Abstract: Disclosed herein are sealing devices configured for improving sealing functionality with an engaged extension member of an apparatus. More specifically, disclosed herein are trocar sealing devices configured for improving insufflation gas containment in relation to trocars (and/or other related type of devices) that are used for enabling a surgical instrument such, for example, a laparoscope, to gain access to an abdominal cavity (or other body cavity). By providing for such improved insufflation gas containment, sealing devices as disclosed herein are particularly advantageous, desirable and useful in view of long-standing reasons for limiting insufflation gas leakage and in view of newly recognized reasons stemming from outbreak of COVID-19 disease for limiting insufflation gas leakage.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing an effective and reliable approach for cleaning an exposed surface of an imaging element (e.g., a lens) of apparatuses including but not limited to medical imaging instruments such as endoscopes and laparoscopes and the like. In the case of medical imaging instruments, cleaning apparatuses configured in accordance with embodiments the present invention can be cleaned while the distal end portion of the endoscope is in vivo. Such apparatuses have a cleaning member incorporated therein (e.g., a resilient polymeric wiper, a sponge, an absorbent pad or the like) that is used for cleaning the exposed surface of the imaging element. The apparatus is preferably adapted for being mounted on imaging apparatus but can also be entirely or partially integral with one or more components of the imaging apparatus or system of which it is a component.

Abstract: Sensors capable of sensing shear and normal forces and suitable for measuring reaction forces on a body region of an individual, and systems and methods. Such a sensor includes a first plate and multiple second plates that are separated from the first plate by a dielectric material to define multiple capacitor units that are each responsive to normal and shear forces applied to the sensor. Each capacitor unit comprises an individual second plate of the second plates and a portion of the first plate that is superimposed by the individual second plate. The second plates are superimposed on the first plate so that a shear force applied to the sensor causes a first portion of at least one of the second plates to not be superimposed on the first plate while a remaining portion of the second plate remains superimposed on the first plate to define a superimposed area therebetween.

Abstract: This invention relates to a curative composition and its use in curing epoxy resins and prepregs, adhesives and moulded materials derived therefrom. The curative composition comprises a clathrate comprising a host component and a guest component, the host comprising a carboxylic acid or ester compounds as defined or phenolphthalin and the guest comprising an imidazole or imidazoline component.

Abstract: A computing device includes a hardware switch that is activated when a primary Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of a first BIOS chip of the device fails to load an Operating System (OS) image from an OS partition of a hard drive. The switch passes control to a backup BIOS that executes from a backup BIOS chip. The backup BIOS loads a recovery image from BIOS recovery partition of the hard drive, which causes a reflash application to execute from the recovery image. Reflash application obtains a recovery BIOS from the BIOS recovery partition of the hard drive, reflashes/writes the recovery BIOS onto the first BIOS chip and reboots the device. Following reboot of the device, recovery BIOS loads the OS image from the OS partition, and recovery BIOS becomes the primary BIOS on the first BIOS chip of the device.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system comprising: a surgical robot; a user interface console coupled to the surgical robot whereby a user can control motion of the surgical robot; a data logger for logging data from a surgical procedure performed by means of the robot; and a portable user terminal; the system further comprising: a display controllable by one of the data logger and the user terminal, that one of the data logger and the user terminal being configured for displaying a machine-readable code whereby the data logger or a user of the user terminal can be identified; and a camera coupled to the other of the data logger and the user terminal; the said other of the data logger and the user terminal being configured to, on receiving from the camera an image of a machine-readable code, decode that code to identify the data logger or a user of the user terminal and to cause the identified entity to be logged in association with a procedure performed by means of the robot.

Abstract: A breach detection engine detects and mitigates the effects of breaches across one or more data sources. An index is generated based on one or more data sources and the index is queried using keywords indicative of potential breaches. A database of potential breaches is populated based on the query of the index. The potential breach database is queried using keywords associated with a system identity (e.g., a third party). A likelihood of a candidate breach is identified based on a set of breach criteria weights. A network node associated with a candidate breach determined to be an actual breach is identified for isolation or for the performance of one or more additional security actions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring hemoglobin, G6PD activity, and or bilirubin activity in a sample, including measuring the absorbance of a sample, removing background interfering signals, and quantifying the relevant analyte. Systems and methods for reconstituting a reagent in a droplet actuator. Systems and methods for separating plasma from a whole blood sample on a droplet actuator, including combining a sample droplet with an agglutination reagent droplet and using a novel combination of droplet operations to split the sample into a plasma and an agglutinated red blood cell fraction.

