Abstract: A blood pump system includes a blood pump and a corresponding controller. The blood pump includes an impeller that is sealed within the pump housing and hydrodynamically suspended within the pump housing. The pump impeller includes magnets, and is the rotor of a brushless direct current (DC) motor that is driven by electrical signals through stator wire coils in the pump housing, which creates a rotating magnetic field. The rotating magnetic field attracts the magnetized impeller and spins it with the rotating field. The controller provides field-oriented control for the brushless DC motor in the blood pump. The field-oriented control in the controller is provided in a programmable logic device separate from a control processor so that a software or hardware failure related to the control processor does not stop the blood pump. The field-oriented control allows sensing blood flow through the pump without having sensors in the blood stream.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing jaw members each having a jaw housing supporting an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface thereon. The electrically conductive tissue engaging surfaces are disposed in opposition relative to one another. The jaw members are movable relative to one another to grasp tissue therebetween and are connect to an electrosurgical energy source. A thermal cutting element is disposed in one of the electrically conductive tissue engaging surfaces and is independently activatable relative to the electrically conductive tissue engaging surfaces. The thermal cutting element is exposed along the length of the electrically conductive tissue engaging surface and includes an exposed distal end extending through a distal end of the jaw housing. The thermal cutting element includes a scallop defined proximal to the exposed distal end thereof configured to facilitate tissue scoring upon movement and activation thereof.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing jaw members each having a jaw housing supporting an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface thereon. The tissue engaging surfaces are disposed in opposition relative to one another and one or both of the jaw members are movable relative to one another to grasp tissue therebetween. First, second and third thermal cutting elements are disposed on one or both of the tissue engaging surfaces. Each thermal cutting element is independently activatable (or activatable in pairs) relative to the tissue engaging surfaces and each thermal cutting element connects to an electrosurgical energy source. The first thermal cutting element is exposed along the length of the tissue engaging surface, the second thermal cutting element surrounds the distal tip of the jaw member and the third thermal cutting element is disposed on the back of the jaw housing.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending therefrom, an end effector assembly supported by the shaft, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a translatable drive member for actuating the end effector assembly, and a torsion spring including first and second legs. The first leg is configured to translate through the housing in response to movement of the movable handle relative to the housing. The second leg is configured to translate through the housing in cooperation with the first leg to move the drive member longitudinally when a force acting on the drive member is less than a threshold force, and to remain in fixed position, thereby tensioning the torsion spring and retaining the drive member in fixed position when the force acting on the drive member is equal to or exceeds the threshold force.

Abstract: A jaw member for an end effector assembly of a vessel sealing instrument includes a seal plate assembly having first and second seal plates joined atop one another, the second seal plate defining a channel extending from a proximal to a distal end thereof. A thermal cutter assembly includes a substrate disposed within the channel which extends from the proximal to the distal end of the second seal plate. An insulator is disposed atop the substrate and is configured to extend therealong. A resistive element is disposed atop the insulator and is configured to generate heat upon activation thereof. An encapsulant is configured to electrically insulate the resistive element and thermally conduct heat from the resistive element, such that, upon activation thereof, tissue disposed within the end effector assembly is cut along the resistive element.

Abstract: A surgical system for detecting perfusion includes at least one surgical camera and a computing device. The at least one surgical camera is configured to obtain image data of tissue at a surgical site including first image data and second image data that is temporally-spaced relative to the first image data. The computing device is configured to receive the image data from the at least one surgical camera and includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions configured to cause the computing device to detect differences between the first and second image data, determine a level of perfusion in the tissue based on the detected differences between the first and second image data, and provide an output indicative of the determined level of perfusion in the tissue.

Abstract: A hardfacing metal composition and method of restoring worn work string tubing by application of a hardfacing metal to the worn regions of the work string tubing.

Abstract: Methods of reducing adapter-dimers in a sequencing library are provided according to aspects of the present disclosure, including: hybridizing excess 3? adapters to blocker oligonucleotides forming a hybridized complex, such that the excess 3? adapters are unavailable to form adapter-dimers, the hybridized complex including: a first blocker oligonucleotide 3? terminus adjacent to an adenylated nucleotide at the 5? terminus of a first unligated 3? adapter and a second blocker oligonucleotide 3? terminus adjacent to an adenylated nucleotide at the 5? terminus of a second unligated 3? adapter, wherein the first blocker oligonucleotide has a 5? portion complementary to and hybridized to the first unligated 3? adapter, the second blocker oligonucleotide has a 5? portion complementary to and hybridized to the second unligated 3? adapter, and the first blocker oligonucleotide has a 3? portion complementary to, and hybridized to, a 3? portion of the second blocker oligonucleotide.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing jaw members each having a jaw housing supporting an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface thereon disposed in opposition relative to one another. The electrically conductive tissue engaging surfaces are adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source. A thermal cutting element is disposed the electrically conductive tissue engaging surface and is independently activatable relative to the electrically conductive tissue engaging surfaces and is adapted to connect to the electrosurgical energy source. The thermal cutting element is exposed along the length of the electrically conductive tissue engaging surface and includes an exposed distal end extending through a distal end of the jaw housing. The exposed distal end of the thermal cutting element is configured to facilitate tissue dissection upon activation thereof.

