Abstract: A surgical laser system includes an array of laser diodes that are configured to output laser energy, a fiber bundle, a delivery fiber, and a tubular sheath. The fiber bundle includes a plurality of optical fibers and has a proximal end that is configured to receive laser energy from the array of laser diodes. The delivery fiber includes a proximal end that is configured to receive laser energy from a distal end of the fiber bundle. The tubular sheath defines a lumen, in which at least a portion of the delivery fiber is disposed. The tubular sheath is insertable into a working channel of an endoscope or a cystoscope. A distal end of the tubular sheath is configured to deliver laser energy discharged from the delivery fiber into a body of a patient.

Abstract: A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. A plurality of nested cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil permit passage of a cooling fluid from an interior of the turbine component to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of making a turbine component includes forming an airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge, and a plurality of nested cooling channels in the trailing edge portion. Each nested cooling channel fluidly connects an interior of the turbine component with an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of cooling a turbine component is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor a media presentation are disclosed. An example system includes a monitoring device to monitor a media presentation and generate research data identifying the media. A bridge device includes a housing dimensioned to receive the monitoring device, a receiver carried by the housing to receive a first audio signal via a wireless data connection from an audio source device using a wireless communication protocol, the first audio signal associated with the media. The bridge device includes an audio emitter to emit the audio signal for receipt by the monitoring device, and a transmitter to transmit the audio signal to an audio receiver device using the wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade for a gas turbine system. The rotor blade includes a platform having a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. A shank portion extends radially inwardly from the radially inner surface of the platform. The shank portion and the platform collectively define a shank pocket. An airfoil extends radially outwardly from the radially outer surface of the platform. The shank portion, the platform, and the airfoil collectively define a cooling passage extending from a cooling passage inlet defined by the shank portion or the platform and directly coupled to the shank pocket through the platform to a cooling passage outlet defined by the airfoil.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure pertain to a device with an elongated body having a distal end. The distal end may comprise a port that permits discharge of a laser energy towards a tissue from an optical fiber located in the distal end. An exterior surface of the distal end may include a cauterization portion that permits discharge of a cauterization energy towards the tissue. In some aspects, the device includes an insulative portion that attaches the distal end to the elongated body and limits energy transfer therebetween. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical laser system includes an array of laser diodes that are configured to output laser energy, a fiber bundle, a delivery fiber, and a tubular sheath. The fiber bundle includes a plurality of optical fibers and has a proximal end that is configured to receive laser energy from the array of laser diodes. The delivery fiber includes a proximal end that is configured to receive laser energy from a distal end of the fiber bundle. The tubular sheath defines a lumen, in which at least a portion of the delivery fiber is disposed. The tubular sheath is insertable into a working channel of an endoscope or a cystoscope. A distal end of the tubular sheath is configured to deliver laser energy discharged from the delivery fiber into a body of a patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade for a gas turbine engine. The rotor blade includes a platform comprising a radially inner surface, an undulating radially outer surface, a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, a pressure-side slash face, and a suction-side slash face. An airfoil extends outwardly from the undulating radially outer surface of the platform to an airfoil tip. A connection portion extends radially inwardly from the radially inner surface of the platform. The platform, the airfoil, and the connection portion collectively define a cooling circuit extending from an inlet in the connection portion through the airfoil to a plurality of outlet plena in the platform. Two or more outlet plena of the plurality of outlet plena are spaced equidistant from the undulating radially outer surface of the platform.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes a tip shroud having a seal rail. The seal rail includes a tangential surface extending between tangential ends. The turbine blade includes a root portion configured to couple to a rotor and an airfoil portion extending between the root portion and the tip shroud. The seal rail includes a cooling passage extending along a length of the seal rail. The cooling passage is fluidly coupled to a cooling plenum to receive a cooling fluid via an intermediate cooling passage extending between the cooling passage and a cooling plenum. The seal rail includes cooling outlet passages fluidly coupled to the cooling passage. The cooling outlet passages are disposed within the seal rail and extend between the cooling passage and the tangential surface of the seal rail. The cooling outlet passages are configured to discharge the cooling fluid from the tip shroud via the tangential surface.

Abstract: A blade for a turbomachine includes an airfoil extending radially between a root and a tip with a tip shroud coupled to the tip of the airfoil. The tip shroud includes a platform having an outer surface extending generally perpendicular to the airfoil. The tip shroud also includes a forward rail extending radially outward from the outer surface of the platform. The forward rail is oriented generally perpendicular to a hot gas path of the turbomachine. A cooling cavity is defined in a central portion of the platform. The tip shroud also includes a cooling channel extending between the cooling cavity and an ejection slot formed in the forward rail. The ejection slot is positioned radially outward of the outer surface of the platform of the tip shroud.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure pertain to a device with an elongated body having a distal end. The distal end may comprise a port that permits discharge of a laser energy towards a tissue from an optical fiber located in the distal end. An exterior surface of the distal end may include a cauterization portion that permits discharge of a cauterization energy towards the tissue. In some aspects, the device includes an insulative portion that attaches the distal end to the elongated body and limits energy transfer therebetween. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor a media presentation are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing defining a sleeve dimensioned to receive a monitoring device, the monitoring device to monitor the media presentation. The example apparatus includes a receiver carried by the housing to receive a first modulated audio signal from a media device via a wireless data connection using a wireless communication protocol, the first modulated audio signal associated with the media presentation, the receiver to output a baseband audio signal corresponding to the first modulated audio signal. The example apparatus includes a speaker carried by the housing to emit the baseband audio signal for receipt by the monitoring device within the sleeve. The example apparatus further includes a monitoring device to be received by the housing to receive the baseband audio signal from the speaker, and to generate research data identifying the media.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, an airfoil for a rotor blade of a gas turbine includes a normalized pressure side wall portion thickness, a normalized suction side wall portion thickness, a normalized leading edge wall thickness, and a normalized trailing edge wall thickness. The values of theses thicknesses define the pressure side wall portion thickness, the suction side wall portion thickness, the leading edge wall thickness, and the trailing edge wall thickness, which improve heat transfer, flow distribution, and mechanical load transfer.

