Abstract: A hand-held surgical instrument includes a handle housing, an elongated shaft portion configured to extend distally relative to the handle housing, and a surgical end effector configured to be coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft portion. An articulation screw is operably coupled to the surgical end effector, and an articulation nut is disposed about and operably coupled to the articulation screw. The articulation screw is configured to translate in response to a rotation of the articulation nut, whereby the articulation screw articulates the surgical end effector between a parallel orientation relative to the shaft portion and a non-parallel orientation relative to the shaft portion.

Abstract: A hand-held electromechanical surgical instrument includes a handle housing, a shaft portion extending distally from the handle housing, a firing shaft configured to effect a stapling function of an end effector, and a manual lever coupled to the firing shaft for manually retracting the firing shaft and, in turn, opening the end effector.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for selective connection to a surgical device is provided. The adapter assembly includes an outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end, a housing secured to the proximal end of the outer tube, and a cable drive assembly supported by the housing. The cable drive assembly includes a worm gear drive assembly, a cable gear assembly coupled to the worm gear drive assembly, and one or more cables coupled to the cable gear assembly and axially translatable within the outer tube.

Abstract: A method of applying a linerless label to an article wherein a web of joined labels is die cut from a web of label material in which the adhesive is protected by a water-soluble coating which provides a cushion between an anvil and die cutting means. The water-soluble coating is at least partially removed by exposure to water in a press following die-cutting, in a label applicator, or in an off-line unit. The web of joined labels may be wound and unwound between each of the above options. The web of joined labels may be separated in a label applicator by breaking a weakened boundary between adjoining labels or by cutting at a boundary between the label and the adjoining label. The linerless label may contain anti-counterfeit means that may be subsequently identified overtly and/or covertly.

Abstract: Security can be provided for data stored using resources that are deployed in an environment managed by a third party. Physical and logical detection mechanisms can be used to monitor various security aspects, and the resulting security data can be used to identify potential threats to these resources. In some embodiments, suspicious activity can cause resources such as data servers to be automatically and remotely rebooted such that keys stored in volatile memory on those data servers will be lost from those servers, such that an attacker will be unable to decrypt data stored on those servers. Once a determination of safety is made, the keys can be provided to the respective data servers such that data operations can resume.

Abstract: A powered surgical tack applier is configured to deploy a surgical tack through tissue or a surgical mesh. The surgical tack applier is articulatable to facilitate placement of the surgical tack to a desired surgical location. The powered surgical tack applier includes a power module that includes a battery, a motor, and a gear box. The power module provides a high-speed/low-toque output and a low-speed/high-torque output.

Abstract: An air circulation and/or purification device for recirculating air and/or removing contaminants from the air which includes a housing having a top with an opening for air intake and a bottom, a fan contained within the housing, and a plurality of air output vents contained within multiple sides of the housing near the bottom of the housing. The bottom of the housing may include a conical shaped portion extending inward from the bottom of the housing or other structures to assist in expelling air from the housing in at least two different directions. The device may also include one or more filters designed to capture and filter out different types of contaminants.

Abstract: A traditional method for making, pasteurizing and packaging preservative-free, fresh food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, that involves a continuous process in which the temperature does not deviate more than 50° C. from the cooking step until just prior to packaging. In one embodiment, the method comprises cooking the chickpeas from 110° C. to 125° C. while under pressure, which is followed by adding raw ingredients to the cooked chickpeas at a temperature ranging from 75° C. to 85° C., which is immediately followed by a pasteurization at approximately 75° C. Only after this pasteurization step is the temperature reduced in a multi-step cooling process. The as-made, fresh and preservative-free food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, is packaged into containers by transferring the finished food product that is maintained at a temperature ranging from 5° C. to 10° C.

Abstract: A food package comprising a container having a sealed top layer and comprising a fresh, preservative-free food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, which includes no preservatives and exhibits a total yeast and mold counts of less than 10 CFU/g at 28 days after production when stored at 2° C. to 8° C. The package includes a headspace between the fresh hummus and the top sealing layer, the headspace comprising a modified atmosphere which is nitrogen rich, such as 70% N2:30% CO2.

