Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed herein. The surgical instrument can include an end effector that includes jaws configured to transition between an opened condition and a closed condition, a plurality of electrodes positioned within the jaws of the end effector, a control circuit, and a memory configured to store an algorithm configured to cause the control circuit to determine an impedance signal based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes, detect a media positioned between the jaws of the end effector based on the determined impedance signal, determine a position of the detected media based on the received signals, and generate an alert associated with the detected media and the determined position.

Abstract: A DC power plant generating DC power from a variety of engines including a Stirling cycle engine. The DC power plant includes a relatively small start-up power source that is discontinued after the engine is running. A method for producing DC power for a load including starting up an engine using power supplied by a relatively small power supply supplemented by a capacitor bank, providing output from the engine to a generator, producing alternating current (AC) power by the generator, converting the AC power to direct current (DC) power, disabling output of the DC power during a first set of pre-selected conditions, limiting a rate of change of current of the DC power during a second set of pre-selected conditions, reducing conducted and radiated emissions of the DC power, disconnecting the DC power from the load under a third set of pre-selected conditions, and providing the DC power to the load.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing the rate of exhaust heat loss. The method comprises the steps of determining whether an engine is motoring and determining whether a diesel particulate filter needs to be regenerated. Further, the method comprises the step of closing an air throttle to a substantially closed position for reducing the flow of intake gas into the engine if the diesel particulate filter needs to be regenerated and if the engine is motoring. Further yet, the method comprises the step of opening the EGR valve to an at least partially open position for allowing the exhaust gas to recirculate through the engine if the diesel particulate filter needs to be regenerated and if the engine is motoring.