Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a surgical master-slave robot for use in minimally (or reduced) invasive surgery on a subject. The robot includes an instrument manipulator for mounting of a surgical instrument, and a linkage system for moveably suspending the instrument manipulator. A first linkage component is configured for guiding a first suspension to move along a first movement trajectory. A second linkage component is configured for guiding a second suspension point to move along a second movement trajectory. The first movement trajectory and the second movement trajectory differ and are selected to provide a combined translational and rotational movement of the instrument manipulator which moves the instrument manipulator along a predefined trajectory from a surgical position to a standby position. The robot may provide a stable removal of the instrument manipulator during a surgery as well as sufficient surgeon's workspace after the removal of the instrument manipulator.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a surgical robotic system for use in a surgical procedure, including a surgical arm having a movable arm part for mounting of a surgical instrument having at least one degree-of-freedom to enable longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument towards a surgical target. Some other embodiments are directed to a human machine interface for receiving positioning commands from a human operator for controlling the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and an actuator configured for actuating the movable arm part to effect the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and controlled by a processor in accordance with the positioning commands and a virtual bound. The virtual bound establishes a transition in the control of the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument in a direction towards the surgical target. The virtual bound is determined, during use of the surgical robotic system, based on the positioning commands.

Abstract: A unit for mixing and dispensing an aerosol precursor composition, and containers to be dispensed therefrom. The unit includes a plurality of bulk material filling stations, the plurality of bulk material filling stations have at least one first filling station with aerosol former and at least one second filling station with a flavor material for creating the aerosol precursor. The unit also includes a bulk consumable pack staging a plurality of containers configured to receive the aerosol precursor, and a robot configured to retrieve a container from the bulk consumable pack and move the container through at least two dimensions to stop at at least two of the plurality of bulk material filling stations.

Abstract: A unit for mixing and dispensing an aerosol precursor composition, and containers to be dispensed therefrom. The unit includes a plurality of bulk material filling stations, the plurality of bulk material filling stations have at least one first filling station with aerosol former and at least one second filling station with a flavor material for creating the aerosol precursor. The unit also includes a bulk consumable pack staging a plurality of containers configured to receive the aerosol precursor, and a robot configured to retrieve a container from the bulk consumable pack and move the container through at least two dimensions to stop at at least two of the plurality of bulk material filling stations.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a surgical robotic system for use in a surgical procedure, including a surgical arm having a movable arm part for mounting of a surgical instrument having at least one degree-of-freedom to enable longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument towards a surgical target. Some other embodiments are directed to a human machine interface for receiving positioning commands from a human operator for controlling the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and an actuator configured for actuating the movable arm part to effect the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and controlled by a processor in accordance with the positioning commands and a virtual bound. The virtual bound establishes a transition in the control of the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument in a direction towards the surgical target. The virtual bound is determined, during use of the surgical robotic system, based on the positioning commands.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a surgical master-slave robot for use in minimally (or reduced) invasive surgery on a subject. The robot includes an instrument manipulator for mounting of a surgical instrument, and a linkage system for moveably suspending the instrument manipulator. A first linkage component is configured for guiding a first suspension to move along a first movement trajectory. A second linkage component is configured for guiding a second suspension point to move along a second movement trajectory. The first movement trajectory and the second movement trajectory differ and are selected to provide a combined translational and rotational movement of the instrument manipulator which moves the instrument manipulator along a predefined trajectory from a surgical position to a standby position. The robot may provide a stable removal of the instrument manipulator during a surgery as well as sufficient surgeon's workspace after the removal of the instrument manipulator.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a surgical robotic system for use in a surgical procedure, including a surgical arm having a movable arm part for mounting of a surgical instrument having at least one degree-of-freedom to enable longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument towards a surgical target. Some other embodiments are directed to a human machine interface for receiving positioning commands from a human operator for controlling the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and an actuator configured for actuating the movable arm part to effect the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and controlled by a processor in accordance with the positioning commands and a virtual bound. The virtual bound establishes a transition in the control of the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument in a direction towards the surgical target. The virtual bound is determined, during use of the surgical robotic system, based on the positioning commands.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a surgical master-slave robot for use in minimally (or reduced) invasive surgery on a subject. The robot includes an instrument manipulator for mounting of a surgical instrument, and a linkage system for moveably suspending the instrument manipulator. A first linkage component is configured for guiding a first suspension to move along a first movement trajectory. A second linkage component is configured for guiding a second suspension point to move along a second movement trajectory. The first movement trajectory and the second movement trajectory differ and are selected to provide a combined translational and rotational movement of the instrument manipulator which moves the instrument manipulator along a predefined trajectory from a surgical position to a standby position. The robot may provide a stable removal of the instrument manipulator during a surgery as well as sufficient surgeon's workspace after the removal of the instrument manipulator.

