Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas fitting pressure test device in one example having a test plate with a first side configured to seal to a gas fitting. The gas fitting having a surface defining a void therein. The test device also having a gas conduit through the first side of the test plate, the gas conduit configured to be in fluid communication with an inner void of the gas fitting. The test device also having an electromagnet adjacent the second side of the test plate, configured to provide magnetic force on the gas fitting greater than the force exerted on the gas fitting. The test device having or connected to a source of positive gas pressure in fluid communication with the gas conduit.

Abstract: A multispectral synchronized imaging system is provided. A multispectral light source of the system comprises: blue, green and red LEDs, and one or more non-visible light sources, each being independently addressable and configured to emit, in a sequence: at least visible white light, and non-visible light in one or more given non-visible frequency ranges. The system further comprises a camera and an optical filter arranged to filter light received at the camera, by: transmitting visible light from the LEDs; filter out non-visible light from the non-visible light sources; and otherwise transmit excited light emitted by a tissue sample excited by non-visible light. Images acquired by the camera are output to a display device. A control unit synchronizes acquisition of respective images at the camera for each of blue light, green light, visible white light, and excited light received at the camera, as reflected by the tissue sample.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a catheter apparatus is configured to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, and including an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, an expandable basket assembly disposed at the distal end and comprising a plurality of splines and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the splines, an irrigation channel disposed in the elongated deflectable element, and an inflatable balloon disposed in the expandable basket assembly and including a plurality of irrigation holes in fluid connection with the irrigation channel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique of configuring flexible photovoltaic tracker systems with high damping and low angle stow positions. Under dynamic environmental loads implementing a high amount of damping (e.g., greater than 25% of critical damping, greater than 50% of critical damping) or a very high amount of damping (e.g., 100% or greater of critical damping, infinite damping) enables the flexible tracker system to prevent problematic aeroelastic behaviors while positioned in a low stow angle. The disclosed technique is further applied to a prototyping process during wind tunnel testing.

Abstract: Fluorinated compositions include a fluorinated copolymer formed from a fluorine-containing monomer and vinyl chloride, the fluorine-containing monomer in an amount of from 0.5 weight % to 10.0 weight % based on a combined weight % of fluorine-containing monomer and vinyl chloride. Methods of making a fluorinated copolymer are further provided. Ultraviolet-protective films formed from a mixture including a fluorinated copolymer are further provided.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a patient is provided. The magnetic resonance imaging system comprising at least one B0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to a B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system and a member configured to engage with a releasable securing mechanism of a radio frequency coil apparatus, the member attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system at a location so that, when the member is engaged with the releasable securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus, the radio frequency coil apparatus is secured to the magnetic resonance imaging system substantially within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Abstract: Monitoring apparatus for measuring the respiratory rate of a subject comprises an upper arm unit attached to a subject's upper arm in use and containing at least one movement sensor and a photoplethysmograph configured to monitor blood volume within the subject's upper arm while the upper arm unit is worn on the subjects upper arm. The output from the photoplethysmograph and movement sensor(s) are processed to calculate and output an estimate of the rate of respiration of the subject. Respiratory cycle induced variations in the photoplethysmograph signal and movement sensor signals can be independently determined and there is a greater confidence in the calculated respiratory rate when these independent calculations give consistent readings. If there is insufficient confidence, no rate of respiration is displayed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a catheter including an insertion tube and a first position sensor, a pusher including a second position sensor, and an expandable assembly including flexible strips disposed circumferentially around a distal portion of the pusher, with first ends of the strips connected to the distal end of the insertion tube and second ends of the strips connected to the distal portion of the pusher, the flexible strips bowing radially outward when the pusher is retracted, processing circuitry to receive a respective position signal from the first and second position sensors, compute location and orientation coordinates for the position sensors subject to a constraint that the position sensors are coaxial and have a same orientation, compute a distance between the computed location coordinates of the position sensors, and find position coordinates of the flexible strips responsively to at least the computed distance.

Abstract: A magnetic susceptibility and conductivity tool (10) which incorporates a transmitter coil (4) energized with a time-varying current from a transmitter coil drive (13). The transmitter coil drive receives a clock signal and induces a data signal (99) including a primary mutual coupling signal and a formation coupling signal. A receiver coil (1) outputs a receiver coil voltage induced by the data signal. A transmitter coil current sense circuit (15) receives current from the transmitter coil and outputs a digital coil current voltage signal. A synthetic null circuit (14) receives the digital current voltage signal and multiplies the digital current voltage signal with a predetermined constant (28) for amplitude of a base primary mutual coupling signal and shifts phase with a predetermined phase offset (27) to output a synthetic null signal (104).

