Abstract: A system may include a controller configured to determine a user interface status, wherein the user interface status includes user interaction of a user interface. The controller may also be configured to determine a drive mechanism location relative to a first limit and a second limit and select a clutching location based on the user interface status and drive mechanism location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for tracking an elongate instrument or other medical instrument in an image.

Abstract: For position sensors, e.g., a fiber-based system, that build a shape of an elongated member, such as a catheter, using a sequence of small orientation measurements, a small error in orientation at the proximal end of the sensor will cause large error in position at distal points on the fiber. Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed, which may provide full or partial registration along the length of the sensor to reduce the influence of the measurement error. Additional examples are directed to applying selective filtering at a proximal end of the elongated member to provide a more stable base for distal measurements and thereby reducing the influence of measurement errors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for introducing and driving flexible members in a patient's body are described herein. In one embodiment, a robotic method includes positioning a flexible elongated member that has a preformed configuration, wherein at least a part of the flexible elongated member has a first member disposed around it, and wherein the first member includes a first wire for bending the first member or for maintaining the first member in a bent configuration, releasing at least some tension in the first wire to relax the first member, and advancing the first member distally relative to the flexible elongated member while the first member is in a relaxed configuration.

Abstract: An electronic trading method, system, apparatus and platform that facilitate dealer to client trading of financial instruments in a session-based format. In one embodiment, the electronic trading system establishes a trading session for a given financial instrument at a predetermined date and time. The electronic trading system presents a two-sided market and provides a guarantee of a minimum liquidity for the trading session. The electronic trading system then executes client orders based on time of order entry and allocation of available liquidity.

Abstract: An obturator assembly includes an obturator positionable within a lumen of a device and movable within the lumen between a first position and a second position. The obturator includes a distal tip portion, wherein, with the obturator in the first position, the distal tip portion limits fluid communication through the lumen and, with the obturator in the second position, the distal tip portion provides fluid communication through the lumen.

Abstract: A smart obturator assembly includes a hub forming a central passage. The hub is configured to couple to a proximal end of a device that forms a lumen such that the central passage is in fluid communication with the lumen. A collar on the hub includes electronic circuitry in signal communication with remote reception circuitry. An obturator is movably positionable within the lumen. The obturator is movable within the lumen between a first position and a second position. The obturator includes a distal end and a sensor at the distal end. The sensor is configured to sense an environmental characteristic within a patient's blood stream, generate a signal representative of the environmental characteristic, and transmit the signal to the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry is configured to receive the signal and transmit the signal to the remote reception circuitry.

Abstract: An obturator assembly includes an obturator at least partially positionable within a lumen of a device. The obturator has a distal end with a tip portion and an opposing proximal end. A sensor assembly is at the tip portion. The sensor assembly is configured to sense one or more environmental characteristics and to generate one or more signals representative of the one or more environmental characteristics. A hub is operatively coupled to the obturator. The hub is also operatively coupled to electronic circuitry that is coupled in signal communication with the sensor assembly. In certain embodiments, the electronic circuitry is configured to receive the one or more signals from the sensor assembly and transmit the one or more signals to remote reception circuitry and/or display a datum representative of the one or more environmental characteristics on a display of the hub.

Abstract: A system may include a controller configured to determine a user interface status, wherein the user interface status includes user interaction of a user interface. The controller may also be configured to determine a drive mechanism location relative to a first limit and a second limit and select a clutching location based on the user interface status and drive mechanism location.

Abstract: A shaving cartridge with a housing, having a primary guard at a front of the housing and a secondary cap at a rear of the housing. A bridge member having a primary cap surface and a secondary guard surface is positioned between the primary guard and the secondary cap. The bridge member has a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending transverse to the cutting edge of the first blade and defining a plurality of openings. A first blade has a cutting edge. The first blade is mounted to the housing between the primary guard and the primary cap surface. A second blade having a cutting edge extending in the same direction as the cutting edge of the first blade is mounted to the housing between the secondary guard surface and the secondary cap. A width of the bridge member is about 2.5 mm to about 4 mm.

Abstract: Among the methods provided is a method comprising: providing an oil-based fluid formed by combining components that comprise a glycol ether additive comprising a glycol ether, wherein the glycol ether additive substantially increases the low-shear viscosity of the oil-based fluid at temperatures between approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) and 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius); and using the oil-based fluid to drill at least a portion of a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

Abstract: An adapter for coupling each of a razor handle and a razor cartridge together is provided. The adapter includes a cartridge engaging portion and a handle engaging portion.

Abstract: Methods including precipitated and mined calcium carbonate lost circulation materials for use in subterranean formation operations. The precipitated calcium carbonate lost circulation materials are formed under a chosen set of precipitation conditions, including in situ in a subterranean formation. The mined calcium carbonate lost circulation materials are obtained in a desired morphological form under naturally occurring mined conditions. The precipitated and mined calcium carbonate lost circulation materials may be needle-shaped aragonite having an aspect ratio of about 1.4 to about 15.

Abstract: Haptic devices that include a transducer configured to convert digital signals representing sound into sensory stimulation and methods of representing sound through sensory stimulation. An audio signal is received and a processed signal is generated from the audio signal that is indicative of a specific frequency in the audio signal. The processed signal is converted into a vibration stream used for sensory stimulation.

Abstract: Among the methods provided is a method comprising: providing an invert emulsion fluid formed by combining components that comprise: an oil-based continuous phase; an aqueous discontinuous phase; and a glycol ether additive that comprises a glycol ether and using the invert emulsion fluid to drill at least a portion of a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Highly resilient carbon-based materials having a resiliency greater than about 120% at 10,000 psi may be useful as lost circulation materials (LCMs) for wellbore strengthening and lost circulation mitigation in downhole operations in subterranean formations with depleted zones. For example, a downhole method may include drilling at least a portion of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with at least one depleted zone having a plurality of fractures extending from the wellbore into the at least one depleted zone; circulating a treatment fluid through the wellbore, the treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a resilient carbon-based material having a resiliency greater than about 120% at 10,000 psi; contacting the at least one depleted zone with the resilient carbon-based material; and plugging at least some of the plurality of fractures in the at least one depleted zone with the resilient carbon-based material.

Abstract: A novel carpet tile is provided with a polyurethane adhesive layer resulting in a lightweight product with exceptional dimensional stability.

Abstract: A method for preparing carpet by using polyurethane to anneal secondary backing to a greige, comprising fibers attached to a primary backing using a roller application system. The greige is conditioned prior to coating and the polyurethane coated greige is contacted with the secondary backing and the laminate is tensioned and supported to maintain the laminate structure substantially through the polyurethane curing process.

Abstract: Lost circulation compositions, systems, and methods of using the same are described. A lost circulation composition comprises a water-swellable starch graft copolymer; and a carrier fluid. A method for bridging a lost circulation zone comprises providing a lost circulation composition comprising a water-swellable starch graft copolymer and a carrier fluid. Then introducing the lost circulation composition into a wellbore within a subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation comprises a lost circulation zone. Finally the lost circulation composition is placed into the lost circulation zone.