Abstract: The present disclosure concerns systems and methods related to an adjustable surgical dilation device for the mechanical dilation of an anatomical opening, including, but not limited to, an endoscopic or robotic port. In specific embodiments, this device may create and expand an anatomical opening with a novel petal-like mechanism. In specific embodiments, this device may be utilized in laparoscopic procedures including, but not limited to, thyroid or parathyroid removal.

Abstract: Various embodiments of operating systems and rail assemblies configured for use with coverings for architectural structures are described herein. Additionally, the present subject matter is also directed to coverings that incorporate one or more embodiments of the operating systems and/or rail assemblies described herein.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling pressure in a foreline of a processing system are disclosed herein that reduce variation in foreline pressure. In one example, a processing system is provided that includes a first process chamber, a first pump, a foreline, and a first foreline pressure control system. The first pump has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the first pump coupled to an exhaust port of the first process chamber. The foreline is coupled to the outlet of the first pump. The first foreline pressure control system is fluidly coupled to the foreline downstream of the first pump. The first foreline pressure control system is operable to control a pressure in the foreline independent from operation of the first pump.

Abstract: Ink-based digital printing systems useful for ink printing include a rotatable charge-retentive reimageable surface layer configured to receive a layer of fountain solution. The fountain solution is carried to the charge retentive surface by a fog or mist including fountain solution aerosol particles, dispersed gas particles, and charge directors that impart charge to the fountain solution aerosol particles. The charge-retentive reimageable surface may be charged to a uniform potential, and selectively discharged using an ROS according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The charged fountain solution adheres to portions of the charge-retentive reimageable surface according to the electrostatic latent image to form a fountain solution image thereon. The fountain solution image can be partially transferred to an imaging blanket, where the fountain solution image is inked. The resulting ink image may be transferred to a print substrate.

Abstract: A method of producing functionalized graphene oxide includes mixing graphene oxide with a reactive monomer containing at least one epoxy functional group and a secondary functional group that is selected from vinyl, acrylate, methacrylate, and epoxy to form a mixture, adding an activation agent, heating and stirring the mixture, cooling the mixture, separating the particles from the mixture, and drying the particles to produce functionalized graphene oxide.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a graded material includes generating droplets of a first working material, the droplets having a size in the range of 10 nanometers to 10 micrometers, adding the droplets of the first working material into a carrier fluid to create a first emulsion, wherein addition of the droplets of the first working material is controlled to create gradient in the emulsion, mixing the first emulsion to create a homogenous, graded mixture, and dispensing the homogenous, graded mixture onto a surface.

Abstract: Mass vaccination of one or more animals may be performed topically using viscosified fluids and a spray delivery device. When applied to one or more animals, the viscosified fluids may adhere a medicament upon a topical surface of the one or more animals. The spray delivery device may comprise at least a spray component, a fluid reservoir component, a plunger, an electronics component, and a battery.

Abstract: A deposition system has a multi-material print head, a first reservoir of a first compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a first substrate, a second reservoir of a second compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a second substrate, a third reservoir of an polymer precursor material, and at least one mixer. A method of bonding a joint between dissimilar substrate materials includes functionalizing a first compatible material having chemical elements similar to a first substrate, mixing the first compatible material with a polymer precursor material, functionalizing a second compatible material having chemical elements similar to a second substrate, mixing the second compatible material with a polymer precursor material, and using the deposition system to deposit the first and second compatible materials and a polymer precursor material on the joint between the first and second substrate materials.

Abstract: A gas separation system has system input inlet configured to receive a stream mixture including a target gas, one or more spray generators positioned to spray a non-sprayable liquid to change a concentration of the target gas in the non-sprayable liquid, one or more system outlets positioned to outlet an output material, wherein at least one of the system outlets outputs a material having a lower amount of the target gas than the input stream mixture, and a recirculating path connected to the one or more outputs and the input inlet to allow recirculation of the non-sprayable liquid. A method of performing gas separation includes absorbing a target gas from an input stream in a non-sprayable capture liquid, and releasing the target gas in an output gas stream by spraying the non-sprayable capture liquid into a heated volume using a spray generator.

Abstract: A pair of bonded substrates having a first substrate of a first material, a second substrate of the first material, and an adhesive bonding the first substrate to the second substrate, wherein the adhesive has chemically linked compatibilizing particles compatible with the first and second substrates. A composition of matter has an adhesive having a chemically linked particle network forming a bond between a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein compatibilizing particles in the particle network are compatible with the first and second substrates. A method of joining two structures of identical materials includes preparing first and second structures to expose bare material, applying an adhesive to the bare material on the first and second structures, the adhesive containing compatibilizing particles compatible with the material and the preparing allows interaction between the material and the compatibilizing particles, and curing the adhesive.

