Abstract: A welding wire feeder including an alignment tongue and groove connection between a clamp arm and a welding drive assembly housing is provided. In certain embodiments, an alignment tongue extends from an end of the clamp arm opposite a pivot point about which the clamp arm rotates relative the assembly housing. A corresponding alignment groove may be formed in the assembly housing to receive the alignment tongue when the clamp arm is rotated such that a drive wheel mounted on the clamp arm contacts a drive wheel mounted on the assembly housing. In addition, a tensioner may be pivoted into a groove in the clamp arm to transfer a compressive force through the clamp arm, forcing the drive wheels together. The alignment tongue and groove may reduce lateral displacement of the clamp arm relative to the assembly housing that may be caused by a force transferred to the clamp arm as the tensioner is pivoted.

Abstract: A pressure compensation member, an irrigation drip emitter, drip lines and methods relating to same, are provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. The pressure compensation member being suitable for use in conventional emitters or alternate emitters being provided having either a uniform elastomeric emitter body configuration or a poly-material emitter body utilizing an elastomeric pressure compensation member. Various methods are also disclosed herein relating to the pressure compensation member, emitters and/or drip line using such pressure compensating members and/or emitters.

Abstract: A respiratory mask system is provided comprising a respiratory mask and a head engaging portion, wherein the head engaging portion is configured to couple to the respiratory mask to engage a wearer's head via a disengageable mechanism. The disengageable mechanism may comprise a linking member attached to the head engaging portion, a disengagement member attached to the respiratory mask and configured to receive the linking member, wherein the disengagement member is configured to be moveable between a first position and a second position, a control configured to allow a wearer of the mask to move the disengagement member towards the first position and one or more surfaces defined by the disengagement member and configured to exert a frictional force on the linking member.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine the number of people at a location. An example apparatus includes a configuration changer to change a configuration setting of the base station to cause mobile devices to register with the base station, a registration manager to respond to registration requests received from the mobile devices after the configuration setting is changed by storing device identification information for the corresponding mobile devices, and a counter controller to identify a number of the mobile devices at a location of the base station based on the stored device identification information.

Abstract: Generating an optimized supplier allocation plan includes identifying parts and suppliers associated with an allocation problem, where each supplier can supply at least one part. One or more objective functions are selected. Each objective function has part variables, and each part variable represents a quantity of a part to be procured from a supplier. At least one constraint constraining at least one part variable is received. The one or more objective functions are optimized with respect to the at least one constraint to yield a value for each part variable. A quantity of each part to be procured from at least one supplier is determined according to the values to generate the optimized supplier allocation plan.

Abstract: A wireless communication system wirelessly detects a wireless network identifier and a product identifier that were wirelessly transmitted from a product. The wireless communication system selects an application based on the wireless network identifier. The wireless communication system performs a product-tracking transaction for the product by executing the selected application to process the product identifier.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to patient support systems, such as hospital beds, and particularly to reconfigurable patient support systems movable among a number of different positions. The present disclosure further relates to control algorithms and interfaces for use in patient support systems.

Abstract: An MRI system including a main magnet defining a volume, an imaging region disposed within the volume. The main magnet is configured to produce a uniform main magnetic field within the volume, wherein the uniform magnetic field is oriented along a patient axis. The system includes a gradient magnetic coil assembly disposed within the volume and configured to generate a spatially varying magnetic field across the imaging region. The gradient magnetic coil assembly includes a first coil configured to generate a magnetic field in a first axis, a second coil configured to generate a magnetic field in a second axis, and a third coil configured to generate a magnetic field in the patient axis. The system also includes a passive gradient shield disposed between the main magnet and primary gradient magnetic coil assembly, the passive gradient shield can include a continuous cylindrical layer of high permeability, low electrical conductivity material.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for wound treatment. A wound dressing apparatus can comprises a wound contact layer, at least one absorbent layer, an electronics unit comprising a negative pressure source unit, and a cover layer. The electronics unit can comprise a plurality of sensors positioned on a printed circuit board and an inlet protection mechanism of the negative pressure source unit comprises a first recess in fluid communication with a first sensor and the outlet or exhaust mechanism negative pressure source unit comprises a second recess in fluid communication with a second sensor.

Abstract: Tools, techniques, systems, methods and configurations are provided for modifying Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft (LCAA) to fly missions as functional, safe and effective aerial refueling (AR) tankers. The LCAA may be modified with a Selectively-Autonomous Aerial Refueling (SAAR) system, which can be installed in the LCAA to assist pilots and operators with actual AR procedures, to assist pilots and operators who are training to learn how to perform AR procedures, and/or to provide communication nodes in the form of a tactical edge network which is part of a common operational system. For AR training missions, LCAAs may be outfitted with a SAAR system including an aerial refueling store (ARS) buddy pod, such as for situations where fuel will not be offloaded to receiver aircraft.

Abstract: Tools, techniques, systems, methods and configurations are provided for modifying Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft (LCAA) to fly missions as functional, safe and effective aerial refueling (AR) tankers. The LCAA may be modified with a Selectively-Autonomous Aerial Refueling (SAAR) system, which can be installed in the LCAA to assist pilots and operators with actual AR procedures, to assist pilots and operators who are training to learn how to perform AR procedures, and/or to provide communication nodes in the form of a tactical edge network which is part of a common operational system. For AR training missions, LCAAs may be outfitted with a SAAR system including an aerial refueling store (ARS) buddy pod, such as for situations where fuel will not be offloaded to receiver aircraft.

