Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking in a surgical procedure are disclosed herein. A method may include receiving at least one of an image and a statistical shape model of a patient's anatomy. A tracking system may acquire a tracking marker location and register the patient's anatomy relative to the tracking marker. A rigid body may be affixed the patient's anatomy and registered relative to the tracking marker by capturing landmarks on the surface of the rigid body. A transformation matrix may be generated between the location of the rigid body and a location of the patient anatomy. The tracking marker may then be removed, with the location of the anatomy recalled by recapturing the locations of the landmarks and applying the transformation.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system includes a cycler including an actuation surface having a peristaltic pump actuator; a manifold assembly including a rigid manifold having first and second chambers, the rigid manifold configured and arranged to be abutted against the actuation surface for operation, a peristaltic pump tube extending from the first chamber to the second chamber of the rigid manifold, a dialysis fluid container line extending from the first chamber, and a branch line extending between the dialysis fluid container line and the second chamber; and a control unit configured to cause the peristaltic pump actuator to actuate the peristaltic pump tube to pump dialysis fluid from the branch line into the second chamber and from the second chamber into the first chamber.

Abstract: A tank includes an interior magnetic float assembly for detecting a liquid level in the tank, and an exterior gauge component attached to a gauge head of the tank for detecting and indicating the liquid level of the tank based on a rotational orientation of a tank magnet of the magnetic float assembly. An adapter plate mounts a housing base of the exterior gauge component to the gauge head. The adapter plate is secured to the housing base and snaps onto the gauge head. A portion of the base defined by a first molded piece extends within an opening of the adapter plate and a second molded piece of the base extends from the opening away from the housing to define a proximal end portion of the housing disposed proximate the tank magnet. Alternatively, the base receives a threaded adapter for mounting to a threaded opening of a gauge head.

Abstract: Exterior gauge components configured to calculate and report heating day degrees are disclosed. Methods and systems for estimating current fuel consumption and tank capacity, and methods and systems for projecting future fuel consumption and tank capacity, are disclosed based on the reported heating day degrees. An improved exterior gauge component also is disclosed that further accommodates compatibility with and use on a plurality of different tanks by using a flexible, collapsible silicone cup component in which is contained at the distal end thereof a sensor for detecting rotational orientation of a tank magnet at the tank gauge head. A method of installation includes collapsing the silicone cup within a tank gauge head recess of the tank by inserting the silicone cup therein against a tank wall such that the silicone cup lies flush against the tank wall proximate the tank magnet on the other side of the tank wall.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system includes a cycler including an actuation surface having a peristaltic pump actuator; at least one pair of capacitive sensing plates; a manifold assembly including a rigid manifold having at least one chamber, the rigid manifold configured and arranged to be abutted against the actuation surface for operation, wherein the at least one pair of capacitive sensing plates is positioned to be operable with the at least one chamber; a peristaltic pump tube; and a control unit configured to actuate the peristaltic pump actuator to pump dialysis fluid to the at least one chamber, receive a signal from the at least one pair of capacitive sensing plates, count a number of revolutions of the peristaltic pump actuator, determine a current volume per revolution for the peristaltic pump actuator, and use the current volume per revolution for a subsequent operation of the peristaltic pump actuator.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system includes a cycler including an actuation surface having a peristaltic pump actuator; a manifold assembly including a rigid manifold having first and second chambers (110a, 110b), the rigid manifold configured and arranged to be abutted against the actuation surface for operation, a peristaltic pump tube (124gh) extending from the first chamber (110a) to the second chamber (110b) of the rigid manifold, a dialysis fluid container line (124b) extending from the first chamber (110a), and a branch line (124c) extending between the dialysis fluid container line (124b) and the second chamber (110b); and a control unit configured to cause the peristaltic pump actuator to actuate the peristaltic pump tube (124gh) to pump dialysis fluid from the branch line (124c) into the second chamber (110b) and from the second chamber (110b) into the first chamber (110a).

