Abstract: Described here are devices, systems, and methods for treating one or more conditions (such as dry eye) or improving ocular health by providing stimulation to nasal or sinus tissue. Generally, the devices may be handheld or implantable. In some variations, the handheld devices may have a stimulator body and a stimulator probe having one or more nasal insertion prongs. When the devices and systems are used to treat dry eye, nasal or sinus tissue may be stimulated to increase tear production, reduce the symptoms of dry eye, and/or improve ocular surface health.

Abstract: Techniques for NAT-based steering of traffic in cloud-based networks. The techniques may include establishing, by a frontend node of a network, a connection with a client device. The frontend node may receive, via the connection, a packet including an indication of an identity of a service hosted on a backend node of the network. Based at least in part on the indication, the frontend node may establish a second connection with the backend node. Additionally, the frontend node may store a mapping indicating that packets received from the client device are to be sent to the backend node. The techniques may also include receiving another packet at the frontend node or another frontend node of the network. Based at least in part on the mapping, the frontend node or other frontend node may alter one or more network addresses of the other packet and forward it to the backend node.

Abstract: Techniques for Network Address Translation (NAT)-based steering of traffic in cloud-based networks. The techniques may include establishing, by a frontend node of a network, a connection with a client device. The frontend node may receive, via the connection, a packet including an indication of an identity of a service hosted on a backend node of the network. Based at least in part on the indication, the frontend node may establish a second connection with the backend node. Additionally, the frontend node may store a mapping indicating that packets received from the client device are to be sent to the backend node. The techniques may also include receiving another packet at the frontend node or another frontend node of the network. Based at least in part on the mapping, the frontend node or other frontend node may alter one or more network addresses of the other packet and forward it to the backend node.

Abstract: A negative pressure device having a negative pressure source, a canister in fluid communication with the negative pressure source, a conduit the can couple with a wound dressing to provide negative pressure to a space beneath the wound dressing. Some arrangements of the negative pressure source can have a first noise reduction chamber and a second noise reduction chamber downstream of and in fluid communication with an outlet of a pump. The first and second noise reduction chambers can be configured to reduce noise generated by the pump and/or a level of pressure pulses in the fluid that is advanced through the negative pressure source.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to reduce double encryption of packets that are transmitted using encrypted tunnels. The techniques described herein include determining that portions of the packets are already encrypted, identifying portions of the packets that are unencrypted, and selectively encrypting the portions of the packets that are unencrypted prior to transmission through the encrypted tunnel. In this way, potentially private or sensitive data in the packets that is unencrypted, such as information in the packet headers, will be encrypted using the encryption protocol of the encrypted tunnel, but the data of the packets that is already encrypted, such as the payload, may avoid unnecessary double encryption. By reducing (or eliminating) the amount of data in data packets that is double encrypted, the amount of time taken by computing devices, and computing resources consumed, to encrypted traffic for encrypted tunnels may be reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for non-invasively determining a temperature of a fluid inside a housing are provided. First and second temperature sensors are positioned so that there is a temperature differential between the first and second temperature sensors. A difference between the temperature of the first and second temperature sensors can be used to estimate the temperature of the fluid inside the housing and/or a zero heat flow methodology can be used to determine the temperature of the fluid inside the housing.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method is provided herein of preparing a drug delivery device, the drug delivery device having a body with at least one fluid duct being open along a first face of the body, the at least one fluid duct for conveying drug from at least one reservoir to a needle configured for injection into a patient, the method including: providing a barrier across the first face of the body to at least cover the at least one fluid duct, wherein the barrier is ultraviolet transmissive; and, exposing the first face of the body to ultraviolet radiation so as to allow the ultraviolet radiation to pass through the barrier and decontaminate the at least one fluid duct.

Abstract: Described here are devices, systems, and methods for treating one or more conditions, such as allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis, nasal congestion, ocular allergy, and/or symptoms associated with these conditions, by providing stimulation to nasal or sinus tissue. In some variations, the handheld devices may have a stimulator body and a stimulator probe having one or more nasal insertion prongs, and the nasal insertion prongs may be configured to deliver an electrical stimulus to the tissue.

Abstract: A cable puller in accordance with some example embodiments is configured to pull rope or cable through a conduit. The cable puller includes a puller frame, a capstan rotatably mounted thereon, a boom mounted to the puller frame, and a handle extending from the boom. The handle can be pivoted to a variety of positions relative to the boom. A lock locks the handle into a desired position relative to the boom. In some embodiments, the boom is mounted to a wheel assembly, and in some embodiments, the handle is part of the wheel assembly.

Abstract: A training device (10) for training a user in the operation of an auto-injector that dispenses a medicament is described. The training device (10) comprises a housing (13), an actuation assembly (22) located within the housing (13), the actuation assembly (22) comprising a plunger (24) and a guide member (26), the plunger and the guide member defining, and connected by, a complementary first male profile and a first female profile. The plunger (24) is movable with respect to the guide member (26) along a first path defined by at least a portion of the first male or the first female profiles, the plunger (24) moving linearly between a start position and a finish position. The first path extends in a direction non-parallel to the linear movement of the plunger (24).

