Abstract: Adjunct material and methods of using adjunct material to reinforce a staple line are provided herein. In general, adjunct material can be used to maintain a seal in tissue and prevent stapled tissue from tearing. This adjunct material can be coupled to a jaw of a surgical stapler, and can be deployed into tissue along with the staples. In some embodiments, the adjunct material can be sized and shaped so that a portion of the material extends laterally outside of the staple line and distributes strain to tissue outside of the staple line. In certain aspects, sealant can be applied to the staple line and to the adjunct material in various ways to further seal the tissue and/or prevent leaks from forming in the tissue.

Abstract: Devices and methods for applying sealants to surgical instruments are described herein. In one embodiment, a surgical device is described that can include at least one nozzle formed at a proximal end of the device that is configured to receive a sealant, as well as an applicator formed at a distal end of the device that is configured to deliver the sealant received by the at least one nozzle. The applicator can be configured to interface with at least one of a first and second jaw of a surgical stapler such that the sealant delivered from the applicator can be deposited into a plurality of openings formed in the surgical stapler.

Abstract: Adjunct materials and methods of using adjunct material to reinforce a staple line are provided. In general, an adjunct material can be used to maintain a seal in tissue and can prevent stapled tissue from tearing. In some embodiments, a surgical stapler can include a jaw having an adjunct material associated with the jaw. The adjunct material can be attached to tissue via staples deployed by the stapler. In some embodiments, an adjunct material can be a woven material having a single layer or multiple layers, and each layer can have different mechanical properties. In other embodiments, an adjunct material can have a single layer or multiple layers of nonwoven material, such as suture compressed into a three dimensional structure.

Abstract: Surgical methods involving cutting and sealing tissue include affixing a first adjunct material to tissue at a treatment site, such as by stapling the adjunct to tissue. A second adjunct material is applied to at least a portion of the first adjunct material such that the second adjunct material interacts with the first adjunct material to form a seal in an area of the tissue covered by at least one of the first and the second adjunct material. The resulting tissue sealing structure, which includes a combination of the two adjuncts, is believed to be superior to the sealing properties of either adjunct alone.

Abstract: The acquisition of seismic data is increasingly more important in today's modern world. There are many forms of seismic data. Seismic data records are acquired and analyzed for applications ranging from subsurface engineering, environmental and/or water exploration, to deep oil-gas applications. It is very important to understand that for the acquisition of this seismic data “signal-stacking” is a crucial part of the data acquisition process. This allows the data to be “stacked”, the seismic signals are mathematically summed, in order to eliminate unwanted noise from the data such as wind energy, airplanes . . . etc. A precise, reliable and durable triggering mechanism capable of enduring heavy repeatable shock's had to be developed in order to facilitate this requirement. There have been many attempts to create the ideal triggering device or apparatus, but until now, not one was inexpensive and not one proved to be durable, reliable & precise.

Abstract: A trench blade having a unitary interchangeable leading edge, providing for the rapid replacement during usage. The blade is comprised of a steel body for attachment to a trench digging apparatus, wherein a replaceable hardened-steel front edge is mounted, allowing for the replacement thereof when the edge become worn or broken during over time. The edge is attached to the blade in a manner which allows the user to remove and replace the edge quickly and easily within a short period of time without removing the entire blade assembly from the trenching apparatus, thereby eliminating down time of the machine and improving job efficiency.

Abstract: An electronic lock box contains a secure compartment for storing keys to a structure. A linear actuator moves in one direction opening the door to the secure compartment, and moves in the opposite direction releasing a shackle that holds the lock box to the structure. A lock box system uses an encryption algorithm to diversify user PIN data at a central computer, and stores that diversified information on a memory card for later use when the user attempts to access a lock box. The central computer and electronic lock box both keep track of system “epoch time,” and the memory card must be presented to the electronic lock box within a correct epoch time window for the diversified PIN data to be successfully decrypted and compared to the user's PIN data that is entered on a keypad of the electronic lock box.