Abstract: A device for sensing the relative rotary position of first and second parts about a rotation axis, the device comprising a follower constrained to move on a first track fast with the first part and on a second track fast with the second part, the first track being linear and the second track comprising a plurality of circular arcs and at least one transition section connecting one of the circular arcs to another, the tracks being arranged so as to convert relative rotation of the parts into linear motion of the follower, wherein the second track is generally spiral, each circular arc is of constant radius about the rotation axis and the first track is perpendicular to the rotation axis.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe for percutaneous insertion into an incision and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for imaging neural structures at a surgical site of a patient. An exemplary ultrasound probe can be a portable ultrasound probe configured to be passed percutaneously into an incision and can have an imaging region extending distally from a distal tip of the probe. In one embodiment the ultrasound probe can be a navigated portable ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe can be connected to a computing station and configured to transmit images to the computing station for processing. In another embodiment, an ultrasound probe can be part of a network of sensors, including at least one external sensor, where the network of sensors is configured to transmit images to the computing station for processing. The computing station can process and display images to visualize and/or highlight neurological structures in an imaged region.

Abstract: The host compound in a clathrate is an amino or hydroxyl containing aromatic phosphorous compound, clathrates containing a resin curative and their use in curable resin compositions to produce moulded articles particularly fibre reinforced articles.

Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.

Abstract: A vacuum holder for articles, a combination of a vacuum holder and an article, a system for holding and conveying articles, and a method for holding and conveying articles are disclosed. The vacuum holder includes a main body having a surface and an air passageway leading to the surface, and a valve joined to the main body and in fluid communication with the air passageway. The vacuum holder includes an extensible skirt gasket with an opening therein. An article can be placed adjacent to the surface of the main body, and a vacuum can be drawn through the air passageway to hold the article to the vacuum holder. The valve maintains the vacuum between the article and the vacuum holder without being connected to a vacuum source, until it is desired to release the article from the vacuum holder.

Abstract: An inflator bracket includes an elongate body having a first end and a second end. The elongate body defines an aperture proximate to the first end. A hook extends from the first end. An absorption feature has a proximal end coupled to the elongate body proximate to the aperture. The absorption feature defines a curve between the proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is spaced from the elongate body and the aperture.

Abstract: An automated computerized trading system is provided wherein a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) includes a wallet having blockchain-based, smart-contract controlled cryptoassets associated with a commodity. The DAO receives data infeed from Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) from the blockchain to obtain cryptoasset price data and from an exchange to obtain commodity price data. The DAO stores commodity price and cryptoasset price spread targets and automatically initiates trading activity based on the price spread targets. A governance smart contract automatically distributes governance cryptoassets to public wallets that have contributed the crytpoassets to the DAO wallet.

Abstract: A system and method for independently routing vehicles and delivering containers and closures to unit operation stations are disclosed. The containers and closures can, in some cases, be transported on the same vehicle. In other cases, the containers and closures can be transported on different vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds of Formula (I) and Formula (II) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, tautomers, stereoisomers, isotopically labeled derivatives, and compositions thereof. Also provided are methods and kits involving the compounds or compositions for treating or preventing proliferative diseases, e.g., cancers (e.g., breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, neuroblastoma, or colorectal cancer), benign neoplasms, angiogenesis, inflammatory diseases, fibrosis (e.g., polycystic kidney disease), autoinflammatory diseases, and autoimmune diseases in a subject.

Abstract: An apparatus for cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units includes a cryochamber having a cryo-access port. The cryochamber is electrically cooled at cryogenic temperatures. A unit holder is located inside the cryochamber and is configured to hold a plurality of container units. A user access area is provided for selectively permitting access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus. A motive grasper is provided for selectively removing the chosen container unit from the cryochamber through the cryo-access port, and selectively placing the chosen container unit into the user access area.

Abstract: A conduit body includes a sidewall defining an internal chamber and at least two ports providing access to the internal chamber, and a cover connectable to the sidewall to enclose the internal chamber. The sidewall defines a first surface section adjacent one of the at least two ports, a second surface section adjacent another of the at least two ports, and a radiused transition section connecting the first surface section and the second surface section and configured for reducing frictional drag of a cable pulled though the internal chamber. The first surface section is spaced apart from the second surface section to increase a volume of the internal chamber.