Abstract: An optoacoustic probe for optoacoustic imaging of a volume, the optoacoustic probe having a distal end operable to contact the volume and a proximal end. The optoacoustic probe includes at least one primary light source and an auxiliary light source that is configured to generate auxiliary light carried through an optical window to a volume. A detection device is configured to detect signals generated from the auxiliary light or primary light reflecting from the volume or the optical window. A microcontroller including one or more processors is also provided, that receives the signals generated from the auxiliary light reflecting from the volume from the detection device, determines contact between the volume and the optoacoustic probe based on the auxiliary light reflecting from the volume, and prevents the at least one primary light source from generating light until the optoacoustic probe is contacting the volume.

Abstract: A gas flare for burning waste gas comprises a stack with an upper chimney space, a lower combustion chamber, and a burner having one or more flame outlets positioned in the combustion chamber. A primary combustion air intake of the burner is in fluid communication with an ambient air intake to source primary combustion air therefrom. An airflow control device resides in a position operable to regulate secondary air flow from the ambient air intake to the flame outlet of the burner without obstructing the primary combustion air intake of said burner. The stack features a double hull design to preheat the ambient air as it travels to the burner, and a liquid containment/vaporization chamber is installed below the burner in heat exchange relationship with the preheated airflow path to the burner, whereby the chamber is warmed by the pre-heated combustion air and radiant heat from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an electrode film mixture can have a first source including a polymer dispersion comprising a liquid and a polymer, a second source including a second component of the electrode film mixture, and a fluidized bed coating apparatus including a first inlet configured to receive from the first source the dispersion, and a second inlet configured to receive from the second source the second component.

Abstract: A spool configured to support a roll of material. The spool comprises an arbor, a first flange, and a second flange. The first flange includes a first plurality of flange panels that are rotatably connected to respective arbor panels of the arbor at a first arbor edge of the arbor. The second flange is connected to a second arbor edge of the arbor. The first flange is configured to transition between a retention configuration and an open configuration. In the retention configuration, the roll of material is substantially prevented from removal from the arbor along an arbor axis by the first and second flanges. In the open configuration, the roll of material is removable from the arbor and receivable on the arbor in the arbor direction.

Abstract: Strains of yeast genetically engineered to produce increased amounts of non-hydroxylated collagen or hydroxylated collagen are described. An all-in-one vector including the DNA necessary to produce collagen, promotors, and hydroxylating enzymes is also described. Methods for producing non-hydroxylated or hydroxylated collagen are also provided.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device: (a) power cable comprising: (i) a primary lead that connects to a first pole of an AC power source and (ii) one or more auxiliary leads; wherein the power cable includes a dual core having the primary lead on a first side and the one or more auxiliary leads on a second side with a web being located between the first side and the second side.

Abstract: An electric double-layer ultracapacitor configured to maintain desired operation at an operating voltage of three volts, where the capacitor includes a housing component, a first and a second current collector, a positive and a negative electrode electrically coupled to one of the first and second current collectors, and a separator positioned between the positive and the negative electrode. At least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode can include a treated carbon material, where the treated carbon material includes a reduction in a number of hydrogen-containing functional groups, nitrogen-containing functional groups and/or oxygen-containing functional groups.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an electrode film mixture can have a first source including a polymer dispersion comprising a liquid and a polymer, a second source including a second component of the electrode film mixture, and a fluidized bed coating apparatus including a first inlet configured to receive from the first source the dispersion, and a second inlet configured to receive from the second source the second component.

Abstract: A device comprising: a first jaw having a gripping surface; a second jaw having a gripping surface, the second jaw being spaced apart from the first jaw and being configured to move between an open position and a closed position, and a sealer divider having a plurality of stops including at least: one or more distal stops, one or more proximal stops; and one or more intermediate stops that are of an intermediate height when compared to a height of the one or more distal stops and a height the one or more proximal stops, and wherein the plurality of stops are non-conductive and are distributed on the gripping surface of the first jaw, the gripping surface of the second jaw, or both, and wherein the first jaw and the second jaw have a proximal end and a distal end and the plurality of stops produce a gap that is widest at the proximal end and tapers so that a gap at the distal end is narrower than the gap at the proximal end.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a chordal replacement system comprising: a pledget coupled to a first suture length and at least one of a first needle and a first ferrule; a second suture length coupled to the pledget and at least a second needle; and a third suture length coupled to the pledget and at least a third needle; wherein the second and third suture lengths are not monolithic with each other and do not constitute a single suture. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a seeding system comprising a plurality of planting units, each planting unit configured to meter and deliver seed and a control system configured to obtain a seed planting model that identifies a plurality of seed planting locations on a worksite, identify a machine path on the worksite, identify, based on the machine path, a set of the seed planting locations for each of the planting units, and control each planting unit to deliver seeds to the set of seed planting locations identified for the planting unit.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a chordal replacement system comprising: a pledget coupled to a first suture length and at least one of a first needle and a first ferrule; a second suture length coupled to the pledget and at least a second needle; and a third suture length coupled to the pledget and at least a third needle; wherein the second and third suture lengths are not monolithic with each other and do not constitute a single suture. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: (a) a stylet comprising: one or more support rods; (b) a hand piece comprising: one or more housing structures defining a cavity; and one or more actuating mechanisms comprising: one or more levers attached to one or more pivot axes in the hand piece and configured to form one or more slidable joints in communication with the one or more support rods; wherein the one or more levers are configured to be assembled by: being placed into the hand piece along the assembly direction before the stylet so the stylet may be placed into the hand piece over the one or more levers; or being placed into the hand piece along the assembly direction after the stylet so the one or more levers is placed into the hand piece over the stylet and in communication with the stylet.

