Abstract: A method for producing seed corn from the corn plants, for use in growing subsequent corn plants, includes measuring a moisture content of corn kernels on ears of the corn plants in the field and removing, by a combine harvester, the ears of corn from the corn plants when the moisture content satisfies a threshold moisture content. The method then includes separating the corn kernels from cobs of the ears of corn onboard the combine harvester and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as seed corn, whereby one or more subsequent corn plants can be grown from the collected corn kernels.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted into sealing elements of a single surgical access device. The sealing elements can be movable along predefined pathways within the device to allow surgical instruments inserted through the sealing elements to be moved laterally, rotationally, angularly, and vertically relative to a central longitudinal axis of the device for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation.

Abstract: A system and method used to deliver a valve delivery system carrying a valve to a target valve annulus in the heart includes a cable percutaneously introduced into a vasculature of a patient and positioned to run from a femoral vein, transseptally through the heart, to a femoral artery. The valve delivery system device is passed over an end of the cable at the arterial side and is secured to the cable. The valve delivery system device is pushed in a distal direction while the venous end of the cable is pulled in the proximal direction, to advance the valve delivery system to the target valve annulus. A left ventricle redirector positionable on the cable from the venous end has a distal end actively steered during advancement and positioning of the valve delivery device, exerting forces that steer the distal nose of the valve delivery device as it moves towards the valve annulus.

Abstract: A steering catheter includes an elongate shaft with an actively steerable distal part. An internal pull wire and an external pullwire extend through the shaft. The shaft has a first position in which the elongate shaft is generally straight and the external pullwire extends along the exterior of the distal portion of the shaft, a second position in which the shaft is curved and in which the external pullwire extends along the exterior of the distal portion of the shaft, and a third position in which the shaft is curved and in which the external pullwire extends laterally between laterally adjacent portions of the distal portion of the shaft, wherein the external pull wire locks the shaft in the curved position.

Abstract: To percutaneously deliver a replacement tricuspid valve, a cable is percutaneously positioned with a first end extending out of the venous vasculature at the neck, and a second end extending out of a femoral access point. An eyehook device is positioned over the first end. A tricuspid valve delivery device (TVDD) is advanced over the second end, and then advanced through an IVC into a right atrium. The eyehook device is advanced into the right ventricle, drawing an intermediate portion of the cable into the right ventricle. Contact between the distal end of the eyehook device and the right ventricle is maintained while the TVDD is pushed from the femoral vein. The intermediate portion of cable applies a force to a distal nose of the TVDD that causes the distal nose to be steered into a tricuspid valve annulus as the TVDD is advanced.

Abstract: A system and method used to deliver an aortic valve therapeutic device, such as a delivery device for an aortic valve replacement, to an aortic valve site. The system includes a cable percutaneously introduced a cable into a vasculature of a patient and positioned to run from a femoral vein, through the heart via a transseptal puncture, and to a femoral artery. The therapeutic device is passed over an end of the cable at the venous side and is secured to the cable. The therapeutic device is pushed in a distal direction while the second end of the cable is pulled in the proximal direction to advance the therapeutic device to the mitral valve site. A left ventricle redirector aids in orienting the therapeutic device and preventing migration of the cable towards delicate mitral valve structures and chordae tendoneae during advancement of the therapeutic device.

Abstract: According to a system and method for percutaneously delivering a replacement tricuspid valve to a heart, a wire is percutaneously introduced into the venous vasculature. A distal end of the wire is passed into a right atrium, through a tricuspid valve ring, and into a right ventricle, within which it is anchored to tissue of the right ventricle. A tricuspid valve delivery device carrying a replacement tricuspid valve is positioned over the wire, and a director is positioned over the wire proximally adjacent to, and in contact with, the tricuspid valve delivery device. The director and delivery device are pushed over the wire into the right atrium while traction is applied traction to the wire that is fixed within the right ventricle. The director is actively articulated during advancement, to articulate the replacement tricuspid valve on the valve delivery device within a tricuspid valve ring of the heart.

