Abstract: A jaw closure transmission system is presented that includes an input sub-system, output sub-system and a transmission sub-system. These transmission sub-systems may utilize the transmission member as an energy storing device over a certain portion of an input stroke, to achieve a specific desired performance of the surgical tool. These apparatuses and methods may be particularly useful with hand-held, minimally invasive surgical tools having jaws.

Abstract: A pipeline heater (20) for warming a fluid stream, such as a fluid being carried by a natural gas or petroleum pipeline includes a housing (22) having a plurality of IR heating elements (118) and coils (110) installed therein. Individual conduits (88, 90) direct the fluid stream into and out of the housing (22). Coils (110) direct portions of the fluid stream from the conduits (88, 90) past a plurality of IR heating elements (118).

Abstract: A modular distortion correcting real-time SSM/I imagery decommutator applies earth curvature corrections to operational line scan (OLS) and special sensor meteorological image (SSM/I) data which is generated by OLS and SSM/I sensors on board a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite scanning the earth's surface. The OLS image data is resampled to remove a number of image pixels near the center of a scan line and to interpolate additional pixels toward the edge of the scan line. The SSM/I data is resampled to remove long track and cross track distortions caused by the SSM/I sensor scan angle. The resampled SSM/I data is then adjusted to compensate for the scan position of the SSM/I sensor. The OLS data image from the OLS sensor and at least one environmental data record (EDR) image obtained from the SSM/I sensor, for a particular geolocation, are displayed by embedding at least one EDR image into the OLS data image to produce a single combined image which can then be displayed.