Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for detecting retained surgical items or other objects having a magnetic signature within a corpus of a patient. The device can comprise a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a distal sensing portion positioned distally of the shaft. The distal sensing portion can comprise one or more gradiometers comprising a plurality of magnetometers. The device can further comprise one or more output components configured to generate a user output to alert a user of a detected object.

Abstract: A method for initiating a cardless automated teller machine (ATM) transaction via a mobile computing device includes: storing, in a memory of a mobile computing device, at least transaction account data and authentication data; receiving, by an input device of the mobile computing device, at least desired transaction data and authentication information; receiving, by the input device of the mobile computing device, a unique identifier associated with an automated teller machine (ATM); authenticating, by an authentication module of the mobile computing device, the received authentication information based on the stored authentication data; and electronically transmitting, by a transmitting device of the mobile computing device, at least the received desired data and unique identifier and a result of the authentication to an external computing system.

Abstract: A method for initiating a cardless automated teller machine (ATM) transaction via a mobile computing device includes: storing, in a memory of a mobile computing device, at least transaction account data and authentication data; receiving, by an input device of the mobile computing device, at least desired transaction data and authentication information; receiving, by the input device of the mobile computing device, a unique identifier associated with an automated teller machine (ATM); authenticating, by an authentication module of the mobile computing device, the received authentication information based on the stored authentication data; and electronically transmitting, by a transmitting device of the mobile computing device, at least the received desired data and unique identifier and a result of the authentication to an external computing system.

Abstract: A method for cardless withdrawal from an automated teller machine includes: receiving, by an input device of an automated teller machine (ATM), user input comprising at least: a first code, a device identifier associated with a computing device, and a transaction amount; electronically transmitting, by the ATM, at least the first code, device identifier, and the transaction amount to a first computing system; receiving, by a receiving device of the ATM, a transaction account number from the first computing system; electronically transmitting, by the ATM, a withdrawal request including at least the transaction account number and the transaction amount to an acquiring institution; receiving, by the receiving device of the ATM, an indication from the acquiring institution that indicates approval of the withdrawal request; and dispensing, by a dispensing module of the ATM, one or more payment instruments having a value equivalent to the transaction amount.

Abstract: A method of making a polymeric nanocomposite material. The method includes combining nanosize materials, such as layered silicates, or nanosize sphered silica, with a polymer and a solvent to form a substantially homogeneous mixture, followed by removal of the solvent. The method forms a layered-silicate nanocomposite with an intercalated nanostructure with very large interplanar spacing or a combination of intercalated and exfoliated nanostructure.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing a polymeric material with nanosize materials is provided in which materials such as vapor grown carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, layered silicates, nanosize sphered silica, or graphite nanoparticles are combined with a polymer and a solvent to form a substantially homogeneous mixture, followed by removal of the solvent by evaporation or coagulation. Depending on the nanosize materials used, the resulting polymeric nanocomposite material exhibits high electrical and thermal conductivity, enhanced mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, reduced gas permeation, and/or dimensional stability.