Abstract: A hardfacing metal composition and method of restoring worn work string tubing by application of a hardfacing metal to the worn regions of the work string tubing.

Abstract: Examples provide a modular tray table apparatus associated with a console of a seat unit. A tray table carrier unit is removably mounted to a portion of the console. A tray table support element is coupled to the carrier unit and a tray table. The tray table support element movably supports the tray table. A linear displacement mechanism is disposed between the tray table and the tray table support element. The tray table slides along a linear displacement path between a fully retracted configuration and at least one deployed configuration. A rotational displacement mechanism disposed between the tray table and the tray table support element. The tray table slides along a rotational displacement path defined by at least one rotational guide between a linear configuration of the tray table and a substantially perpendicular configuration of the tray table when the tray table is in a fully deployed configuration.

Abstract: A jaw member for a surgical instrument includes a jaw housing and a first electrically conductive material deposited atop the jaw housing. An electrical wire is operably associated with the jaw housing and includes an exposed, electrically conductive tip. The exposed, electrically conductive tip is disposed atop the first electrically conductive material. A second electrically conductive material is deposited atop the exposed, electrically conductive tip to secure the exposed, electrically conductive tip in electrical contact with the first electrically conductive material.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument end effector has first and second jaw members each including an electrically conductive tissue-contacting surface. The first and second jaw members are configured to grasp and electrosurgically treat tissue between the tissue-contacting surfaces. A thermal cutting element includes a body portion extending along the tissue-contacting surface of the second jaw member and a distal probe portion extending distally therefrom. The distal probe portion extends distally beyond a distal-most extent of the second jaw member, has a free end distally-spaced from this distal-most extent, and is exposed about the entire outer periphery thereof between the distal-most extent the free end. The body portion of the thermal cutting element is energizable for thermally treating tissue grasped between the tissue-contacting surfaces, while the distal probe portion of the thermal cutting element is energizable for thermally treating tissue positioned distally of the first and second jaw members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument including an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members and at least first and second thermal cutting elements. Each of the first and second jaw members includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable relative to the other from a spaced apart position to an approximated position to grasp tissue between the tissue contacting surfaces. The first and second jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of energy for electrosurgically treating tissue grasped between the tissue contacting surfaces. Each of the first and second thermal cutting elements is disposed on or within one of the first or second jaw members and adapted to connect to a source of energy for thermally treating tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating a narrative story receives data and information pertaining to a domain event. The received data and information and/or one or more derived features are then used to identify a plurality of angles for the narrative story. The plurality of angles is then filtered, for example through use of parameters that specify a focus for the narrative story, length of the narrative story, etc. Points associated with the filtered plurality of angles are then assembled and the narrative story is rendered using the filtered plurality of angles and the assembled points.

Abstract: Provided herein are nanocarriers for delivery of immunosuppressive agents. In some embodiments, provided herein are nanocarriers comprising a core comprising a poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene sulfide) copolymer and least one therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the nanocarriers may further comprise a targeting ligand displayed on a surface of the nanocarrier. The at least one therapeutic agent may be an anti-inflammatory agent. The disclosed nanocarriers may be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions for use in methods of treating an inflammatory condition or preventing transplantation rejection in a subject.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending therefrom, an end effector assembly supported by the shaft, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a translatable drive member for actuating the end effector assembly, and a torsion spring including first and second legs. The first leg is configured to translate through the housing in response to movement of the movable handle relative to the housing. The second leg is configured to translate through the housing in cooperation with the first leg to move the drive member longitudinally when a force acting on the drive member is less than a threshold force, and to remain in fixed position, thereby tensioning the torsion spring and retaining the drive member in fixed position when the force acting on the drive member is equal to or exceeds the threshold force.

Abstract: A positioning device is provided for delivering or guiding a surgical device into a lumen of a body vessel to a position adjacent target tissue. The device includes a housing, an elongate sleeve, and a source of pressurized fluid. The sleeve has a first end coupled to a delivery side of the housing, a second end positioned on a return side of the housing, and an inverted distal portion positioned between the first and second ends. One second end of the sleeve can be furled about a support member supported on the housing. A distal portion of the sleeve defines a cavity that communicates with a pressure chamber within the housing. When pressurized fluid is directed into the pressure chamber, the pressurized fluid flows into the cavity of the distal portion of the sleeve to advance the sleeve away from the housing.

Abstract: A thermal element configured for thermally treating tissue includes a substrate, an insulating layer disposed on the substrate, and a resistive trace circuit disposed on the insulating layer and including first and second ends adapted to connect to a source of energy for energizing the resistive trace circuit, thereby heating the thermal element. The resistive trace circuit: includes at least first and second sections defining different configurations and disposed between the first and second ends; is configured to maintain a temperature variation of no greater than about 25° C. along at least a majority of a length of the thermal element; and/or is configured to define a temperature gradient profile that varies at least about 50° C. along a length of the thermal element at a target operating temperature thereof.

Abstract: A colpotomy system includes an energy source and a uterine manipulator that is electrically coupled to the energy source. The uterine manipulator supports a colpotomy cup and extends to a conductive distal tip portion. The colpotomy cup includes a conductive surface. One or both of the conductive distal tip portion and the conductive surface of the colpotomy cup are configured to return monopolar energy to the energy source.