Abstract: A control system (202) can directly or indirectly measure force applied between a trailer (112) and a prime mover vehicle (102) coupled to the trailer. Based on the measured force, the control system can determine an operational state of one or more features of the trailer. For example, static resistance, rolling resistance, and/or acceleration rate of the trailer can be measured while applying a specific braking actuation level to the service air brakes of the trailer. Based at least in part on the measured static resistance, rolling resistance, and/or acceleration rate, an operational model (206) for actuation of the service air brakes can be applied. In some examples, the control system can be part of the prime mover vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A fixed bed bioreactor assembly for culturing cells is provided and methods for sampling cell culture substrates from such assemblies. The assembly includes a bioreactor vessel having an interior space for culturing cells and a sidewall at least partly defining the interior space; and a plurality of cell culture substrate layers in the interior space, each layer having a structurally defined surface for culturing cells thereon. The structurally defined surface defines an ordered and regular array of openings through a thickness of the layer. The assembly further includes a sleeve at least partially surrounding the plurality of cell culture substrate layers and having at least one sample access window. The sample access window includes an opening in the sleeve to allow one or more layers of the cell culture substrate to be removed from the sleeve through the opening.

Abstract: A cell culture substrate (200, 308) for a fixed bed bioreactor and a fixed bed bioreactor having such a cell culture substrate is provided. The substrate has a structurally defined surface for culturing cells thereon, where the structurally defined surface defines an ordered and regular array of openings through a thickness of the cell culture substrate. At least a portion of the cell culture substrate includes a sample substrate, the sample substrate being defined by a separation boundary between the sample substrate and a remainder of the cell culture substrate, and the separation boundary allows separation of the sample substrate from the remainder of the cell culture substrate. A bioreactor (300) having ports for aseptic removal of the sample substrate is also provided.

Abstract: Tool rack for an automatic machine comprising a control unit and a positioning platform connectable to a plurality of tools, the tool rack having a linear guide, one tool station or more than one tool stations connected to the linear guide for receiving and/or providing at least one of said plurality of tools in an operating volume of the positioning platform, a position transducer for detecting a position of the tool station or at least one of the tool stations relative to the linear guide and transmitting the position to the control unit.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an instrument for pacing, mapping, sensing, and/or ablating cardiac tissue that includes an electrogram filtering circuit. To supply radio frequency energy, the disclosed instruments are only optionally connected to a radio frequency generator. When connected to a generator, the electrogram filtering circuit can be provided in a handle of the instrument, or in a connector, for example, to protect the instrument from potentially high-powered radio frequency energy. Alternatively, various disclosed embodiments are capable of pacing/sensing as a standalone device. The connector can be provided separately from both the instrument and the generator. In some embodiments, the electrogram filtering circuit is adaptive to suit a variety of generators.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a dental patient's progress during treatment. A camera coordinate system of a virtual camera is aligned to be coincident with a world coordinate system of a 3D) model representing a expected configuration of the patient's teeth at a particular time during treatment. One or more expected 2D images generated by mapping points from the 3D model to points on an image plane of the virtual camera. One or more 2D images of the patient's teeth taken at the particular time during treatment are compared to the expected 2D images to determine whether a configuration of the patient's teeth is within a threshold level of correspondence to the expected configuration of the patient's teeth. An indication about whether the dental treatment is proceeding as expected based on whether the configuration of the patient's teeth is within the threshold level can be provided.

Abstract: The current document is directed to methods and systems for monitoring a dental patient's progress during a course of treatment. A three-dimensional model of the expected positions of the patient's teeth can be projected, in time, from a three-dimensional model of the patient's teeth prepared prior to beginning the treatment. A digital camera is used to take one or more two-dimensional photographs of the patient's teeth, which are input to a monitoring system. The monitoring system determines virtual-camera parameters for each two-dimensional input image with respect to the time-projected three-dimensional model, uses the determined virtual-camera parameters to generate two-dimensional images from the three-dimensional model, and then compares each input photograph to the corresponding generated two-dimensional image in order to determine how closely the three-dimensional arrangement of the patient's teeth corresponds to the time-projected three-dimensional arrangement.

Abstract: A device is provided for delivering somatosensation. A garment is wearable on a body part, and includes an array of electrodes in electrical contact with skin of the body part when the garment is worn on the body part. An electronics module is configured to use the array of electrodes of the garment to apply a somatosensation pattern providing guidance in performing a motor action, or providing a pain sensation to the wearer.

Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage has an outside housing (30) having one or more outside faces (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d). The machine includes a user-interface device (31) movable from: a deployed operative position adjacent to a face (30a) of such one or more outside faces (30a, 30b, 30c) so that the device (31) is accessible by a user; to a retracted storage position in the outside housing (30). The user-interface device (31) is movable from its deployed operative position into its retracted storage position and vice versa along a first direction (31?) and a second direction (31?) that is non-parallel to the first direction (31?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a package (11) containing one portion of beverage precursor (2) for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus (100). The package comprises a pair of packaging sheets (12, 13) sealed to one another for enclosing and sealing the portion of beverage precursor (2) individually in a substantially oxygen and external humidity impervious manner by the sheets being sealed together about the portion (2). In the package, the sheets (12, 13) are forming a cavity (14, 15) covering the beverage precursor portion (2) on each side, wherein the cavity (14, 15) is provided with a ridge (18, 19) on at least one of the sheets (12, 13), the ridge (18, 19) being configured to cooperate with a protrusion part (31, 41) of the beverage preparation apparatus (100).

