Abstract: A system controls a brightness of an augmented reality (AR) eye-mounted device. The system includes an eye-mounted display, a photodetector system, and a controller. The eye-mounted display includes a contact lens and a femtoprojector. The femtoprojector is contained in the contact lens and is configured to project an AR image to a user's retina. The AR image is overlaid on an external scene viewed by the user through the contact lens. The photodetector system detects a brightness level of the external scene. Based on the brightness level of the external scene, the controller adjusts a brightness level of the AR image projected to the user's retina. In some embodiments, the eye-mounted display receives image data defining the AR image and the controller adjusts a bit depth of the image data based on the brightness level of the AR image.

Abstract: An implant manipulator may have a distal end that retains an implant, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion between the ends. The implant manipulator may be a needle for a suture passer, with a suture capture feature at the distal end. The suture capture feature may have first and second members that flex apart to permit entry of the suture into a suture capture hole wherein the suture is retained until released. A suture passer may include one or more needles. The suture passer may also include a pusher; a distal end with a sharp, blade-like extension; or a side-loading distal end.

Abstract: A system controls a brightness of an augmented reality (AR) eye-mounted device. The system includes an eye-mounted display, a photodetector system, and a controller. The eye-mounted display includes a contact lens and a femtoprojector. The femtoprojector is contained in the contact lens and is configured to project an AR image to a user's retina. The AR image is overlaid on an external scene viewed by the user through the contact lens. The photodetector system detects a brightness level of the external scene. Based on the brightness level of the external scene, the controller adjusts a brightness level of the AR image projected to the user's retina. In some embodiments, the eye-mounted display receives image data defining the AR image and the controller adjusts a bit depth of the image data based on the brightness level of the AR image.

Abstract: An unobtrusive augmented reality (AR) system can be used to assist the wearer in every day interactions by projecting information from the contact lens display onto the retina of the wearer's eye. The unobtrusive augmented reality system includes a necklace and a contact lens display that are unobtrusive to the wearer and the wearer's surrounding environment. The necklace of the unobtrusive augmented reality system generates power and data for the contact lens displays. The necklace and contact lens display include conductive coils inductively coupled by a magnetic field. The inductive coupling allows data and power generated by the necklace to be transferred to the contact lens display. A projector in the contact lens display projects images generated from the data onto the retina of the wearers eye.

Abstract: An implant manipulator may have a distal end that retains an implant, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion between the ends. The intermediate portion may have a cross-sectional shape that extends along a nonlinear pathway. The intermediate portion may have a selectively bendable portion in which the cross-sectional shape varies to facilitate bending when desired. The implant manipulator may be a needle for a suture passer, with a suture capture feature at the distal end. The suture capture feature may have first and second members that flex apart to permit entry of the suture into a suture capture hole wherein the suture is retained until released. A suture passer may receive the needle in a bore shaped to change the cross-sectional shape to facilitate or restrict bending of the needle, as needed.

Abstract: An implant manipulator may have a distal end that retains an implant, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion between the ends. The implant manipulator may be a needle for a suture passer, with a suture capture feature at the distal end. The suture capture feature may have first and second members that flex apart to permit entry of the suture into a suture capture hole wherein the suture is retained until released. A suture passer may include one or more needles. The suture passer may also include a pusher; a distal end with a sharp, blade-like extension; or a side-loading distal end.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of increasing the environmental stress tolerance of a plant, to methods of improving the quality and/or yield of a plant crop, to methods of application of agrochemicals having a physiological effect on a plant in the plant irrigation water, and to crops produced using said methods.

Abstract: An implant manipulator may have a distal end that retains an implant, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion between the ends. The intermediate portion may have a cross-sectional shape that extends along a nonlinear pathway. The intermediate portion may have a selectively bendable portion in which the cross-sectional shape varies to facilitate bending when desired. The implant manipulator may be a needle for a suture passer, with a suture capture feature at the distal end. The suture capture feature may have first and second members that flex apart to permit entry of the suture into a suture capture hole wherein the suture is retained until released. A suture passer may receive the needle in a bore shaped to change the cross-sectional shape to facilitate or restrict bending of the needle, as needed.

Abstract: Architecture generates low resolution placeholder content that preserves the usefulness of application responsiveness by preserving and displaying the structure of the content. This facilitates decreased memory requirements associated with pre-rendering structurally-intact content. The architecture enables the storing of pre-rendered content at a lower zoom level than is intended for actual display to require fewer resources, pre-rendering content at a lower zoom level to allow the application to adjust for the lower zoom level to provide more structural integrity than would be achieved rendering at full display zoom level and compressing the resulting data, stretching the pre-rendered content to the zoom level that is intended for display in order to achieve a low resolution appearance that merges directly with the full resolution content, and transitioning between low resolution content and full resolution content when the full resolution content becomes available.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of improving the yield or water use efficiency in crops of useful plants cultivated under deficit irrigation which comprises the application of an agrochemical compound to the plant, parts of such plant, plant propagation material, or at its locus of growth, wherein the agrochemical compound is selected from the strobilurins, the neonicotinoids, the azoles, the SAR-inducing compounds, certain plant growth regulators (PGRs) and mixtures of such compounds.

