Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a fastener free joining system, includes, a first tubular shell-type component having a first plurality of teeth defined in a first free end, each tooth extending along a respective tooth axis oblique to an axis of the first component by an angle ?. The first plurality of teeth is configured to engage with a plurality of complimentary teeth defined in a second free end of a second tubular shell-type component, such that, when engaged, the first plurality of teeth is configured to remain engaged with the plurality of complimentary teeth under axial load.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to targeted integration (TI) host cells suitable for the expression of recombinant proteins, as well as methods of producing and using said TI host cells.

Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot, a robot arm connected to such surgical robot, and an end-effector connected to the robot arm. A registration fixture is used in conjunction with various registration systems in the surgical robot system. Such registration systems likewise include a detachable base in the form of a detachable dynamic reference base, along with an associated mount, the dynamic reference base and mount having certain features which permit the dynamic reference base to be selectively attached, detached, and reattached at different phases of an operation, whether pre-operative or intra-operative, and such successive attachments are done without the dynamic reference base, and tracking markers associated therewith, losing registration. Related methods allow for the more efficient and effective performance of operations by virtue of the dynamic reference base maintaining its registration during attachments and reattachments.

Abstract: An oral pouch product having a soft edge includes an inner filling material enclosed inwardly of at least one seam between opposed layers of porous pouch wrapper. The at least one seam is separated from the periphery of the porous pouch wrapper by an unbonded area of the opposed layers so as to form a soft edge of the pouch wrapper.

Abstract: A camera tracking system for computer assisted navigation during surgery. Operations identify stray markers in a frame of tracking data from tracking cameras, and identify stray markers of a reference array. Stray markers of the reference array are designated assigned status and, otherwise, designated unknown status. The operations designate other of the assigned status stray markers and any of the unknown status stray markers along a same epipolar line of the tracking cameras as one of the assigned status stray markers as being epipolar ambiguous status. For each one of the epipolar ambiguous status stray markers, the operations estimate 3D locations where phantom markers can appear in the frame based on epipolar ambiguity of the tracking cameras when determining location of the one of the epipolar ambiguous status stray markers. The operations designate the unknown status stray markers within a threshold distance of the estimated 3D locations of phantom markers as being phantom status.

Abstract: A mechanical separator for separating a fluid sample into first and second phases within a collection container is disclosed. The mechanical separator may have a separator body having a through-hole defined therein, with the through-hole adapted for allowing fluid to pass therethrough. The separator body includes a float, having a first density, and a ballast, having a second density greater than the first density. A portion of the float is connected to a portion of the ballast. Optionally, the float may include a first extended tab adjacent a first opening of the through-hole and a second extended tab adjacent the second opening of the through-hole. In certain configurations, the separator body also includes an extended tab band disposed about an outer surface of the float. The separator body may also include an engagement band circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of the separator body.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for a robot-assisted surgery. Navigable instrumentation, which are capable of being navigated by a surgeon using the surgical robot system, and navigation software allow for the navigated placement of interbody fusion devices or other surgical devices. The interbody implant navigation may involve navigation of access instruments (e.g., dilators, retractors, ports), disc preparation instruments, trials, and inserters.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for automatically exchanging a first end-effector on a robot arm with a second end-effector housed in a docking station. The first end-effector has a clamp that either engages or disengages the robot arm based upon an application of force of the robot arm onto the end-effector. The clamp has a spring loaded clip that disengages the first end-effector to allow the robot arm to move away from the released first end-effector. The robot arm is configured to automatically move to a port of a docking station housing the desired second end-effector using magnetic coils on the robot arm and the docking station to guide the robot arm.

Abstract: A medical robot system, including a robot coupled to an effectuator element with the robot configured for controlled movement and positioning. The system may include a transmitter configured to emit one or more signals, and the transmitter is coupled to an instrument coupled to the effectuator element. The system may further include a motor assembly coupled to the robot and a plurality of receivers configured to receive the one or more signals emitted by the transmitter. A control unit is coupled to the motor assembly and the plurality of receivers, and the control unit is configured to supply one or more instruction signals to the motor assembly.

Abstract: A methodology for estimating stresses in the subsurface for the generation of a three dimensional (3D) mechanical earth model is provided. The method is executed via a processor of a computing system. The method includes generating a synthetic principal horizontal stress profile representative of a one-dimensional mechanical earth model (1D MEM) based on simplification that all formations are elastically isotropic. The method also includes combining the isotropically generated synthetic principal horizontal stress profile with an additional data-driven functional relationship for anisotropic formations to generate a global predictive conditional relationship based on a lithology dependent cutoff. The method also further includes generating a three-dimensional volume-based mechanical earth model using the global predictive conditional relationship.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a surgical robot system may include an end-effector element configured for controlled movement and positioning and tracking of surgical instruments and objects relative to an image of a patient's anatomical structure. In some embodiments the end-effector and instruments may be tracked by surgical robot system and displayed to a user. In some embodiments, tracking of a target anatomical structure and objects, both in a navigation space and an image space, may be provided by a dynamic reference base located at a position away from the target anatomical structure.

