Abstract: A system for spraying a coating material to a substrate includes an optical sensor that monitors a thickness, a controller that generates a first signal corresponding to an amount of gas propellant to be heated, a second signal corresponding to a temperature to which the gas propellant is to be heated, a third signal corresponding to an amount of a solid powder composition to be mixed with the heated gas, and a fourth signal corresponding to a distance between the nozzle and the substrate, a first regulator that supplies an amount of gas propellant corresponding to the first signal, a heater that heats the gas propellant to the temperature corresponding to the second signal, a second regulator that supplies an amount of solid powder composition corresponding to the third signal, and an actuator that moves the nozzle corresponding to the fourth signal.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a plurality of piezo-actuated hydraulic pumps for an aircraft, and a hydraulic pump system implementing the same. The drive circuit includes a voltage boost stage that receives a DC input supply voltage and delivers an increased DC output voltage to a high voltage, HV, link point; a plurality of inverter stages coupled in parallel at the HV link point that receive DC voltage from the HV link point and generate an oscillating output voltage for driving a respective piezo-actuated pump; and a control system that controls the output voltage and phase of the inverter stages to drive the plurality of piezo-actuated pumps out of phase. The control system measures the power consumption of each piezo-actuated pump and regulates the output voltage of at least one of the inverter stages to balance the power consumption of each piezo-actuated pump.

Abstract: An active thermal switch assembly according to aspects described herein may include a hot plate, a cold plate, and an actuator. The actuator may cause the hot plate and the cold plate to come into mechanical contact, thereby achieving a closed state for the active thermal switch and facilitating conductive heat transfer between the two plates. Convective/radiative heat transfer may have little effect as compared to conductive heat transfer (e.g., as may be the case in environments having reduced or no atmospheric pressure), such that operating the actuator to introduce a gap between the hot plate and the cold plate (thus achieving an “open” state) substantially reduces conductive heat transfer between the hot and cold plates accordingly. Controlling the separation distance between the hot plate and cold plate may also be used as a method to modulate the thermal radiation between the two surfaces.

Abstract: Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material, in combination with a binder composition having a wetting agent, it is possible to increase the yield of the fabricated roofing granules and tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Abstract: A tissue anchor delivery device includes a handle, an elongate shaft extending from the handle, a pusher tube disposed at least partially within a lumen of the elongate shaft, a pusher hub coupled to the pusher tube, a needle disposed at least partially within a lumen of the pusher tube, a needle hub coupled to the needle, and an actuator configured to be fixed to the pusher hub and the needle hub. The actuator is further configured to advance the needle hub and the pusher hub a first distance, thereby causing a tip of the needle to protrude from a distal end of the elongate shaft, disengage from the needle hub, and advance the pusher hub a second distance relative to the needle hub, thereby causing a distal end of the pusher tube to advance over the needle and push a coiled suture form off of the needle.

Abstract: Roofing granules comprising base particles coated with a paint composition and treated with carbon dioxide gas, and building materials, such as roofing shingles, that include such roofing granules. The roofing granules are prepared from base particles comprising rocks, minerals, and/or agglomerated inorganic material. The roofing granules are painted and thereafter cured by being exposed to carbon dioxide gas. The treatment with carbon dioxide gas results in a painted roofing granule that is resilient to weathering forces.

Abstract: Digital information management systems, methods and file formats are provided. One digital information management system comprises a receiving device comprising at least one processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the at least one processor configure the at least one processor to perform the method. The method comprises receiving a file construct from a source device, and rendering the file construct. Another digital information management system comprises at least one processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the at least one processor configure the at least one processor to perform another method. The other method comprises obtaining a file construct, and sending the file construct to a receiving device.

Abstract: Colored roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material with embedded pigment, and building materials, such as roofing shingles, that include such colored roofing granules. By fabricating colored roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, agglomeration of inorganic material with embedded pigment, including colored rock fines and/or colored mineral fines, permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes, including a waste stream of pigment.

Abstract: A respiratory device and system, and in particular a respiratory device that is usable with a plurality of removable electronic function components that that can communicate wirelessly with other devices. In one embodiment, a respiratory device comprises a body, at least a portion of the body defining a volume; a mask communications unit (MCU) at least partially located within the volume; at least one electrical function component in communication with the MCU; and a rechargeable power source at least partially located within the volume, the rechargeable power source providing power to each of the at least one electrical function components.