Abstract: A surgical laser system (100) includes a first laser source (140A), a second laser source (140B), a beam combiner (142) and a laser probe (108). The first laser source is configured to output a first laser pulse train (144, 104A) comprising first laser pulses (146). The second laser source is configured to output a second laser pulse train (148, 104B) comprising second laser pulses (150). The beam combiner is configured to combine the first and second laser pulse trains and output a combined laser pulse train (152, 104) comprising the first and second laser pulses. The laser probe is optically coupled to an output of the beam combiner and is configured to discharge the combined laser pulse train. In some embodiments, a surgical laser system includes a laser generator (102), a laser probe (108), a stone analyzer (170), and a controller (122). The laser generator is configured to generate laser energy (104) based on laser energy settings (126). The laser probe is configured to discharge the laser energy.

Abstract: A rotor blade includes an airfoil having a blade tip and a tip cavity formed at the blade tip. The tip cavity includes a tip cap that is recessed radially inwardly from the tip and surrounded continuously by pressure and suction side walls of the airfoil. The tip cap further includes an aperture that extends through the tip cap and provides for fluid communication between an internal cavity defined within the airfoil and the tip cavity. An exhaust port provides for fluid communication out the tip cavity through one of the pressure side wall, the suction side wall or the trailing edge. A portion of at least one of the suction side wall and the pressure side wall that defines the tip cavity extends obliquely outwardly from the tip cavity with respect to a radial direction.

Abstract: A turbomachine blade is disclosed including an airfoil including a cooling fluid plenum extending therein and a trailing edge cooling opening extending from the cooling fluid plenum through a trailing edge of the airfoil. A platform may couple the airfoil to a shank, the platform including a trailing edge extending downstream relative to the shank. At least one cooling conduit delivers a cooling fluid radially inward from at least one of the cooling fluid plenum and the trailing edge cooling opening to a wheel space that is adjacent the shank and radially inward from the trailing edge of the platform. A related turbomachine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system may include a stone analyzer, a controller, a laser generator, and a beam combiner. The stone analyzer may be configured to generate an output relating to a natural or resonance frequency of a kidney or bladder stone. The controller may be configured to determine the natural or resonance frequency of the stone based on the output from the stone analyzer, and match a resultant pulse repetition rate with the natural or resonance frequency. The laser generator may be configured to generate at least two laser pulse trains, with each laser pulse train including laser pulses at a pulse repetition rate. The beam combiner may be configured to combine the at least two laser pulse trains into a combined laser pulse train including laser pulses at the resultant pulse repetition rate.

Abstract: This disclosure provides components and methods for blade extensions with internal features. An airfoil extends from a root connector and includes an airfoil body defining at least one air channel enclosed within the airfoil body. The air channel extends to a build surface. An additive extension extends from the build surface of the airfoil body. The additive extension includes an additive structure extending the air channel from the build surface to an external surface of the additive extension.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil includes a leading edge and a trailing edge. Also included is a cooling channel extending in a radial direction and tapering inwardly toward the trailing edge, the cooling channel at least partially defined by a pressure side face and a suction side face. Further included is a first plurality of turbulators protruding from one of the pressure side face and the suction side face to define a first height, the first plurality of turbulators extending toward the trailing edge of the turbine airfoil and spaced radially from each other. Yet further included is a second plurality of turbulators protruding from one of the pressure side face and the suction side face to define a second height that is less than the first height, the second plurality of turbulators extending toward the trailing edge of the turbine airfoil and spaced radially from each other.

Abstract: A side-fire laser fiber includes an optical fiber having a distal end and a fiber cap. The fiber cap is coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and includes a molded reflective surface and a sealed cavity. The molded reflective surface defines a wall of the cavity. Laser energy discharged from the distal end along a central axis of the optical fiber is reflected off the molded reflective surface in a direction that is transverse to the central axis.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade that includes a tip shroud attached to the outboard tip of the airfoil. The tip shroud may include an axially and circumferentially extending planar component in which an inboard surface opposes an outboard surface, and a shroud edge that connects the inboard surface to the outboard surface and defines an outboard profile of the tip shroud. The tip shroud may include a seal rail protruding from the outboard surface of the tip shroud and a cutter tooth disposed on the seal rail. The cutter tooth may be formed as a circumferential section of the seal rail that is axially thickened. The seal rail may further include a leakage gap formed therethrough that is configured to increase a leakage level during operation.