Abstract: A system for use in carrying out downhole coiled tubing applications with two-way telemetry over a single fiber optic thread. The system includes uphole and downhole assemblies each having unique couplers. Specifically, the couplers may be configured to secure the single fiber optic thread at one end thereof while having dedicated fiber optic channels at another side thereof for interfacing a fiber optic transmitter and receiver. Thus, fiber optic data may travel from a surface assembly over the thread for detection at the downhole assembly simultaneous with fiber optic data travelling from the downhole assembly to the surface assembly over the same thread.

Abstract: A drilling system includes an internal assembly comprising a chassis, a flow diverter, or both, and a strain gauge coupled to the chassis, the flow diverter, or both, in which the strain gauge is configured to output a signal associated with a strain deformation of the internal assembly. The drilling system also includes a drill collar coupled to the internal assembly, in which the internal assembly extends along the drill collar, and the drill collar encloses the internal assembly of the internal assembly such that a strain deformation of the drill collar causes the strain deformation of the internal assembly.

Abstract: An augmented reality and extended reality surgical system. The system may comprise a wearable device, such as a head mounted display or glasses, that provides the user with virtual reality, augmented reality, and/or mixed reality for surgery visualization. This may allow the user to access 2D or 3D imaging, magnification, virtual visualization, six-degrees of freedom (6DoF) image management, and/or other images while still viewing real reality and thus maintaining a presence in the operating room.

Abstract: A kink-resistance catheter has at least a first pair of core wires residing in the catheter body on opposed side of a catheter lumen. The core wires have relatively stiff proximal ends but taper toward their distal ends. The tapered construction provides the core wires with a degree of distal flexibility that helps the catheter advance along a vasculature to a site of interest without kinking. Moreover, the core wires greatly improve the torsional rigidity of the catheter so that rotation of the catheter's proximal end translates into a substantially equivalent rotation at the distal end. If desired, shaping ribbons are provided in the catheter body adjacent to the distal ends of the core wires. The shaping ribbons can be pre-bent before a surgical procedure to help the physician advance the catheter along the vasculature. Finally, the core wires provide the ability to push the catheter through the vasculature without the need for the catheter to go over a guidewire already in-situ in the vasculature.

Abstract: An access system for managing users engaged in providing care to patients. A patient support apparatus is provided and comprises a frame, a patient support surface configured to support the patient, and a powered device having a function. An input system is disposed in communication with the powered device and is configured to receive input data. A user control system is disposed in communication with the input system and comprises an authorization module. The authorization module is configured to access a permission level for a user dictating whether the user has permission to operate the powered device with the input system to perform the function. The authorization module is further configured to determine performance data relating to performance of the user in caring for the patient based on the input data, and to modify the permission level based on the performance data.

Abstract: A technique facilitates prediction of run life. Data relating to a pipe defect is provided to a data processing system for comparison to stored data regarding defects. Additionally, data regarding fatigue life accumulation is stored on the data processing system as it relates to fatigue life of the pipe based on the number of cycles to failure of the pipe without the presence of the defect. The number of cycles experienced by the pipe at the time the defect occurs in the pipe also is determined and provided to the data processing system. The system and methodology further comprise using the data regarding the defect type, the fatigue life accumulation data for the pipe, and the number of cycles experienced by the pipe at the time of the defect to estimate a remaining number of cycles until failure of the pipe.

Abstract: A power transfer system comprises a patient support apparatus and a separate power transfer device. The patient support apparatus comprises a support structure having a base and a patient support surface for a patient and wheels coupled to the support structure to facilitate movement of the patient support apparatus over a floor surface. One or more of the wheels includes a power receiver integrated therewith. The power transfer device is energizeable to interact with the wheel to facilitate power transfer between the power transfer device and the power receiver through the wheel.

Abstract: A basket-type EP catheter is described. The EP catheter comprises a catheter proximal end that is electrically connected to a controller by an electrical cable having a single voltage-out (Vout) conductor and a catheter distal end supporting a distal connector that is detachably connectable to a basket-shaped configuration of a plurality of splines. Each spline supports an array of electrodes. By sampling the voltage signal on each of the plurality of electrodes sequentially or consecutively, only one Vout conductor is needed to transmit the voltage sample to the controller. In comparison to conventional EP catheters, this greatly reduces the number of conductors extending along the catheter shaft. The use of a Vout conductor is implemented by connecting a polling circuit or a “one-shot” circuit and a signal pass-transistor or transmission gate to each electrode.

Abstract: A wireless lighting control system includes a remote server system connected to a wide area network and having software for configuring, monitoring, and controlling lighting fixtures at an installation site. The site includes wireless devices in communication with a gateway via a local wireless network and at least some of the wireless devices are configured for scheduled automation associations, for example, to control one or more lighting fixtures depending on the state of one or more wireless devices having sensors or user interface elements. The associations can activate specific lighting effects, such as power, dimming, and scene control and also are dependent on selected scheduling events such as one or more of a time of day, day of week, and time delay.

Abstract: An ablation catheter for treating cardiac arrhythmias by ablating near pulmonary venous tissue is described. The ablation catheter includes a system of optical fibers containing respective fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) that are susceptible to changes in strain to thereby indicate to the physician the amount of force that the ablation head is exerting on the myocardial tissue during the ablation procedure. Optionally, the FBGs are used to indicate the exact orientation of the catheter and its ablation head inside the vasculature.