Abstract: A virtual machine (VM) management utility tool may deploy an object model that may persist one or more virtual machine dependencies and relationships. Through a web front-end interface, for example, the VMs may be started in a specific order or re-booted, and the tool automatically determines the additional VMs that need to be re-booted order to maintain the integrity of the environment. Through the web interface, for example, the object model may be managed, and start-up orders or VM dependencies may be updated. For VMs that may not start under load, the object model may access to the VM until the VM is fully initialized.

Abstract: A liquid container configured to stimulate visual interest. In one embodiment, the container is a bottle configured to generate a liquid vortex within the bottle. In another embodiment, the bottle includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to illuminate the bottle and/or vortex. The bottle includes an agitator configured to generate the liquid vortex. The agitator generally includes a magnetic stir bar disposed within the bottle. The agitator further includes a stylized blade configured to cover the stir bar. The bottle is further configured to work with a mobile application. The app is configured to connect to the bottle via scanning a barcode and/or quick response (QR) code on the bottle. The app enables a user to modify the size and/or shape of the vortex, the speed of the rotor, and/or the light color and/or brightness of the LEDs.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes an intrabody probe and an electrode coupled to a distal end of the intrabody probe. The electrode includes a flexible electrically-insulating substrate, comprising a substrate surface. The electrode further includes a layer of an electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the substrate surface. The electrode further includes a metallic sheet, comprising an inner sheet surface, and an outer sheet surface shaped to define multiple depressions. The electrode further includes an adhesive, which fills the depressions and bonds the outer sheet surface to the layer of the electrically-conducting metal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system includes a probe, a processor, and a bubble detector. The probe is configured for insertion into a lumen of a patient and is coupled to an irrigation pump. The processor is configured to control delivery of irrigation fluid to the probe by turning on and controlling the irrigation pump. The bubble detector is coupled to a proximal portion of the probe. In response to the irrigation pump being turned on, the bubble detector is configured to automatically start detection of gas bubbles in the irrigated fluid, and transmit fail-safe signals indicating fail-safe bubble detection is operational. The processor is further configured to monitor the fail-safe signals and, in absence of fail-safe signals, to automatically disable delivery of the irrigation fluid.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing machine (e.g., coffee maker) has a cooling unit. The cooling unit includes a thermal mass. The cooling unit is operable to freeze at least a portion of the thermal mass to provide a cold storage reservoir. The cooling unit also includes a passageway within which a brewed beverage flows, the passageway being in thermal communication with the thermal mass that cools the brewed beverage as it flows within the passageway to chill the brewed beverage before it is dispensed.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a shaft, a distal-end assembly and a puller-wire. The shaft is configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft, includes a telescopic assembly, configured to elongate so as to collapse the distal-end assembly, and to compress so as to expand the distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly further includes an elastic element, coupled to self-elongate and thus elongate the telescopic assembly. The distal-end assembly also includes an inflatable balloon, which is coupled to the telescopic assembly and is configured to collapse by the telescopic assembly elongating, and to expand by the telescopic assembly compressing. The puller-wire runs through the shaft and is connected to a distal end of the telescopic assembly, and is configured, when pulled, to compress the telescopic assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a B0 magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The apparatus includes at least one first B0 magnet configured to produce a first magnetic field to contribute to the B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, the at least one first B0 magnet comprising a first plurality of permanent magnet rings including at least two rings with respective different heights.

Abstract: A route guidance and proximity awareness system for the visually impaired includes a main body assembly worn around the body of the user and a headset assembly worn around the head of the user. The system incorporates proximity awareness technology and navigation technology to generate a 3D audio output to a user so as to generate an audible virtual environment reflective of the physical environment of the user. The assemblies include line of sight sensors, a central processing unit, a navigation module, and a camera assembly. Obstacles are detected and classified with a location and distance, and are concurrently processed with real time navigation that is adjusted to instruct not only how to get to a location but also how to avoid obstacles.

Abstract: A mesenchymal stem cell harvesting system and method for increasing the efficiency of collecting and processing physiological fluids containing mesenchymal stem cells from a cavity within a patient's skeletal system. Microenvironments risk in MSC production and concentration within a cavity, for example the patient's ilium, are penetrated with a pointed instrument used to create an aperture in the hard cortical bone forming the cavity followed by the insertion of an aspiration device which extracts one or more samples of cancellous bone, bone marrow, bone marrow blood and other aspirated material. The aspirate is rinsed and may be filtered to remove unwanted material and to increase the concentration and purity of the mesenchymal stem cells in the aspirant far beyond levels formerly obtainable for use in autologous treatment of the patient.