Abstract: A device for analyzing biological samples comprises first, second, third, and fourth layers. The first layer comprises a sample chamber in which a sample is positioned. The second layer comprises first, second, and third channels. A third, porous layer is positioned between the first layer and the second layer. A fourth layer composed of a substantially liquid-impermeable material is positioned between the second layer and the third layer. The fourth layer includes first and second pass-through channels that are aligned with the first and second channel, respectively. Fluids that flow in the first and second channels pass through the pass-through channels and diffuse into the sample chamber, establishing a chemical concentration gradient therein. A gas in the sample chamber can diffuse through the third and fourth layers and interact with a fluid flowing in the third channel, establishing a gas concentration gradient in the sample chamber.

Abstract: A rendering mode may be determined for received audio data, including audio signals and associated spatial data. The audio data may be rendered for reproduction via a set of loudspeakers of an environment according to the rendering mode, to produce rendered audio signals. Rendering the audio data may involve determining relative activation of a set of loudspeakers in an environment. The rendering mode may be variable between a reference spatial mode and one or more distributed spatial modes. The reference spatial mode may have an assumed listening position and orientation. In the distributed spatial mode(s), one or more elements of the audio data may each be rendered in a more spatially distributed manner than in the reference spatial mode and spatial locations of remaining elements of the audio data may be warped such that they span a rendering space of the environment more completely than in the reference spatial mode.

Abstract: Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems, apparatuses, and methods for operating the systems and apparatuses are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a negative pressure source, a connector port, at least one switch, and a controller. The negative pressure source is connected through the connector port to either (i) a wound dressing having a canister configured to store fluid aspirated from the wound or (ii) a wound dressing without a canister between the connector port and the wound dressing. The controller determines, based on a signal received from the at least one switch, whether the canister is positioned in the fluid flow path and adjusts one or more operational parameters of negative pressure wound therapy based on the determination. The switch is activated by the connection of either the canister or canisterless wound dressing to the apparatus.

Abstract: A network controller authenticates receiver circuitry and transfers an Application Programming Interface (API) to the receiver circuitry. A wireless radio wirelessly detects a network identifier and a product identifier that were wirelessly transmitted by an item at a geographic location. Based on the network identifier, the receiver circuitry selects the API that is associated with a wireless network slice. Based on the selected API, the receiver circuitry generates an API call that indicates the product identifier and the geographic location for the item. The receiver circuitry transfers the API call the wireless network slice. The wireless network slice receives the API call from the receiver circuitry. The wireless network slice selects an application that is associated with the item based on the product identifier. The wireless network slice transfers the product identifier and the geographic location for the item to selected application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing high speed interactions with electromagnetic power harvesting (AEPH) chips are provided. In one embodiment, an AEPH initialization node emits a first electromagnetic field to charge the AEPH chip and/or initiate a boot-up sequence, and an AEPH interrogation node that transmits a second electromagnetic field to trigger processing operations within the AEPH chip. The first electromagnetic field and second electromagnetic fields are emitted respectively within an AEPH initialization zone and an AEPH interrogation zone that are offset from each other such that the first electromagnetic field emission in the AEPH initialization zone does not produce backscatter that interferes with the AEPH interrogation node receiving interrogation reply signals from the AEPH interrogation zone. Curtailing backscatter facilitates the ability to convey items with AEPH chips at faster line speeds so that a greater number of items per minute can be processed.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods for heating a road surface for repair, the apparatus comprising a combustion chamber containing a plate adapted to radiate infra-red radiation towards the road surface, the plate having a first plurality of through-holes formed in it which face towards the road surface, and, located a predetermined distance between the plate and the road surface, a radiant screen having a second plurality of through-holes in it and adapted to absorb infra-red radiation radiated from the plate and heat from combustion gases discharged from the first plurality of through-holes and to radiate heat in addition to that emitted from the plate towards the road surface.

Abstract: An MRI system including a main magnet defining a volume, an imaging region disposed within the volume. The main magnet is configured to produce a uniform main magnetic field within the volume, wherein the uniform magnetic field is oriented along a patient axis. The system includes a gradient magnetic coil assembly disposed within the volume and configured to generate a spatially varying magnetic field across the imaging region. The gradient magnetic coil assembly includes a first coil configured to generate a magnetic field in a first axis, a second coil configured to generate a magnetic field in a second axis, and a third coil configured to generate a magnetic field in the patient axis. The system also includes a passive gradient shield disposed between the main magnet and primary gradient magnetic coil assembly, the passive gradient shield can include a continuous cylindrical layer of high permeability, low electrical conductivity material.

Abstract: A pressure compensation member, an irrigation drip emitter, drip lines and methods relating to same, are provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. The pressure compensation member being suitable for use in conventional emitters or alternate emitters being provided having either a uniform elastomeric emitter body configuration or a poly-material emitter body utilizing an elastomeric pressure compensation member. Various methods are also disclosed herein relating to the pressure compensation member, emitters and/or drip line using such pressure compensating members and/or emitters.

Abstract: A wireless communication system tracks an item that wirelessly transfers a Fifth Generation Identifier (5GID) and a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). Transceivers wirelessly detect the 5GID and the GTIN and transfer messages indicating the 5GID and the GTIN to a ledger gateway. The ledger gateway receives the messages and selects a distributed application in a distributed ledger node based on the 5GID and/or the GTIN. The ledger gateway proposes an item-tracking transaction with the 5GID and the GTIN to the selected distributed application in the distributed ledger node. The distributed ledger node and distributed application execute the proposed item-tracking transaction with the 5GID and the GTIN to generate an item-tracking result and store the item-tracking result in a blockchain format.