Abstract: Ultra-high purity zinc bromide and quaternary ammonium bromides suitable for use in zinc-bromine batteries, and methods for making same, are provided.

Abstract: An insecticide impregnated strip configured for convenient and reliable attachment to conventional animal ear tags. The insecticide strip comprises an elongated integrally molded member having a key-hole shaped aperture formed in an upper portion thereof, enabling the elongated strip to be pendularly suspended from the ear tag. Various methods are disclosed for attaching the strip to different types of known ear tags.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an end-effector assembly. The proximal end of the shaft is operably associated with the housing. The end-effector assembly is operably coupled to the distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a sealing plate and a bipolar electrode. Either one or both of the first and second jaw members is movable from a position in spaced relation relative to the other jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the sealing plates cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The electrosurgical instrument includes a semiconductor switch operably coupled to at least one of the sealing plates and at least one of the bipolar electrodes. The semiconductor switch is configured to enable user selection between energizing the at least one sealing plate or the at least one bipolar electrode.

Abstract: A method for dissecting a myoma from a uterine wall includes inserting a myomectomy screw retractor into a surgical site, articulating a tool assembly positioned at a distal end of the myomectomy screw retractor such that a screw of the tool assembly is positioned adjacent to the myoma orthogonal to the uterine wall, rotating the screw of the tool assembly into the myoma until the screw is substantially engaged with the myoma, manipulating the myoma by pitching, rotating, and/or providing traction to the myoma to expose cutting planes, and dissecting the myoma from the uterine wall by cutting along the exposed cutting planes.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and surgical systems including the surgical instrument and a morcellator. The surgical instrument includes a tool assembly having an articulating joint and a screw positioned at a distal end of the articulating joint. The articulating joint is configured to articulate a distal portion of the tool assembly at an angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument. The screw is configured to engage tissue, for example, a myoma in the uterine wall of a patient, and is configured to pitch and roll the tissue to expose cutting planes. The morcellator is configured to engage the tissue to morcellate the tissue and remove the tissue from a patient.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising of NiO; Al2O3; and ZnO. The catalyst is capable of greater than 5% sulfur removal from a synthesis gas at a temperature range from 300° C. to 600° C.

Abstract: An endovascular laser treatment device for causing closure of a blood vessel uses an optical fiber adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel. An inner sleeve is arranged around a distal portion of the optical fiber core such that both distal ends of the inner sleeve and the optical fiber core form an enlarged light emitting face. The enlarged emitting face provides substantially lower power density while providing the same amount of total energy during a treatment session. An outer sleeve arranged around the inner sleeve acts as a spacer to position the light emitting face away from an inner wall of the blood vessel. The enlarged light emitting face and the outer sleeve acting as a spacer reduces the possibility of thermal run-away and device damage, and reduce the possibility of vessel perforations, leading to less bruising, post-operative pain and other clinical complications.

Abstract: A morcellation system includes a morcellator and a grasper. The morcellator includes a housing and a tube extending from the housing and having at least one blade section. The morcellator further includes an oscillating mechanism configured to oscillate the tube. An end cap is coupled to the proximal end of the housing and is configured to receive the tube. The end cap defines a passage and includes an aligning structure disposed in the passage. The grasper includes a tubular member having a grasping end including first and second jaws moveable relative to one another. The grasper further includes a handle assembly operatively associated with the grasping end. A keyed collar is disposed about the tubular member. The keyed collar includes a key configured to cooperate with the aligning structure of the end cap to align the first and second jaws relative to the distal end of the tube.

Abstract: A morcellator includes a housing, an elongated tube extending distally from the housing, and first and second electrodes. A distal end of the elongated tube is configured to cut tissue. The first electrode extends from the housing to the distal end of the elongated tube and is disposed around at least a portion of the distal end of the elongated tube. The second electrode extends distally beyond the first electrode. Another morcellator includes a housing, an elongated tube extending distally from the housing, and an oscillating mechanism. A distal end of the elongated tube includes opposing blade sections and at least one blunt section. The opposing blade sections are configured to cut tissue. The oscillating mechanism is configured to drive oscillation of the elongated tube to cut tissue with the blade sections.

