Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, an introducer, and an actuator. A distal end portion of the introducer is configured to couple to an indwelling peripheral intravenous line. The actuator is movably coupled to the introducer and is configured to move the catheter between a first position, in which the catheter is disposed within the introducer, and a second position, in which a distal end portion of the catheter is distal to the introducer. A first portion of the actuator is disposed outside of the introducer and in contact with an outer surface of the introducer such that (1) a longitudinal axis defined by a second portion of the actuator is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the introducer and (2) the second portion of the actuator exerts a force on a proximal end portion of the catheter operable to increase an internal stress within a portion of the catheter.

Abstract: A method is provided involving an additive manufacturing system. This method includes a step of forming a first fluid conduit using the additive manufacturing system. The method also includes a step of providing a fluid coupling. The fluid coupling includes the first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit is connected to and fluidly coupled with the second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit has a first configuration. The second fluid conduit has a second configuration that is different than the first configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, an introducer, and an actuator. A distal end portion of the introducer has a lock configured to couple the introducer to a closed system intravenous line at least partially disposed in a body. The lock is configured to transition a seal of the closed system intravenous line from a closed state to an open state when coupled thereto. The actuator is at least partially disposed in the introducer and coupled to a proximal end portion of the catheter. The actuator is configured to move the catheter between a first position, in which the catheter is disposed within the introducer, and a second position, in which the catheter extends through the seal of the closed system intravenous line such that a distal end surface of the catheter is positioned distal to the closed system intravenous line.

Abstract: A method of designing a turbine blade includes the steps of forming at least two notches on a tip of a turbine blade, each of the at least two notches having a known dimension. The turbine blade has a pressure side and a suction side. The method further includes the step of operating a gas turbine engine including the turbine blade to expand a length of the turbine blade such that the tip of the turbine engages a casing. The method further includes the steps of viewing the tip of the turbine blade after the step of operating of the gas turbine engine, determining an appearance of the notches on the tip and determining a manufacturing length of the turbine blade based on the step of determining the appearance the notches.

Abstract: An automatic interlock system for a motor grader is disclosed. The automatic interlock system may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to determine an operating mode for the motor grader based on one or more operating parameters of the motor grader. The one or more processors may be configured to determine an interlock configuration for the motor grader based on the operating mode. The one or more processors may be configured to selectively activate or deactivate one or more interlocks of the motor grader based on the interlock configuration.

Abstract: A flowpath assembly has a first conduit defining a flowpath radially inward, and a second conduit spaced radially outward from the first conduit. A void defined between the first and second conduits contains an insulating material that may have a greater porosity than the first and second conduits. The assembly may be additive manufactured generally as one unitary piece with the raw material of the conduits being melted and solidified on a slice-by-slice basis and the insulating material being selectively bypassed by an energy gun of an additive manufacturing system.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a fuel injector. The fuel injector assembly comprises a conduit for conveying fuel from a fuel inlet to a nozzle. The conduit is located in a support, with the conduit, the nozzle, and the support being a single unitary piece. A thermally compliant feature is located at the nozzle which allows the fuel injector to adjust for differential thermal expansion.

Abstract: A tube assembly that may be for a fuel nozzle of a fuel system of a gas turbine engine may have a first tube defining a first flowpath along a centerline, a second tube generally spaced radially outward from the first tube with a first void located between and defined by the first and second tubes, and a support structure located in the first void and extending between the first and second tubes. The support structure is constructed and arranged to minimize or eliminate thermal conduction between the tubes. The entire assembly may be additive manufactured as one unitary piece. One example of a method of operation may include designed-for breakage of the structural support due to thermal stresses thereby further minimizing thermal conduction between tubes.

Abstract: A section of a gas turbine engine includes a rotor blade designed to rotate about an axis. The section also includes a case positioned radially outward from the rotor blade and extending circumferentially about the axis. The section also includes a control ring being annular, positioned radially inward from the case and designed to move radially relative to the case. The section also includes a segmented blade outer air seal (BOAS) including a plurality of BOAS segments each being positioned radially outward from the rotor blade, movably coupled to the control ring, and designed to move circumferentially relative to each other such that a circumferential gap between each of the plurality of BOAS segments changes in size in response to a temperature change in the section of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus that may be additive manufactured as one unitary piece and may be a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a radial displacement bellows having an outer surface that faces and may be exposed to a surrounding environment and an interior surface that faces and may define at least in-part a flowpath extending along a centerline. The radial displacement bellows is constructed and arranged to move between an expanded state when a pressure differential between the environment and the flowpath is low to a restricted state when the pressure differential is high.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses methods, devices, systems and kits for repairing, replacing and/or augmenting natural facet joint surfaces and/or facet capsules. An implantable facet joint device of one embodiment comprises a cephalad facet joint element and a caudal facet joint element. The cephalad facet joint element includes a member adapted to engage a first vertebra, and an artificial cephalad bearing member. The caudal facet joint element includes a connector adapted for fixation to a second vertebra at a fixation point and an artificial caudal bearing member adapted to engage the cephalad bearing member. The artificial caudal bearing member is adapted for a location lateral to the fixation point.

