Abstract: A needling system, for use in areas where thin hollow needles are used to inject or aspirate fluids and gases, is provided and comprises a thin, rigid tube body needle that is open on both ends and throughout the length with one sharp end. The needle body and hub are designed such that the needle has a ball end that fits within a socket of the hub, forming a seal and allowing the needle to be oriented non-colinearly and non-parallel to the central axis of the hub. Needle orientation, relative to the hub, can be limited from a conical volume to a planar or multi planar angular orientations. The needle so configured allows the user to circumvent an obstacle that otherwise inhibits direct linear access to a point-of-interest by providing a device that can fit around or between obstructions providing optimal direct path towards the desired therapy delivery point.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes an end cap assembly for use with an agitator. The end cap assembly includes a stationary end cap, a rotating end cap, and a fragmentor. The stationary end cap is secured to and stationary with respect to a housing of the cleaning apparatus. The rotating end cap is coupled to the agitator and rotates with the agitator relative to the housing. The stationary and rotating end caps define a gap extending radially inward therebetween. The fragmentor is disposed within the gap and is configured to break debris which enters the gap into smaller pieces. The fragmentor may be disposed on a surface of the stationary end cap facing towards the rotating end cap and/or on a surface of the rotating end cap facing towards the stationary end cap. The fragmentor may include a cutting blade and/or an abrasive surface.

Abstract: Assemblies, devices and methods are provided for suture management associated with surgical procedures for anchoring suture to bone. Suture elements mounted to suture anchors are terminated in suture loops or tags, and associated stop members that in combination with visual coding provide suture identification, prevent accidental unmounting of suture from suture anchors, and reduce the number of suture legs requiring active management during complex arthroscopic repairs. The present invention also provides exemplary drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.

Abstract: Assemblies, devices and methods are provided for suture management associated with surgical procedures for anchoring suture to bone. Suture elements mounted to suture anchors are terminated in suture loops or tags, and associated stop members that in combination with visual coding provide suture identification, prevent accidental unmounting of suture from suture anchors, and reduce the number of suture legs requiring active management during complex arthroscopic repairs. The present invention also provides exemplary drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.

Abstract: A robotic cleaner may include a chassis, an agitator assembly configured to engage a surface to be cleaned, and a lift mechanism moveably coupling the agitator assembly to the chassis. The lift mechanism may include a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism may be configured to generate a biasing force that urges the agitator assembly in a direction away from the surface to be cleaned. The biasing force may be insufficient to lift the agitator assembly from the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A drive assembly for use in a piece of home equipment is provided including a center shaft having a central axis. A first drive component has a cavity formed therein and is configured to rotate about the central axis. A second drive component is at least partially nested within the cavity. The second drive component is configured to rotate about the central axis. The first drive component is operably coupled to a first rotary coupling and the second drive component is operably coupled to a second rotary coupling.

Abstract: A system of needles having rudders or keels is provided having perforations, such as kerfs, to allow the needles to be bent by the manipulations of wires imbedded within the needle body. The pulling or pushing of the embedded wires, or stylets, causes the needle tip to be bent, while within the body, to allow the needle to be steered past impediments towards the target necessitating treatment. Wires can be pulled or pushed and in some instances both a push and pull wire are provided to give the needle precision steerability. The needles are provided with a keel or rudder, or can be shaped such as with a teardrop cross-section, to give a degree of stabilization to the course the needle, and attendant tubing, takes within the patient. The kerf cut section of the needle, which can be on one side, two sides or all about the circumference of the needle, allows the needle to be bent one way and then, as needed, another way to allow the needle to be steered within the body.

Abstract: An adaptive sensor array system and method includes receiving one or more signals from a sensor array and compare the received signals to one or more object detection threshold values, determining if the robotic cleaner was moving along a travel path for a predetermined period of time, window W, in response to a determination that the robotic cleaner was operating in straight-line motion during the window W, calculating a value of the received detected signals from the sensor array during one or more calibration periods C of the window W, and adjusting one or more of the object detection threshold values based on the calculated value during the window W. A sum of all the calibration periods C during window W is less than a length of the window W. One of the calibration periods C may start at a beginning of the window W.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner system includes an agitator and nozzle assembly having an agitator configured to rotate about a pivot axis and a suction tube. The agitator includes an agitator body having an agitator suction inlet and defining a suction tube chamber. The suction tube chamber extends along at least a portion of the pivot axis and includes a suction tube opening disposed at one end thereof. The suction tube is received through the suction tube opening and partially into the suction tube chamber, and includes a suction tube inlet. The agitator is configured to rotate about the pivot axis relative to suction tube such that the agitator suction inlet and the suction tube inlet partially overlap and an air flow path is established which extends through agitator suction inlet, into suction tube chamber, through suction tube inlet, and into the suction tube.