Abstract: A cartridge for selective delivery of aerosol precursor compositions includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining three chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions. A selector defines one or more dispensing selectively aligned with one or more of the three chambers, such that the aerosol precursor composition disposed within each of the three chambers is capable of being dispensed therefrom through the selectively aligned dispensing ports to the aerosol forming arrangement. The cartridge further includes a flow tube extending longitudinally through a central axis of the reservoir and the selector so that each of the three chambers is arranged circumferentially around the flow tube, the flow tube being disposed so that the formed aerosol is transported through the flow tube.

Abstract: A unit for mixing and dispensing an aerosol precursor composition, and containers to be dispensed therefrom. The unit includes a plurality of bulk material filling stations, the plurality of bulk material filling stations have at least one first filling station with aerosol former and at least one second filling station with a flavor material for creating the aerosol precursor. The unit also includes a bulk consumable pack staging a plurality of containers configured to receive the aerosol precursor, and a robot configured to retrieve a container from the bulk consumable pack and move the container through at least two dimensions to stop at at least two of the plurality of bulk material filling stations.

Abstract: A unit for mixing and dispensing an aerosol precursor composition, and containers to be dispensed therefrom. The unit includes a plurality of bulk material filling stations, the plurality of bulk material filling stations have at least one first filling station with aerosol former and at least one second filling station with a flavor material for creating the aerosol precursor. The unit also includes a bulk consumable pack staging a plurality of containers configured to receive the aerosol precursor, and a robot configured to retrieve a container from the bulk consumable pack and move the container through at least two dimensions to stop at least two of the plurality of bulk material filling stations.

Abstract: A cartridge for selective delivery of aerosol precursor compositions includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining three chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions. A selector defines one or more dispensing selectively aligned with one or more of the three chambers, such that the aerosol precursor composition disposed within each of the three chambers is capable of being dispensed therefrom through the selectively aligned dispensing ports to the aerosol forming arrangement. The cartridge further includes a flow tube extending longitudinally through a central axis of the reservoir and the selector so that each of the three chambers is arranged circumferentially around the flow tube, the flow tube being disposed so that the formed aerosol is transported through the flow tube.

Abstract: A smoking article for on-demand delivery of an increased quantity of an aerosol precursor composition, a cartridge, and a method are disclosed. In some aspects, the cartridge includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions, with the respective aerosol precursor compositions of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal normal quantities. The cartridge further includes an actuator configured to selectively and operably engage any one of the chambers and to direct an increased quantity of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the increased quantity being greater than the normal quantity of the aerosol precursor compositions.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a surgical robotic system for use in a surgical procedure, including a surgical arm having a movable arm part for mounting of a surgical instrument having at least one degree-of-freedom to enable longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument towards a surgical target. Some other embodiments are directed to a human machine interface for receiving positioning commands from a human operator for controlling the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and an actuator configured for actuating the movable arm part to effect the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and controlled by a processor in accordance with the positioning commands and a virtual bound. The virtual bound establishes a transition in the control of the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument in a direction towards the surgical target. The virtual bound is determined, during use of the surgical robotic system, based on the positioning commands.

Abstract: A smoking article for on-demand delivery of an increased quantity of an aerosol precursor composition, a cartridge, and a method are disclosed. In some aspects, the cartridge includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions, with the respective aerosol precursor compositions of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal normal quantities. The cartridge further includes an actuator configured to selectively and operably engage any one of the chambers and to direct an increased quantity of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the increased quantity being greater than the normal quantity of the aerosol precursor compositions.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a surgical robotic system for use in a surgical procedure, including a surgical arm having a movable arm part for mounting of a surgical instrument having at least one degree-of-freedom to enable longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument towards a surgical target. Some other embodiments are directed to a human machine interface for receiving positioning commands from a human operator for controlling the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and an actuator configured for actuating the movable arm part to effect the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and controlled by a processor in accordance with the positioning commands and a virtual bound. The virtual bound establishes a transition in the control of the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument in a direction towards the surgical target. The virtual bound is determined, during use of the surgical robotic system, based on the positioning commands.

Abstract: A smoking article for on-demand delivery of an increased quantity of an aerosol precursor composition, a cartridge, and a method are disclosed. In some aspects, the cartridge includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions, with the respective aerosol precursor compositions of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal normal quantities. The cartridge further includes an actuator configured to selectively and operably engage any one of the chambers and to direct an increased quantity of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the increased quantity being greater than the normal quantity of the aerosol precursor compositions.