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system includes a cycler including an actuation surface having a peristaltic pump actuator; at least one pair of capacitive sensing plates; a manifold assembly including a rigid manifold having at least one chamber, the rigid manifold configured and arranged to be abutted against the actuation surface for operation, wherein the at least one pair of capacitive sensing plates is positioned to be operable with the at least one chamber; a peristaltic pump tube; and a control unit configured to actuate the peristaltic pump actuator to pump an amount of dialysis fluid to the at least one chamber, receive a signal from the pair of capacitive sensing plates, count a number of revolutions of the peristaltic pump actuator, determine a current volume per revolution for the peristaltic pump actuator, and use the current volume per revolution for a subsequent operation of the peristaltic pump actuator.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis (“RD”) system includes a cycler including an actuation surface having a peristaltic pump actuator; a manifold assembly including a rigid manifold having first and second chambers (110a, 110b), the rigid manifold configured and arranged to be abutted against the actuation surface for operation, a peristaltic pump tube (124gh) extending from the first chamber (110a) to the second chamber (110b) of the rigid manifold, a dialysis fluid container line (124b) extending from the first chamber (110a), and a branch line (124c) extending between the dialysis fluid container line (124b) and the second chamber (110b); and a control unit configured to cause the peristaltic pump actuator to actuate the peristaltic pump tube (124gh) to pump dialysis fluid from the branch line (124c) into the second chamber (100b) and from the second chamber (110b) into the first chamber (110a).

Abstract: An exterior gauge component is used to indicate a tank liquid level based on a rotational orientation of a tank magnet at a gauge head. The exterior gauge component includes a multi-track rotary encoder wheel and an optical sensor configured for reading an output of the multi-track rotary encoder wheel. The multi-track rotary encoder wheel is configured to rotate with rotation of the tank magnet such that specific ranges of rotational orientation of the tank magnet each corresponds to a specific output of the multi-track rotary encoder wheel. Each track represents a binary bit of the output read by the optical sensor. An adapter plate mounts a housing of the exterior gauge component to the gauge head and has an opening therethrough. A proximal end portion of the housing including magnets extends through the opening, and is detachable from the housing and attachable to a threaded adapter for mounting to a threaded opening of a tank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a shape adaptive airfoil configured to be coupled with a tip of an airplane wing. In one embodiment, the shape adaptive airfoil is a blended winglet comprised of a base section coupled with the airplane wing, a blade section projecting in a vertical direction above the base section, and a radius section interconnecting the base and blade sections. Adaptive control structures may be incorporated into leading and trailing edges of the base section and the blade section. The adaptive control structures of the base section may facilitate changing a camber profile of the shape adaptive airfoil. The adaptive control structures of the blade section may enable changes to a toe angle of the blade section.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an actuator system to modify an adaptive flap of an aircraft wing. The system may include a drive rod extending from a nose portion of the flap to an interior thereof. A bell crank may be attached to the interior and configured to receive an end of the drive rod. A pivot disposed opposite of the drive rod may couple the bell crank to a mount fixed to a lower surface of a trailing edge portion of the flap. A skin overlap may be configured to allow the lower surface of the trailing edge portion to slide adjacent to a lower surface of a remaining portion of the flap under the action of the drive rod. A bumper may be disposed within the aircraft wing and configured to exert a continuous force on the drive rod when the flap is moved to a retracted state.

Abstract: A fiber optic rotary connector providing communication between a first fiber optical bundle and a second fiber optical bundle rotating relative to said first bundle. The fiber optic rotary connector includes a K-mirror comprised of at least three mirror components and a set of gears adapted to rotate said K-mirror at a rotation rate equal to one half of the second bundle rotation rate. In a preferred embodiment the set of gears is a set of magnetic gears. And in another preferred embodiment the set of gears is a set of mechanical gears. Normally the first fiber optic bundle is stationary, but it may be rotating at a slower rate than the second bundle. In preferred embodiments the K mirror is comprised of three flat mirrors and two of the flat mirrors are positioned at about 30 degrees relative to the third flat mirror.

