Abstract: Provided herein is a surgical instrument comprising a cap having a first and second aperture extending therethrough, a first extendable and retractable member having a distal end coupled to a first coupling, a first arm extending from the first coupling and pivotable with respect to the distal end of the first member, and a second arm connected to the first arm through a second coupling and pivotable, with respect to the first arm, a second extendable and retractable member having a distal end coupled to a third coupling, a third arm extending from the second coupling, the third arm pivotable, with respect to the distal end of the second member, and a fourth arm connected to the third arm through a fourth coupling and pivotable, with respect to the third arm, a first end effector connected to the second arm and a second end effector connected to the fourth arm.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an optical device is provided. The optical device includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer on the substrate, the semiconductor layer having a beam structure that is subjected to a tensile strain, wherein the beam structure includes a plurality of nanostructures, and wherein, for each nanostructure of the plurality of nanostructures, the nanostructure is configured to locally amplify the tensile strain at the nanostructure to define a strain-induced artificial quantum heterostructure for quantum confinement. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming an optical device is also provided.

Abstract: The present application provides a footwear for postoperative protection and rehabilitation. The protective footwear specifically structurally includes: a footwear body; an air bag system, provided at a position of the footwear body corresponding to a human metatarsal region; and a fixing frame, provided at the position of the footwear body corresponding to the human metatarsal region, wrapping a compressed air bag, and comprising a flat plate and two arc-shaped plates extending upward and inward from two sides of the flat plate; where, when a human foot is squeezed by gravity, air in a bottom air reservoir is squeezed into side-flap air reservoirs, such that the side-flap air reservoirs are inflated; and restricted by the fixing frame, the side-flap air reservoirs generate an inward pressure to the metatarsal region to reduce a tensile stress generated between metatarsals when the human foot moves.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an optical device is provided. The optical device includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer on the substrate, the semiconductor layer having a beam structure that is subjected to a tensile strain, wherein the beam structure includes a plurality of nanostructures, and wherein, for each nanostructure of the plurality of nanostructures, the nanostructure is configured to locally amplify the tensile strain at the nanostructure to define a strain-induced artificial quantum heterostructure for quantum confinement. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming an optical device is also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein is a mechanism to controllably move a wire within a flexible tubular member, the wire including opposed wire ends extending outwardly of a proximal end of the flexible tubular member, comprising a drive mechanism and a coupling located between the drive mechanism and the wire end, wherein movement of the coupling in the direction of the wire end results in opposed motion of the wire end.