Abstract: Systems and methods for integrated real-time visualization while performing a minimally invasive procedure within anatomic passageways include a flexible catheter having one or more first lumens and a first positioning system, an imaging probe having one or more imaging elements, and a scaling device. In souse embodiments, the scaling device includes a plurality of second lumens and the flexible catheter and the imaging probe are each optionally deployed through a respective one of the second lumens. In some embodiments, the one or more imaging elements include one or more ultrasound transducers. In some embodiments, the scaling device seals the anatomic passageways at a scaling location using one or more balloons, and the anatomic passageways distal to the sealing location are collapsed. In some embodiments, the first positioning system includes one or more position sensors. In some embodiments, the procedure is performed after the passageways are collapsed.

Abstract: A detector for detecting the removal and/or insertion of a firearm out of and/or into a holster. The detector may transmit a message each time the firearm is removed from the holster. A recording system may receive the message and determine whether or not it will begin recording the data it captures. A detector may detect the change in a magnitude of an inductance and/or an impedance of a circuit to detect insertion and removal of the firearm into and out of the holster. The holster is configured to couple to the detector to position the detector to detect insertion and removal of the firearm. An adhesive tape may couple a detector to a holster.

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: In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes a device for manufacturing a frozen edible product, including a cylindrical tank and a dasher disposed within the cylindrical tank and configured to rotate in a direction of rotation on an axis of rotation. A non-circular cylindrical core extends within the core along the axis of rotation. The dasher includes a generally cylindrical frame concentric with the tank and having a plurality of gaps, deflectors extending radially inward relative to the axis of rotation and circumferentially in the direction of rotation from the gaps, and blades extending radially outward from the dasher.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an improved process for the synthesis of hydrogen terminated silicon from Zintl phases. The hydrogen terminated silicon is useful, for example, as explosives, chemical and biochemical sensors, optoelectronic materials and Li-ion battery anode ion storage materials. The present disclosure also relates to an improved process for the synthesis of nanomaterials and composites from Zintl phases. The nanomaterials and composites are useful, for example, as ion storage materials.

Abstract: A medical system includes a flexible catheter, an imaging probe, a working catheter, and a positioning system. The flexible catheter includes a plurality of first lumens and a sealing device having one or more balloons to seal the anatomic passageways at a sealing location and one or more flaps or valves to remove air from the anatomic passageways. The imaging probe and working catheter are receivable within the plurality of first lumens and extend through the sealing device. The working catheter includes one or more second lumens to receive a medical instrument. The positioning system is configured to determine a position of a distal portion of the flexible catheter, the imaging probe, or the working catheter. The medical system is configured to collapse a portion of the anatomic passageways distal of the sealing location by removing air from the anatomic passageways to facilitate ultrasound imaging using the imaging probe.

Abstract: A method of trapping and removing contaminants from a source of contamination using a microparticle media includes the steps of: providing the microparticle media, wherein the microparticle media includes a plurality of microparticles, and wherein each of the microparticles includes a substrate having pores; prehydrating the pores of the microparticles by mixing the microparticle media with at least one of a water or water of a electrolysis supernatant solution to form a prehydrated microparticle media having a portion of the water or water of the electrolysis supernatant solution absorbed or adsorbed in the pores of the microparticles; introducing the prehydrated microparticle media to the contaminants, wherein the prehydrated microparticle media trap or bind to the contaminants; and separating the prehydrated microparticle media and the contaminants trapped or bound to the prehydrated microparticle media from the source of contamination.

Abstract: A hypodermic interface assembly includes a hub, a cannula carrier connected to the hub, and a cannula connected to the cannula carrier. The cannula carrier includes an outer side surface including a first outer side surface portion, a second outer side surface portion, and a third outer side surface portion. The cannula extends through a passage formed by the cannula carrier.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine for converting an expandable pre-slit sheet stock material into a relatively less dense dunnage product includes an improved expansion assembly that provides means for adjusting the spacing between axes of rotation of components through which the sheet stock material is drawn. The adjustability enables pre-slit sheet stock materials of differing thicknesses and/or having differing slit patterns to be fed through the expansion assembly with no or minimal compression of an expanded dunnage product, jamming in the conversion machine, bunching, and/or tearing of the pre-slit sheet stock material or expanded dunnage product resulting from expansion of the pre-slit sheet stock material.

