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: This disclosure includes fuel systems having multi-tank pressure-relief devices and related methods. Some fuel systems have two or more fuel tanks, each containing fuel at a pressure at or above 3,000 pounds per square inch (“psi”), two or more pressure-relief devices (“PRDs”) configured to receive fuel from the fuel tanks and vent the received fuel in response to temperature, and fuel conduits coupling the fuel tanks to the PRDs such that, for each of the fuel tanks, for each of the PRDs, fuel is permitted to flow from the fuel tank to the PRD without flowing through a valve that is not one of the PRDs.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods of treating arthritogenic alphavirus infection. Compositions include a fusion protein comprising an Fc region, a first Mxra8 region, and a second Mxra8 region, wherein the fusion protein reduces inflammation and infection by an arthritogenic alphavirus. Methods include administering the fusion protein to a mammalian or non-mammalian subject to reduce or inhibit alphavirus infection.

Abstract: This disclosure includes fuel tank fittings, fuel systems and fueling stations having the same, and related methods. Some fuel tank fittings have a first end including a connector configured to be sealingly coupled to an outlet of a fuel tank, wherein the connector has a connection axis, a second end including two or more first ports, each positioned such that the connection axis does not extend therethrough, a first interior passageway extending from the connector, and two or more second interior passageways connecting the first interior passageway to the first ports such that, for each of the first ports, fluid is permitted to flow from the connector, through the first interior passageway, through one or more of the second interior passageways, and out of the first port without flowing through a valve.

Abstract: In some implementations, a data migration device may querying a relational data store for a plurality of metadata items. Accordingly, for each metadata item, the data migration device may transmit, to an application programming interface (API), a request for the metadata item, and receive, from the relational data store via the API, the metadata item. Furthermore, for each metadata item, the data migration device may execute a transformation on the metadata item to generate an adapted metadata item for a non-relational data store and transmit, to the API, a request to store the adapted metadata item in the non-relational data store.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing and/or calibrating underperforming pixels in detectors in a small pixelated photon counting CT system utilizes a series of tests on image data acquired in-situ as part of a series of calibration scans in the CT system. Tests are performed on the acquired data to determine the existence of underperforming pixels within the detectors such that the information acquired by those pixels can be replaced by alternate data from surrounding pixels (e.g. by interpolation). The underperforming pixels are stored in “bad” pixel tables and may be specific to a type of image (e.g., spectral or counting) and a specific protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing and/or calibrating underperforming pixels in detectors in a small pixelated photon counting CT system utilizes a series of tests on image data acquired in-situ as part of a series of calibration scans in the CT system. Tests are performed on the acquired data to determine the existence of underperforming pixels within the detectors such that the information acquired by those pixels can be replaced by alternate data from surrounding pixels (e.g. by interpolation). The underperforming pixels are stored in “bad” pixel tables and may be specific to a type of image (e.g., spectral or counting) and a specific protocol.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photon-counting detector (PCD) includes a plurality of macro-pixels. The plurality of macro-pixels arranged on a semiconductor crystal has a first face and a second face. The first face and the second face are parallel. Each macro-pixel from the plurality of macro-pixels is configured to acquire projection data for generating a reconstructed image. The plurality of macro-pixels each includes at least one large micro-pixel is disposed within the each macro-pixel and at least two small micro-pixels is disposed within the each macro-pixel. Each of the at least two small micro-pixels has a surface area that is less than a surface area of the at least one large micro-pixel.

Abstract: A method and apparatuses are provided to estimate, for two or more detector elements in an array of photon-counting detector elements, respective energy spectra of an X-ray beam incident on the corresponding detector elements from an X-ray source, the energy spectra being estimated by modeling X-ray attenuation as a function of X-ray energy when an X-ray beam is transmitted through a filter and set, for each detector element of the two or more detector elements, a first energy threshold of an energy range that is detected by the each detector element, the first energy threshold of the each detector element being based on the estimated energy spectra of the each detector element.

Abstract: A method and apparatuses are provided to estimate, for two or more detector elements in an array of photon-counting detector elements, respective energy spectra of an X-ray beam incident on the corresponding detector elements from an X-ray source, the energy spectra being estimated by modeling X-ray attenuation as a function of X-ray energy when an X-ray beam is transmitted through a filter and set, for each detector element of the two or more detector elements, a first energy threshold of an energy range that is detected by the each detector element, the first energy threshold of the each detector element being based on the estimated energy spectra of the each detector element.

