Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying surgical clips to tissue comprises an end effector having first and second jaws that are movable between open and closed positions. The end effector is rotatably coupled to the shaft around at least one axis substantially perpendicular to the shaft. The instrument comprises a drive member configured for distal translation from the shaft into the end effector to deliver one or more clips to the first and second jaws. The instrument allows a surgeon, for example, to deliver one or more surgical clips onto tissue or vessels without having to exchange the instrument or to change the orientation of the jaws during clip advancement, which reduces disruption to the surgeon's workflow.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying surgical clips to tissue comprises an end effector having first and second jaws that are movable between open and closed positions. The end effector is rotatably coupled to the shaft around at least one axis substantially perpendicular to the shaft. The instrument comprises a drive member configured for distal translation from the shaft into the end effector to deliver one or more clips to the first and second jaws. The instrument allows a surgeon, for example, to deliver one or more surgical clips onto tissue or vessels without having to exchange the instrument or to change the orientation of the jaws during clip advancement, which reduces disruption to the surgeon's workflow.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying surgical clips to tissue comprises an end effector having first and second jaws that are movable between open and closed positions. The instrument comprises a drive member configured for distal translation from the shaft into the end effector to deliver one or more clips to the first and second jaws. The instrument further comprises at least one actuator rod extending through the shaft lateral of the drive member relative to the longitudinal axis and configured to move the jaws between the open and closed positions. Positioning the jaw actuator lateral of the drive member provides space for the drive member to deliver multiple clips to the jaws without interfering with the opening and closing of the jaws.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying surgical clips to tissue comprises an end effector having first and second jaws that are movable between open and closed positions. The instrument includes a clip cartridge within the shaft and comprising a first proximal clip and a second distal clip that are spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis. A drive member is configured to translate through the shaft to the end effector and includes first and second engagement elements for advancing the proximal and distal clips distally through the shaft. This allows the drive member to automatically advance the proximal clip(s) distally forward in the clip cartridge as the distal clip is delivered to the jaws, which increases the speed and efficiency of applying multiple clips to the target site and reduces disruption to the surgeon's workflow.

Abstract: A surgical clip comprises a main body having first and second arms pivotally coupled to each other about a hinge between open and closed positions. The first arm comprises a hook with a slot and the second arm comprises a latch sized to advance into the slot to secure the latch to the hook in the closed position. This configuration provides a clip with a narrower profile than conventional surgical clips that include boss protrusions to lock the clip. The clip also comprises one or more engagement elements configured to remain coupled to a drive member of a surgical instrument after the clip has been delivered to the jaws of the instrument, thereby allowing user the surgeon to fully open the clips after they have been advanced into the jaws and/or to retain and control the clip as the jaw is opened, closed or articulated relative to the instrument shaft.

Abstract: An aquaculture system can include stacked growth trays. Animals, such as shrimp, can be transferred between the growth trays for different stages of growth. Waste water can be removed from the growth trays and can be processed by a water treatment system. Treated water can be returned to the growth trays. A valve in a first configuration can permit water to circulate through the growth tray, while impeding the animals from exiting the growth tray. In a second configuration, the valve can permit the animals to exit the growth tray, such as for transition to a subsequent growth tray. A sweeper system can be used for cleaning and/or mixing the water in the growth tray, and/or for pushing the animals out of the growth tray during a transition.

Abstract: An aquaculture system can include stacked growth trays. Animals, such as shrimp, can be transferred between the growth trays for different stages of growth. Waste water can be removed from the growth trays and can be processed by a water treatment system. Treated water can be returned to the growth trays. A valve in a first configuration can permit water to circulate through the growth tray, while impeding the animals from exiting the growth tray. In a second configuration, the valve can permit the animals to exit the growth tray, such as for transition to a subsequent growth tray. A sweeper system can be used for cleaning and/or mixing the water in the growth tray, and/or for pushing the animals out of the growth tray during a transition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for optimizing benefits plan options offered by an organization through balancing derived population preferences with organizational preferences by analyzing historical selections made by individuals. Census data dividing members of an organization into census divisions may be applied to machine learning algorithm(s) to derive estimated selection preferences of the members. Using selection preferences, costs of various product offering scenarios and overall member satisfaction estimates of the scenarios may be calculated. Product offering scenarios meeting member preference criteria and organizational budget criteria may be presented for review.