Abstract: A hollow needle, for use in medical and other areas where thin hollow needles are used to inject or aspirate fluids and gases, is provided and comprises of a thin, rigid tube body that is open on both ends and throughout the length with one sharp end. A flexible section is provided, either as part of the needle or as an addition at its proximal end allowing the needle to be oriented such that the needle central axis is non-colinear and non parallel to the central axis of the needling system. Depending upon the desired use, needle orientation relative to the central axis can be limited from a conical volume to a planar or multi planar angular orientations. The needling system so configured advantageously allows the user to circumvent an obstacle and or obstacles that otherwise inhibit direct linear access to a point-of-interest by providing a device that can fit around or between obstructions providing optimal direct path towards the desired therapy delivery point.

Abstract: An example of an agitator for a vacuum cleaner may include a body and at least one deformable flap extending from the body. The deformable flap may include at least one taper. The at least one taper causes a cleaning edge of the deformable flap to approach the body.

Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner may include a housing, a displaceable bumper, an emitter/detector pair, and at least one divider. The displaceable bumper may be moveably coupled to the housing and may be configured to be displaced along at least one axis. The emitter/detector pair may have an emitter and a detector, wherein the emitter is configured to emit light through at least a portion of the displaceable bumper. The at least one divider may be disposed between the emitter and the detector of the emitter/detector pair.

Abstract: A needling system, for use in medical and other areas where thin hollow needles are used to inject or aspirate fluids and gases, is provided and comprises a thin, rigid tube body needle that is open on both ends and throughout the length with one sharp end. The needle body and hub are designed and can be manufactured such that the needle has a ball end that fits within a socket of the hub forming a seal and allowing the needle to be oriented such that the needle central axis is non-colinear and non-parallel to the central axis of the hub. Depending upon the desired use, needle orientation relative to the hub can be limited from a conical volume to a planar or multi planar angular orientations. The needle so configured advantageously allows the user to circumvent an obstacle and or obstacles that otherwise inhibit direct linear access to a point-of-interest by providing a device that can fit around or between obstructions providing optimal direct path towards the desired therapy delivery point.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes an end cap assembly for use with an agitator. The end cap assembly includes a stationary end cap, a rotating end cap, and a fragmentor. The stationary end cap is secured to and stationary with respect to a housing of the cleaning apparatus. The rotating end cap is coupled to the agitator and rotates with the agitator relative to the housing. The stationary and rotating end caps define a gap extending radially inward therebetween. The fragmentor is disposed within the gap and is configured to break debris which enters the gap into smaller pieces. The fragmentor may be disposed on a surface of the stationary end cap facing towards the rotating end cap and/or on a surface of the rotating end cap facing towards the stationary end cap. The fragmentor may include a cutting blade and/or an abrasive surface.

Abstract: A drive assembly for use in a piece of home equipment is provided including a center shaft having a central axis. A first drive component has a cavity formed therein and is configured to rotate about the central axis. A second drive component is at least partially nested within the cavity. The second drive component is configured to rotate about the central axis. The first drive component is operably coupled to a first rotary coupling and the second drive component is operably coupled to a second rotary coupling.

Abstract: A hollow needle, for use in medical and other areas where thin hollow needles are used to inject or aspirate fluids and gases, is provided and comprises of a thin, rigid tube body that is open on both ends and throughout the length with one sharp end. The needle body is designed and can be manufactured with a curved shape and or other geometric features, can be drawn to a desired curvature with heat, or can be curved afterwards, to specific specifications depending on the application. The needle so configured advantageously allows the user to circumvent an obstacle and or obstacles that otherwise inhibit direct linear access to a point-of-interest by providing a device that can take the sharp point of a needle on an indirect path towards the desired therapy delivery point.

Abstract: Assemblies, devices and methods are provided for suture management associated with surgical procedures for anchoring suture to bone. Suture elements mounted to suture anchors are terminated in suture loops or tags, and associated stop members that in combination with visual coding provide suture identification, prevent accidental unmounting of suture from suture anchors, and reduce the number of suture legs requiring active management during complex arthroscopic repairs. The present invention also provides exemplary drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.

Abstract: Assemblies, devices and methods are provided for suture management associated with surgical procedures for anchoring suture to bone. Suture elements mounted to suture anchors are terminated in suture loops or tags, and associated stop members that in combination with visual coding provide suture identification, prevent accidental unmounting of suture from suture anchors, and reduce the number of suture legs requiring active management during complex arthroscopic repairs. The present invention also provides exemplary drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.

Abstract: Assemblies, devices and methods are provided for suture management associated with surgical procedures for anchoring suture to bone. Suture elements mounted to suture anchors are terminated in suture loops or tags, and associated stop members that in combination with visual coding provide suture identification, prevent accidental unmounting of suture from suture anchors, and reduce the number of suture legs requiring active management during complex arthroscopic repairs. The present invention also provides exemplary drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.