Abstract: Surgical assemblies and related methods are provided for using an actuator to deploy an coupler configured to close a tissue puncture or natural opening in the body, or to create an anastomosis. The surgical method includes deploying first and second anastomotic couplers within a patient to create anastomoses in the body to aid in the treatment of various ailments. The first coupler is deployed to fluidly join a gall bladder and an ileum, and the second coupler is deployed to fluidly join a proximal ileal loop and a distal ileal loop. Fluid can flow between central lumens of the first and second couplers.

Abstract: Surgical assemblies and related methods are provided for using an actuator to deploy an coupler configured to close a tissue puncture or natural opening in the body. The surgical assembly includes an actuator assembly having an elongate shaft including an outer shaft and an inner shaft concentrically disposed within the outer shaft to define a fluid flow path therebetween, and a deployable coupler coupled to a distal end of the outer shaft. The deployable coupler has a plurality of proximal and distal slits formed therein and configured to form proximal and distal wings. The proximal and distal slits are configured to allow blood to flow therethrough into an inner lumen of the deployable coupler and through the fluid flow path to a fluid outlet port formed in the actuator assembly.

Abstract: Surgical assemblies and related methods are provided for using an actuator to deploy an coupler configured to close a tissue puncture or natural opening in the body, or to create an anastomosis. The surgical assembly includes an actuator including an elongate shaft, a deployable coupler coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft. The deployable coupler includes a plurality of proximal slits therein configured to form a proximal wing and a plurality of distal slits therein configured to form a distal wing. The actuator assembly is configured to transform the deployable coupler from a delivery configuration in which the proximal wing and the distal wing are substantially parallel to the elongate shaft to a fully-deployed configuration in which one of the proximal and distal wings is substantially perpendicular to the elongate shaft and the other one of the proximal and distal wings is skew to the elongate shaft.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques to perform analog signal conditioning (including filtering and amplification) and analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) on a System-in-package (SIP) assembly technology. In particular, the disclosure combines a programmable gain amplifier (PGA), one or more filter circuits, and an ADC circuit onto the same SIP. These devices are coupled together on the SIP using high-accuracy and precise integrated-passive components. The SIP receives an analog signal, amplifies the analog signal with the PGA on the SIP, filters the amplified analog signal with the filter circuit(s) on the SIP, and then performs analog-to-digital conversion on the filtered amplified analog signal with the ADC circuit on the SIP. The SIP can be configured for various applications based on a variety of inputs and control mechanisms.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques to perform analog signal conditioning (including filtering and amplification) and analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) on a System-in-package (SIP) assembly technology. In particular, the disclosure combines a programmable gain amplifier (PGA), one or more filter circuits, and an ADC circuit onto the same SIP. These devices are coupled together on the SIP using high-accuracy and precise integrated-passive components. The SIP receives an analog signal, amplifies the analog signal with the PGA on the SIP, filters the amplified analog signal with the filter circuit(s) on the SIP, and then performs analog-to-digital conversion on the filtered amplified analog signal with the ADC circuit on the SIP. The SIP can be configured for various applications based on a variety of inputs and control mechanisms.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques to perform analog signal conditioning (including filtering and amplification) and analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) on a System-in-package (SIP) assembly technology. In particular, the disclosure combines a programmable gain amplifier (PGA), one or more filter circuits, and an ADC circuit onto the same SIP. These devices are coupled together on the SIP using high-accuracy and precise integrated-passive components. The SIP receives an analog signal, amplifies the analog signal with the PGA on the SIP, filters the amplified analog signal with the filter circuit(s) on the SIP, and then performs analog-to-digital conversion on the filtered amplified analog signal with the ADC circuit on the SIP. The SIP can be configured for various applications based on a variety of inputs and control mechanisms.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques to perform analog signal conditioning (including filtering and amplification) and analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) on a System-in-package (SIP) assembly technology. In particular, the disclosure combines a programmable gain amplifier (PGA), one or more filter circuits, and an ADC circuit onto the same SIP. These devices are coupled together on the SIP using high-accuracy and precise integrated-passive components. The SIP receives an analog signal, amplifies the analog signal with the PGA on the SIP, filters the amplified analog signal with the filter circuit(s) on the SIP, and then performs analog-to-digital conversion on the filtered amplified analog signal with the ADC circuit on the SIP, The SIP can be configured for various applications based on a variety of inputs and control mechanisms.