Abstract: An aquaculture system can include stacked growth trays. Animals, such as shrimp, can be transferred between the growth trays for different stages of growth. Waste water can be removed from the growth trays and can be processed by a water treatment system. Treated water can be returned to the growth trays. A valve in a first configuration can permit water to circulate through the growth tray, while impeding the animals from exiting the growth tray. In a second configuration, the valve can permit the animals to exit the growth tray, such as for transition to a subsequent growth tray. A sweeper system can be used for cleaning and/or mixing the water in the growth tray, and/or for pushing the animals out of the growth tray during a transition.

Abstract: The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising: (a) a silica abrasive, (b) a surfactant, (c) an iron cation, (d) optionally a ligand, and (e) water, wherein the silica abrasive has a negative zeta potential in the chemical-mechanical polishing composition. The invention also provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate, especially a substrate comprising a carbon-based film, using said composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for optimizing benefits plan options offered by an organization through balancing derived population preferences with organizational preferences by analyzing historical selections made by individuals. Census data dividing members of an organization into census divisions may be applied to machine learning algorithm(s) to derive estimated selection preferences of the members. Using selection preferences, costs of various product offering scenarios and overall member satisfaction estimates of the scenarios may be calculated. Product offering scenarios meeting member preference criteria and organizational budget criteria may be presented for review.

Abstract: Various aspects disclosed herein relate to combining instructions to load data from or store data in memory while processing instructions in a computer processor. More particularly, at least one pattern of multiple memory access instructions that reference a common base register and do not fully utilize an available bus width may be identified in a processor pipeline. In response to determining that the multiple memory access instructions target adjacent memory or non-contiguous memory that can fit on a single cache line, the multiple memory access instructions may be replaced within the processor pipeline with one equivalent memory access instruction that utilizes more of the available bus width than either of the replaced memory access instructions.

Abstract: The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising: (a) a silica abrasive, (b) a surfactant, (c) an iron cation, (d) optionally a ligand, and (e) water, wherein the silica abrasive has a negative zeta potential in the chemical-mechanical polishing composition. The invention also provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate, especially a substrate comprising a carbon-based film, using said composition.

Abstract: A seatbelt buckle assembly is configured for attachment to a vehicle seat frame in a manner that permits a strap of the assembly to pass through narrow openings or gaps of the seat frame before a fastener is used for the attachment. A collar having a flange and a sleeve can be used to retain other buckle assembly components to the strap without the aid of the fastener. The assembly is particularly useful with fold-flat seats where the seatbelt buckle must fold together with the seat back and then be returned to a use position when the seat is unfolded.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for optimizing benefits plan options offered by an organization through balancing derived population preferences with organizational preferences by analyzing historical selections made by individuals. Census data dividing members of an organization into census divisions may be applied to machine learning algorithm(s) to derive estimated selection preferences of the members. Using selection preferences, costs of various product offering scenarios and overall member satisfaction estimates of the scenarios may be calculated. Product offering scenarios meeting member preference criteria and organizational budget criteria may be presented for review.

Abstract: A seatbelt buckle assembly is configured for attachment to a vehicle seat frame in a manner that permits a strap of the assembly to pass through narrow openings or gaps of the seat frame before a fastener is used for the attachment. A collar having a flange and a sleeve can be used to retain other buckle assembly components to the strap without the aid of the fastener. The assembly is particularly useful with fold-flat seats where the seatbelt buckle must fold together with the seat back and then be returned to a use position when the seat is unfolded.

Abstract: An aquaculture system can include stacked growth trays. Animals, such as shrimp, can be transferred between the growth trays for different stages of growth. Waste water can be removed from the growth trays and can be processed by a water treatment system. Treated water can be returned to the growth trays. A valve in a first configuration can permit water to circulate through the growth tray, while impeding the animals from exiting the growth tray. In a second configuration, the valve can permit the animals to exit the growth tray, such as for transition to a subsequent growth tray. A sweeper system can be used for cleaning and/or mixing the water in the growth tray, and/or for pushing the animals out of the growth tray during a transition.

Abstract: A vehicle seat for supporting an occupant in a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a backrest and a headrest.

Abstract: A vehicle seat for supporting an occupant in a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a backrest and a headrest.

Abstract: An occupant-support base includes a seat pan and a seat pad. The seat pan and the seat pad cooperate to support an occupant thereon. The seat pad includes a fixed portion and a movable portion that is configured to move relative to the fixed portion.