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: 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: A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A fluid transfer apparatus transfers fluid from a first bulk storage vessel at a gas pressure equal to or greater than a first gas pressure. The fluid transfers to a first or second supply vessel; each having a gas pressure equal to or less than a second pressure. The second pressure less than the first pressure. The fluid transfer continues until the fluid in the first or second supply vessel reaches a predetermined weight inside the first or second supply vessel. The fluid in the filled first or second supply vessel, at the predetermined weight, under a pressure equal to or less than the second pressure; and the fluid in a liquefied and gas state. The apparatus heats the fluid in the first or second supply vessel, filled to the predetermined weight, to bring the fluid in the first or second supply vessel to a third gas pressure. The third gas pressure higher than the first gas pressure and the second gas pressure.

Abstract: A method and corresponding dehydration apparatus, whereby the method includes disposing an amount of biomass in a pressurizable chamber, generating a sub-atmospheric pressure in the chamber, and vaporizing water associated with the biomass to produce dehydrated biomass.

Abstract: A simulcast transmission system (150) is disclosed in which a primary (402), a first, and a second transmitter site (302) form a first communication loop (403). The first communication loop (403) has at least a first and a second audio path, each of which are associated with a path identification (ID). The first and the second path IDs are also associated with a set of transmission delay parameters which are stored (401) at both the first and the second transmitter sites. The primary transmitter site (402) detects a location of an inoperative communication link (409) within the first audio path, and switches from the first audio path to the second audio path, whereby the second audio path does not traverse the inoperative communication link. The primary transmitter site (402) then broadcasts (512) a path condition ID to the first and the second transmitter sites. The first and second transmitter sites then retrieve (514) the set of transmission delay parameters associated with the second audio path.