Abstract: An implant manipulator may have a distal end that retains an implant, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion between the ends. The intermediate portion may have a cross-sectional shape that extends along a nonlinear pathway. The intermediate portion may have a selectively bendable portion in which the cross-sectional shape varies to facilitate bending when desired. The implant manipulator may be a needle for a suture passer, with a suture capture feature at the distal end. The suture capture feature may have first and second members that flex apart to permit entry of the suture into a suture capture hole wherein the suture is retained until released. A suture passer may receive the needle in a bore shaped to change the cross-sectional shape to facilitate or restrict bending of the needle, as needed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of increasing the environmental stress tolerance of a plant, to methods of improving the quality and/or yield of a plant crop, to methods of application of agrochemicals having a physiological effect on a plant in the plant irrigation water, and to crops produced using said methods.

Abstract: Architecture generates low resolution placeholder content that preserves the usefulness of application responsiveness by preserving and displaying the structure of the content. This facilitates decreased memory requirements associated with pre-rendering structurally-intact content. The architecture enables the storing of pre-rendered content at a lower zoom level than is intended for actual display to require fewer resources, pre-rendering content at a lower zoom level to allow the application to adjust for the lower zoom level to provide more structural integrity than would be achieved rendering at full display zoom level and compressing the resulting data, stretching the pre-rendered content to the zoom level that is intended for display in order to achieve a low resolution appearance that merges directly with the full resolution content, and transitioning between low resolution content and full resolution content when the full resolution content becomes available.

Abstract: A method to preserve a logical communication path in a data processing system, that includes a host computer, a storage controller that comprises a first logical control unit (“LCU”), and a logical communication path that is in communication with the host computer and the first LCU, comprising deleting the first LCU and setting a first status for same. The method then configures a second LCU, and establishes a second status for same, wherein the second LCU includes all or a portion of the first LCU, but is not the same as the first LCU. The deleting, setting, configuring, and establishing are performed while maintaining the logical communication path, which is in communication with the second LCU.

Abstract: A method to preserve a logical communication path in a data processing system, that includes a host computer, a storage controller that comprises a first logical control unit (“LCU”), and a logical communication path that is in communication with the host computer and the first LCU, comprising deleting the first LCU and setting a first status for same. The method then configures a second LCU, and establishes a second status for same, wherein the second LCU includes all or a portion of the first LCU, but is not the same as the first LCU. The deleting, setting, configuring, and establishing are performed while maintaining the logical communication path, which is in communication with the second LCU.

Abstract: A needle passer instrument for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures, including arthroscopy. The instrument has upper and lower jaws for engaging tissue and a handle. A removable needle engaging cartridge is mounted to the upper jaw. A surgical needle with attached suture is mounted in a needle passage in the lower jaw. A needle actuation rod engages the surgical needle and pushes the needle through tissue contained between the jaws. The needle is engaged by the cartridge, and the needle may be cut away from the suture.

Abstract: A needle passer instrument for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures, including arthroscopy. The instrument has upper and lower jaws for engaging tissue and a handle. A removable needle engaging cartridge is mounted to the upper jaw. A surgical needle with attached suture is mounted in a needle passage in the lower jaw. A needle actuation rod engages the surgical needle and pushes the needle through tissue contained between the jaws. The needle is engaged by the cartridge, and the needle may be cut away from the suture.

Abstract: A suture anchor for affixing soft tissue to bone. The anchor has a hollow outer member, and an actuation member slidably mounted within the outer member. The actuation member has at least two engagement members that are pivotally mounted to the actuation member. Proximal movement of the actuation member with respect to the outer member causes the engagement members to move outward to a deployed position, wherein the engagement members are deployed in bone. A surgical suture is mounted to the anchor.

Abstract: A needle passer instrument for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures, including arthroscopy. The instrument has upper and lower jaws for engaging tissue and a handle. A removable needle engaging cartridge is mounted to the upper jaw. A surgical needle with attached suture is mounted in a needle passage in the lower jaw. A needle actuation rod engages the surgical needle and pushes the needle through tissue contained between the jaws. The needle is engaged by the cartridge, and the needle may be cut away from the suture.

Abstract: A suture anchor for affixing soft tissue to bone. The anchor has a hollow outer member, and an actuation member slidably mounted within the outer member. The actuation member has at least two engagement members that are pivotally mounted to the actuation member. Proximal movement of the actuation member with respect to the outer member causes the engagement members to move outward to a deployed position, wherein the engagement members are deployed in bone. A surgical suture is mounted to the anchor.