Abstract: A method and apparatuses are provided to identify and correct partial volume errors (PVEs) in material decomposition of a spectral computed tomography (CT) scan, due to different X-ray trajectories incident on a same macro-pixel passing through different material components (e.g., bone and water). Macro-pixels are virtual crystals generated by aggregating the signals/counts from several smaller actual pixels (i.e., micro-pixels) of a detector array. Thus, when a PVE is identified within a macro-pixel, the separate signals/counts from the micro-pixels can be used for material decomposition, instead of the aggregated signals/counts of the macro-pixel, thereby providing improved spatial resolution of the material components and, at least partial, overcoming the PVE. A measure of the difference between spectrally-resolved counts based a material projection lengths (e.g., from a calibrated lookup table) and the measured counts of the macro-pixel can be used to identify PVEs, e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatuses are provided to identify and correct partial volume errors (PVEs) in material decomposition of a spectral computed tomography (CT) scan, due to different X-ray trajectories incident on a same macro-pixel passing through different material components (e.g., bone and water). Macro-pixels are virtual crystals generated by aggregating the signals/counts from several smaller actual pixels (i.e., micro-pixels) of a detector array. Thus, when a PVE is identified within a macro-pixel, the separate signals/counts from the micro-pixels can be used for material decomposition, instead of the aggregated signals/counts of the macro-pixel, thereby providing improved spatial resolution of the material components and, at least partial, overcoming the PVE. A measure of the difference between spectrally-resolved counts based a material projection lengths (e.g., from a calibrated lookup table) and the measured counts of the macro-pixel can be used to identify PVEs, e.g.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photon-counting detector (PCD) includes a plurality of macro-pixels. The plurality of macro-pixels arranged on a semiconductor crystal has a first face and a second face. The first face and the second face are parallel. Each macro-pixel from the plurality of macro-pixels is configured to acquire projection data for generating a reconstructed image. The plurality of macro-pixels each includes at least one large micro-pixel is disposed within the each macro-pixel and at least two small micro-pixels is disposed within the each macro-pixel. Each of the at least two small micro-pixels has a surface area that is less than a surface area of the at least one large micro-pixel.

Abstract: A non-motor driven device for redistributing air from an inflatable object with a high pressure to an inflatable object having a lower pressure. The pressure equalizer device is configured for redistributing fluid, preferably pressurized air, between independent inflatable objects. The pressure equalizer contains a main body configured to engage and connect separate, independent inflatable objects together and to a plurality of intermediate inflatable object engaging members. The main body is further configured to allow fluid to travel therethrough. The main body may comprise a first air redistribution component, a second air redistribution component, and a third air redistribution component, in addition to a plurality of inflatable object air valve stem locking members.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selection of a target for attachment. In one implementation, a method of selecting a target for attachment by a moving character in a video game, wherein the character has a position and a velocity, includes: selecting one of a plurality of attachable objects as a candidate object, wherein each attachable object is of an object type from among one or more object types; determining if the candidate object is available according to the current position of the character and the object type of the candidate object; and if the candidate object is available, determining a cost for the candidate object according to the position and velocity of the character and the object type of the candidate object, wherein the cost represents an acceleration to attach the character to the candidate object.

Abstract: A method and system for adding application defined properties and application defined property sheet pages are provided. The application defined properties may be added to a list of system defined properties. Once added, the application defined properties may be displayed and edited. In addition, a user may select several objects, display the properties common to all of the objects in a list, and edit the common properties. Moreover, application defined property sheet pages may be added to a set of system defined property sheet pages. A user may then display and edit the application defined property sheet pages. Also, a user may select several objects, display the properties common to all of the objects on a per-property browsing list, and edit the common properties. In addition, a user may select several objects, display the property sheet pages common to all of the objects, and edit the properties on these property sheet pages.

Abstract: Apparatus for enabling the use of a computer mouse at a sterile surgical site comprises a pouch for the accommodation of the mouse and an inlet sleeve forming an inlet passage into the pouch. The pouch and sleeve are formed of pliable, preferably transparent sterilizable material. When the mouse has been admitted to the pouch via the passage, the sleeve may be separated from the pouch and the open mouth of the latter rolled to form a seal, thereby retaining the mouse within the pouch.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selection of a target for attachment. In one implementation, a method of selecting a target for attachment by a moving character in a video game, wherein the character has a position and a velocity, includes: selecting one of a plurality of attachable objects as a candidate object, wherein each attachable object is of an object type from among one or more object types; determining if the candidate object is available according to the current position of the character and the object type of the candidate object; and if the candidate object is available, determining a cost for the candidate object according to the position and velocity of the character and the object type of the candidate object, wherein the cost represents an acceleration to attach the character to the candidate object.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically generating object connections is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a connection can be generated between a source object and a sink object using a connection point object. A source object has connection point objects where each connection point object corresponds to a particular interface. A sink object implements one or more notification interfaces for connecting to a source object. A connection point object of a source object can connect to multiple notification interfaces, which belong to one or more sink objects. A connection point object keeps track of pointers to the notification interfaces to which it has been connected. In order to generate a connection, a sink object requests from a sauce object a connection point object corresponding to a particular interface. The source object determines whether it supports such a connection point object, and if so returns a pointer to the connection point interface of the determined connection point object.