Abstract: Surgical staplers and methods of their use are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical stapler includes a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a handle extending from the proximal end of the tubular shaft, a head assembly extending from the distal end of the tubular shaft, and an insertion guide configured to extend through the head assembly. The insertion guide includes an expandable member configured to move between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and a camera configured to be positioned at least partially within the expandable member.

Abstract: An elastic nonwoven material includes a first non-woven fabric including a plurality of rows. Each row has a plurality of adjacent bonds formed therein. The elastic nonwoven material also includes a first elastic strand entrapped between a first pair of adjacent bonds within a first row of the plurality of rows, and a second elastic strand entrapped between a second pair of adjacent bonds within the first row. A third pair of adjacent bonds within the first row is free of elastic material therebetween and is located between the first pair of adjacent bonds and the second pair of adjacent bonds.

Abstract: An edge plate removal system includes a frame, a set of alignment rods attached to the frame, a set of clamping assemblies attached to the frame, a handle attached to the frame, and a set of lift points attached to the frame. Each alignment rod, of the set of alignment rods, is configured to be inserted into a bore of an edge plate (e.g., a cutting edge) of an implement (e.g., a blade) of a machine. Each clamping assembly, of the set of clamping assemblies, is configured to clamp the edge plate and includes a first clamp and a second clamp, a clamp rod, a set of retention nuts, and a set of tightening nuts. The handle and the set of lift points are configured to facilitate application of a pulling force on the edge plate when the edge plate is clamped by the clamping assembly.

Abstract: An elastic nonwoven material includes a first non-woven fabric including a plurality of rows. Each row has a plurality of adjacent bonds formed therein. The elastic nonwoven material also includes a first elastic strand entrapped between a first pair of adjacent bonds within a first row of the plurality of rows, and a second elastic strand entrapped between a second pair of adjacent bonds within the first row. A third pair of adjacent bonds within the first row is free of elastic material therebetween and is located between the first pair of adjacent bonds and the second pair of adjacent bonds.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating an article using a first bonding module having a first bonding module face and a second bonding module having a second bonding module face include supplying a first non-woven fabric to at least one of the first bonding module face and the second bonding module face, and supplying a plurality of elastic strands to a surface of the first non-woven fabric. The method and system further include entrapping a first elastic strand between a first pair of adjacent bonds in a first row in the first non-woven fabric, entrapping a second elastic strand between a second pair of adjacent bonds in the first row, and creating a third pair of adjacent bonds in the first row free of elastic bands therebetween. The third pair of adjacent bonds is located between the first pair of adjacent bonds and the second pair of adjacent bonds.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module. The second bonding module is positionable in close proximity to the first bonding module for receiving a first nonwoven fabric, a second nonwoven fabric, and at least one elastic strand therebetween. The second bonding module has a face with a width dimension and a circumferential axis and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a plurality of ridges includes a first ridge and a pair of second ridges positioned on opposing sides of the first ridge along the circumferential axis. The first ridge defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches, and the second ridges are configured to sever the at least one elastic strand when in close proximity to the first bonding module.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a rotary ultrasonic horn and a rotary anvil positionable in close proximity to the ultrasonic horn. The anvil has a face with a width and a circumferential axis. The face has a plurality of ridges each of which defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches.

