Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for peritoneal catheter placement are disclosed herein. An example method includes using a puncture device to create an access hole to a patient's peritoneal cavity. The puncture device includes a lumen that enables a guidewire to be inserted into the peritoneal cavity. The puncture device is then replaced with a catheter, which is inserted along the guidewire. A surgical seal is next applied to connect the catheter to adjacent patient muscle tissue. After the guidewire is removed, a tunneling device creates a pathway through fat tissue to anchor the catheter. An end of the tunneling device is aligned with an external piercing device to pierce the patient's skin from the outside, creating a catheter exit hole. An end of the catheter is connected to the tunneling device and pulled through the exit hole, thereby enabling the catheter to be connected to peritoneal dialysis tubing for a treatment.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for detecting a current leak in a traction power rail. Magnetic or electrical properties of the rail are measured. The measurements are performed using a rail instrument that senses the properties around the rail at various times while the instrument is being moved down the rail, such as using a cart or train. The rail instrument may be a flux concentrator or open Rogowski coil. The locations of the rail, about which the readings are taken by the rail instrument, may be determined and correlated with the measurements themselves. The method may comprise measuring the magnetic field of the rail along a length of the rail, and identifying a leak based on differences between the magnetic field measurements. The system may comprise a cart comprising the rail instrument and a location instrument.

Abstract: An in-flight contact charging system includes a charging contact, a power receiver, and a recharging controller connected to the charging contact. The charging contact is mounted on a support. The power receiver is mounted on an aerial vehicle containing an electrical load. The power receiver connects to the electrical load. The recharging controller can detect contact between the charging contact and the power receiver; transmit electricity to the charging contact; detect a spike in battery impedance; and discontinue transmission of electricity to the charging contact. The system enables a drone to rapidly recharge its battery while in flight by making brief contact between the charging contact and the power receiver. This system keeps the drone airborne, does not waste energy, and is comparatively cheap to build and maintain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fastener that includes a nut with a threaded bore that includes a head on one end having three recesses, a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered ramp on the other end, a bolt that includes a head, a threaded portion engaged with the threaded bore, a recess next to the bolt head and an enlarged shank between the threads and the recess, where the outer diameter of the recess is smaller than a major diameter of the threaded bore of the nut and where an outer diameter of the shank is larger than a major diameter of the bolt threads, and a sleeve with a unthreaded bore positioned between the tapered ramp and the bolt head with one end crimped into the recess such that the internal diameter of the crimped sleeve bore is smaller than the major diameter of the threads on the bolt.

Abstract: A method for recognising at least one of a non-verbal sound event and a scene in an audio signal comprising a sequence of frames of audio data, the method comprising: for each frame of the sequence: processing the frame of audio data to extract multiple acoustic features for the frame of audio data; and classifying the acoustic features to classify the frame by determining, for each of a set of sound classes, a score that the frame represents the sound class; processing the sound class scores for multiple frames of the sequence of frames to generate, for each frame, a sound class decision for each frame; and processing the sound class decisions for the sequence of frames to recognise the at least one of a non-verbal sound event and a scene.

Abstract: Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

Abstract: A catheter includes a handle with torqueing and steering mechanisms. The torqueing mechanism includes a rotatable nosecone and a bearing coupled to the nosecone to be rotatable therewith. The bearing is concentrically disposed over a shaft of the catheter. The steering mechanism includes a rack coupled to the bearing to be slideable therewith and a pull wire having a proximal end attached to the bearing and a distal end attached to a distal portion of the shaft. Rotation of the nosecone causes an entire length of the shaft to rotate and axial movement of the rack tensions the pull wire to bend the distal portion of the shaft. A valve relief component is slidingly disposed over the shaft and is configured to dock onto the handle when not in use.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a server machine configured to establish a secure communication channel with a client machine via renewable tokens. The server machine receives a plurality of messages from a client machine over a secure communication channel, where the plurality of messages includes a first message that includes at least two of user authentication data, entity authentication data, first key exchange data, and encrypted message data. The server machine transmits, to the client machine, a second message that includes a master token comprising second key exchange data associated with the first key exchange data and at least one of a renewal time and an expiration time.