Abstract: A system and method used to deliver an aortic valve therapeutic device to an aortic valve site includes a cable percutaneously introduced a cable into a vasculature of a patient and positioned to run from a femoral vein, through the heart via a transeptal puncture, and to a femoral artery. The therapeutic device is passed over an end of the cable at the venous side and is secured to the cable. The therapeutic device is pushed in a distal direction while the second end of the cable is pulled in the proximal direction to advance the therapeutic device to the mitral valve site. A left ventricle redirector aids in orienting the therapeutic device and preventing migration of the cable towards delicate mitral valve structures and chordae tendoneae during advancement of the therapeutic device.

Abstract: A conduit for creating a passage from a right atrium to a left atrium, through a mitral valve into the left ventricle, and to provide a passage from the left ventricle into the aortic valve. The conduit includes an elongate tubular member having a shaft with a proximal section and a distal loop section at a distal end of the proximal section. The distal loop section includes a passive proximal curve, a steerable distal curve, a generally straight segment extending between the curves, and a distal tip. The shaft in the distal loop section is steerable to cause it to curve back on itself so that proximal curve is formed by a part of the shaft that is closer along the length of the shaft to the distal tip.

Abstract: A method for delivering a therapeutic device to a target aortic valve site includes transseptally positioning a cable to run between afemoral vein, through the heart via the right atrium, left atrium, mitral valve, aortic valve and into the aorta and arterial vasculature with the flexible cable having a first end extending outside the body from a venous vessel and a second end external to the patient at the femoral artery. The aortic valve therapeutic device is advanced over the cable from outside the body and introduced into a femoral artery. A steerable sheath is advanced over the cable, into the venous vasculature and into the left ventricle of the heart. The aortic valve therapeutic device is pushed in a distal direction from the femoral artery to advance the aortic valve therapeutic device to the target site.

Abstract: A system and method used to deliver a valve delivery system carrying a valve to a target valve annulus in the heart includes a cable percutaneously introduced into a vasculature of a patient and positioned to run from a femoral vein, transseptally through the heart, to a femoral artery. The valve delivery system device is passed over an end of the cable at the arterial side and is secured to the cable. The valve delivery system device is pushed in a distal direction while the venous end of the cable is pulled in the proximal direction, to advance the valve delivery system to the target valve annulus. A left ventricle redirector positionable on the cable from the venous end has a distal end actively steered during advancement and positioning of the valve delivery device, exerting forces that steer the distal nose of the valve delivery device as it moves towards the valve annulus.

Abstract: A disclosed apparatus includes a plurality of camera units. Control logic, operatively coupled to each camera unit, is operative to perform a parallax operation using at least two image frames from at least two camera units to determine a common focus distance, subsequent to completing independent auto-focus operations and respective lens position adjustments for the at least two camera units. The control logic provides a control signal to at least one of the camera units to adjust its actuator to adjust lens position in response to the determined common focus distance. A test procedure is used to map focus distance to lens position for each camera unit and to generate a lookup table. The control logic uses the lookup table unique to each camera unit to adjust the lens settings according to the determined common focus distance. The parallax operation is iterated until the common focus distance converges.

Abstract: A system and method used to deliver a therapeutic device to a target treatment site in the heart includes a cable percutaneously introduced a cable into a vasculature of a patient and positioned to run from a femoral vein, through the heart via a transseptal puncture, and to a femoral artery. The therapeutic device is passed over an end of the cable at the venous side and is secured to the cable. The therapeutic device is pushed in a distal direction while the second end of the cable is pulled in the proximal direction to advance the therapeutic device to the target treatment site. A left ventricle redirector aids in orienting the therapeutic device and preventing migration of the cable towards delicate mitral valve structures and chordae tendoneae during advancement of the therapeutic device.

