Abstract: Described herein are various method of using a direct drive system to perform procedures at a distance. One exemplary method include tying a knot or suturing at a distance with a first and second end effector. The direct drive system can enable sufficient end effector dexterity, including the ability to control various degrees of freedom of end effector movement, and allow a user to perform complicated task at a distance. In one aspect the direct drive system includes flexible tools that permit access to surgical site via a natural orifice.

Abstract: Circuits and associated methods for testing internal operation of an application integrated circuit. Features and aspects hereof add configurable test interrupt circuits to an application circuit design to permit dynamic, configurable interrupt generation from an integrated circuit based on conditions determined from monitoring of internal signals of the application circuit. The internal signals that may be tested and used to generate test interrupts are those not exposed to the external processor interface of the integrated circuit and thus may be configured to interrupt based on any internal state of the application specific functional circuits of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A port device for implanting in a patient for subcutaneous access to the vascular system of the patient. The device includes a housing provided with apertures, each for receiving and retaining a needle. The housing is further provided with lock structure for locking catheters to the housing. The housing is configured internally to provide flow paths extending between needles disposed in the apertures and the catheters.

Abstract: An electronic device (100) and a method for use thereof having an integral camera (102) for taking pictures from multiple sides of the electronic device. The electronic device (100) has a case (101) and a moveable assembly (108) for allowing the camera (102) to capture images from multiple angles with respect to the case depending on the position of the moveable assembly (108). A lens (122) may be used to correct or adjust the image. The camera (102) or electronic device electronics may be used to reverse an image when an odd number of mirrors (206), (208) are used to direct light to the camera (102).

Abstract: A method (900) and a wireless device (120) for establishing a communication interface for a communication session are described herein. In a communication system, a wireless device (120) may receive presence information associated with a first party. Operated by a second party, the wireless device (120) may generate a notification to alert the second party. The notification may correspond to the presence information associated with the first party. Based on the presence information, the wireless device (120) may provide the communication interface for the communication session between the first and second parties.

Abstract: A system and a device are provided for recessing a fastener on a printed wire board (PWB). The system includes a PWB having a fastener hole, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The system further comprises a recessed fastener adapter which includes a board interface for interfacing the adapter with the PWB at the fastener hole and a fastener head engaging surface for accepting and recessing a fastener head. The board interface is generally in the shape of a tube. The walls of the tube may be circular, curved or straight in a cross-section perpendicular to the long axis of the tube. The tube has an exterior surface, which is connected to the PWB at the fastener hole. The fastener head engaging surface is formed by a closed end on the tube having an opening or bore. In one version of the adapter, a flange extends radially outward from the exterior surface of the tube.

Abstract: A member for mounting concentrically on a catheter and for disposition about a skin opening so as to be contiguous with the surfaces of the opening, the member being of sponge-like material, and an anti-microbial fluid disposed in the member and leachable onto the skin and into the opening.

Abstract: A method (900) and a wireless device (120) for establishing a communication interface for a communication session are described herein. In a communication system, a wireless device (120) may receive presence information associated with a first party. Operated by a second party, the wireless device (120) may generate a notification to alert the second party. The notification may correspond to the presence information associated with the first party. Based on the presence information, the wireless device (120) may provide the communication interface for the communication session between the first and second parties.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device and a method for determining if a system with multiple seals has a leak and, if so, which of the multiple seals is causing said leak. The device and method employ a change in the optical reflectivity of a transparent, plastic membrane due to pulling a vacuum on the seal to make the above mentioned determination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing transmission of data signals in a plurality of data lines. Data signals are received on the data lines and a reference signal. On each of the data lines, a delay between the data signal and the reference signal is measured to form a plurality of delay measurements. A set of delay values from the delay measurements is generated. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the delay values are selected to equalize the delay in each of the data lines to have the same delay as the data line having the longest delay. The delay values are used to adjust delay in a transmission in each of the plurality of data signals in the data lines. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference signal is set such that transitions for the data signals are centered to the middle of a pulse for the reference signal.