Abstract: A fish tape case is configured to house a fish tape. The fish tape includes a shell having an upper base wall, a lower base wall, an inner side wall extending between inner perimeters of the base walls and forming a central aperture through the shell, an outer side wall extending between outer perimeters of the base walls and defining an outer diameter of the shell, the walls defining a cavity therein, the upper base wall having a first opening therethrough in communication with the cavity through which the fish tape can exit, and the outer side wall having a second opening therethrough in communication with the cavity through which the fish tape can exit. A storage reel is mounted in the cavity for holding the fish tape.

Abstract: Asphalt binders and related methods and uses are provided. In some embodiments, the asphalt binder is produced by: providing a high-asphaltene content petroleum feedstock; performing solvent deasphalting on the feedstock to produce a partially deasphalted oil and an asphaltene-rich residue; and collecting the partially deasphalted oil (DAO). The high-asphaltene content petroleum feedstock may comprise residue from vacuum distillation or flash separation of extra heavy oil or bitumen, or recycled asphalt. The DAO may itself be used as the asphalt binder or may be a component of a blend with the original feedstock. Asphalt binders may also be produced by blending residue and heavy distillate produced from vacuum distillation or flash separation, with DAO or the asphaltene-rich residue of the solvent deasphalting process. The disclosed methods allow for production of asphalt binders of a wide variety of performance grades.

Abstract: A system is disclosed herein, including a cushion including a plurality of tactors and a plurality of air bladders disposed adjacent the plurality of tactors, a pump assembly operably connected to the plurality of bladders, a processor, and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The memory includes instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine an inflation sequence for the plurality of air bladders, determine a deflation sequence for the plurality of air bladders, output commands to the pump assembly corresponding to the inflation sequence and the deflation sequence, and output vibrate commands to the plurality of tactors.

Abstract: An endurance haptic system is disclosed herein. The endurance haptic system includes a plurality of tactors, a plurality of air bladders, a tactor driver operably coupled to the plurality of tactors and configured to send vibration commands to the plurality of tactors in response to a first signal received from an aircraft controller, and an air bladder driver operably coupled to the plurality of air bladders and configured to inflate and deflate the plurality of air bladders in response to a second signal received from the aircraft controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically analyzing a sample may include an imaging subsystem that images the sample, one or more analyzing subsystems that analyze the sample including a confocal imaging subsystem, a temperature control subsystem that controls a temperature of the atmosphere within the apparatus, a gas control subsystem that controls a composition of the atmosphere within the apparatus, and a control module that controls the various subsystems of the apparatus.

Abstract: A stimulation system stimulates anatomical targets in a patient for treatment of dry eye. The system may include a controller and a microstimulator. The controller may be implemented externally to or internally within the microstimulator. The components of the controller and microstimulator may be implemented in a single unit or in separate devices. When implemented separately, the controller and microstimulator may communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection. The microstimulator may generate pulses from a controller signal and apply the signal via one or more electrodes to an anatomical target. The microstimulator may not have any intelligence or logic to shape or modify a signal. The microstimulator may be a passive device configured to generate a pulse based on a signal received from the controller. The microstimulator may shape or modify a signal. Waveforms having different frequency, amplitude and period characteristics may stimulate different anatomical targets in a patient.

Abstract: A stimulation system stimulates anatomical targets in a patient for treatment of dry eye. The system may include a controller and a microstimulator. The controller may be implemented externally to or internally within the microstimulator. The components of the controller and microstimulator may be implemented in a single unit or in separate devices. When implemented separately, the controller and microstimulator may communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection. The microstimulator may generate pulses from a controller signal and apply the signal via one or more electrodes to an anatomical target. The microstimulator may not have any intelligence or logic to shape or modify a signal. The microstimulator may be a passive device configured to generate a pulse based on a signal received from the controller. The microstimulator may shape or modify a signal. Waveforms having different frequency, amplitude and period characteristics may stimulate different anatomical targets in a patient.

Abstract: A cable puller in accordance with some example embodiments is configured to pull rope or cable through a conduit. The cable puller includes a puller frame, a capstan rotatably mounted thereon, a boom mounted to the puller frame, and a handle extending from the boom. The handle can be pivoted to a variety of positions relative to the boom. A lock locks the handle into a desired position relative to the boom. In some embodiments, the boom is mounted to a wheel assembly, and in some embodiments, the handle is part of the wheel assembly.

Abstract: A medical device according to certain embodiments generally includes a first wall, a second wall, and a first deformable reinforcing member. The first wall and the second wall are joined to one another such that a cavity is formed between the first wall and the second wall. The cavity has an outlet opening formed at a proximal end of the medical device. The first deformable reinforcing member is attached to the first wall, and is deformable by manual application of pressure to lateral edges of the first deformable reinforcing member so as to radially distend the outlet opening. The first deformable reinforcing member includes at least one first notch formed in at least one lateral edge thereof. Each notch is configured to receive a portion of a user's digit to facilitate manual application of pressure to said lateral edges.

Abstract: An aircrew automation system that provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies that pilot of any deviations in expected state based on predictive models. The aircrew automation may be provided as a non-invasive ride-along aircrew automation system that perceives the state of the aircraft through visual techniques, derives the aircraft state vector and other aircraft information, and communicates any deviations from expected aircraft state to the pilot.