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 example method for detecting stability of a medical implant is provided. The method includes (a) applying a force to the medical implant with a probe, (b) based on the applied force, determining a response signal associated with a vibration of the medical implant, (c) comparing the determined response signal with a computer model of the medical implant, and (d) based on the comparison, determining an angular stiffness coefficient of the medical implant, wherein the angular stiffness coefficient indicates a stability of the medical implant.

Abstract: Described herein is the preparation of an aqueous hop extract and a boiling water hop extract prepared from dried hop cones that were ground prior to extraction. As discussed below, extracts were prepared from a number of different hop varieties and were tested against a number of clinically relevant bacterial strains. As discussed herein, surprisingly, the boiling water extract showed greater antibacterial activity than the aqueous extract.

Abstract: An example method for detecting stability of a medical implant is provided. The method includes (a) applying a force to the medical implant with a probe, (b) based on the applied force, determining a response signal associated with a vibration of the medical implant, (c) comparing the determined response signal with a computer model of the medical implant, and (d) based on the comparison, determining an angular stiffness coefficient of the medical implant, wherein the angular stiffness coefficient indicates a stability of the medical implant.

Abstract: A method for controlling a climate parameter in a room of a building, the method comprising obtaining information regarding the climate parameter, the information including room specific measurements of the climate parameter during at least one climate control process, based on the room specific measurements of the climate parameter providing or amending a correspondence indicator CI, such that the correspondence indicator comprises information indicative of a rate of change of the climate parameter within the at least one room during the at least one climate control process, obtaining climate setting information including a desired climate parameter value C and a corresponding desired time t1, obtaining a starting value V1 of the climate parameter of the at least one room, based on the correspondence indicator CI, the desired time t1, the starting value V1 and the desired climate parameter value C1 calculating a measure M1 for an amount of time ?t needed to 1 change the climate parameter from the starting va

Abstract: A system for performing electronic payment validation and authorization wherein a user of an electronic device transmits transaction data to an electronic payment validation and authorization system. The same user of the electronic device may nearly simultaneously transmit a cryptographic hash of transaction data to a merchant who uses a payment processing system to process the transactions. In this example, the payment-processing system may be an electronic payment system operated by the merchant and configured to accept transaction data generated by an electronic device. A payment processing system may cryptographically sign the hash and send the resulting data to an electronic payment validation and authorization system. After both data parts are received by an electronic payment validation and authorization system, validation and decryption may be performed and new transaction data which may include the user card data may then be sent to a payment processing system.

Abstract: A method for controlling a climate parameter in a room of a building, the method comprising obtaining information regarding the climate parameter, the information including room specific measurements of the climate parameter during at least one climate control process, based on the room specific measurements of the climate parameter providing or amending a correspondence indicator CI, such that the correspondence indicator comprises information indicative of a rate of change of the climate parameter within the at least one room during the at least one climate control process, obtaining climate setting information including a desired climate parameter value C and a corresponding desired time t1, obtaining a starting value V1 of the climate parameter of the at least one room, based on the correspondence indicator CI, the desired time t1, the starting value V1 and the desired climate parameter value C1 calculating a measure M1 for an amount of time ?t needed to 1 change the climate parameter from the starting va

Abstract: A method for replicating content onto storage devices for shipping to a common destination commences by first grouping work orders that specify replication of content onto a plurality of storage devices associated a common destination into a group replication job. The content specified in the group replication job is replicated onto the plurality of storage devices content specified in the group replication job. Thereafter, the content storage devices now replicated with content are readied for shipping to the common destination.

Abstract: A method for providing a storage device with content files for exhibition commences by identifying, from a work order, a needed set of content files. Thereafter, a storage device, whose previously written content files most closely match the needed set of content files identified from the work order, is selected from an inventory of storage devices. The set of content files on the selected storage device undergo adjustment so that the storage device stores at least the needed set of content files. For example, if one or more of the needed set of content files are missing from the selected storage device, these files are replicated onto the selected storage device as part of the content file adjustment process.

Abstract: A method for replicating content onto a storage device commences by prioritizing a set of content replication jobs in accordance with work orders associated with such content replication jobs to establish a current highest priority content replication job. Thereafter, the content specified by the current highest priority replication job is downloaded onto a storage device for distribution to a location specified in the work order associated with the current highest priority replication job.

