Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device such as might be used to treat poor function of a diseased heart valve in a medical patient includes a body portion and an anchor portion including a plurality of paddles. Clasps attached to the paddles include fixed arms and moveable arms operable to secure the device to the patient's native valve leaflets.

Abstract: An interface for coupling a bipod to a sling stud of a firearm forend. The interface can include two pawls that pivot to release or grasp the sling stud. The pawls can be biased upward via a detent that rides within a vertical aperture in a pivot holder. The pivot holder can move up and down within a vertical aperture in a mounting plate of the interface, and via this movement the pawls may be forced open or closed. A bottom surface of one or both pawls can include an irregular surface different portions of which interface with a top of the detent depending on a vertical position of the pivot holder within the aperture in the mounting plate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an automatic speech recognition (ASR) module, a natural-language understanding (NLU) module, a dialog manager, one or more agents, an arbitrator, a delivery system, one or more processors, and a non-transitory memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to receive a user input, process the user input using the ASR module, the NLU module, the dialog manager, one or more of the agents, the arbitrator, and the delivery system, and provide a response to the user input.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sensor bearing unit includes providing a bearing having a first ring and a second ring capable of rotating concentrically relative to one another, and an impulse ring provided with a target holder secured into a groove made in a cylindrical surface of the first ring, and with a magnetic target mounted on the target holder. The method including applying on a first ring blank a heat-treatment in which the metal is hardened, hard machining the groove in the cylindrical surface of the first ring blank after the step of heat treating, and introducing and securing the target holder of the impulse ring inside the groove of the machined first ring. Also a sensor bearing unit.

Abstract: An device for treating a native valve includes a sealing element and an anchoring element. The sealing element is made from a braided mesh material. The sealing element is dimensioned to be deployed in an annulus of a native valve of a heart at a position between native valve leaflets to contact the native valve leaflets during ventricular systole to create a seal to prevent regurgitation of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium. The sealing element is configured to both be radially expanded and radially reduced while at the position between the native valve leaflets. The anchoring element is adapted for deployment in the heart, the anchoring element coupled to the sealing element and configured to support the sealing element at the desired position between native valve leaflets.

Abstract: Described herein, are battery separators, comprising the following: a microporous polymeric film; and an optional coating layer on at least one side of the microporous polymeric film, wherein at least one of the microporous polymeric film and the optional coating comprises an additive. The additive is selected from the group consisting of a lubricating agent, a plasticizing agent, a nucleating agent, a shrinkage reducing agent, a surfactant, an SEI improving agent, a cathode protection agent, a flame retardant additive, LiPF6 salt stabilizer, an overcharge protector, an aluminum corrosion inhibitor, a lithium deposition agent or improver, or a solvation enhancer, an aluminum corrosion inhibitor, a wetting agent, and a viscosity improver. Also, described herein are batteries, including lithium-ion batteries, comprising one or more of the described separators. Methods for making the battery separators are also described.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repair the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a surgical a valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient including a pair of paddles, and a pair of gripping members. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position, in which the paddles are moved to the open position by moving a pivot point of each paddle in an outward direction and pivoting each of the paddles about the pivot point of the paddle. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient when the paddles are in the closed position.

Abstract: A sensor bearing unit includes a bearing having a first ring and a second ring, and an impulse ring provided with a target holder, with a target mounted on the target holder, and with a sleeve secured to the first ring, the target holder being axially mounted between a lateral face of the first ring and the sleeve. The first ring having at least one anti-rotation feature cooperating with at least one complementary anti-rotation feature formed on the impulse ring so as to prevent angular movement of the impulse ring relative to the first ring.

Abstract: The sensor bearing unit provides a bearing having an inner ring and an outer ring centered on an axis, the inner ring mounted on a shaft, and an impulse ring provided with a target holder and with a target mounted on the target holder, the target holder being secured to the inner ring. The target holder includes anti-rotation features adapted to cooperate with complementary anti-rotation features of the shaft so as to prevent angular movement of the impulse ring relative to the shaft by abutment in circumferential direction.