Abstract: A traditional method for making, pasteurizing and packaging preservative-free, fresh food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus that involves a continuous process in which the temperature does not deviate more than 50° C. from the cooking step until just prior to packaging. In one embodiment, the method comprises cooking the chickpeas from 110° C. to 125° C. while under pressure within the closed vessel, which is followed by adding raw ingredients to the cooked chickpeas at a temperature ranging from 75° C. to 85° C., which is immediately followed by a pasteurization at a temperature ranging from 70° C. to 80° C., such as approximately 75° C. Only after this pasteurization step is the temperature reduced in a multi-step cooling process. A fresh, preservative-free, fresh food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus made according to the present method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible surgical stapler includes an adapter having a coupling assembly configured for securing the adapter assembly to a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the coupling assembly, a first drive assembly extending through the elongate body, and a loading unit secured to a distal portion of the elongate body. The loading unit includes a firing assembly operably connected to the first drive assembly. The firing assembly includes a cycloid gear assembly for increasing an input torque from the first drive assembly to actuate the firing assembly. The flexible surgical stapler may include an introducer assembly to facilitate introduction of a stapling portion of the surgical stapler into a body cavity of a patient.

Abstract: An encapsulated waveguide system for a near eye optical display includes a first outer layer, a second outer layer, at least one waveguide substrate comprising an input area and an output area, a first spacer and a sealing element. The at least one waveguide substrate is disposed between the first and second outer layers and spaced therefrom by the first spacer. The sealing element joins edges of the first and second outer layers so as to encapsulate the at least one waveguide substrate within a cavity formed by the first and second outer layers. The formed cavity includes a first cavity between the at least one waveguide substrate and the first outer layer and a second cavity between the at least one waveguide substrate and the second outer layer.

Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and a camera assembly. The cartridge assembly supports an array of fasteners therein. The anvil assembly is movably positioned relative to the cartridge assembly between an unclamped position and a clamped position for forming the array of fasteners. The camera assembly is coupled to the anvil assembly and positioned to collect and transmit image data of a fastened tissue site.

Abstract: A surgical device includes an adapter assembly and a tool assembly that is coupled to the adapter assembly by a pivot member to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly in relation to the adapter assembly. The adapter assembly supports a drive assembly for actuating or firing the tool assembly. The adapter assembly includes an articulation mechanism that adjusts the position of the tool assembly in relation to the drive assembly to compensate for changes in stroke length of the drive assembly that result from articulation of the tool assembly.

Abstract: A method for determining residue coverage of a field includes receiving, with a computing system, a captured image depicting an imaged portion of a field from one or more imaging devices. Furthermore, the method includes determining, with the computing system, an image gradient orientation at each of a plurality of pixels within the captured image. Additionally, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a plurality of image gradient orientation densities associated with the captured image based on the determined image gradient orientations. Moreover, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a residue coverage parameter associated with the imaged portion of the field based on the determined plurality of image gradient orientation densities.

Abstract: A method for determining residue length within a field includes receiving, with a computing system, a captured image depicting an imaged portion of the field from one or more imaging devices. Furthermore, the method includes determining, with the computing system, an image gradient orientation at each of a plurality of pixels within the captured image. Additionally, the method includes identifying, with the computing system, a residue piece present within the image portion of the field based at least in part on the determined image gradient orientations. Moreover, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a length of the identified residue piece.

Abstract: A shell assembly includes a shell housing defining a cavity, a plurality of staples, a staple cartridge supported on the shell housing, a pusher assembly positioned within the cavity of the shell housing, and a hydraulic piston configured to engage the pusher assembly to impart axial displacement to the pusher assembly and form a fluid tight seal against the shell housing. The staple cartridge defines slots that receive the plurality of staples. The pusher assembly includes a plurality of pushers arranged in an annular configuration to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge. Supply of a fluid into the cavity of the shell housing advances the hydraulic piston, which, in turn, advances the pusher assembly to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical device includes an end effector and a handle assembly operably coupled to the end effector. The end effector includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly pivotally coupled to one another. The cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge, a cartridge carrier, and a strain gauge. The cartridge carrier includes an elongated support channel configured to receive the staple cartridge, the elongated support channel defined by an inner first surface and a pair of inner second surfaces. The inner first surface includes a recess defined therein, and the strain gauge is disposed within the recess. The handle assembly includes a power-pack configured to receive sensor data from the strain gauge of the end effector and to control a function of the end effector in response to the sensor data.