Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first stapler half including an anvil surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a second stapler half configured to releasably couple with the first stapler half. The second stapler half is operable to deploy staples toward the anvil surface. The stapler also includes a projection positioned on one of the stapler halves and extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the stapler. The stapler halves are configured to pivot relative to each other about the projection. The stapler further includes a locking member positioned on the other of the stapler halves. The locking member is configured to translate along the longitudinal axis of the stapler between a locked state in which the locking member selectively captures the projection and an unlocked state in which the locking member selectively releases the projection. The locking member is biased proximally toward the locked state.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling assembly and an anvil configured to cooperate to compress, staple, and cut tissue. The stapling assembly includes a deck member having a deck surface that faces distally and includes a plurality of staple openings configured to receive a plurality of staples, and a knife member having a distal end that defines a cutting edge. The anvil includes an anvil surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets configured to form the staples, and a washer positioned adjacent to the anvil surface and having a proximal face. The cutting edge of the knife member is configured to cut through the tissue and the proximal face when the surgical instrument is fired. The proximal face includes a tissue gripping feature configured to stabilize and inhibit the tissue from translating across the washer and the anvil surface during firing.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a body member having a distal end. The distal end is configured to be fixedly secured to an annular deck member having a plurality of staple openings. The body member is configured to slidably house a staple driver member. The body member includes a radially expandable collar having at least one latching feature. The surgical stapling instrument also includes a shaft assembly, including a proximal sheath portion, a distal sheath portion, and at least one protrusion extending radially outwardly from the distal sheath portion. The at least one protrusion includes at least one abutment surface configured to engage the at least one latching feature of the radially expandable collar for coupling the body member to the shaft assembly.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the operation of a clip applier using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a clip applier comprising a crimping drive configured to be mechanically advanced through a crimping stroke. The method further comprises analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the clip applier and adjusting the operation of the clip applier to improve the operation of the clip applier.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes first and second elongate members, a clamp member, and a firing assembly. The second elongate member is configured to receive a staple cartridge. The clamp member is operable to releasably clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member. The firing assembly is translatable to fire the staple cartridge. The firing assembly includes a slider and an actuator configured to be selectively actuated by a user. The slider includes inner and outer engagement features. The actuator includes inner and outer engagement features. The inner engagement feature of the actuator is configured to engage with the inner engagement feature of the slider at a first interface when the actuator moves relative to the slider. The outer engagement feature of the actuator is configured to engage the outer engagement feature of the slider at a second interface when the actuator moves relative to the slider.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the operation of a clip applier using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a clip applier comprising a crimping drive configured to be mechanically advanced through a crimping stroke. The method further comprises analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the clip applier and adjusting the operation of the clip applier to improve the operation of the clip applier.

Abstract: A novel agrochemical formulation comprising adjuvants selected from diketopiperazines and an agrochemical active. A concentrate is also provided suitable for forming the formulation. The diketopiperazine provide adjuvancy in the concentrate and agrochemical formulations. There is also provided a method of making the formulation, and use of said diketopiperazines as adjuvants in agrochemical formulations is also provided. A method of obtaining the diketopiperazines from culturing of Metarhizium carneum, strain RKD0578 is also described. The extracted diketopiperazines may be used in a formulation for treating vegetation to control pests, or seed coating. Alternatively the strain RKD0578 itself may be used in a seed coating or in a formulation for treating vegetation to control pests.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing assembly, a movable member, an anvil, and a force sensing assembly. The housing assembly includes a first housing, a second housing, and a deck surface that includes at least one annular array of staple openings. The force sensing assembly includes at least one of a compression force sensor disposed between the first and second housings or a tension force sensor coupled with the movable member or the anvil. The compression force sensor is configured to sense a compression force communicated longitudinally through the first and second housings during at least one of compressing tissue between the anvil and the deck surface or firing the surgical instrument. The tension force sensor is configured to sense a tension force communicated longitudinally through the movable member during at least one of compressing tissue between the anvil and the deck surface or firing the surgical instrument.

Abstract: Surfactants based on a newly discovered class of compounds include a hydrophobic lipid oligomer covalently linked to a peptide or peptide-like chain and a carbohydrate moiety, and a serine-leucinol dipeptide linked to the lipid oligomer. Such surfactants can be used to create an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion by mixing together a polar component; a non-polar component; and the surfactant. Biosurfactants of the newly discovered class can be made by isolating and culturing a microorganism which produces the biosurfactant, and then isolating the biosurfactant from the culture. A microorganism can be engineered to produce biosurfactant of this newly discovered class by expressing a set of heterologous genes involved in the biosynthesis of the biosurfactant in the microorganism.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling assembly and an anvil configured to cooperate to compress, staple, and cut tissue. The stapling assembly includes a deck member having a deck surface that faces distally and includes a plurality of staple openings configured to receive a plurality of staples, and a knife member having a distal end that defines a cutting edge. The anvil includes an anvil surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets configured to form the staples, and a washer positioned adjacent to the anvil surface and having a proximal face. The cutting edge of the knife member is configured to cut through the tissue and the proximal face when the surgical instrument is fired. The proximal face includes a tissue gripping feature configured to stabilize and inhibit the tissue from translating across the washer and the anvil surface during firing.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a grounding block secured to a frame member of an electrified vehicle. The grounding block includes a bore configured to receive a fastener to hold a grounding strap connector relative to the grounding block.

Abstract: A novel agrochemical formulation comprising adjuvants selected from ilicicolins and lamellicolic anhydrides and an agrochemical active is described. A concentrate is also provided suitable for forming the formulation. The ilicicolins and lamellicolic anhydrides provide adjuvancy in the concentrate and agrochemical formulation. Use of said ilicicolins and lamellicolic anhydrides as adjuvants in agrochemical formulations is also provided. There is also provided a method of making the formulation, and for treating soil with the formulations. A method of obtaining the ilicicolins and lamellicolic anhydrides from culturing of Cosmospora sp., strain RKD01747 is also described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus comprising a multi-wavelength laser source that uses a single unfocused pulse of a low intensity but high power laser over a large sample area to collect Raman scattered collimated light, which is then Rayleigh filtered and focused using a singlet lens into a stacked fiber bundle connected to a customized spectrograph, which separates the individual spectra from the scattered wavelengths using a hybrid diffraction grating for collection onto spectra-specific sections of an array photodetector to measure spectral intensity and thereby identify one or more compounds in the sample.

Abstract: Surfactants based on a newly discovered class of compounds include a hydrophobic lipid oligomer covalently linked to a peptide or peptide-like chain and a carbohydrate moiety, and a serine-leucinol dipeptide linked to the lipid oligomer. Such surfactants can be used to create an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion by mixing together a polar component; a non-polar component; and the surfactant. Biosurfactants of the newly discovered class can be made by isolating and culturing a microorganism which produces the biosurfactant, and then isolating the biosurfactant from the culture. A microorganism can be engineered to produce biosurfactant of this newly discovered class by expressing a set of heterologous genes involved in the biosynthesis of the biosurfactant in the microorganism.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a body member having a distal end. The distal end is configured to be fixedly secured to an annular deck member having a plurality of staple openings. The body member is configured to slidably house a staple driver member. The body member includes a radially expandable collar having at least one latching feature. The surgical stapling instrument also includes a shaft assembly, including a proximal sheath portion, a distal sheath portion, and at least one protrusion extending radially outwardly from the distal sheath portion. The at least one protrusion includes at least one abutment surface configured to engage the at least one latching feature of the radially expandable collar for coupling the body member to the shaft assembly.