Abstract: A member for mounting concentrically on a catheter and for disposition about a skin opening so as to be contiguous with the surfaces of the opening, the member being of sponge-like material, and an anti-microbial fluid disposed in the member and leachable onto the skin and into the opening.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for the dialysis of blood, a method for fabricating the same, and an improved method for the dialysis of blood.

Abstract: A system and a device are provided for recessing a fastener on a printed wire board (PWB). The system includes a PWB having a fastener hole, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The system further comprises a recessed fastener adapter which includes a board interface for interfacing the adapter with the PWB at the fastener hole and a fastener head engaging surface for accepting and recessing a fastener head. The board interface is generally in the shape of a tube. The walls of the tube may be circular, curved or straight in a cross-section perpendicular to the long axis of the tube. The tube has an exterior surface, which is connected to the PWB at the fastener hole. The fastener head engaging surface is formed by a closed end on the tube having an opening or bore. In one version of the adapter, a flange extends radially outward from the exterior surface of the tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a propagation delay and time calibration. The apparatus includes a ring oscillator having a first set of elements. The apparatus also includes delay units. The ring oscillator is used to generate a clock signal used to measure the delay in signals received at the delay blocks. In the depicted examples, the clock signal generated by the ring oscillator is used to run a counter that counts the delay between a transition in a data signal and a reference signal. Each of the delay units includes a second set of elements matching those of the first set of elements in the ring oscillator. The elements in the set of elements are selected such that they track the period of the ring oscillator signal generated by the ring oscillator. The delay units are used to implement the desired delay.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for the dialysis of blood, a method for fabricating the same, and an improved method for the dialysis of blood.

Abstract: A needle and obturator assembly for access to entrance lumens in an access device disposed subcutaneously in a body of a mammal, for transfer of fluid into and/or out of the mammal body, comprising a first needle and obturator unit for insertion through a skin portion of the mammal body and into a first of the lumens of the access device, a second needle and obturator unit for insertion through the skin portion of the mammal body and into a second of the lumens of the access device, and hub structure for supporting the first and second needle and obturator units in fixed, spaced-apart positions relative to each other after complete insertion of the first and second needle and obturator units in the respective lumens. The first and second obturators are withdrawable from their respective needles to open first and second passageways in the respective needles for the transfer of fluid into and/or out of the access device.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device with reduced noise is described. In traditional simultaneous output switching integrated circuits the noise is proportional to the number of concurrently switching outputs. This excessive supply noise can cause the integrated circuit to malfunction through the loss of data. In the present invention, switching supply noise is reduced in the device without increasing the number of input-output pins by synchronously skewing the output driver. In a preferred embodiment, flip-flops are used to control the phase of the switching outputs in order to reduce the noise and instantaneous power by the number of phase assignments.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for the dialysis of blood, a method for fabricating the same, and an improved method for the dialysis of blood.

Abstract: Methods for designing an integrated circuit is disclosed. In the present invention, the integrated circuit is first created by placing and routing standard cells of the integrated circuit. After routing the standard cells, empty spaces unused by the standard cells are extracted. After extracting the unused areas, clusters of metal-programmable transistors are inserted into the unused areas by an area-based placement/routing tool to form “ponds” of gates (POGs). When design changes are desired after the formation of the integrated circuit, the metal-programmable transistors are programmed to form desired spare cells to implement the desired design changes by making changes to the upper layer masks for the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A safe/arm apparatus includes a slider barrier having at least one notch formed therein, the slider barrier including an optically diffuse surface and an optically reflective surface; at least one mechanical lock removably disposed in the at least one notch; a linear actuator for moving the slider barrier from a safe position to an armed position; a battery; a laser diode connected to the battery, the laser diode emitting a light beam towards the optically diffuse surface when the slider barrier is in the safe position and towards the optically reflective surface when the slider barrier is in the armed position; a photodiode for receiving light reflected from the optically reflective surface; a transformer connected to the photodiode; and a capacitor connected to the transformer.