Abstract: A system and method used to deliver a therapeutic device to a target treatment site in the heart includes a cable percutaneously introduced a cable into a vasculature of a patient and positioned to run from a femoral vein, through the heart via a transseptal puncture, and to a femoral artery. The therapeutic device is passed over an end of the cable at the venous side and is secured to the cable. The therapeutic device is pushed in a distal direction while the second end of the cable is pulled in the proximal direction to advance the therapeutic device to the target treatment site. A left ventricle redirector aids in orienting the therapeutic device and preventing migration of the cable towards delicate mitral valve structures and chordae tendoneae during advancement of the therapeutic device.

Abstract: In embodiments of dual camera system zoom notification, a dual camera system includes a first imager and a second imager that are designed to support synthetic optical zoom of a scene. A camera controller is implemented to determine that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported to capture an image of the scene with the dual camera system. The camera controller can then initiate a message for a user of the dual camera system to indicate that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported to capture the image of the scene. The message can be displayed to indicate that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported and/or to indicate that digital zoom is activated. A user can also be provided with selectable options that enable the user to decide the zoom operation when the dual camera system is not operational for synthetic optical zoom.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of camera units where each camera unit has a lens, a sensor that can detect at least three colors, and camera unit calibration data for each camera unit is stored in non-volatile, non-transitory memory. The apparatus also includes multi-camera auto white balance synchronization logic that is operatively coupled to each camera unit. The multi-camera auto white balance synchronization logic is operative to determine common white balance results based on the camera unit white balance results per frame and the camera calibration data. The common white balance results are provided to image signal processing pipelines such that a merged frame can be obtained by combining the frames of each camera after performing white balance and color correction using the common white balance results.

Abstract: In embodiments of dual camera system zoom notification, a dual camera system includes a first imager and a second imager that are designed to support synthetic optical zoom of a scene. A camera controller is implemented to determine that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported to capture an image of the scene with the dual camera system. The camera controller can then initiate a message for a user of the dual camera system to indicate that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported to capture the image of the scene. The message can be displayed to indicate that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported and/or to indicate that digital zoom is activated. A user can also be provided with selectable options that enable the user to decide the zoom operation when the dual camera system is not operational for synthetic optical zoom.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of camera units where each camera unit has a lens, a sensor that can detect at least three colors, and camera unit calibration data for each camera unit is stored in non-volatile, non-transitory memory. The apparatus also includes multi-camera auto white balance synchronization logic that is operatively coupled to each camera unit. The multi-camera auto white balance synchronization logic is operative to determine common white balance results based on the camera unit white balance results per frame and the camera calibration data. The common white balance results are provided to image signal processing pipelines such that a merged frame can be obtained by combining the frames of each camera after performing white balance and color correction using the common white balance results.

Abstract: A disclosed apparatus includes a plurality of camera units. Control logic, operatively coupled to each camera unit, is operative to perform a parallax operation using at least two image frames from at least two camera units to determine a common focus distance, subsequent to completing independent auto-focus operations and respective lens position adjustments for the at least two camera units. The control logic provides a control signal to at least one of the camera units to adjust its actuator to adjust lens position in response to the determined common focus distance. A test procedure is used to map focus distance to lens position for each camera unit and to generate a lookup table. The control logic uses the lookup table unique to each camera unit to adjust the lens settings according to the determined common focus distance. The parallax operation is iterated until the common focus distance converges.

Abstract: An auto-focus camera (100) can include a lens (102), a sensor (108) for detecting an image from the lens, a first liquid crystal layer (104) between the lens and the sensor, and a second liquid crystal layer (106) between the lens and the sensor and further orthogonally aligned to the first liquid crystal layer. The auto-focus camera can further include an integrated circuit programmed to drive the first liquid crystal layer and the second liquid crystal layer. The auto-focus camera can include a controller (202) programmed to control two orthogonally aligned liquid crystal layers. The liquid crystal layers can serve as an optical anti-alias filter using birefringence properties of the liquid crystal layers. The first liquid crystal layer and the second liquid crystal layer can be orthogonally aligned to achieve polarization insensitive operation of the auto-focus camera.