Abstract: An articulating surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly, and an articulating component interconnecting the shaft and end effector assembly. The articulating component includes a proximal disk connected to the shaft, a distal disk connected to the end effector assembly, an intermediate disk, a first flexible interconnect connecting the proximal and intermediate disks, and a second flexible interconnect connecting the intermediate and distal disks. The first flexible interconnect defines a single plane of bending to enable articulation of the end effector assembly relative to the shaft within a first plane. The second flexible interconnect defines a single plane of bending substantially perpendicular to the single plane of bending of the first flexible interconnect to enable articulation of the end effector assembly relative to the shaft within a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of object enhancement in endoscopy images includes capturing an image of an object within a surgical operative site via an imaging device, determining a size of the object based on the captured image of the object, displaying the captured image of the object, and displaying on the displayed captured image of the object a representation of the determined size of the object.

Abstract: A male dovetail for a bucket mounted on a drum rotor for a steam turbine is provided by a tight hook-to-hook fit with the female dovetail of a retaining groove around the periphery of the drum rotor wheel. The tight hook-to-hook fit eliminates the use of loading pins which heretofore have been driven between a base of the male dovetail and a bottom of the retaining groove, a manually intensive operation with the potential to damage the bucket and the rotor.

Abstract: A rotor wheel and a rotor blade for use in a turbine engine, the rotor wheel and the rotor blade being configured to comprise a connection formed between a root of the rotor blade and an outer radial portion of the rotor wheel that secures the rotor blade to the rotor wheel during operation of the turbine engine; wherein the connection comprises two or more tangential dovetails.

Abstract: A male dovetail for a bucket mounted on a drum rotor for a steam turbine is provided by a tight hook-to-hook fit with the female dovetail of a retaining groove around the periphery of the drum rotor wheel. The tight hook-to-hook fit eliminates the use of loading pins which heretofore have been driven between a base of the male dovetail and a bottom of the retaining groove, a manually intensive operation with the potential to damage the bucket and the rotor.

Abstract: Familial juvenile polyposis is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by a predisposition to hamartomatous polyps and gastrointestinal cancer. The present invention shows that JP families carry germline mutations in BMPR1A, a gene located at 10q22-23. Methods and compositions for the detection and amelioration of FJP and gastrointestinal tumors are provided.

Abstract: Familial juvenile polyposis is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by a predisposition to hamartomatous polyps and gastrointestinal cancer. The present invention shows that JP families carry germline mutations in SMAD4/DPC4, a gene on chromosome 18q21.1. The mutant SMAD4 proteins are truncated at the carboxyl-terminus and lack sequences required for normal function. Methods and compositions for the detection and amelioration of FJP and gastrointestinal tumors are provided.