Abstract: Articulating implant connectors and related methods are disclosed herein. Exemplary connectors can include first and second bodies that are rotatable relative to one another about a rotation axis and selectively lockable to resist or prevent such rotation. Each of the bodies can be configured to couple to a rod or other fixation component, and the connector can be used to lock first and second rods together even when the rods are obliquely angled with respect to one another.

Abstract: Electronic devices that detect their position and/or orientation with respect to earth's frame of reference are described. A coupler can removeably maintain the electronic devices in physical proximity of one another. Each electronic device can have a housing and the coupler can be included on the housing and arranged to physically connect the housing of the electronic device to the housing of at least one other electronic device. Alternatively, the coupler can be a packaging that maintains the electronic devices in physical proximity of one another. Each electronic device can be calibrated using the orientation or position information obtained by other electronic devices maintained by the coupler. Further, each electronic device can include a power source that remains inactive until the device is ready for use.

Abstract: A connection arrangement for use with a wearable body harness includes a first connector having a first body component, a second body component, and an attachment element connected to each other by a rod having a longitudinal axis. The connection arrangement further includes a second connector removably connectable to the first connector. Each of the first body component, the second body component, and the attachment element are independently movable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the rod. The first connector and the second connector are removably connectable to each other via a locking and release mechanism between a first, locked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, and a second, unlocked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are disconnected from each other.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which changes in the position and/or orientation of an anatomical structure or of a surgical tool can be measured quantitatively during surgery. In some embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein can make use of inertial motion sensors to determine a position or orientation of an instrument or anatomy at different times and to calculate changes between different positions or orientations. In other embodiments, such sensors can be utilized in conjunction with imaging devices to correlate sensor position with anatomical landmarks, thereby permitting determination of absolute angular orientation of a landmark. Such systems and methods can facilitate real-time tracking of progress during a variety of procedures, including, e.g., spinal deformity correction, etc.

Abstract: A method to identify possible debris clogging area in a machined object includes simulating movement of a plurality of debris particles provided within a modeled object having a plurality of cavities in accordance with a debris clogging evaluation to identify inaccessible areas along the plurality of cavities. The plurality of debris particles is indicative of solid debris and the modeled object is a multidimensional computer designed model. The method further includes determining an egress characteristic of the plurality of cavities based on the simulated movement of the plurality of debris particles. The egress characteristic includes a contact area, an obstruction area, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A rotary transducer is described. The rotary transducer includes a Hall effect sensor, a rotary dial comprising at least two recessed pockets, a first magnet that is positioned within one of the at least two recessed pockets, and a second magnet that is positioned within another one of the at least two recessed pockets. In an acceleration only mode, the rotary dial is rotatable from a center position in a first direction and is not rotatable from the center position in a second direction. This mode is selected when a mode selection screw is inserted into a mode selection orifice. In a bi-directional acceleration/deceleration mode, the rotary dial is rotatable from the center position in the first direction and is rotatable from the center position in the second direction. This mode is selected when the mode selection screw is not inserted into the mode selection orifice.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an anatomical implant template has a template body having opposed first and second terminal ends. The template body bends so as to change the body from a first configuration, whereby the body extends from the first terminal end to the second terminal end along a first path, to a second configuration, whereby the body extends from the first terminal end to the second terminal end along a second path, different from the first path, the second path conforming more closely to the curvature of the at least one anatomical body. The body supports at least one device that outputs at least one signal from which a shape of the body in the second configuration can be ascertained. The anatomical implant template can further communicate the at least one signal to a computing device that generates signals for bending an anatomical implant.

Abstract: A surgical tool is disclosed. The surgical tool includes a functional tool, a functional tip, at least one sensor, and a control unit. The functional tool has a shaft and a distal end. The functional tip is positioned at the distal end of the housing; at least one sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicative of at least one of an acoustic signal or a vibration signal generated by the functional tool. The control unit receives the first signal, analyzes the first signal to determine tissue type in contact with the functional tip and supplies a second signal to the functional tool to control at least one operation of the functional tool based upon the tissue type in contact with the functional tip.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that can allow for wirelessly powering and/or communicating with a sterile-packed electronic device without removing the electronic device from its sterile packaging and while maintaining the sterility of the electronic device. In some embodiments, a base station with a power transmitter wirelessly transfers power to a power receiver of the electronic device, for example using inductive, capacitive, or ultrasonic coupling. The base station or another external device can also be used to wirelessly program or interrogate the electronic device. Battery charging circuits and switching circuits for use with said systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes removably attaching an input device of a surgical feedback system to a surgical tool having a handle. The input device has at least one sensor configured to collect a plurality of original signals. The plurality of original signals has at least one of an acoustic signal or a vibration signal. The surgical tool contacts tissue of a patient. And, a notification of the type of tissue being contacted by the surgical tool is received.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for motion-based beacon advertisement are disclosed. A motion detector (e.g., request to enter detector) includes a motion sensor, a first Bluetooth® radio that operates in a beacon mode, and a controller that executes instructions. The instructions cause the controller to detect a motion event via the motion sensor, initiate a timer for a predetermined time in response to the detected motion event, broadcast a beacon message in response to the detected motion event via the Bluetooth® radio, and terminate the broadcast of the beacon message upon expiration of the timer.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for motion-based beacon advertisement are disclosed. A motion detector (e.g., request to enter detector) includes a motion sensor, a first Bluetooth® radio that operates in a beacon mode, and a controller that executes instructions. The instructions cause the controller to detect a motion event via the motion sensor, initiate a timer for a predetermined time in response to the detected motion event, broadcast a beacon message in response to the detected motion event via the Bluetooth® radio, and terminate the broadcast of the beacon message upon expiration of the timer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which changes in the position and/or orientation of an anatomical structure or of a surgical tool can be measured quantitatively during surgery. In some embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein can make use of inertial motion sensors to determine a position or orientation of an instrument or anatomy at different times and to calculate changes between different positions or orientations. In other embodiments, such sensors can be utilized in conjunction with imaging devices to correlate sensor position with anatomical landmarks, thereby permitting determination of absolute angular orientation of a landmark. Such systems and methods can facilitate real-time tracking of progress during a variety of procedures, including, e.g., spinal deformity correction, etc.

