Abstract: A system for reception of electromagnetic waves in a spectrum in which interference with radio frequencies of other electronics devices occurs comprising a transmitter; at least one receiver configured to receive the received signal; each received signal organized into a digital vector; at least one memory portion configured to store a plurality of received signals in a vector form; the vectors being combined into a matrix, each vector of the matrix being a digital data record representing a received signal; at least one processor operatively connected to the at least one memory portion; the at least one processor configured to estimate that portion of the received signal attributable to noise; the at least one processor operating to jointly estimate a minimal number of distinctive noise patterns and minimize the simplicity of the data of interest; the at least processor operating to process the noise and data of interest separately.

Abstract: In one representative embodiment, a steerable catheter device comprises a shaft comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pull-wire lumen that extends at least partially through the proximal and distal portions. A pull wire extends through the pull-wire lumen and has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the distal end portion of pull wire is fixed to the distal end portion of the shaft. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the pull wire and configured to increase and decrease tension in the pull wire to adjust the curvature of the distal portion of the shaft. An axially non-compressible pull-wire sleeve extends co-axially through the pull-wire lumen and over the pull wire.

Abstract: A delivery catheter is in various embodiments configured to deliver an anchoring device to a native valve annulus of a patient's heart, where the anchoring device can better secure a prosthesis at the native annulus. The delivery catheter can includes a distal section that includes one or more spines or is laser cut to assume a particular shape for better facilitating delivery of the anchoring device at the implant site and can include a flexible tube, a first pull wire, and a second pull wire. The flexible tube can comprise a bore extending between the first end and the second end sized for passing the anchoring device therethrough. The distal portion can comprise a first flexing section and a second flexing section. Actuation of the first pull wire and the second pull wire can cause the flexible tube to move from a first configuration to a second configuration.

Abstract: In one representative embodiment, a steerable catheter device comprises a shaft comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pull-wire lumen that extends at least partially through the proximal and distal portions. A pull wire extends through the pull-wire lumen and has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the distal end portion of pull wire is fixed to the distal end portion of the shaft. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the pull wire and configured to increase and decrease tension in the pull wire to adjust the curvature of the distal portion of the shaft. An axially non-compressible pull-wire sleeve extends co-axially through the pull-wire lumen and over the pull wire.

Abstract: Assemblies for storing, handling, transporting, viewing, evaluating, and/or shipping corneal tissue are provided. The assemblies may include a viewing chamber and a corneal tissue carrier removably coupled to an inner portion of the viewing chamber. The assemblies may further include a corneal tissue sample disposed within the corneal tissue carrier. Methods of processing a corneal tissue sample and administering the corneal tissue sample to a subject are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide power to devices are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a display and an instruction presenter. The presenter is to generate a notification on the display. The notification indicates that delivery of power to the user device will be enabled in exchange for paying attention to the display during a media presentation. The apparatus also includes a detector to determine that a person associated with the user device is paying attention to the display. The charging station is to transmit power to the user device in response to the detector determining that the person is paying attention to the display.

Abstract: Docking devices for docking a prosthetic valve at a native valve of a heart can include a coiled docking anchor and a retrieval suture. The docking device and retrieval suture can be configured for improved retention and retrieval of the docking device after deployment. The docking devices can have an end portion with a central axis. The retrieval suture can be connected to the end portion such that a line of force applied by applying tension to the retrieval suture is substantially aligned with the central axis.

Abstract: Assemblies for storing, handling, transporting, viewing, evaluating, and/or shipping corneal tissue are provided. The assemblies may include a viewing chamber and a corneal tissue carrier removably coupled to an inner portion of the viewing chamber. The assemblies may further include a corneal tissue sample disposed within the corneal tissue carrier. Methods of processing a corneal tissue sample and administering the corneal tissue sample to a subject are also provided.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus includes a steerable shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pull-wire conduit that extends through the proximal and distal portions. A pull wire extends through the conduit and has a distal portion that is fixed to the shaft. An adjustment mechanism is connected to the proximal end portion of the pull wire and configured to increase and decrease tension in the pull wire to adjust the curvature of the shaft. The distal portion of the shaft has a steerable portion including one or more layers. A compression-resistance portion is incorporated into a layer of the steerable portion, and extends angularly along a portion of a cross-section of the layer. The layer of the steerable portion into which the compression-resistance portion is incorporated has a first hardness, and the compression-resistance portion has a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness.

Abstract: A pixel having a variable exposure for a scene capture device, the pixel comprising a photodiode, a buffer and a memory element and a switching mechanism. The memory element is configured to store an exposure control bit and the switching mechanism configured to control a variable exposure period of the photodiode based on the exposure control bit and to reset a voltage on said photodiode to a reference voltage.