Abstract: A gear includes an inner portion formed from a first material; an outer portion formed from a second material melted and solidified onto the inner portion; and a plurality of teeth formed in the outer portion after the second material has solidified.

Abstract: A hypodermic interface assembly includes a cannula and a hub. The hub is defined by a first portion and a second portion. The second portion of the hub is breakably-connected to the first portion of the hub. The cannula is joined to the second portion of the hub. The second portion of the hub is defined by an outer head surface portion having a first geometry. The second portion of the hub also includes an outer neck or groove surface portion having a second geometry. The first geometry of the outer head surface portion is greater than the second geometry of the outer neck or groove surface portion.

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: A supply (22) of sheet stock material (24, 34) for a dunnage conversion machine (26) that is readily spliced to another supply includes (a) one or more plies of sheet material (24, 34) having (i) multiple longitudinally-extending sections, including a center section (42) bounded by lateral sections (40), where the lateral sections (40) are folded over a common face of the center section (42) along longitudinal fold lines (44) at lateral edges of the folded sheet material, and (ii) a leading end (60) and a trailing end (62) at respective longitudinally-opposite ends of the sheet material, where the lateral sections (40) are separated from the center section (42) adjacent the leading end (60) and adjacent the trailing end (62) along respective lines of separation; and (b) a splicing adhesive (76) applied to the sheet material adjacent the leading end (60) or the trailing end (62) on both the center section (42) and each of the lateral WO 2020/092578 A1 sections (40) to facilitate splicing each section to respec

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and kit for cDNA synthesis of a 3?UTR/poly(A) tail junction of cellular RNA comprising: obtaining RNA comprising a 3?UTR/poly(A) junction and a poly(a) tail; combining the RNA with three terminating nucleotides of modified-deoxyGTP, modified-deoxyCTP and modified-deoxyATP, dNTPs, and adaptor sequence-oligo-dT; performing reverse transcription of the RNA with a reverse transcriptase primed with the adaptor sequence-oligo-dT to form terminated cDNA fragments that are stochastically terminated upstream of the 3?UTR/poly(A) junction, but not within the poly(A) tail; isolating the terminated cDNA fragments; chemically ligating a functionalized 5? adaptor to the terminated cDNA; and amplifying the chemically-ligated cDNA into an amplification product, wherein the cDNA is enriched for sequences at the 3?UTR/poly(A) tail junction without fragmentation or enzymatic ligation.

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: The present disclosure relates to an improved process for the synthesis of nanomaterials and composites from Zintl phases. The nanomaterials and composites are useful, for example, as ion storage materials.

Abstract: Composite materials incorporated with shear thickening fluids (STF) are disclosed. The STF-composites are light weight and include high tenacity textiles that dissipate/absorb energy from impact forces and exhibit damage resistance and self-healing functionality. Also disclosed are articles comprising STF-composite materials, such as safety suits and extra-vehicular mobility units, which include STF-intercalated textiles and composites. Methods for Manufacturing STF-composites are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an elongate device include an input control console. The console includes a first input control having an infinite length of travel in a first direction, a second input control having an infinite length of travel in more than one direction, one or more transceivers for coupling the console to a control unit for the elongate device, and interface circuits for coupling the first input control and the second input control to the one or more transceivers. The first input control provides a first command suitable for controlling an insertion depth of the elongate device. The second input control provides second commands suitable for controlling steering of a distal end of the elongate device. In some embodiments, the console includes raised rings or bezels within which the input controls are mounted. In some embodiments, pockets of a drape are anchored to the raised rings or bezels.

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 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.