Abstract: A medical system includes an instrument, a display system, and a processing unit. The instrument includes an instrument shape sensor. The processing unit includes one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to, receive an anatomic model of a patient anatomy, receive shape sensor data from the instrument shape sensor while the instrument is positioned within the patient anatomy and registered to the anatomic model, determine a preferred fluoroscopic image plane for display on the display system based on the received shape sensor data and the area of interest, and provide an indication on the display system to guide positioning of a fluoroscopy system to obtain a fluoroscopic image in the preferred fluoroscopic image plane. An area of interest is identified in the anatomic model.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a processing device, a natural language query corresponding to a request to create a document having a tabular structure, identifying, by the processing device, one or more attribute categories pertaining to the document, converting, by the processing device, the natural language query into a data access query for accessing at least one external data source, retrieving, by the processing device from the at least one external data source, a plurality of data items corresponding to the one or more attribute categories, and generating, by the processing device, the document by populating each cell of a plurality of cells of the document with a respective data item of the plurality of data items.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine includes (i) a pair of gripping rollers configured to rotate at a first rotational speed to advance a slit-sheet material in a downstream direction; (ii) a pair of expansion rollers configured to rotate at a second rotational speed, faster than the first rotational speed, creating a stretching force on the slit-sheet material and further advancing the slit-sheet material, causing expansion of the slit-sheet material to a fully expanded state; and (iii) a pair of relaxation rollers configured to rotate at a third rotational speed, slower than the second rotational speed, reducing the stretching force and further advancing the slit-sheet material, allowing the slit-sheet material to relax to a partially expanded state. The pair of relaxation rollers (iii) also are configured to capture the slit-sheet material in the partially expanded state between a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet to form a dunnage pad.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a processing device from a client device associated with a user, a natural language query corresponding to a request to create, for the user, a personalized document having a tabular structure, determining, by the processing device, one or more attribute categories pertaining to the personalized document, identifying, by the processing device, at least one external data source including at least one subjective data source related to the user, retrieving, by the processing device from the at least one external data source, data items indicative of the one or more attribute categories, and generating, by the processing device, the personalized document for the user by populating each cell of the personalized document with a respective data item.

Abstract: A method includes identifying, by a processing device, a document having a tabular structure including cells. The document is associated with a set of update controls for automatically updating content in at least one cell of the cells. The method further includes detecting, by the processing device and based on the set of update controls, an event triggering an automated update of the content in the at least one cell, and responsive to detecting the event, obtaining, by the processing device, data from at least one external data source in accordance with the set of update controls, and causing, by the processing device, the content in the at least one cell to be updated based on the data from the at least one external data source.

Abstract: A system and method of planning a procedure includes a planning workstation including: a display system; and a user input device. The planning workstation is configured to: display image data via the display system; receive a first user input via the user input device; display via the display system a target of a medical procedure within the displayed image data identified based at least on the first user input; display an interactive image via the display system, the interactive image including the image data, a plurality of connected anatomical passageways, and the identified target; receive a second user input via the user input device; display via the display system a trajectory between the target and an exit point along a nearest passageway of the plurality of connected anatomical passageways identified based at least on the second user input; receive a third user input via the user input device; and adjust the interactive image based at least on the defined trajectory and the third user input.

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: An anti-siphon/regulator valve is provided. The valve includes a body having a cylindrical portion and a frustoconical portion extending from the cylindrical portion. The valve includes an inlet opening formed in a first end of the body on the cylindrical portion and an outlet opening formed in a second end of the body on the frustoconical portion. The valve also includes an inner multi-tapered aperture extending from the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The valve operates to regulate fluid flow from the inlet opening through the outlet opening based on the geometry of the multi-tapered aperture, and to inhibit flow from the outlet opening through the inlet opening because of that same geometry.

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 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.

Abstract: A manually-operated dunnage conversion apparatus includes a housing with an outlet opening, a supply of slit sheet stock material supported within the housing for dispensing from the outlet opening, and a pair of opposed expansion members rotatably coupled to the housing for rotation about respective, parallel expansion axes between the supply and the outlet opening. The expansion members are biased towards each other via a biasing member to provide a gripping force on sheet stock material fed therebetween to apply friction to the sheet stock material that causes the sheet stock material to expand in length and thickness as an operator pulls the sheet stock material from the outlet opening in the housing. With the possible exception of the biasing member, the apparatus may be made of paper-based products, making the apparatus recyclable, reusable, and composed of a renewable resource, as well as inexpensive to manufacture.