Abstract: A build plate for an additive manufacturing device and methods for the same are provided. The build plate may include a base and a sacrificial plate coupled with the base. The etch rate of the sacrificial plate in an etchant may be greater than an etch rate of the base in the etchant. A method for separating a 3D printed article supported on the build plate may include contacting the sacrificial plate with the etchant.

Abstract: A system to electrohydrodynamically pattern a material includes a first electrode having a first voltage, a second electrode having a second voltage that is different from the first voltage, one or more materials to be patterned residing between the first electrode and the second electrode, a gap between at least one surface of at least one of the materials to be patterned and one of the first or second electrodes, at least one patterning material in the gap, wherein the patterning material is a material other than air, and at least one filling material filling any remainder of the gap.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for extracting a build part from an additive manufacturing machine. Upon completion of the build part by the additive manufacturing machine, a pin array is placed above the build part, the pin array including a plurality of pins slidably supported by a support plate for vertical movement relative to the support plate. The pin array is moved toward the build part so that the plurality of pins contact the build part and conform to the contour of the build part. The pins of the pin array are locked with the pins in contact with and conforming to the build part. The pin array and build part are inverted so that the build part is supported by the locked pins of the pin array. All of the pins of the array are locked simultaneously by a common locking component. The build plate can be formed on a sacrificial interposer plate that is removed by an etchant bath supported on the pin array when the build part is inverted.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first belt having an external surface, a second belt having an external surface positioned with the external surface opposite to the external surface of the first belt, with a region in which the first belt and the second belt come in contact, a first set of guide devices arranged inside the first belt, a second set of guide devices inside the second belt, a first material dispenser positioned to allow a first material to be dispensed on the external surface at least one of the first and second belts, a second material dispenser positioned to allow a second material to be dispensed on the external surface at least one of the first and second belts, and a power source to cause at least one of the guide devices in at least one of the first set and the second set of guide devices to cause at least one of the first and second belts to move to cause the external surfaces of the first and second belts contact and then diverge away from each other so that at least one of the first material an

Abstract: A gas separation system has system input inlet configured to receive a stream mixture including a target gas, one or more spray generators positioned to spray a non-sprayable liquid to change a concentration of the target gas in the non-sprayable liquid, one or more system outlets positioned to outlet an output material, wherein at least one of the system outlets outputs a material having a lower amount of the target gas than the input stream mixture, and a recirculating path connected to the one or more outputs and the input inlet to allow recirculation of the non-sprayable liquid. A method of performing gas separation includes absorbing a target gas from an input stream in a non-sprayable capture liquid, and releasing the target gas in an output gas stream by spraying the non-sprayable capture liquid into a heated volume using a spray generator.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for delivering fluid are provided. Devices include a housing configured for intravaginal deployment and retention, at least one reservoir configured to contain a fluid, and a fluid dispensing mechanism configured to dispense the fluid past the cervix and to the uterus of the subject. Methods include intravaginally deploying and retaining a device in the subject, and dispensing the fluid from the device such that the fluid is driven past the cervix to the uterus of the subject.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a stressed glass member and an actuator mounted on the stressed glass member. A power source is coupled to the actuator. An abrasion structure is disposed between the actuator and the stressed glass member. The abrasion structure comprises abrading features in contact with the stressed glass member. The abrading features have a hardness higher than a hardness of the stressed glass member. When energized by the power source, the actuator is configured to induce movement of the abrasion structure that causes the abrading features to create scratches in the stressed glass member to a depth sufficient to initiate fracture of the stressed glass member.

Abstract: A build plate for an additive manufacturing device and methods for the same are provided. The build plate may include a base and a sacrificial plate coupled with the base. The etch rate of the sacrificial plate in an etchant may be greater than an etch rate of the base in the etchant. A method for separating a 3D printed article supported on the build plate may include contacting the sacrificial plate with the etchant.

Abstract: A method includes applying pressure to a liquid feed of nanofiber material at a first nozzle of an array of nozzles having a first electrode voltage applied to a first electrode within an array of nozzles to form a first enlarged meniscus having a nanofiber attached, applying pressure to the liquid feed at a second nozzle having a second electrode voltage applied to a second electrode and adjacent the first nozzle within the array to form a second enlarged meniscus, increasing the second electrode voltage applied to the second electrode to a voltage level equal to voltage applied to the first electrode when the first and second enlarged menisci meet and form a combined meniscus with the nanofiber attached, decreasing the first electrode voltage to zero, and decreasing pressure on the liquid feed at the first nozzle to separate the first enlarged meniscus at the first nozzle from the second enlarged meniscus at the second nozzle having the nanofiber attached.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing process includes creating an aerosol from a powder at a spray generator, charging the aerosol to produce a charged aerosol having a first charge, forming a blanket charge on a deposition surface having a second charge with an opposite polarity from the first charge, selectively removing regions of the blanket charge, leaving charged regions on the deposition surface, and transporting the charged aerosol to the charged regions to form structures on the charged regions from the charged aerosol.