization state and an optical transmittance of at least 60% for an orthogonal second polarization state. When heated at 105 deg. C. for 15 minutes, a difference in shrinkage of the reflective polarizer and the absorbing polarizer along the first and second polarization states is greater than about zero and 0.2%, respectively.

Abstract: An optical film includes a plurality of alternating first and second polymeric layers disposed on a first protective layer. Each of the first and second polymeric layers has an average thickness less than about 500 nm and the first protective layer has an average thickness greater than about 750 nm. An olefin layer can be disposed on the first protective layer opposite the plurality of alternating first and second polymeric layers. The olefin layer includes cyclic olefin copolymer, cyclic olefin polymer, or a blend thereof. The olefin layer can have an unstructured major surface opposite the first protective layer. A bonding layer is disposed between, and bonds together, the olefin layer and the first protective layer. The optical film is integrally formed.