Abstract: An integrated Energy Management and/or Control System method and apparatus that continually monitors power consumption on each piece of equipment 24/7 and performs detailed analyses of energy consumption curves including derivatives and compares data to historical data on the same equipment as well as going online and acquiring manufacturers specs and comparing to that as well as the same model number equipment in the same or other locations, in order to detect anomalies, abnormal energy consumption or provide early warning of equipment failures.

Abstract: A fiber optic rotary connector providing communication between a first fiber optical bundle and a second fiber optical bundle rotating relative to said first bundle. The fiber optic rotary connector includes a K-mirror comprised of at least three mirror components and a set of gears adapted to rotate said K-mirror at a rotation rate equal to one half of the second bundle rotation rate. In a preferred embodiment the set of gears is a set of magnetic gears. And in another preferred embodiment the set of gears is a set of mechanical gears. Normally the first fiber optic bundle is stationary, but it may be rotating at a slower rate than the second bundle. In preferred embodiments the K mirror is comprised of three flat mirrors and two of the flat mirrors are positioned at about 30 degrees relative to the third flat mirror.

Abstract: A beam direction sensor for determining the direction of each beam in an array of light beams. The invention basically consists of a screen positioned to intersect the array of beams and a video camera to record the position of the images of the intersections. The screen can be any of a wide variety of screens that produce an image of the beams when illuminated with the beam. These include frosted glass and various diffusers. A preferred screen is a holographic diffusers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an all optical cross connect switch utilizing two-axis MEMS mirrors for cross connecting optical fibers in a first set of optical fibers to optical fibers in a second set of optical fibers. The optical fibers in the first and second sets of optical fibers are precisely positioned in a first fiber-microlens positioning array to define a first set of parallel collimated cross-connect communication beam paths, with each collimated cross-connect communication beam path connecting an optical fiber in the first set of optical fibers with a MEMS mirror in a first MEMS mirror array. Alignment beams are added to and aligned co-axially with each of the first and second sets of parallel collimated cross-connect communication beams.

Abstract: The present invention provides an all optical cross connect switch utilizing two-axis MEMS mirrors for cross connecting optical fibers in a first set of optical fibers to optical fibers in a second set of optical fibers. The optical fibers in the first and second sets of optical fibers are precisely positioned in a first fiber-microlens positioning array to define a first set of parallel collimated cross-connect communication beam paths, with each collimated cross-connect communication beam path connecting an optical fiber in the first set of optical fibers with a MEMS mirror in a first MEMS mirror array. Alignment beams are added to and aligned co-axially with each of the first and second sets of parallel collimated cross-connect communication beams.

Abstract: A beam direction sensor for determining the direction of each beam in an array of light beams. The invention basically consists of a screen positioned to intersect the array of beams and a video camera to record the position of the images of the intersections. The screen can be any of a wide variety of screens that produce an image of the beams when illuminated with the beam. These include frosted glass and various diffusers. A preferred screen is a holographic diffusers.

Abstract: A MEMS mirror array in which the MEMS mirrors are driven in two axes by vertical comb drive actuators. Tortional elements with conductive comb fingers are utilized to provide the two axis actuation. A MEMS mirror control system supplies electrical voltage potentials between inside pivoting support frame conductive comb fingers and mirror frame conductive comb fingers and supplies electrical voltage potentials between MEMS mirror array support frame conductive comb fingers and outside pivoting support frame conductive comb fingers. In preferred embodiments two MEMS mirror arrays are utilized to provide beam direction in a cross connect switch.

Abstract: A method for placing a test call in a telecommunications network. The method includes retrieving an indication of a translation change for a telecommunications switch from storage and placing a test call to test whether the translation change was successful.