Abstract: Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can be configured to determine that an unobtrusive gesture has been received on a first electronic device and send a signal to a second electronic device in response to the unobtrusive gesture. The first electronic device can also be configured to receive a signal from the second electronic device, determine an unobtrusive output in response to the signal, and generate an unobtrusive notification in response to the received signal. In an example, the first electronic device is a part of jewelry worn by a user.

Abstract: Assemblies for storing, handling, transporting, viewing, evaluating, and/or shipping corneal tissue are provided. The assemblies may include a viewing chamber and a corneal tissue carrier removably coupled to an inner portion of the viewing chamber. The assemblies may further include a corneal tissue sample disposed within the corneal tissue carrier. Methods of processing a corneal tissue sample and administering the corneal tissue sample to a subject are also provided.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for a prosthetic heart valve includes a shaft, an inner balloon, and an outer balloon. The shaft has a lumen extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and a plurality of openings formed in the distal end portion. The shaft is configured such that a fluid can flow through the lumen and the openings. The inner balloon has end portions and a center portion disposed between the end portions. The inner balloon is mounted on the distal end portion of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the openings of the shaft. When the inner balloon is inflated with the fluid, the end portions expand farther radially outwardly than the center portion. The outer balloon is mounted to the shaft and disposed over the inner balloon. The outer balloon is configured to fully expand after the inner balloon at least partially expands.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide power to devices are disclosed. An example method includes determining an indication of visual media consumption of a display by a person; and enabling delivery of power to a device associated with the person in response to determining that the visual media consumption is associated with the person.

Abstract: A polymer blend material comprising: (i) a lignin component having a weight-average molecular weight of up to 1,000,000 g/mol; and (ii) an acrylonitrile-containing copolymer rubber component comprising acrylonitrile units in combination with diene monomer units, and having an acrylonitrile content of at least 20 mol %; wherein said lignin component is present in an amount of at least 5 wt % and up to about 95 wt % by total weight of components (i) and (ii); and said polymer blend material possesses a tensile yield stress of at least 5 MPa, or a tensile stress of at least 5 MPa at 10% elongation, or a tensile stress of at least 5 MPa at 100% elongation. Methods for producing the polymer blend, molded forms thereof, and articles thereof, are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus may comprise a controller to retrieve data from a non-volatile memory, and an error correction module operable on the controller to read a memory cell of the non-volatile memory at a first set of sense conditions comprising a multiplicity of sense conditions. The error correction module may be further operable to set a first set of bits in an encoded output, the first set of bits comprising a logical state bit to indicate a logical state of the memory cell and one or more additional bits in the encoded output to indicate accuracy of the logical state bit based upon results of the read at the first set of sense conditions, the first set of sense conditions comprising a greater number than that of the first set of bits. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods from delivering prosthetic devices, such as prosthetic heart valves, through the body and into the heart for implantation therein. The prosthetic devices delivered with the delivery systems disclosed herein are, for example, radially expandable from a radially compressed state mounted on the delivery system to a radially expanded state for implantation using an inflatable balloon of the delivery system. Exemplary delivery routes through the body and into the heart include transfemoral routes, transapical routes, and transaortic routes, among others.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical contact in an integrated circuit, and an integrated circuit are disclosed. In an embodiment, the integrated circuit comprises a substrate, an insulating layer, and a metal layer. An opening is formed through the insulating layer to expose an active area of the substrate. The metal layer forms a cusp at a top end of the opening, narrowing this end of the opening. In embodiments, the method comprises depositing a conductive layer in the opening to form a liner, applying a filler material inside the opening to protect a portion of the liner, removing the cusp to widen the top of the opening while the filler material protects the portion of the liner covered by this material, removing the filler material from the opening, re-lining the opening, and filling the opening with a conductive material to form a contact through the insulating layer.

Abstract: After formation of gate structures over semiconductor fins and prior to formation of raised active regions, a directional ion beam is employed to form a dielectric material portion on end walls of semiconductor fins that are perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the semiconductor fins. The angle of the directional ion beam is selected to be with a vertical plane including the lengthwise direction of the semiconductor fins, thereby avoiding formation of the dielectric material portion on lengthwise sidewalls of the semiconductor fins. Selective epitaxy of semiconductor material is performed to grow raised active regions from sidewall surfaces of the semiconductor fins. Optionally, horizontal portions of the dielectric material portion may be removed prior to the selective epitaxy process. Further, the dielectric material portion may optionally be removed after the selective epitaxy process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are vaso-occlusive devices for forming occluding the vasculature of a patient. More particularly, disclosed herein are vaso-occlusive devices having a textured outer surface for promoting tissue in-growth.