Abstract: A container for stacked food products, such as potato chips, is provided. The container includes composite laminate that includes one or more layers of cardboard. The container has a non-circular shape. The container has a horizontal cross-section with end portions that have a constant radius along their length and side portions that have a changing radius along their length wherein the end portions and the side portions transition between each other continuously.

Abstract: A machine (1) has a unit for preparing and dispensing via an outlet (36) a beverage. The machine includes: an outside housing (30) with one or more outside faces (30a,30a?,30b,30c,30d); and at least one placement member (30e) for resting onto a generally flat external support surface (5) in a configuration such that the unit is in an orientation for preparing and dispensing the beverage via the beverage outlet (36) to a beverage dispensing surface (5,37). At least one placement member (30e) is movable and has: a deployed placement position providing a stability of the unit in this orientation on the external support surface (5); and a retracted rest position within the outside housing (30) or collapsed against the outside housing (30).

Abstract: A container for stacked food products, such as potato chips, is provided. The container includes composite laminate that includes one or more layers of cardboard. The container has a non-circular shape. The container has a horizontal cross-section with end portions that have a constant radius along their length and side portions that have a changing radius along their length wherein the end portions and the side portions transition between each other continuously.

Abstract: A stimulation system may include a sensor configured to detect a physiological signal of a user, the physiological signal having a biomarker therein associated with a disorder of the user; a stimulator configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the user; and a hub device configured to receive the physiological signal from the sensor and to output a control signal to the stimulator. The control signal may cause the stimulator to deliver electrical stimulation to the user according to a stimulation protocol, the stimulation protocol treating the disorder. The hub device may be configured to output the control signal based on the biomarker of the received physiological signal. The hub device may be configured to generate another control signal for treating another disorder based on a biomarker not included in the physiological signal received from the sensor.

Abstract: A combined closed-loop functional electrical stimulation (FES) and Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy system for treating neurological injuries. Detected EMG signals are used to determine movement (or intended movement) of an extremity. FES is then delivered to help evoke the movement, and VNS is delivered to enhance neuroplasticity and recovery.

Abstract: A device is provided for delivering somatosensation. A garment is wearable on a body part, and includes an array of electrodes in electrical contact with skin of the body part when the garment is worn on the body part. An electronics module is configured to use the array of electrodes of the garment to apply a somatosensation pattern providing guidance in performing a motor action, or providing a pain sensation to the wearer.

Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage includes a beverage preparation and dispensing unit that has: an ingredient container (46, 50, 50a); a dispensing head (35) with a beverage outlet (36) for dispensing the beverage to a beverage dispensing surface (5, 37); and a liquid circuit for processing the beverage and delivering such beverage into the beverage outlet (36). The liquid circuit has at least one activatable unit (40, 51, 52) that is passed through by liquid during beverage preparation. The machine further includes: a power unit (54?) connected to a main switch (54) and to the activatable unit(s) (40, 51, 52); and a functional part that is configured to perform a function other than actuating the main switch (54) and that has a beverage preparing and dispensing position and that is movable into a different position in which no beverage is intended to be prepared or dispensed.

Abstract: A communications radio includes an array of electrodes configured to be disposed on a body part, a radio transceiver, an electrical stimulation transmitter, electromyography (EMG) receive circuitry, and a data processing sub-module which configured to perform radio communication. The communication includes, using the electrical stimulation transmitter and the array of electrodes, presenting semantic messages received via the radio transceiver as electrical stimulation patterns. The communication further includes, via the radio transmitter, transmitting semantic messages determined from EMG signals measured using the array of electrodes and the EMG receive circuitry. The communications radio may further include a garment wearable on the body part with the array of electrodes in electrical contact with skin of the body part.

Abstract: A communications radio includes an array of electrodes configured to be disposed on a body part, a radio transceiver, an electrical stimulation transmitter, electromyography (EMG) receive circuitry, and a data processing sub-module which configured to perform radio communication. The communication includes, using the electrical stimulation transmitter and the array of electrodes, presenting semantic messages received via the radio transceiver as electrical stimulation patterns. The communication further includes, via the radio transmitter, transmitting semantic messages determined from EMG signals measured using the array of electrodes and the EMG receive circuitry. The communications radio may further include a garment wearable on the body part with the array of electrodes in electrical contact with skin of the body part.

Abstract: The current document is directed to methods and systems for monitoring a dental patient's progress during a course of treatment. A three-dimensional model of the expected positions of the patient's teeth can be projected, in time, from a three-dimensional model of the patient's teeth prepared prior to beginning the treatment. A digital camera is used to take one or more two-dimensional photographs of the patient's teeth, which are input to a monitoring system. The monitoring system determines virtual-camera parameters for each two-dimensional input image with respect to the time-projected three-dimensional model, uses the determined virtual-camera parameters to generate two-dimensional images from the three-dimensional model, and then compares each input photograph to the corresponding generated two-dimensional image in order to determine how closely the three-dimensional arrangement of the patient's teeth corresponds to the time-projected three-dimensional arrangement.