Abstract: Digital information management systems, methods and file formats are provided. One digital information management system comprises a receiving device comprising at least one processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the at least one processor configure the at least one processor to perform the method. The method comprises receiving a file construct from a source device, and rendering the file construct. Another digital information management system comprises at least one processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the at least one processor configure the at least one processor to perform another method. The other method comprises obtaining a file construct, and sending the file construct to a receiving device.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for mitral valve repair. The devices and methods implant a plurality of distal anchors at an annulus of the mitral valve (e.g., the posterior annulus) and tension artificial chordae to pull the portion of the annulus toward an opposite edge and inward into the ventricle. This can effectively reduce the size of the orifice and increase coaptation. The delivery devices can be configured to be actuated to form a distal anchor made of a pre-formed knot. The delivery devices deliver the pre-formed knot in an elongate configuration. Actuation of the delivery device causes the pre-formed knot to transition from the elongate configuration to the deployed configuration by approximating opposite ends of a suture coupled to a coiled configuration to form one or more loops. After formation of the knot, the delivery device can be withdrawn.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include techniques for managing dirty data. An agent receives a request for data. If the data is dirty data, the agent may use a replacement policy to determine if the data should be passed clean or dirty to the requestor. The replacement policy may correspond to how long the dirty data being stored in a cache line is to be maintained. In one embodiment, the replacement policy is a circuit, such as an SRAM and a logic circuit, for example.

Abstract: A tissue anchor includes an elongate tube including a distal tubular portion, a medial tubular portion, a proximal tubular portion, a distal radially-expandable portion positioned between the distal tubular portion and the medial tubular portion, and a proximal radially-expandable portion positioned between the medial tubular portion and the proximal tubular portion. The tissue anchor further includes a suture disposed within a lumen of the elongate tube and passing axially through the distal tubular portion, the distal radially-expandable portion, the medial tubular portion, the proximal radially-expandable portion, and the proximal tubular portion. Longitudinal slits can be implemented to facilitate radial expansion of the proximal and distal radially-expandable portions of the tube.

Abstract: Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material, in combination with a binder composition having a wetting agent, it is possible to increase the yield of the fabricated roofing granules and tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Abstract: A composition that includes (a) at least one of basalt, metabasalt, diabase, andesite, meta-andesite, phyllite, rhyolite, or a combination thereof, with the at least one of basalt, metabasalt, diabase, andesite, meta-andesite, phyllite, rhyolite, or a combination thereof being present at 30 wt % to 70 wt % based on a total weight of the composition, (b) an organic portion that is present at 20 wt % to 65 wt % based on the total weight of the composition, and (c) a binder. The composition is in the form of a plurality of particles. The composition can find applications in agriculture, horticulture, and gardening, and can be used, e.g., as soil amendment.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for mitral valve repair. The devices and methods implant a plurality of distal anchors at an annulus of the mitral valve (e.g., the posterior annulus) and tension artificial chordae to pull the portion of the annulus toward an opposite edge and inward into the ventricle. This can effectively reduce the size of the orifice and increase coaptation. The delivery devices can be configured to be actuated to form a distal anchor made of a pre-formed knot. The delivery devices deliver the pre-formed knot in an elongate configuration. Actuation of the delivery device causes the pre-formed knot to transition from the elongate configuration to the deployed configuration by approximating opposite ends of a suture coupled to a coiled configuration to form one or more loops. After formation of the knot, the delivery device can be withdrawn.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatus for approximating targeted tissue using locking sutures. The locking sutures can be configured to receive suture ends that are interweaved through portions of the locking sutures. In a pre-deployment configuration, a locking suture can slide along suture tails and can be positioned at a target location within a target region. Once a desired position and/or tension is achieved, the locking suture can be transitioned to a post-deployment configuration where the locking suture constricts around the suture tails to inhibit relative movement between the suture tails and the locking suture. A visualization system can be used to provide visual feedback with respect to approximating the targeted tissue and the locking sutures.

Abstract: A method for promoting contraception by placing a contraceptive device within a uterus without blocking fallopian tubes may involve advancing a distal end of a delivery device through a cervix, advancing the contraceptive device comprising an elongate shape memory member out of the distal end of the delivery device and into the uterus, and limiting inferior migration of the contraceptive device within the uterus. Inferior migration may be limited by allowing the contraceptive device to assume a shape, when subjected to pressure that tends to cause a downward migration of the device within the uterus, in which an expandable middle portion of the device is expanded to contact the inner wall of the uterus and thus limit the downward migration of the device.

Abstract: A modular material tracking system is provided for tracking material stored on and drawn from a reel using a modular system. The modular material tracking system may include a detection element, digital logic components, location receiver, enclosure, analytic components, interface component, sensor module, and plate module. One or more sensors relative to the reel may detect a position indicative of forward or reverse reel rotation. A processor may analyze signals to count rotations of the reel, which is savable in memory. A battery may provide power. The system may also record the time and location associated with rotations. A method for tracking material stored on and drawn from a reel using a modular material tracking system is also provided.