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 tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return tissue guard configured to connect to the return electrode port. Another tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return specimen bag configured to connect to the return electrode port.

Abstract: A method for controlling a passenger restraint system aboard a motor vehicle includes receiving, via a controller, biometric vulnerability classifier signal(s) indicative of vulnerability characteristics of a passenger seated in an interior of the motor vehicle. In response to the biometric vulnerability classifier signal(s) and a detected vehicle event requiring an actuation of the passenger restraint system, the method includes automatically adjusting an actual capacity setting of the passenger restraint system via the controller. A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior, a passenger restraint system positioned in the vehicle interior; and a controller operable for controlling the actual capacity setting of the passenger restraint system in accordance with the method. The passenger restraint system may include a seatbelt, a seat, and one or more airbag systems.

Abstract: A device for endometrial ablation includes a selectively expandable bladder configured for insertion through a cervical canal of a patient and into a patient's cervix. The selectively expandable bladder defines an interior volume for receiving a thermally conductive medium which, when introduced into the interior volume, expands the selectively expandable bladder against the uterine tissue of the cervix. One or more insulative substrates is operably disposed within the interior volume and supports a thermal assembly on the one or more insulative substrates. The thermal assembly couples to an energy source and is configured to conduct thermal energy to a thermally conductive substrate upon activation of the thermal assembly, which, in turn, heats the thermally conductive medium in contact with the thermally conductive substrate to treat the uterine tissue of a patient.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, an actuator operably coupled to the housing, an actuation assembly, and a sensor module. The actuation assembly extends through the housing and the shaft and includes a distal end operably coupled to the end effector or a component associated therewith, a proximal end operably coupled to the actuator, and a spring. Actuation of the actuator manipulates the end effector or deploys the component relative thereto. The sensor module is disposed within the housing and configured to sense a property of the spring indicative of an amount the spring has been compressed. The sensor module is further configured, based upon the sensed property, to determine a condition of the end effector or the relative position of the component.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing jaw members each including a jaw housing supporting an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface thereon. The jaw members are movable relative to one another to grasp tissue therebetween. A thermal cutting element is operatively associated with the electrically conductive tissue engaging surface of one jaw member and is independently activatable relative to the electrically conductive tissue engaging surfaces. The thermal cutting element is selectively moveable in a first direction relative to the electrically conductive tissue engaging surface along a transverse axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined through the jaw member and is selectively moveable in a second direction along the longitudinal axis to extend relative to a distal end of the jaw member.

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 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: 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: 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: 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 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.