Abstract: A sensor bearing unit includes a bearing having a first ring and a second ring, and an impulse ring provided with a target holder, with a target mounted on the target holder, and with a sleeve secured to the first ring. The target holder having a mounting portion secured to the first ring of the bearing. The target holder has at least anti-rotation feature axially spaced apart from a free end of the mounting portion and cooperating with a complementary anti-rotation feature of the first ring so as to prevent angular movement of the impulse ring relative to the first ring. The anti-rotation feature of the target holder extends into the complementary anti-rotation feature of the first ring.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are steerable catheter assemblies that utilize various mechanisms to accomplish independent control of catheter flex magnitude and catheter flex direction to provide improved steerability of an attached catheter. Some embodiments include a catheter with two or more pull wires that flex the catheter and a control handle coupled to the catheter. The control handle can include a direction control coupled to the two or more pull wires such that adjustment of the direction control adjusts a direction of catheter flex by the two or more pull wires, and the control handle can include a magnitude control coupled to the two or more pull wires such that adjustment of the magnitude control adjusts the magnitude of catheter flex.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient includes: folding a strip of material formed from shape-memory alloy around a jig to form a coaption element and a pair of paddles connected to the coaption element, wherein the paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position and are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient; and heat treating the strip of material to shape-set the strip of material in the shape of the coaption element and paddles.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a firearm stock or arm brace with an adjustable length of pull. The stock or arm brace can include a body and lower stock, where the body includes a buffer tube receiving aperture and the lower stock includes a hollow cavity with a plunger and two concentric springs therein. One or more buttons can be affixed to sides of the plunger in the hollow cavity that can be used to depress the plunger against the force of one or both of the springs. One of the two springs may be shorter than the other and have a greater spring constant than the longer spring. Depressing the plunger against the taller spring may allow a user to adjust the length of pull while greater pressure and engagement of the second spring allows the stock or arm brace to be removed from a buffer tube or receiver extension.

Abstract: A method of making a waveguiding optical component includes processing a polymer optical material to form a billet having an axis of light transmission and having residual stress maintaining a transverse extent of the billet; placing the billet into a mold, the mold being configured to constrain transverse expansion of the billet according to a desired shape of the waveguiding optical component; and heating the billet in the mold to induce relaxation of the residual stress and corresponding transverse expansion of the billet, thereby forming the billet into the waveguiding optical component with the desired shape. An alternative method begins with a collection of individual canes or fiber segments which are fused during the heating process, bypassing a separate process of forming a billet.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for a bipod having pivot and cant functionality built into a unified cant/pivot assembly, housing, and pivot block. Rotation of a locking knob under the housing can gradually increase or decrease friction of the cant and pivoting degrees of freedom. Sufficient loosening of the locking knob can allow a pivot block to be lifted from the housing and rotated 180°, and then retightened to lock in a given pivot position. Before this 180 rotation of the pivot block, the pivot block and hence the firearm is free to pivot up to 10°, or up to 20°, or up to 30°.

Abstract: A system includes a memory-mapped register (MMR) associated with a claim logic circuit, a claim field for the MMR, a first firewall for a first address region, and a second firewall for a second address region. The MMR is associated with an address in the first address region and an address in the second address region. The first firewall is configured to pass a first write request for an address in the first address region to the claim logic circuit associated with the MMR. The claim logic circuit associated with the MMR is configured to grant or deny the first write request based on the claim field for the MMR. Further, the second firewall is configured to receive a second write request for an address in the second address region and grant or deny the second write request based on a permission level associated with the second write request.

Abstract: A method and system for implanting and repositioning an implantable device for a native valve of a patient's heart includes a delivery catheter, a collar, a coupler, and an actuation element. The actuation element extends through the delivery catheter and attaches to the device to open the device. The collar is connected to the device and the coupler is connected to the delivery catheter. The collar and coupler are tied together via one or more coupling tethers which can be used to reengage the device after an initial deployment.

Abstract: A system includes a solar panel unit comprising at least one solar panel connected to a respective molten salt cell, a wind motor unit comprising at least one wind motor that is powered by the solar panel unit, each wind motor having a channel, a turbine unit comprising at least one turbine, each turbine associated with a respective wind motor via the channel, the turbine unit powered by the wind motor unit, a first battery receiving and storing power generated by the turbine unit to be used by the system, a second battery receiving and storing power generated by the turbine unit for use outside of the system, and a housing that protects at least the wind motor unit and the turbine unit.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repair the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a surgical delivery instrument and a valve repair device. The surgical delivery instrument has at least one lumen. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the lumen of the surgical delivery instrument and to be attached to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a pair of paddles and a pair of gripping members. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position, and the paddles are configured to flex upon being attached to the native valve of a patient. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient.

Abstract: Provided herein is a topcoat composition comprising at least one fluorosilicone, at least one infrared-absorbing filler, and silicone dioxide present in an amount ranging from greater than about 5% to about 10%, by weight based on a total weight of the topcoat composition, wherein when the topcoat composition has a shear rate between about 2 s?1 to about 3 s?1, the topcoat composition has a viscosity ranging from about 1500 mPa/s to about 500 mPa/s and the shear rate does not decrease as the viscosity increases or decreases. Further provided herein are methods of making the topcoat composition, as well as an imaging blanket and methods of reducing coating defects on a media coated using the imaging member.