Abstract: A strobe module can include a Fresnel lens that defines an external surface of the strobe module and a sidewall at least partially defining an internal volume and defining an external channel. A gasket can be disposed in the external channel. A substrate can be coupled to the sidewall to further define the internal volume and a light source can be disposed on the substrate in the internal volume.

Abstract: High quality carbon nanochains or carbon nanotubes are produced by methods that include mixing a carbon-containing feedstock with a catalyst to form a feedstock/catalyst mixture, or coating a catalyst with a carbon-containing feedstock, and subjecting the feedstock/catalyst mixture or feedstock-coated catalyst to irradiation with a laser to convert the feedstock into carbon nanochains or carbon nanotubes in the presence of the catalyst. In some instances, the feedstock is converted to a char by pyrolysis and the char is instead subjected to laser irradiation. The carbon-containing feedstock can be a biomass or a carbonaceous material. In some instances, the catalyst is a metal salt, preferably a transition metal salt. In some instances, the catalyst is an elemental metal, an alloy, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of tinting or coloring glass. The following layers are deposited onto the glass: a first dielectric layer, a subcritical metallic layer; a primer layer; and a second dielectric layer. Alternatively, these layers may be deposited onto the glass: a first dielectric layer, a subcritical metallic layer; and a second dielectric layer. Alternatively, the invention is a coated article that includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer, an absorbing layer, and a second dielectric layer over the primer layer. The absorbing layer can be Inconel, titanium nitride, cobalt chrome (stellite), or nickel chrome material, and has a thickness in the range of 50 ? to 150 ?.

Abstract: A water treatment system is provided. The system includes a container holding a reactant liquid within the container. The system further includes an electrode capsule removably retained within the container and submerged in the reactant liquid. The electrode capsule operates to generate reactant gas by operating within the reactant liquid. The system includes a cap releasably coupled to an opening of the container. The cap includes a nozzle that allows flow of reactant gas out of the container to treat an amount of water. The use of the system operates to treat water for particular applications and controlling pH level range and/or alkalinity for each particular application.

Abstract: A drape for an input control console of an elongate device may comprise a main drape section configured to fit over the input control console via a main opening at one end of the main drape section. The drape may also comprise a plurality of pockets. Each of the plurality of pockets may include a pocket opening that is attached to a respective secondary opening in the main drape section. Each of the plurality of pockets may be configured to be anchored, at the pocket opening, to a side surface of a respective raised ring or bezel on the input control console using a respective tightening element.

Abstract: A lanyard having a locking mechanism is provided. The lanyard locking mechanism actuates between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the lanyard spool is restricted from rotating, and in the unlocked position, the lanyard spool is permitted to rotate with reduced interference from the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes biasing components that bias the locking mechanism to remain stationary unless sufficient force is exerted.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a procedure includes a medical device. The medical device includes an elongate device including a flexible body, a tracking system disposed along at least a portion of the flexible body, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the tracking system. The one or more processors are configured to receive a route to a target location in an anatomy, determine one or more features of the route based on a first anatomical representation, generate a reduced anatomical representation based on the one or more features of the route, receive real-time position information from the tracking system, associate the real-time position information to the reduced anatomical representation, and dynamically display the reduced anatomical representation with the associated real-time position information.

Abstract: A hypodermic interface assembly is disclosed. The hypodermic interface assembly includes a hub, a cannula, and a cannula carrier. The cannula carrier is non-removably-connected to the cannula. The cannula carrier is controllably separable from the hub.

Abstract: An impaction handle for use during a surgical procedure to implant a fixed-bearing tibial tray into a surgically-prepared proximal end of a tibia is disclosed. The impaction handle includes an impact plate defining a proximal end of the impaction handle and an impact head defining a distal end of the impaction handle. The impaction handle also has an elongated shaft extending between the impact plate and the impact head, along with a locking mechanism to lock the handle to the tibial tray. The locking mechanism includes a thumbwheel positioned in the impact head and a locking shaft secured to the thumbwheel.

Abstract: Textiles intercalated with shear thickening fluids (STF) are disclosed. The STF-intercalated textiles are light weight and include high tenacity textiles that exhibit enhanced resistance to puncture, cutting, abrasion, dust penetration, and projectile penetration. Also disclosed are multi-layer articles, such as safety suits and extra-vehicular mobility units, which include STF-intercalated textiles. Methods for manufacturing STF-intercalated textiles are also disclosed.

Abstract: An on-board navigation system for an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operating in an unknown environment. A point-cloud sensor system generates point cloud data representing the unknown environment. An on-board processing system processes the point cloud data to generate both a 2-D occupancy grid and a 3-D voxel map, with the 2-D occupancy grid having cells with known (seen) and unknown data. Additional processing determines an amount of known-to-unknown (transitional) data in each cell, thereby determining unexplored regions. A cost is assigned to each unexplored region, based at least in part on the amount of transitional data in cells of the region. The unexplored regions are then sorted based on their costs, thereby determining an optimal region to explore. The 3-D voxel map is used to find a safe area within the optimal region where the UAS may fly. A flight path to the optimal region is then calculated.