Abstract: An anatomical marker may comprise a body comprising a first material observable to a first imaging modality and a second material observable to a second imaging modality. The first material may be different from the second material. The first imaging modality may be x-ray, computer-aided tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The second imaging modality may be fluorescent imaging. The body may be configured to secure to an external surface of an anatomical feature internal to a patient, without penetrating the external surface.

Abstract: A manually-operated dunnage conversion apparatus includes a housing, a support mounted in the housing and configured to support a supply of sheet material for dispensing from the dunnage conversion apparatus, and one or both of (a) a guide member mounted in the housing downstream of the support and providing a resilient surface across which the sheet material may be drawn to restrict tearing of the sheet material as it is drawn from the dunnage conversion apparatus, and (b) a tensioning assembly mounted in the housing and configured to apply a compressive force between opposite axial sides of the housing to control the force necessary to dispense the supply of sheet material. Except for the tensioning assembly, the apparatus may be made of paper-based products, making the apparatus recyclable, reusable, and composed of a renewable resource, as well as inexpensive to manufacture.

Abstract: High quality flake graphite is 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 mixture or feedstock-coated catalyst to irradiation with a laser to convert the feedstock into flake graphite 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 feedstock can be a biomass or a carbonaceous material. The catalyst can be an elemental metal, an alloy, or a combination thereof. In some instances, methods described herein have been found to produce high quality flake graphite in the form of potato shaped agglomerates.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine converts a sheet stock material into a relatively lower-density cushioning dunnage product. An exemplary sheet stock material includes two sheets that each overlap a common side of another sheet and are connected to respective lateral edges of the other sheet. The conversion machine includes a forming assembly having a former for shaping and randomly crumpling the sheet material, a set of adjustable guide members to guide the crumpled sheet material to a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly, and a severing assembly downstream of the feeding assembly that separates discrete lengths of cushioning. The severing assembly includes a window frame passage that guides the crumpled sheet material to an outlet during operation of the feeding assembly and constrains the crumpled sheet stock material during operation of the severing assembly.

Abstract: An improved expandable slit-sheet stock material is configured to aid in temporarily restricting opening of a plurality of slits of the slit-sheet stock material, such as during winding of the unexpanded stock material or during expansion of the stock material. Each slit of the plurality of slits includes one or more un-slit reinforcement portions, such as reinforcement ties, extending fully between opposite longitudinal sides of the slit, and disposed between opposed transverse endpoints of the slit. The reinforcement ties minimize or prevent tearing of the stock material during the winding or expansion. A dunnage conversion system for expanding the slit-sheet stock material includes an expander having a pair of opposed rollers. The rollers engage the stock material to effect breaking of the un-slit reinforcement portions and expansion of the slit-sheet stock material.

Abstract: A machine for converting a sheet material into a relatively less dense dunnage product includes a forming assembly and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly. The forming assembly is configured to form the sheet material into a tubular shape with lateral edges of the sheet material adjacent one another. A deflector at a downstream end of the forming assembly is configured to engage the lateral edges of the sheet material and to urge the lateral edges into an interior of the tubular shape. This juxtaposes lateral edge portions of the sheet material adjacent the respective lateral edges. A forming channel at a downstream end of the forming assembly faces the deflector to receive the lateral edge portions and shape them into a tab. Finally, the feeding assembly includes rotating connecting members that engage and connect the overlapping lateral edge portions of the sheet material forming the tab.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel method for accelerating time integration of the heat equation based on a decomposition of the solution domain into multiple regions, allowing a different discrete time step size in each domain. Domains are coupled at interfaces using a novel formulation for the boundary condition, including a mixed (Robin) condition for the small timestep domain that uses a coupling parameter optimized for stability and accuracy. This algorithm allows many-times speedup for simulation of systems such as additive manufacturing of metals, where fast evolution of the solution field is limited to a small region while the remainder of the domain evolves more slowly.

Abstract: One example includes a system control architecture that includes local control systems to provide respective condition signals associated with situational awareness conditions of an associated system architecture. A central system controller receives the condition signals, generates a control scheme for control of operational aspects of the associated system architecture based on the condition signals, and generates control signals based on the control scheme. The control scheme defines contributions of each of the local control systems to a control authority of each of the operational aspects. Operational components provide mechanical control of each of the operational aspects of the associated system architecture in response to the respective control signals to implement the control scheme.