Abstract: A chirp spread spectrum (CSS) receiver may reject, based on a data alignment chirp that includes an identifier that is a mismatch to a preconfigured identifier, a message early and before fully receiving/decoding the message. A receiver may receive a sequence of training chirps for symbol alignment followed by a single opposite chirp for data alignment. Training chirps may be processed through a fast-Fourier transform (FFT) and the resulting values accumulated. The receiver may align, based on the received chirps of the preamble and the accumulated values exceeding the threshold, its symbol reception. Using this symbol alignment, the receiver may await a single opposite chirp after the sequence of training chirps. The single opposite chirp may indicate data alignment and comprise an encoded identifier. The receiver may reject the message and terminate further message processing based on the encoded identifier being a mismatch to a preconfigured identifier.

Abstract: Devices and methods for enhancing forward error correction techniques for communications using chirp spread spectrum are disclosed. The method includes receiving a chirp signal having a plurality of chirps, identifying an N bit column that has an uncorrectable bit error, skipping the identified N bit column, decoding each remaining N bit column within the M×N matrix based on an error correction code and N?Q parity bits, decoding each M bit row within the M×N matrix based on the error correction code and M?D parity bits, determining that the uncorrectable error bit in the identified N bit column is remedied as a result of the decoding, and decoding the identified N bit column based on an error correction code and N?Q parity bits.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for enhancing error correction decoding for communications using chirp spread spectrum are disclosed. A chirp signal having a plurality of chirps is received, a codeword is identified based on at least one of the plurality of chirps, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with at least a portion of the codeword is identified, at least one decoding threshold is adjusted based on the identified RSSI, and the codeword is decoded using the adjusted at least one decoding threshold.

Abstract: Devices and methods for enhancing forward error correction techniques for communications using chirp spread spectrum are disclosed. Systems, devices, and methods for error correction coding and decoding are described. On the coding side, K bits of data are sequentially loaded into an M bit by N bit (M×N) matrix in a first direction as Q sequences of D bits, each D bit row of data in the M×N matrix is coded with an error correction code to generate an M bit row of coded data, each Q bit column in the M×N matrix is coded with the error correction code to generate N bits of coded data, N sequences of M bits are sequentially unloaded from the M×N matrix in a second direction, and a chirp signal is generated having a plurality of chirps.

Abstract: Data acquisition in a chirp spread spectrum (CSS) signal may use a data alignment indicator of a single down chirp signal or single upchirp signal. A receiver may receive part or all of a preamble comprising a sequence of training chirps for symbol alignment followed by a single opposite chirp for data alignment. Training chirps may be processed through a fast-Fourier transform (FFT), and the values from the FFT may be accumulated. The accumulated values may exceed a threshold for detection. The receiver may align, based on the received chirps of the preamble and exceeding the threshold, its symbol reception. Using this symbol alignment, the receiver may await a single opposite chirp after the sequence of training chirps. The single opposite chirp may indicate data alignment. Upon receipt of the opposite chirp, the receiver may start data acquisition based on chirps following the single opposite chirp.

Abstract: A chirp spread spectrum (CSS) receiver may reject, based on multiple data alignment chirps that includes an attribute identifier that is a mismatch to one or more preconfigured identifiers, a message early and before fully receiving/decoding the message. The multiple data alignment chirps may enable usage of a larger range of IDs than a single chirp signal. A receiver may receive a sequence of training chirps for symbol alignment followed by multiple opposite chirps for data alignment. Training chirps may be processed through a fast-Fourier transform (FFT) and the resulting values accumulated until a threshold is exceeded. Using symbol alignment from the training chirps, the receiver may decode multiple opposite chirps that indicate data alignment and comprise an encoded identifier. The receiver may reject the message and terminate further message processing based on the encoded identifier being a mismatch to preconfigured identifiers or attributes indicated by the encoded identifier.

Abstract: A method of determining the potency of an immune cell is described. The method includes the steps of contacting an immune cell with an effective amount of an stimulating agent (for example, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)) and detecting the amount of a cytokine produced by the immune cell. Kits for assaying immune cell potency are also described. Potency assays are important for satisfying the FDA requirements for new biological agents, such as immunotherapeutic cells. Methods of using potent immune cells as an immunotherapeutic treatment are described.