Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for forming an incision in tissue for receiving a surgical instrument. A cutting device for forming the incision can be reversibly coupleable to an instrument, e.g., a dilator. The instrument may define a lumen configured to receive a wire that extends or is otherwise extendable through a puncture site. The cutting device can include a cutting element configured to be exposed by a guard to form the incision such that the incision extends form the puncture site and is sized to receive the instrument.

Abstract: A conductor of the extendable conductor assembly may be extended (e.g., into a thermal target, such as a preexisting or a newly created feature of a planetary body) and used to thermally couple a rover, vehicle, fixed installation, or other hardware with the thermal target. Thus, the temperature of the hardware may be managed via heat transfer to/from the thermal target. For instance, heat may be transferred from the thermal target to maintain the temperature of the hardware under cold conditions, while excess heat may be transferred to the thermal target under hot conditions. A rover forms a borehole in the lunar surface, in which a conductor is extended to facilitate heat transfer between the rover and the Moon accordingly.

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: Described herein are devices for approximating targeted tissue by intertwining two or more sutures together. The sutures are attached to the targeted tissue and routed to a twister device. The twister device secures end portions of the sutures and twists them to intertwine the sutures. Controlling the number of twists provides control over the forces applied to the targeted tissue. In conjunction with visualization feedback, real-time adjustments can be made to achieved targeted results, such as elimination of mitral regurgitation when the disclosed methods and apparatus are applied to mitral valve repair.

Abstract: A method of determining the capability of a nonlinear aircraft power source includes accessing status values representing a current state of an energy storage system in an aircraft, accessing demand values related to expected power demands on the energy storage system, modeling an ongoing status of the energy storage system using the status values and the demand values to predict when one of the status values will reach a threshold value, and providing an output of a capability of the aircraft based on the status value reaching the threshold value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hydrogels and their use for repairing or supplementing body tissue. The hydrogels are capable of safe injection into patients through fine gauge needles and are suitable for repairing, supplementing, or replacing the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc. Methods of manufacturing and methods of using the hydrogels of the present disclosure to repair or replace tissues are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tissue anchor delivery device includes a handle, an elongate shaft projecting from the handle, a carrier configured to linearly translate within the handle, an elongate pusher shaft disposed at least partially within a lumen of the elongate shaft, a pusher hub coupled to the pusher shaft, the pusher hub being movably disposed within the handle and releasably coupled to the carrier, an elongate needle movably disposed at least partially within a lumen of the pusher shaft, a needle hub coupled to the needle, the needle hub being movably disposed within the handle and releasably coupled to the carrier, a suture having one or more strands that pass through at least a portion of lumen of the needle, a tissue anchor associated with a distal portion of the suture, and an actuator configured to cause movement of the carrier.

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 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: 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: 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.