Abstract: A firearm support system includes a receiver body comprising an upper wall comprising a strap slot and a strap carried by a strap bar, the strap being configured for passage through the strap slot and the strap bar being configured to be received within the strap slot.

Abstract: Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

Abstract: Delivery devices for delivery of a stented prosthetic heart valve. Various delivery devices include an outer sheath assembly including an outer sheath connected to a capsule that is advanced proximally to retain the prosthetic valve, which is secured over an inner shaft assembly of the delivery device. The delivery device further includes a bumper to provide a smooth transition of the capsule over the prosthetic valve during loading and recapture procedures. The bumper is expandable from a first position to a second position in which a distal end of the bumper is expanded to increase its diameter. The bumper can be biased in the second, expanded position so that the bumper automatically transitions to the expanded position upon retraction of the outer sheath.

Abstract: An installation tool includes a motor portion and a nose portion. The nose portion includes an opening for receiving a fastener. The nose portion includes a roller cages. The roller cages include a plurality of rollers. The plurality of rollers includes at least two rollers that are offset from other rollers of the plurality of rollers. The nose portion may include a first portion that is selectively attachable to a second portion.

Abstract: A filter unit includes an upper diverter chamber having a feed outlet, a backwash inlet, and an upper diverter tube in fluid communication with the backwash inlet. The filter unit also includes a lower diverter chamber comprising a feed inlet, a backwash outlet, and a lower diverter tube in fluid communication with the backwash outlet. A diverter motor is disposed between the upper diverter chamber and the lower diverter chamber. The diverter motor is coupled to a drive shaft. An upper end of the drive shaft is coupled to the upper diverter tube and a lower end of the drive shaft is coupled to the lower diverter tube. Filter housings are in fluid communication with the upper diverter chamber and the lower diverter chamber.

Abstract: A computing device comprising a processor, the processor configured to: receive, from an image capture system, an image captured in an environment and image metadata associated with the image, the image metadata comprising an image capture time; receive a sound recognition message from a sound recognition module, the sound recognition message comprising (i) a sound recognition identifier indicating a target sound or scene that has been recognised based on captured audio data captured in the environment, and (ii) time information associated with the sound recognition identifier; detect that the target sound or scene occurred at a time that the image was captured based on the image metadata and the time information in the sound recognition message; and output a camera control command to said image capture system based on said detection.

Abstract: A catheter includes a handle with torqueing and steering mechanisms. The torqueing mechanism includes a rotatable nosecone and a bearing coupled to the nosecone to be rotatable therewith. The bearing is concentrically disposed over a shaft of the catheter. The steering mechanism includes a rack coupled to the bearing to be slideable therewith and a pull wire having a proximal end attached to the bearing and a distal end attached to a distal portion of the shaft. Rotation of the nosecone causes an entire length of the shaft to rotate and axial movement of the rack tensions the pull wire to bend the distal portion of the shaft. A valve relief component is slidingly disposed over the shaft and is configured to dock onto the handle when not in use.

Abstract: Delivery devices for delivery of a stented prosthetic heart valve. Various delivery devices include an outer sheath assembly including an outer sheath connected to a capsule that is advanced proximally to retain the prosthetic valve, which is secured over an inner shaft assembly of the delivery device. The delivery device further includes a bumper to provide a smooth transition of the capsule over the prosthetic valve during loading and recapture procedures. The bumper is expandable from a first position to a second position in which a distal end of the bumper is expanded to increase its diameter. The bumper can be biased in the second, expanded position so that the bumper automatically transitions to the expanded position upon retraction of the outer sheath.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for reestablishing a secure communication channel between a client machine and a server machine. A client machine receives, from a server machine, a first message generated in connection with a first master token. The client machine detects an error condition associated with the first message. The client machine transmits, to the server machine, a second message generated in connection with a pre-provisioned key that includes a request for a new master token. The client machine receives, from the server machine, a third message that includes a second master token. The client machine transmits, to the server machine, a fourth message generated in connection with the second master token.

Abstract: A mobile device comprising a software application configured to detect the sound of a product use event; provide a user reward using said software application in response to said detection; capture data relating to said product use event; and provide said captured data to a remote computer system for analysis.

Abstract: Verification of presence of a detected target is carried out following an initial presence determination on the basis of detected non-verbal sound.