Abstract: An access system for managing users engaged in providing care to patients. A patient support apparatus is provided and comprises a frame, a patient support surface configured to support the patient, and a powered device having a function. An input system is disposed in communication with the powered device and is configured to receive input data. A user control system is disposed in communication with the input system and comprises an authorization module. The authorization module is configured to access a permission level for a user dictating whether the user has permission to operate the powered device with the input system to perform the function. The authorization module is further configured to determine performance data relating to performance of the user in caring for the patient based on the input data, and to modify the permission level based on the performance data.

Abstract: A power transfer system comprises a patient support apparatus and a separate power transfer device. The patient support apparatus comprises a support structure having a base and a patient support surface for a patient and wheels coupled to the support structure to facilitate movement of the patient support apparatus over a floor surface. One or more of the wheels includes a power receiver integrated therewith. The power transfer device is energizeable to interact with the wheel to facilitate power transfer between the power transfer device and the power receiver through the wheel.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for surge protection of a distributed control system component. An example apparatus includes an I/O module to be electrically coupled to a field device via a terminal block, the terminal block including a surge protector to reduce an input voltage to an operating voltage when the input voltage satisfies a first threshold, and a communication interface to generate a status message when the input voltage satisfies the threshold.

Abstract: A vital signs monitor for attachment to a human or animal thorax, the monitor having a low power mode and a high accuracy mode and comprising: a motion sensor configured to, in the low power mode, sample movement at a first frequency and, in the high accuracy mode, sample movement at a second frequency, the second frequency being greater than the first frequency; and a processor configured to, in the low power mode, process a series of the one or more movement samples captured by the motion sensor in the low power mode so as to form a measure of activity level, and to, in the high accuracy mode, cause a series of the movement samples captured by the motion sensor in the high accuracy mode to be stored at the vital signs monitor and/or transmitted by means of a transceiver; wherein the processor is configured to prevent the vital signs monitor entering the high accuracy mode from the low power mode when the activity level exceeds a first predefined or dynamic threshold.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for detecting and measuring pressure within a region of a body lumen or vessel. The pressure sensing system includes a light source for transmitting light through a pathway containing polarization-maintaining fiber optic wires. A distal portion of the polarization-maintaining fiber optic wire, which is engaged to and extends along a guidewire, includes pressure sensing station(s) made up of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG). The light transmitted to and reflected from the FBGs on the two polarization modes of the polarization-maintaining fiber optic wire can be analyzed to provide one or more pressure values.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a base and a patient support surface to support a patient. An actuator system facilitates movement of the patient support surface relative to a floor surface. One or more sensors are responsive to changes in position of the patient support surface caused by the actuator system. A controller is operably coupled to the one or more sensors and the actuator system. The controller is configured to operate the actuator system to move the patient support surface and to monitor the movement of the patient support surface by sensing positions of the patient support surface over time. The controller is further configured to identify a frictional load event on the actuator system during movement in a present cycle and associate the frictional load event with a sensed position of the patient support surface in the present cycle.

Abstract: A guidewire system comprises a guidewire supporting a distal ferrule in the proximal end of a guidewire lumen. The distal ferrule has a ferrule opening that is sized to snuggly receive the proximal end of a distal optical fiber with a distal portion of the distal optical fiber extending into the guidewire lumen. However, the proximal end of the distal optical fiber only occupies a distal portion of the opening in the distal ferrule, leaving a proximal portion of that opening unoccupied. That way, the distal end of a proximal optical fiber can be received into the unoccupied proximal portion of the opening in the distal ferrule to optically connect to the distal optical fiber. Having the proximal and distal optical fibers coaxially aligned in a common opening in a ferrule received in a guidewire ensures that the optical fibers are optically connected to each other in a precise manner so that light can be transmitted along them with minimal losses.

Abstract: A wearable mixed reality system comprising a camera input system, and image projection system capable of being worn by a user, and a processor in communication with the camera input system and the image projection system. The processor may be capable of receiving a real-world image from the camera input system and simultaneously displaying at least a portion of the real-world image and an augmented image on the image projection system such that a user views the portion of the real-world image and the augmented image simultaneously.

Abstract: Systems and methods regarding a reel, downhole tool, control system, and rotary joint. The reel is disposed at a wellsite surface and containing coiled tubing. A first optical conductor is carried with the coiled tubing. The downhole tool is connected to the coiled tubing for conveyance within the wellbore via the coiled tubing. The control system is disposed at the wellsite surface. The rotary joint is disposed in association with the reel and transmits optical communications between the control system and at least one of the downhole tool and the coiled tubing disposed within the wellbore, via at least the first optical conductor and a second optical conductor extending at least partially between the rotary joint and the control system.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising: a processor having a motion activation mode and an operating mode; an orientation sensor operable to detect the orientation of the device, and a clock configured to, when the processor is in the motion activation mode, periodically power-up the processor; wherein the processor is configured to, when powered-up in its motion activation mode, obtain a measurement of the orientation of the device from the orientation sensor; store the obtained measurement; and process the obtained measurement in dependence on one or more stored measurements of the orientation of the device so as to determine whether the obtained measurement and the one or more stored measurements are indicative of a predetermined sequence of orientations of the device; the processor being configured to transition from its motion activation mode to its operating mode in response to determining that the obtained measurement and the one or more stored measurements are indicative of the predetermined sequence of orie