Abstract: A camera tracking system for computer assisted navigation during surgery. Operations identify stray markers in a frame of tracking data from tracking cameras, and identify stray markers of a reference array. Stray markers of the reference array are designated assigned status and, otherwise, designated unknown status. The operations designate other of the assigned status stray markers and any of the unknown status stray markers along a same epipolar line of the tracking cameras as one of the assigned status stray markers as being epipolar ambiguous status. For each one of the epipolar ambiguous status stray markers, the operations estimate 3D locations where phantom markers can appear in the frame based on epipolar ambiguity of the tracking cameras when determining location of the one of the epipolar ambiguous status stray markers. The operations designate the unknown status stray markers within a threshold distance of the estimated 3D locations of phantom markers as being phantom status.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for computer-assisted navigation and/or robot-assisted surgery. Navigable instrumentation, which are capable of being navigated by a surgeon using the surgical robot system, allow for the navigated movement of instruments or other surgical devices. The instruments may be suitable for procedures involving navigated and/or robotic total knee arthroplasty, for example.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing a surveillance marker configured to detecting movement of a dynamic reference base attached to a patient a robot-assisted surgical procedure are provided. The surveillance marker and the dynamic reference base are connected to a bony structure independent of each other.

Abstract: Methods of generating a parameter realization, for a subsurface parameter, as a function of depth within a subsurface region are disclosed herein. The methods include dividing a subsurface parameter profile for the subsurface region into a plurality of adjacent stratigraphic units. The methods also include splitting each stratigraphic unit of the plurality of adjacent stratigraphic units into a plurality of stratigraphic unit layers. The methods further include determining a layer parameter value range for each stratigraphic unit layer of the plurality of stratigraphic unit layers and for each stratigraphic unit. The methods also include, within each stratigraphic unit layer, selecting a corresponding layer parameter value from within the layer parameter value range. The methods further include generating the parameter realization by assigning the corresponding layer parameter value to the parameter realization for a corresponding layer depth range of each stratigraphic unit layer.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for detecting unexpected movement of a surgical instrument during a robot-assisted surgical procedure are provided. The surgical robot system may be configured to measure forces and torques experienced by the surgical instrument during the surgical procedure and determine if the forces and torques are within an acceptable range. The robot system is further configured to notify the user of the presence of the unexpected movement.

Abstract: Devices, Systems, and Methods for detecting a 3-dimensional position of an object, and surgical automation involving the same. The surgical robot system may include a robot having a robot base, a robot arm coupled to the robot base, and an end-effector coupled to the robot arm. The end-effector, surgical instruments, the patient, and/or other objects to be tracked include active and/or passive tracking markers. Cameras, such as stereophotogrammetric infrared cameras, are able to detect the tracking markers, and the robot determines a 3-dimensional position of the object from the tracking markers.

Abstract: System and method of more efficiently identifying and segmenting anatomical structures from 2-D cone beam CT images, rather than from reconstructed 3-D volume data, is disclosed. An image processing system receives, from a cone beam CT device, at least one 2-D x-ray image, which is part of a set of x-ray images taken from a 360 degree scan of a patient with a cone beam CT imaging device. The x-ray image contains at least one anatomical structure such as vertebral bodies to be segmented. The received x-ray is then analyzed in order to identify and segment the anatomical structure contained in the x-ray image based on a stored model of anatomical structures. Once the 360 degree spin is completed, a 3-D image volume from the x-ray image set is created. The identification and segmentation information derived from the x-ray image is then added to the created 3-D image volume.

Abstract: Methods may be provided to operate an image-guided surgical system using imaging information for a 3-dimensional anatomical volume. A pose of a probe that defines a longitudinal axis may be detected based on information received from a tracking system. A placement of a virtual implant for the 3-dimensional anatomical volume may be determined based on the pose of the probe and based on an offset from an end of the probe along the longitudinal axis, such that a trajectory of the virtual implant is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the probe in the pose. After determining the placement of the virtual implant, the virtual implant may be adjusted in response to movement of the probe while maintaining the trajectory of the virtual implant.

Abstract: Methods may be provided to operate an imaging system using a contact imaging probe to generate imaging of a body. A robotic actuator may be controlled to position the contact imaging probe at a first location on a surface of the body such that the contact imaging probe is in a first radial alignment with an imaging isocenter. The robotic actuator may then be controlled to position the contact imaging probe at a second location on the surface of the body such that the contact imaging probe is in a second radial alignment with the imaging isocenter. Moreover, the first and second radial alignments may be different.