Abstract: A stabilization device configured to stabilize an access device when a distal end portion of the access device is inserted through a target location of a patient. The stabilization device includes a coupling surface, a proximal surface, and a base surface. The coupling surface is configured to be placed in contact with an adapter coupled to a proximal end portion of the access device. The proximal surface forms at least one angle and is configured to facilitate securement of the stabilization device to the target location. The base surface forms a contoured portion configured to be placed in contact with the target location and a recessed portion configured to be spaced apart from the target location. The stabilization device is configured to be secured to the target location such that the adapter is retained in a fixed position relative to the coupling surface and the access device is stabilized.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, an introducer, and an actuator. A distal end portion of the introducer is configured to couple to an indwelling peripheral intravenous line. The actuator is movably coupled to the introducer and is configured to move the catheter between a first position, in which the catheter is disposed within the introducer, and a second position, in which a distal end portion of the catheter is distal to the introducer. A first portion of the actuator is disposed outside of the introducer and in contact with an outer surface of the introducer such that (1) a longitudinal axis defined by a second portion of the actuator is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the introducer and (2) the second portion of the actuator exerts a force on a proximal end portion of the catheter operable to increase an internal stress within a portion of the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, a housing configured to house at least a portion of the catheter, and an actuator movably coupled to the housing. The housing has a first port configured to receive a proximal end portion of the catheter and a second port configured to couple the housing to an indwelling vascular access device. A portion of the actuator is disposed within the housing and is configured to be movably coupled to a portion of the catheter. The actuator is configured to be moved a first distance to move a distal end portion of the catheter a second distance greater than the first distance from a first position to a second position. The distal end portion of the catheter is disposed within the housing when in the first position and is distal to the indwelling vascular access device when in the second position.

Abstract: The present invention provides tools and methods designed to aid in the placement of artificial facet joints at virtually all spinal levels. One aspect of the present invention is a measurement tool for installing an artificial cephalad facet joint including a fixation measurement element and a support arm element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of an artificial cephalad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Another aspect is a measurement tool for installing a caudad facet joint including a stem element and a trial caudad bearing surface element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of a caudad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Yet another aspect is a measurement tool holder including a measurement surface connected to a holder element. This tool holder assists in determining the measurements obtained with the caudad facet joint measurement tool.

Abstract: An adaptable spinal facet joint prosthesis may include a pedicle fixation element; a laminar fixation element; and a facet joint bearing surface having a location adaptable with respect at least one of the pedicle fixation element and the laminar fixation element. Methods of implanting an adaptable spinal facet joint prosthesis may include determining a desired position for a facet joint bearing surface; and attaching a prosthesis comprising a facet joint bearing surface to a pedicle portion of a vertebra and a lamina portion of a vertebra to place the facet joint bearing surface in the desired position. A facet joint prosthesis implant tool may include a tool guide adapted to guide a vertebra cutting tool; and first and second fixation hole alignment elements extending from the saw guide. Systems for treating spinal pathologies may include intervertebral discs in combination with spinal and facet joint prostheses.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses methods, devices, systems and kits for repairing, replacing and/or augmenting natural facet joint surfaces and/or facet capsules. An implantable facet joint device of one embodiment comprises a cephalad facet joint element and a caudal facet joint element. The cephalad facet joint element includes a member adapted to engage a first vertebra, and an artificial cephalad bearing member. The caudal facet joint element includes a connector adapted for fixation to a second vertebra at a fixation point and an artificial caudal bearing member adapted to engage the cephalad bearing member. The artificial caudal bearing member is adapted for a location lateral to the fixation point.

Abstract: A section of a gas turbine engine includes a rotor blade designed to rotate about an axis. The section also includes a case positioned radially outward from the rotor blade and extending circumferentially about the axis. The section also includes a control ring being annular, positioned radially inward from the case and designed to move radially relative to the case. The section also includes a segmented blade outer air seal (BOAS) including a plurality of BOAS segments each being positioned radially outward from the rotor blade, movably coupled to the control ring, and designed to move circumferentially relative to each other such that a circumferential gap between each of the plurality of BOAS segments changes in size in response to a temperature change in the section of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A tube assembly that may be for a fuel nozzle of a fuel system of a gas turbine engine may have a first tube defining a first flowpath along a centerline, a second tube generally spaced radially outward from the first tube with a first void located between and defined by the first and second tubes, and a support structure located in the first void and extending between the first and second tubes. The support structure is constructed and arranged to minimize or eliminate thermal conduction between the tubes. The entire assembly may be additive manufactured as one unitary piece. One example of a method of operation may include designed-for breakage of the structural support due to thermal stresses thereby further minimizing thermal conduction between tubes.

Abstract: An adaptable spinal facet joint prosthesis may include a pedicle fixation element; a laminar fixation element; and a facet joint bearing surface having a location adaptable with respect at least one of the pedicle fixation element and the laminar fixation element. Methods of implanting an adaptable spinal facet joint prosthesis may include determining a desired position for a facet joint bearing surface; and attaching a prosthesis comprising a facet joint bearing surface to a pedicle portion of a vertebra and a lamina portion of a vertebra to place the facet joint bearing surface in the desired position. A facet joint prosthesis implant tool may include a tool guide adapted to guide a vertebra cutting tool; and first and second fixation hole alignment elements extending from the saw guide. Systems for treating spinal pathologies may include intervertebral discs in combination with spinal and facet joint prostheses.