Abstract: A prosthetic arm apparatus including a plurality of segments that provide a user of the prosthetic arm apparatus with substantially the same movement capability and function as a human arm. The segments are connectable to one another and connectable to a prosthetic support apparatus that may be adorned by the user. Some segments may provide movement about more than one axis using a single actuator. The prosthetic arm apparatus may include a user interface incorporated therein and may include one or more communication systems for communicating with external devices.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for a prosthetic heart valve includes a shaft, an inner balloon, and an outer balloon. The shaft has a lumen extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and a plurality of openings formed in the distal end portion. The shaft is configured such that a fluid can flow through the lumen and the openings. The inner balloon has end portions and a center portion disposed between the end portions. The inner balloon is mounted on the distal end portion of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the openings of the shaft. When the inner balloon is inflated with the fluid, the end portions expand farther radially outwardly than the center portion. The outer balloon is mounted to the shaft and disposed over the inner balloon. The outer balloon is configured to fully expand after the inner balloon at least partially expands.

Abstract: A method for self-calibrating a sound pickup process that uses a microphone array in a wearable device that also includes a loudspeaker, where the microphone array being in a physical arrangement with respect to the loudspeaker. The method obtains, for each of several microphones of the microphone array, one or more transfer functions that each represent a response of the microphone to sound from a position in an acoustic space. The method determines whether a physical arrangement of the microphone array with respect to the loudspeaker has changed and adjusts the transfer function, for at least one of the microphones of the several microphones, in response to determining that the current physical arrangement of the microphone array with respect to the loudspeaker has changed.

Abstract: A method is provided for authorizing a financial transaction between a consumer and a merchant. The method includes receiving, at a processor of a computer system, a request for authorization for the financial transaction from a credit clearing system; accessing, by the processor, an open to buy file to determine if adequate resources exist to complete the financial transaction, wherein the open to buy file corresponds to both a credit account and a deposit account that are associated with the consumer; when it is determined that the adequate resources exist, then: transferring funds, using the processor, from the deposit account to a remittance account associated with the consumer and the credit account, thereby building an outstanding balance on the credit account; and authorizing, using the processor, the financial transaction with the credit clearing system based on the transfer of funds from the deposit account to the remittance account.