Abstract: An electric double-layer ultracapacitor configured to maintain desired operation at an operating voltage of three volts, where the capacitor includes a housing component, a first and a second current collector, a positive and a negative electrode electrically coupled to one of the first and second current collectors, and a separator positioned between the positive and the negative electrode. At least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode can include a treated carbon material, where the treated carbon material includes a reduction in a number of hydrogen-containing functional groups, nitrogen-containing functional groups and/or oxygen-containing functional groups.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly including: (a) a latch unit comprising: (A) a hook latch, having a home position, (B) a forward bias constraint, (C) a rearward bias constraint, and (D) a bias member extending between the forward bias constraint and the rearward bias constraint so that the bias member has a pre-load when the hook latch is in the home position; (b) a movement unit including a bar that is movable relative to the latch unit so that the bar is movable in a prescribed motion into contact with the latch unit to create a locked state; and wherein the bar moves into contact with the hook latch driving the hook latch in a first direction, away relative to the home position, and then the hook latch is moved by the bar in a second direction relative to the home position, and a loading of the bias member is increased from the pre-load when the hook latch is moved in either the first direction away from the home position or the second direction away from the home position.

Abstract: A surgical device that includes a first support member extending along a longitudinal axis; a bladder located on the first support member; a first sealing member located on the bladder; and a second sealing member located on the bladder. The sealing member is located on one side of the longitudinal axis; and the second sealing member is located on another side of the longitudinal axis. The bladder is inflatable, and inflating the bladder changes a position of the first sealing member, the second sealing member, or both relative to the first support member.

Abstract: An optoacoustic probe for optoacoustic imaging of a volume, the optoacoustic probe having a distal end operable to contact the volume and a proximal end. The optoacoustic probe includes at least one primary light source and an auxiliary light source that is configured to generate auxiliary light carried through an optical window to a volume. A detection device is configured to detect signals generated from the auxiliary light or primary light reflecting from the volume or the optical window. A microcontroller including one or more processors is also provided, that receives the signals generated from the auxiliary light reflecting from the volume from the detection device, determines contact between the volume and the optoacoustic probe based on the auxiliary light reflecting from the volume, and prevents the at least one primary light source from generating light until the optoacoustic probe is contacting the volume.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: (a) a stylet comprising: one or more support rods; (b) a hand piece comprising: one or more housing structures defining a cavity; and one or more actuating mechanisms comprising: one or more levers attached to one or more pivot axes in the hand piece and configured to form one or more slidable joints in communication with the one or more support rods; wherein the one or more levers are configured to be assembled by: being placed into the hand piece along the assembly direction before the stylet so the stylet may be placed into the hand piece over the one or more levers; or being placed into the hand piece along the assembly direction after the stylet so the one or more levers is placed into the hand piece over the stylet and in communication with the stylet.

Abstract: A surgical device that includes a first support member extending along a longitudinal axis; a bladder located on the first support member; a first sealing member located on the bladder; and a second sealing member located on the bladder. The sealing member is located on one side of the longitudinal axis; and the second sealing member is located on another side of the longitudinal axis. The bladder is inflatable, and inflating the bladder changes a position of the first sealing member, the second sealing member, or both relative to the first support member.

Abstract: A method for execution by a monitoring data analysis system includes receiving a plurality of measurement data from the gateway device, each indicating a measurement generated by one of a plurality of multi-sensor units. A set of measurement entries are generated based on the plurality of measurement data, and the set of measurement entries are added to a measurement database. A custom function definition for a custom function is received from a client device based on user input to a graphical user interface. Custom function output is generated by performing the custom function on a filtered subset of the plurality of measurement entries by utilizing the custom function definition. The custom function output is transmitted to the client device for display via the graphical user interface.