Abstract: A surgery visualization system is described herein. The surgery visualization system includes a display monitor positioned in view of a surgeon and a support arm system including a first support arm and a second support arm. The first and second support arms are orientated such that the display monitor is visible to the surgeon between the first and second support arms. A 3D digital viewport coupled to the first support arm. A 3D digital microscope coupled to the second support arm. A computer system including a processor programmed to receive and process images from the 3D digital microscope and display the processed images on the 3D digital viewport and the display monitor.

Abstract: A sanitary product disposal container includes a container housing having a movable housing top cover. A cover hinge assembly allows the top cover to pivot between open and closed positions. Accordingly, a used feminine hygiene product may be placed in the interior space of the container housing in the open position of the housing top cover while minimizing touching the container housing to open the housing top cover. The housing may be selectively opened to facilitate removal of the used feminine hygiene products from the interior space all without exposure to the used products or the escape of unpleasant odors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for beamforming audio signals received from a microphone array. One method includes receiving, with an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the microphone array, a plurality of audio signals from the microphone array. The method includes generating a plurality of beams based on the plurality of audio signals. The method includes detecting that an electronic device is in a body-worn position. The method includes, in response to the device being in the body-worn position, determining at least one restricted direction based on the body-worn position. The method includes generating, for each of the plurality of beams, a likelihood statistic. The method includes, for each of the beams, assigning a weight to the likelihood statistic based on the at least one restricted direction to generate a weighted likelihood statistic. The method includes generating an output audio stream from the plurality of beams based on the weighted likelihood statistic.

Abstract: Systems and methods for beamforming audio signals received from a microphone array. One method includes receiving, with an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the microphone array, a plurality of audio signals from the microphone array. The method includes generating a plurality of beams based on the plurality of audio signals. The method includes detecting that an electronic device is in a body-worn position. The method includes, in response to the device being in the body-worn position, determining at least one restricted direction based on the body-worn position. The method includes generating, for each of the plurality of beams, a likelihood statistic. The method includes, for each of the beams, assigning a weight to the likelihood statistic based on the at least one restricted direction to generate a weighted likelihood statistic. The method includes generating an output audio stream from the plurality of beams based on the weighted likelihood statistic.

Abstract: A healthcare facility server identifies an anonymous identifier (ID) associated with a patient at a healthcare facility. The healthcare facility server identifies data indicating that the healthcare facility server has received a medical status update for the patient. In response to identifying that the data indicating the medical status update for the patient has been received, the healthcare facility server sends a request to a server to send a medical status notification about the patient to a computing device that is registered to receive notifications associated with the anonymous ID. The request includes the patient's anonymous ID and the medical status update for the patient. The medical status notification is based on the medical status update and includes only non-patient identifiable information.

Abstract: A server receives data for obtaining an anonymous ID associated with a resident of an assisted living facility from a first computing device. The server obtains the anonymous identifier (ID) associated with the resident of the assisted living facility. The server provides a list of selectable status updates for display on the first computing device. The server receives data indicating selection of a status update from the list of selectable status updates from the first computing device. And the server sends a status notification about the resident to a second computing device that is registered to receive notifications associated with the anonymous ID, where the status notification is based on the selected status update.

Abstract: A method of preparing a patient's one leg, that is in need of treatment, for ambulation. The method includes the steps of: applying an external fixation assembly, having at least one external frame component, by pinning the at least one external frame component to at least one of the patient's bones in the patient's one leg so as to prepare the patient's one leg for healing; providing a foot assembly with a sole assembly defining a bearing surface and a connecting assembly; and operatively joining the foot assembly to the patient's one leg, whereby the patient can walk in a manner whereupon weight of the patient's body is applied by a patient's one foot, that is part of the user's one leg, to the sole assembly and therethrough to and against an underlying surface during ambulation.

Abstract: A method of preparing a patient's one leg, that is in need of treatment, for ambulation. The method includes the steps of: applying an external fixation assembly, having at least one external frame component, by pinning the at least one external frame component to at least one of the patient's bones in the patient's one leg so as to prepare the patient's one leg for healing; providing a foot assembly with a sole assembly defining a bearing surface and a connecting assembly; and operatively joining the foot assembly to the patient's one leg, whereby the patient can walk in a manner whereupon weight of the patient's body is applied by a patient's one foot, that is part of the user's one leg, to the sole assembly and therethrough to and against an underlying surface during ambulation.

Abstract: A microphone system (100) includes a MEMS microphone (102) and at least one audio port (110) accessing the rear volume portion (106) of the MEMS microphone providing directional functionality, preferably through a MEMS switch (112).

Abstract: A user interface for a communication device includes a light emitting diode (LED) (200) providing both a transmit-carrier indicator and transmit-audio feedback to the user. By varying the intensity (202, 204, 206) and/or color spectrum (302, 304, 306) of the LED (200). relative to changes in transmitted audio, the user is provided with transmit-audio feedback. If LED (200) is a bi-color LED, then receive-audio feedback can also be indicated to the user by varying the second color's intensity and/or spectrum.

