Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument, the staple cartridge including: a longitudinal slot; a longitudinal row of obliquely-oriented inner staples positioned adjacent the longitudinal slot; a longitudinal row of obliquely-oriented outer staples; and a longitudinal row of obliquely-oriented intermediate staples. The longitudinal row of obliquely-oriented intermediate staples being positioned on the first side of the longitudinal slot intermediate the longitudinal row of obliquely-oriented inner staples and the longitudinal row of obliquely-oriented outer staples. The first lateral spacing being defined between the distal end of a staple of the longitudinal row of obliquely-oriented inner staples and the distal end of a staple of the longitudinal row of obliquely-oriented outer staples.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.

Abstract: Provided herein are 4-aminoisoindoline-1,3-dione compounds having the following structure: wherein R, Ring A, and n are as defined herein, compositions comprising an effective amount of a 4-aminoisoindoline-1,3-dione compound, and methods for treating or preventing disorders.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument that includes a cartridge body, a longitudinal row of first staple cavities, a longitudinal row of second staple cavities, a third staple cavity, a first staple driver and a second staple driver. The cartridge body has a longitudinal slot that defines a longitudinal axis. The first and second longitudinal rows of staple cavities are obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis and a third staple cavity is positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The staple cavities positioned in the first and second rows are configured to receive staples. The first and second staple drivers include staple supports and ramps. The first ramp of the first staple driver is positioned beneath at least one first staple support and the second ramp is laterally offset relative to the second staple support.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is configured to compensate for battery pack and drivetrain failures. One method includes generating a firing sequence, determining whether a subset of rechargeable battery cells is damaged during the firing sequence, and stepping-up an output voltage of the battery pack to complete the firing sequence in response to a determination that a subset of the rechargeable battery cells is damaged. Another method includes generating a mechanical output to motivate a drivetrain to transmit a motion to a jaw assembly of the surgical instrument, activating a safe mode in response to an acute failure of the drivetrain, and activating a bailout mode in response to a catastrophic failure of the drivetrain. Another method includes driving a drivetrain, sensing and recording vibration information from the drivetrain, generating an output signal based on the vibration information, and determining a status of the surgical instrument based on the output signal.

Abstract: A system for controlling air flow comprises an inlet, a first compressor, a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a first temperature sensor, and a first controller. The inlet is configured to direct a first stream of air into the system. The first compressor is configured to pull in the first stream of air through the inlet and compress the first stream of air. The first pressure sensor senses a first pressure of the first stream of air prior to compression in the first compressor, the second pressure sensor senses a second pressure of the first stream of air after compression in the first compressor, and the first temperature sensor senses a temperature of the first stream of air after compression in the first compressor. The controller adjusts a speed of the first compressor based upon a comparison between a desired flow rate and a calculated flow rate.

Abstract: A diffuser is provided having a spaced apart shroud and backing plate. A diffuser vane is provided between the backing plate and shroud. The vane includes first and second sealing surfaces opposite from one another and adjacent to the backing plate and shroud. Leading and trailing surfaces are arranged opposite from one another and adjoin the first and second sealing surfaces. The first sealing surface includes a first protrusion extending therefrom approximate to the leading surface with a gap extending from the trailing surface to the first protrusion. The second surface includes a second protrusion extending therefrom proximate to the trailing surface with a second gap extending from the leading surface to the second protrusion. The surfaces provide four corners such that the protrusions are arranged on opposite corners from one another to create a pressure differential between the first and second sealing surfaces.

Abstract: A snow filter for an airplane cabin air supply system is provided with a coned inlet screen which allows some air to pass through and some snow to be retained. The coned configuration diverts much of the air and snow toward a downstream conical retaining and collecting screen positioned toward the outlet of the snow filter. Snow is retained and collected at this point while air is able to pass through the screen. Downstream of the coned inlet screen and upstream of the conical retaining and collecting screen is an open air flow mid-portion that enables tortuous flow of air as the snow is directed toward the conical retaining and collecting screen in an annular collection volume. The outlet of the snow filter is provided with a contact sleeve that allows the snow filter to be fittingly received by a surrounding corresponding air duct. Thus a snow filter is provided that effectively separates snow from a flow of air while maintaining a clog-free path.

Abstract: A snow filter for an airplane cabin air supply system is provided with a coned inlet screen which allows some air to pass through and some snow to be retained. The coned configuration diverts much of the air and snow toward a downstream conical retaining and collecting screen positioned toward the outlet of the snow filter. Snow is retained and collected at this point while air is able to pass through the screen. Downstream of the coned inlet screen and upstream of the conical retaining and collecting screen is an open air flow mid-portion that enables tortuous flow of air as the snow is directed toward the conical retaining and collecting screen in an annular collection volume. The outlet of the snow filter is provided with a contact sleeve that allows the snow filter to be fittingly received by a surrounding corresponding air duct. Thus a snow filter is provided that effectively separates snow from a flow of air while maintaining a clog-free path.

Abstract: An air cycle air conditioning system comprises a first air source for supplying cooling air and a second air source for supplying high temperature system air. The system further includes a device for transferring heat from the high temperature air and producing conditioned air having a temperature substantially lower than the high temperature system air. A mechanism for directing the conditioned air to the high temperature air prior to the high temperature air entering a component of the system for decreasing the temperature of the high temperature system air, prior to it contacting the system component is also provided.

Abstract: An integrated environmental control system is disclosed for providing conditioned supply air to loads such as a passenger cabin of an aircraft. The system comprises at least two shafts, each shaft having a fan, compressor, and turbine mechanically secured to the shaft; common heat transfer components including primary and secondary heat exchangers, a reheater, and a condenser with a water collector; lines that deliver the supply air separately through the compressors and turbines of each shaft and deliver the supply air in common through the common heat transfer components to the load; and shutoff valves secured in fluid communication with each turbine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integral control of a dependent variable in a system having at least two independent variables which influence the dependent variable is disclosed. A difference signal indicative of the difference between the sensed dependent variable and a reference is integrated and provided to a hysteresis transfer function. The output of the transfer function is subtracted from the integrated difference signal and the resulting signal is used to control an independent variable which thereby influences the dependent variable only for small magnitude signal variations in the integrated signal. The integrated signal is used to control another independent variable for large magnitude signal variations in the integrated signal. The other independent variable is typically only capable of influencing the dependent variable for large magnitude signal variations.

Abstract: An improved slave propeller synchrophaser (10) includes a first control (14) responsive to a phase difference signal (28) and a phase difference reference signal (26) for providing a phase error signal (112) and for providing a propeller speed reference bias signal (40) for a speed governor (46), and also includes, according to the present invention, a second control (12) responsive to the phase error signal (112) for providing an engine power reference bias signal (80) for an engine power control for providing a very limited amount of propeller fine speed control within the dead band of the propeller speed governor while at the same time substantially maintaining engine power at the commanded power level.