Abstract: A smart airport automation system gathers and reinterprets a wide variety of aircraft and airport related data and information around unattended or non-towered airports. Data is gathered from many different types of sources, and in otherwise incompatible data formats. The smart airport automation system then decodes, assembles, fuses, and broadcasts structured information, in real-time, to aircraft pilots. The fused information is also useful to remotely located air traffic controllers who monitor non-towered airport operations. The system includes a data fusion and distribution computer that imports aircraft position and velocity, weather, and airport specific data. The data inputs are used to compute safe takeoff and landing sequences, and other airport advisory information for participating aircraft.

Abstract: Methods and devices for cutting strips of tissue from masses of tissue inside or outside of the bodies of human or animal subjects. The device generally comprises a) an elongate cutting tube that has a distal end and a lumen that opens through an opening in the distal end and b) first and second cutting edges formed on generally opposite edges of the distal end of the cutting tube and separated by a distance D. The device is advanced through tissue to cut a strip of tissue of approximate width W. Width W is approximately equal to distance D.

Abstract: A thin wall metal beverage can is described having a converging shoulder portion merging into a neck portion, the top edge of which is folded to form a flange providing an annular abutment and with a threaded sleeve sliding into the neck portion, the sleeve having an annular rib or catch which snaps over the flange abutment holding the sleeve and can neck portion against relative axial movement.

Abstract: A thin wall metal beverage can is described having a converging shoulder portion merging into a neck portion, the top edge of which is folded to form a flange providing an annular abutment and with a threaded sleeve sliding into the neck portion, the sleeve having an annular rib or catch which snaps over the flange abutment holding the sleeve and can neck portion against relative axial movement.

Abstract: Methods and devices for cutting or coagulating. A device comprises a) an elongate member having a distal end, b) at least one foot member extending from the distal end of the elongate member, said foot member having a upper surface and a lower surface, c) an electrically and thermally insulating covering formed on at least the lower surface of the foot member and d) at least one electrode on the upper surface of the foot member. In operation, the at least one electrode is energized so as to cause cutting or coagulation of tissue located above the upper surface(s) of the foot member(s) while not causing substantial damage to tissue located below the lower surface(s) of the foot member(s).

Abstract: A device and method for cutting or ablating tissue in a human or veterinary patient includes an elongate probe having a distal end, a tissue cutting or ablating apparatus located adjacent within the distal end, and a tissue protector extending from the distal end. The protector generally has a first side and a second side and the tissue cutting or ablating apparatus is located adjacent to the first side thereof. The distal end is structured to be advanceable into tissue or otherwise placed and positioned within the patient's body such that tissue adjacent to the first side of the protector is cut away or ablated by the tissue cutting or ablation apparatus while tissue that is adjacent to the second side of the protector is not substantially damaged by the tissue cutting or ablating apparatus.

Abstract: A smart airport automation system includes a subsystem that inputs weather and airport configuration data to determine an active runway in use and an airport state. Another subsystem inputs aircraft position and velocity data from available surveillance sources, known flight-intent information, and past aircraft trajectories to project future aircraft unconstrained trajectories. A third subsystem uses the projected trajectories and aircraft intent to determine desired landing and takeoff sequences, and desired adjacent aircraft spacing. A fourth subsystem uses such information to predict potential aircraft conflicts, such as a loss of acceptable separation between adjacent aircraft. A fifth subsystem packages the weather, airport configuration, aircraft state, desired landing/takeoff sequence, and potential conflict detection into a verbal advisory message that is broadcast on a local common radio frequency.

Abstract: A system that enables enhanced air flow to the air intake of an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger is disclosed. The air induction system includes a plenum or expansion chamber located within the area directly in front of the inlet of the turbocharger. Alternatively, the air induction system may include a means for reducing the velocity of the air flow within the clean air duct in an area directly in front of the inlet of the turbocharger.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a housing 12, a pump head 14 having plurality of rollers 16 held within the housing 12, and a backing plate 18 attached to the housing 12. The pump head 14 moves relative to the housing 12 and backing plate 18.

Abstract: A thin wall metal beverage can is described having a converging shoulder portion merging into a neck portion, the top edge of which is folded to form a flange providing an annular abutment and with a threaded sleeve sliding into the neck portion, the sleeve having an annular rib or catch which snaps over the flange abutment holding the sleeve and can neck portion against relative axial movement.