Abstract: A method, product by process, and composition for aiding in pain relief. The user adds hot water to methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), then stirs the resulting mixture until the MSM is dissolved. The user then adds room temperature water, bromelain, aloe vera juice, and papain to the batch, and continues to stir. Coconut oil and palm kernel oil are stirred in, along with a sweet oil mixture. The sweet oil mixture is a mixture of natural, unconcentrated, oils such as lemon oil, sweet orange oil, arnica, sweet almond oil, peppermint oil, grape seed oil, comfrey oil, eucalyptus oil, grapefruit seed extract, and fragrance oils such as mango and kiwi. Finally, xanthan gum is stirred into the mixture, resulting in a batch of desired composition, which can be used topically for pain relief.

Abstract: An electrosurgical suction coagulator includes a housing having proximal and distal ends and an elongated tube-like shaft extending longitudinally from the distal end of the housing. The elongated tube-like shaft includes a tube-like dielectric sheath, a tube-like conductor, and an external insulator. The tube-like conductor is disposed coaxially through the tube-like dielectric sheath. The distal end of the tube-like conductor protrudes at least partially from the distal end of the tube-like dielectric sheath. The external insulator is disposed coaxially around the tube-like dielectric sheath. The external insulator extends from about the proximal end of the dielectric sheath to about the distal end of the dielectric sheath.

Abstract: An electrically conductive proppant coating and a method for applying the coating to the proppant, whereby the coated electrically conductive proppant can determine formation characteristics, such as dimensions, orientation, and conductivity.

Abstract: A multiple robot control architecture including a plurality of robotic agricultural machines including a first and second robotic agricultural machine. Each robotic agricultural machine including at least one controller configured to implement a plurality of finite state machines within an individual robot control architecture (IRCA) and a global information module (GIM) communicatively coupled to the IRCA. The GIMs of the first and second robotic agricultural machines being configured to cooperate to cause said first robotic agricultural machine and said second agricultural machine to perform at least one agricultural task.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising NiO, a metal mixture comprising at least one of MoO3 or WO3, a mixture comprising at least one of SiO2 and Al2O3, and P2O5. In this embodiment the metal sites on the catalyst are sulfided and the catalyst is capable of removing tar from a synthesis gas while performing methanation and water gas shift reactions at a temperature range from 300° C. to 600° C.

Abstract: An endovascular treatment method for causing closure of a blood vessel is provided. The method includes inserting into a blood vessel an optical fiber having a core through which a laser light travels and a spacer sleeve arranged around a distal portion of the core. A distal end of the core defines an enlarged light emitting face, which advantageously provides substantially lower power density while providing the same amount of total energy during a treatment session. After the insertion, laser light is applied through the light emitting face while the inserted optical fiber and spacer sleeve are longitudinally moved. The spacer sleeve positions the light emitting face away from an inner wall of the blood vessel and application of the laser light causes closure of the blood vessel.

Abstract: An endovascular laser treatment device for causing closure of a blood vessel uses an optical fiber adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel. An inner sleeve is arranged around a distal portion of the optical fiber core such that both distal ends of the inner sleeve and the optical fiber core form an enlarged light emitting face. The enlarged emitting face provides substantially lower power density while providing the same amount of total energy during a treatment session. An outer sleeve arranged around the inner sleeve acts as a spacer to position the light emitting face away from an inner wall of the blood vessel. The enlarged light emitting face and the outer sleeve acting as a spacer reduces the possibility of thermal run-away and device damage, and reduce the possibility of vessel perforations, leading to less bruising, post-operative pain and other clinical complications.

Abstract: A method for removing biofilm from a lumen of a medical implant is disclosed. The method includes the steps of inserting a plasma applicator into a lumen defined in a medical implant, the lumen having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion having an opening therein, positioning the plasma applicator adjacent a biofilm formation, generating a selectively reactive plasma effluent at the plasma applicator and directing the selectively reactive plasma effluent at the biofilm formation.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device is provided and includes a handset having a shaft extending therefrom. The electrosurgical device includes a pair of electrodes disposed at a distal end of the shaft. One or more sensors are in operable communication with the pair of electrodes to detect a pressure applied thereto. The amount of electrosurgical energy that is transmitted to the pair of electrodes is proportional to the amount of pressure that is applied to the pair of electrodes and detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A plasma instrument is disclosed. The plasma instrument includes an elongated body defining a first lumen therethrough, the lumen being in fluid communication with an ionizable media source; an applicator tip coupled to a distal end of the elongated body and disposed within the first lumen, the applicator tip defining a second lumen in fluid communication with the first lumen; a first electrode disposed on an outer surface of the applicator tip; and a second electrode disposed within at least one of the first lumen or the second lumen, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to be energized to ignite ionizable media supplied by the ionizable media source.