Abstract: Disclosed are fuel cell systems, reinforced membrane electrode assemblies, and methods for fabricating a reinforced membrane electrode assembly. In an example, a disclosed method includes depositing an electrode ink onto a first substrate to form a first electrode layer, and applying a first porous reinforcement layer onto a surface of the first electrode layer to form a first catalyst coated substrate. The method also includes depositing a first ionomer solution onto the first catalyst coated substrate to form a first ionomer layer. A membrane porous reinforcement layer is applied onto a surface of the first ionomer layer to form a reinforced membrane layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are fuel cell systems, reinforced membrane electrode assemblies, and methods for fabricating a reinforced membrane electrode assembly. In an example, a disclosed method includes depositing an electrode ink onto a first substrate to form a first electrode layer, and applying a first porous reinforcement layer onto a surface of the first electrode layer to form a first catalyst coated substrate. The method also includes depositing a first ionomer solution onto the first catalyst coated substrate to form a first ionomer layer. A membrane porous reinforcement layer is applied onto a surface of the first ionomer layer to form a reinforced membrane layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell, a reinforced membrane electrode assembly and a method of fabricating a reinforced membrane electrode assembly. The method comprises depositing an electrode ink onto a first substrate to form a first electrode layer, applying a first porous reinforcement layer on a surface of the first electrode layer to form a first catalyst coated substrate, depositing a first ionomer solution onto the first catalyst coated substrate to form a first ionomer layer, and applying a membrane porous reinforcement layer on a surface of the first ionomer layer to form a reinforced membrane layer.

Abstract: Methods of making a substantially crack-free electrode layer are described. The methods include depositing an electrode ink on a substrate; placing a layer of porous reinforcement layer on a surface of the wet electrode ink; and drying the electrode ink to form the substantially crack-free electrode layer on the substrate. Substantially crack-free electrode layers and fuel cells incorporating substantially crack-free electrode layers are also described.

Abstract: A bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell is provided. The bipolar plate assembly includes a first electroformed unipolar plate disposed adjacent a second electroformed unipolar plate. The first and second unipolar plates are bonded by a plurality of localized electrically and thermally conductive plugs by electroplated material deposited within apertures formed in the substrates onto which the unipolar plates are electroformed. A method for forming the bipolar plate assembly is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for fabricating a reinforced membrane electrode assembly having one or more freestanding external reinforcement layers. The method comprises providing a freestanding external reinforcement layer, and depositing a catalyst solution and membrane solution onto at least a portion of the freestanding external reinforcement layer.

Abstract: A bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell is provided. The bipolar plate assembly includes a first electroformed unipolar plate disposed adjacent a second electroformed unipolar plate. The first and second unipolar plates are bonded by a plurality of localized electrically and thermally conductive plugs by electroplated material deposited within apertures formed in the substrates onto which the unipolar plates are electroformed. A method for forming the bipolar plate assembly is also described.

Abstract: A bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell is provided. The bipolar plate assembly includes a first electroformed unipolar plate disposed adjacent a second electroformed unipolar plate. The first and second unipolar plates are bonded by a plurality of localized electrically and thermally conductive plugs by electroplated material deposited within apertures formed in the substrates onto which the unipolar plates are electroformed. A method for forming the bipolar plate assembly is also described.

Abstract: Automatic power saving for decreasing power demand during a power interruption while maintaining the appearance of full operation of a signal processor including predefined power consuming circuits, a communications interface, and a state machine includes sensing when a power supply interruption has occurred, providing a clock signal, halting the clock signal to the predefined power consuming circuits during a power interruption; and continuing to provide a clock signal to a communications interface regardless of a sensed interruption for maintaining the appearance of normal operations during the sensed interruption.

Abstract: Methods of making a substantially crack-free electrode layer are described. The methods include depositing an electrode ink on a substrate; placing a layer of porous reinforcement layer on a surface of the wet electrode ink; and drying the electrode ink to form the substantially crack-free electrode layer on the substrate. Substantially crack-free electrode layers and fuel cells incorporating substantially crack-free electrode layers are also described.

Abstract: A bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell is provided. The bipolar plate assembly includes a first electroformed unipolar plate disposed adjacent a second electroformed unipolar plate. The first and second unipolar plates are bonded by a plurality of localized electrically and thermally conductive plugs by electroplated material deposited within apertures formed in the substrates onto which the unipolar plates are electroformed. A method for forming the bipolar plate assembly is also described.

Abstract: A fuel cell including an anode-side catalyst coated membrane and a cathode-side catalyst coated membrane. At least a portion of a reduced-permeability layer is disposed between the ionically conductive membrane and the anode-side and cathode-side gas diffusion media, wherein the reduced-permeability layer is formed of a material that has a permeability that is less than a permeability of the ionically conductive member. The reduced-permeability layer may also be formed of a material that is softer than the ionically conductive membrane.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a unitized electrode assembly for a polyelectrolyte membrane is disclosed. The process includes providing a gas diffusion medium and a membrane electrode assembly, printing an adhesive on the gas diffusion medium, locating the gas diffusion medium relative to the membrane electrode assembly and pressing the gas diffusion medium and the adhesive against the membrane electrode assembly.