Abstract: A speaker (100) having a diagnostic capability, as well as a circuit (101) and related methods (500) for performing speaker diagnostics based upon a driving-point impedance are provided. The speaker includes a flexible cone (104) and a voice coil (106) connected to the flexible cone for driving the flexible cone so as to convert electrical signals into sound. The speaker also includes a signal source (110) connected to the voice coil for supplying a test signal to the voice coil. The speaker further includes a signal sensor (112) electrically connected to the voice coil for sensing a response signal occurring in response to the test signal. Additionally, the speaker includes a condition determining module (114) for determining a driving-point impedance based upon the response signal and for comparing the driving-point impedance to a predetermined impedance to thereby determine a condition of the speaker.

Abstract: A communication device (100) is provided with a technique (400) for self-diagnosing an air leak. The leak is determined without having to open the communication device by applying a temporary excitation signal to the speaker terminals (402) to produce a damped response (404) and then monitoring the damped response (406) of the speaker.

Abstract: A microphone system (100) includes a MEMS microphone (102) and at least one audio port (110) accessing the rear volume portion (106) of the MEMS microphone providing directional functionality, preferably through a MEMS switch (112).

Abstract: A collection of agglomerated anti-friction grains for plasma deposition, the grains each consisting essentially of (a) H.sub.2 O atomized stainless steel particles, (b) solid lubricant particles consisting of at least one of boron nitride or a eutectic of calcium fluoride and lithium fluoride, and (c) a binder holding said steel and solid lubricant particles together for plasma spraying, said binder being present in an amount of 0.5-4.0% by weight and is vaporizable at the temperature of plasma spraying and does not interfere with the deposited process.

Abstract: A piston and ring assembly operative within a cylindrical bore wall to retain fluid to one side. The piston has a side wall for movement along the cylindrical wall and has one or more spaced grooves in the side wall, each groove defining a pair of interior groove surfaces spaced apart a uniform distance; at least one sealing element presenting a pair of opposed surfaces operating between and along the pair of groove surfaces, the sealing element being capable of engaging the cylindrical wall, the spacing between the opposed surfaces of the sealing element and the pair of interior surfaces of the groove being no greater than ten microns; and a solid film lubricant mixture coating the groove surfaces and the opposed surfaces of the sealing element, whereby surface adhesion of the fluid, present in the spacing, inhibiting migration of such fluid through the spacing and flutter of the sealing element, in said spacing, being essentially eliminated.

Abstract: Apparatus for fracturing a powder metal bearing support having stress risers to initiate cracking along a cracking plane. The apparatus has (a) a fixture assembly for holding one internal side of the bearing stationary, and (b) structure for fracturingly pulling a second internal side of the bearing away from the one internal side along a track in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cracking plane.

Abstract: A method of flexibly manufacturing engine blocks by first bonding an extruded tube liner insert, of a given thickness (1-15 mm), to a fixed configuration block, the liner insert having been coated with an anti-friction wear-resistant coating having a controlled standard thickness, and secondly bonding an extruded tube liner insert of a different thickness (again selected from 1-15 mm) to another of the fixed configuration blocks, the second liner insert having been coated with the same type of anti-friction wear-resistant coating in essentially the same controlled standard thickness. The common sized engine block can have (i) identically shaped circular cylindrical bore walls or (ii) ovoid cylindrical bore walls with the liner insert having an interior surface shape selection varying between circular to ovoid. The block and liner insert may be both made of aluminum.

Abstract: A piston and ring assembly operative within a cylindrical bore wall to retain pressurized fluid to one side of the assembly, the piston having a crown and an annular side wall for movement along the bore wall.

Abstract: A method of making a connecting rod for attachment to a bearing journal by separation of parts of the connecting rod, including: (a) forging a powder metal sintered preform to provide a one-piece connecting rod having an annular wall defining a crank opening with a center axis and with stress risers for establishing a cracking plane that extends across said crank opening; (b) providing access for a compression coupling across the cracking plane; (c) while at ambient conditions, applying tension substantially uniformly across the cracking plane to propogate fracture from the stress risers along said cracking plane and thereby separate the connecting rod into a cap and body with cracked surfaces; and (d) remating the cap and body by applying a compression coupling through the access to draw said cap and body together under guidance and with metal yielding pressure to effect substantially an exact rematch of said cracked surfaces.

Abstract: A low-friction piston construction for use in an oil-fed cylinder bore with the piston skirt relieved to define lands that are coated with SFL (graphite, MoS.sub.2, BN, and a special expoxy resin). A method of making such piston construction including provision of asperities on the skirt wall onto which the SFL coating is thermally sprayed and formation of small pockets at the mouth of the asperities to additionally act as oil replenishing reservoirs. A method of using such piston construction in an engine which comprises provisions of a slightly increased gap between the piston and cylinder wall and formation of a transferred SFL coating from the piston to the cylinder wall resulting in two polished microsmooth mating coatings, each attractive to oil films.