Abstract: Systems involving distributed control functions are described herein. Each member or device within the system has responsibility for controlling part of the system's behavior, and includes logic to determine what action, if any, will follow as a response to determining information or receiving information from other members or devices within the system. A change of status of one member of a system may provide a basis for action by another member of the system. Status may be the result of sensing a condition of the environment, sensing the condition of a component, receiving the output of a conventional sensor, and/or sensing the condition of a link between components. In some embodiments, action taken by a member of the system may include collecting data during law enforcement activities.

Abstract: A method for displaying guidance information during an image-guided surgical procedure comprises receiving, by one or more hardware processors, data from a tracking system associated with an elongate device comprising a flexible body and calculating, by the one or more hardware processors, at least one condition along a length of the flexible body based on the data. The method further comprises determining, by the one or more hardware processors, supplemental guidance information based on the at least one condition and augmenting, by the one or more hardware processors, one or more images with the supplemental guidance information to produce one or more augmented images. The method further comprises displaying the one or more augmented images on a display device at a surgeon console.

Abstract: A medical tool comprises an elongated tubular section comprising a body wall. The body wall includes a plurality of slits. The tool further comprises a rigid needle tip coupled to a distal end of the elongated tubular section. The tool further comprises a flexible jacket covering at least a portion of the elongated tubular section. The tool further comprises an elongated flexible member coupled to a proximal end of the elongated tubular section. A distal portion of the elongated flexible member covers a proximal portion of the flexible jacket, and a proximal portion of the elongated flexible member extends into at least a portion of the plurality of slits.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine includes a forming assembly configured to form a sheet stock material into a strip of dunnage, and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly that is configured to pull the sheet stock material through the forming assembly. The machine also includes a tear assist assembly downstream of the feeding assembly that includes a pinch arm on one side of the path and a stop opposing the pinch arm on an opposite side of the path. The pinch arm is movable between a resting position in which the pinch arm is located on the one side of the path, and a pinching position in which the pinch arm is located in the path to capture the strip of dunnage between the pinch arm and the stop. Reversing the feed assembly while the pinch arm is in the pinching position causes the strip of dunnage to tear.

Abstract: A method for displaying guidance information during an image-guided medical procedure includes receiving, by one or more hardware processors, data from a tracking system associated with an elongate device comprising a flexible body, calculating a bend radius along a length of the flexible body, determining supplemental guidance information that includes an indication of whether the bend radius is less than a minimum allowable bend radius, augmenting images with the supplemental guidance information to produce augmented images by applying a scheme in which a portion of a graphical representation of the flexible body having a radius less than the minimum is augmented with a visual property, displaying the augmented images on a display device at a console, determining a direction to steer the flexible body to increase the bend radius, and displaying actuation information on the display device. The actuation information includes a directional indicator to display the direction.

Abstract: A bundle of packing material includes at least two strips of packing material folded into a compact configuration. The strips of packing material include a top strip having a length dimension between first and second end portions and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a bottom strip having a length dimension between first and second end portions and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion. The central portion of the top strip overlays the central portion of the bottom strip and the length dimension of the top strip is oriented orthogonal to the length dimension of the bottom strip. The first and second end portions of top strip are folded over the central portions, and the first and second end portions of the bottom strip are folded over the central portions.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a procedure includes a medical device. The medical device includes an elongate device including a flexible body, a tracking system disposed along at least a portion of the flexible body, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the tracking system. The one or more processors are configured to receive a route to a target location in an anatomy, determine one or more features of the route based on a first anatomical representation, generate a reduced anatomical representation based on the one or more features of the route, receive real-time position information from the tracking system, associate the real-time position information to the reduced anatomical representation, and dynamically display the reduced anatomical representation with the associated real-time position information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, methods, and computer program products for planning and performing medical procedures. In some embodiments, a system for planning a medical procedure includes a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The memory can store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations including: receiving image data of an anatomic region including a plurality of lymph nodes and a target lesion; generating a three-dimensional model of the anatomic region by segmenting the image data; selecting a subset of the lymph nodes to be biopsied during the medical procedure based at least in part on a location of the target lesion in the three-dimensional model; and determining a sequence for navigating a biopsy device to locations of the subset of the lymph nodes during the medical procedure.

Abstract: A system comprises a user control system including an input control device for controlling motion of a virtual medical instrument through a virtual passageway. The system further comprises a display for displaying a graphical user interface and a plurality of training modules. The graphical user interface includes a representation of the virtual medical instrument and a representation of the virtual passageway. The system further comprises a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium that stores a plurality of instructions executable by one or more computer processors. The instructions for performing operations comprise navigating the virtual medical instrument through the virtual passageway based on commands received from the user control system and evaluating one or more performance metrics for tracking the navigation of the virtual medical instrument through the virtual passageway.