Abstract: A face covering includes layers of nonwoven material and at least one elastic element. The layers of nonwoven material cooperatively define a first opening, a second opening, and a filtration area of the face covering. The filtration area is arranged to allow airflow through the face covering and remove particulates from the airflow. The first opening and the second opening are sized to receive a head of a wearer. The at least one elastic element is secured to the layers of nonwoven material. The face covering is sized such that, when the face covering is positioned on the head of the wearer, the at least one elastic element provides a seal against the wearer and the layers of nonwoven material provide a loose fit on the wearer.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating an article using a first bonding module having a first bonding module face and a second bonding module having a second bonding module face include supplying a first non-woven fabric to at least one of the first bonding module face and the second bonding module face, and supplying a plurality of elastic strands to a surface of the first non-woven fabric. The method and system further include entrapping a first elastic strand between a first pair of adjacent bonds in a first row in the first non-woven fabric, entrapping a second elastic strand between a second pair of adjacent bonds in the first row, and creating a third pair of adjacent bonds in the first row free of elastic bands therebetween. The third pair of adjacent bonds is located between the first pair of adjacent bonds and the second pair of adjacent bonds.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module. The second bonding module is positionable in close proximity to the first bonding module. At least one of the first bonding module and the second bonding module has a face with a width dimension and a circumferential axis and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a plurality of ridges. The ridges are positioned such that at least two adjacent ridges overlap along the circumferential axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module. The second bonding module is positionable in close proximity to the first bonding module for receiving a first nonwoven fabric, a second nonwoven fabric, and at least one elastic strand therebetween. The second bonding module has a face with a width dimension and a circumferential axis and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a plurality of ridges includes a first ridge and a pair of second ridges positioned on opposing sides of the first ridge along the circumferential axis. The first ridge defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches, and the second ridges are configured to sever the at least one elastic strand when in close proximity to the first bonding module.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a rotary ultrasonic horn and a rotary anvil positionable in close proximity to the ultrasonic horn. The anvil has a face with a width and a circumferential axis. The face has a plurality of ridges each of which defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module, a second bonding module positioned in close proximity to the first bonding module, and a pinching device. The first bonding module and the second bonding module are adapted to bond at least one elastic strand of the elastic nonwoven material. The pinching device is adapted to limit a snap-back potential of the at least one elastic strand if the at least one elastic strand becomes severed during bonding.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a rotary ultrasonic horn and a rotary anvil positionable in close proximity to the ultrasonic horn. The anvil has a face with a width and a circumferential axis. The face has a plurality of ridges each of which defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module. The second bonding module is positionable in close proximity to the first bonding module. At least one of the first bonding module and the second bonding module has a face with a width dimension and a circumferential axis and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a plurality of ridges. The ridges are positioned such that at least two adjacent ridges overlap along the circumferential axis.

Abstract: A composite knife made from layers of Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) is disclosed. It includes a middle layer of fibrous preform including a hard insert placed longitudinally at its periphery. The hard insert, after sharpening, represents the cutting blade portion of the composite knife. The composite knife further includes a carrier which forms the load bearing member of the cutting blade, as well as forming the integral handle of the composite knife. The carrier portion of the composite knife includes at least one top and at least one bottom layers of fibrous preform, sandwiching the middle layer that contains the cutting edge portion of the knife. A metallic material is infiltrated within the fibrous preforms and extends throughout the composite blade structure forming the MMC knife, the metallic material bonding the middle layer within the carrier, and bonding the top and bottom surface of the hard insert within the carrier.

Abstract: A structural insert according to the present invention can be utilized in a Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) structure such as an armor structure having one or more material layers with each material layer having at least one structural insert arranged along a common surface. Utilizing a polygonal or HoneyComb Core, a reinforcement material containing a fraction of high volume hollow microspheres with interior voids can be utilized and placed within the inserts cellular structure to decrease the weight of the armor system. Subsequent to metal infiltration, the metal encapsulates the micro-spheres within the cells of the cellular structure, forming pockets of micro-spheres therein. These encapsulated hollow microspheres comprise a ceramic or glass wall around an interior void having a wall thickness that reinforces the void wall surface. The encapsulating metal further bonds to the walls of the cellular structure increasing the crush strength of the cell wall.

Abstract: A composite knife made from layers of Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) is disclosed. It includes a middle layer of fibrous preform including a hard insert placed longitudinally at its periphery. The hard insert, after sharpening, represents the cutting blade portion of the composite knife. The composite knife further includes a carrier which forms the load bearing member of the cutting blade, as well as forming the integral handle of the composite knife. The carrier portion of the composite knife includes at least one top and at least one bottom layers of fibrous preform, sandwiching the middle layer that contains the cutting edge portion of the knife. A metallic material is infiltrated within the fibrous preforms and extends throughout the composite blade structure forming the MMC knife, the metallic material bonding the middle layer within the carrier, and bonding the top and bottom surface of the hard insert within the carrier.

Abstract: A ceramic armor is disclosed that utilizes a titanium frame assembly surrounding monolithic ceramic tiles combined with aluminum pressure infiltration. The aluminum pressure infiltration serves to “wet” the ceramic, bonding the ceramic to the titanium frame on the top, bottom, sides and interior of the frame assembly. After aluminum pressure infiltration at high temperature followed by cooling, this combination creates compressive stress in all directions surrounding the ceramic thereby enhancing localization of a blast/projectile hit to enhance the armors effectiveness. Even after damage due to a projectile hit, adjacent tiles retain their structural integrity, residual stress, and bond to the frame assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a rotary ultrasonic horn and a rotary anvil positionable in close proximity to the ultrasonic horn. The anvil has a face with a width and a circumferential axis. The face has a plurality of ridges each of which defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches.