Abstract: A total ankle replacement prosthesis may comprise a tibial implant, a talar implant, and an intermediate implant. The intermediate implant may fixedly attach to the tibial implant and may articulate with respect to the talar implant. The intermediate implant may have unequal front and back angular extent, so as to discourage a particular direction of subluxation, and a kit may be provided containing various such intermediate implants. Various features may be provided in regard to dovetails, fins, recesses, the placement of fins and pegs, and the shape of the perimeter of the tibial implant. Recesses may allow a surgical blade to slice a latch off of an already-installed intermediate implant, in order to allow its removal from the tibial implant.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, including client devices and servers, and methods for creating a collaborative virtual session between two or more client devices, wherein each of the client devices is associable with a coupler agent for interfacing with a communicating entity (such as a person).

Abstract: A total ankle replacement prosthesis may comprise a tibial implant, a talar implant, and an intermediate implant. The intermediate implant may fixedly attach to the tibial implant and may articulate with respect to the talar implant. The intermediate implant may have unequal front and back angular extent, so as to discourage a particular direction of subluxation, and a kit may be provided containing various such intermediate implants. Various features may be provided in regard to dovetails, fins, recesses, the placement of fins and pegs, and the shape of the perimeter of the tibial implant. Recesses may allow a surgical blade to slice a latch off of an already-installed intermediate implant, in order to allow its removal from the tibial implant.

Abstract: A cement-based tile formed from a mixture comprising: a cement in the range of about 0.1 to 88% by wet weight percent; a secondary material in the range of about 0.1 to 50% by wet weight percent, the secondary material comprising limestone, sand, silica sand, gypsum, silica fume, fumed silica, Plaster of Paris, calcium carbonate, fly ash, slag, rock, or a combination thereof; a reinforcement fiber in the range of about 0.5 to 20% by wet weight percent, the reinforcement fiber comprising cellulose fiber, glass fiber, plastic fiber, polypropylene fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, homopolymer acrylic fiber, alkali-resistant fiber, or a combination thereof; a rheology modifying agent in the range of about 0.5 to 10% by wet weight percent; a water in the range of 10 to 60% of a total wet material weight; and wherein the mixture is extruded or molded to form the cement-based tile.

Abstract: A lightweight thermal insulating cement-based material is formed from a mixture that includes cement, water and a foaming agent. The foaming agent can be an aluminum powder or a surfactant. The insulating material has a maximum use temperature of about 900 degrees Celsius or more.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, including client devices and servers, and methods for creating a collaborative virtual session between two or more client devices, wherein each of the client devices is associable with a coupler agent for interfacing with a communicating entity (such as a person).

Abstract: A cement-based material is formed from a mixture that includes cement in the range of about 40 to 90% by wet weight percent, a lightweight expanded aggregate in the range of about 10 to 60% by wet weight percent, a secondary material in the range of about 0.1 to 50% by wet weight percent, a reinforcement fiber in the range of about 1 to 20% by wet weight percent, a rheology modifying agent in the range of about 0.5 to 10% by wet weight percent, a retarder in the range of about 0.1 to 8% by wet weight percent, and water in the range of 10 to 60% of a total wet material weight.

Abstract: An endoscope including an examination field cleaning system and a method of using the endoscope to clean an examination field in an internal body cavity are disclosed herein. The endoscope includes an inner channel that includes a primary working channel, lens system, and light delivery system and an outer secondary working channel that includes an examination field cleaning system. The inner channel is approximately cylindrical and is encompassed by a flexible tube. The outer secondary working channel is encompassed by an outer cylinder that is approximately concentric with and fully encompasses the inner channel and tube, where the examination field cleaning system may include one or more fluid delivery channels. The endoscope may further have an anchoring bridge that secures the outer cylinder to the inner channel.

Abstract: A pulsed waterjet apparatus includes a water pump for generating a pressurized waterjet, an ultrasonic signal generator for generating an ultrasonic signal and an ultrasonic nozzle that includes an ultrasonic transducer for converting the ultrasonic signal into vibrations that pulse the pressurized waterjet to generate a pulsed waterjet, an exit orifice through which the pulsed waterjet exits, and an inflow inlet axially aligned with the exit orifice.

Abstract: A cement-based tile formed from a mixture comprising: a cement in the range of about 0.1 to 88% by wet weight percent; a secondary material in the range of about 0.1 to 50% by wet weight percent, the secondary material comprising limestone, sand, silica sand, gypsum, silica fume, fumed silica, Plaster of Paris, calcium carbonate, fly ash, slag, rock, or a combination thereof; a reinforcement fiber in the range of about 0.5 to 20% by wet weight percent, the reinforcement fiber comprising cellulose fiber, glass fiber, plastic fiber, polypropylene fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, homopolymer acrylic fiber, alkali-resistant fiber, or a combination thereof; a rheology modifying agent in the range of about 0.5 to 10% by wet weight percent; a water in the range of 10 to 60% of a total wet material weight; and wherein the mixture is extruded or molded to form the cement-based tile.

Abstract: A door power drive module includes a housing and a motor arranged in the housing. First and second gearboxes are arranged in the housing and are coupled in series with one another by a shaft member. The first gearbox connects the motor to the second gearbox. An output shaft is coupled to the second gearbox. A brake assembly is selectively connected to the shaft member. The brake assembly has a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing. The brake assembly includes an open position corresponding to one of a door closing mode and a door opening mode. The shaft member is configured to be rotatable relative to the housing in the brake open position in response to the motor driving the first gearbox. The brake assembly includes a holding torque in the normally closed position. A torque is applied to the brake assembly above the holding torque that permits the shaft member to rotate in any direction of rotation.

Abstract: A pulsed waterjet apparatus comprising a water pump for generating a pressurized waterjet, an ultrasonic signal generator for generating an ultrasonic signal and an ultrasonic nozzle comprising an ultrasonic transducer for converting the ultrasonic signal into vibrations that pulse the pressurized waterjet to generate a pulsed waterjet, an exit orifice through which the pulsed waterjet exits and an inflow inlet axially aligned with the exit orifice.

Abstract: A communication system, and method for creating a collaborative virtual session, including a first coupler agent connected to a first entity, a second coupler agent connected to a second entity, and a first client, coupled to the first coupler agent and a server. The first client is configured to initiate a virtual session with the server, receive metadata representing a second virtual representation of the second entity, and instantiate the second virtual representation in a first collaborative virtual room. The communication system includes a second client, coupled to the second coupler agent and the server, configured to join the virtual session with the server, receive metadata representing a first virtual representation of the first entity, and instantiate the first virtual representation in a second collaborative virtual room.

Abstract: A method of actuating a door includes the steps of manually pivoting a door in a direction about a hinge to provide a manual input, detecting the manual input and energizing a motor to drive the door in the direction in response to the manual input. The manual door pivoting step includes exceeding a holding torque of a brake assembly that holds the door. The direction can be any direction for opening or closing the door.

Abstract: An embodiment of a disaster response system is disclosed that includes a communication and monitoring environment (CME). The CME includes an incident command infrastructure, and a communication infrastructure configured to exchange data with the incident command infrastructure. The communication infrastructure includes a network comprising a plurality of sensor assemblies that are configured to wirelessly communicate with the communication infrastructure. The sensor assemblies are configured to acquire data that includes at least one of environmental conditions, motion, position, chemical detection, and medical information. One or more of the sensors are configured to aggregate data from a subset of the plurality of sensors. The CME is configured to detect an incident based on at least the data acquired by the sensor assemblies.

Abstract: A fire rated door includes a core, a first decorative panel and a second decorative panel. The core includes: (a) a gypsum-based fire resistant center panel having a bottom, a top, a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end, wherein the gypsum-based fire resistant center panel is made of a first gypsum-based fire resistant material, and (b) an extruded gypsum-based fire resistant border attached to the first side, the second side, the first end and the second end of the gypsum-based fire resistant center panel, wherein the extruded gypsum-based fire resistant border is made of a second gypsum-based fire resistant material having a higher density than the first gypsum-based fire resistant material. The first decorative panel is attached to the top of the gypsum-based fire resistant center panel and the extruded gypsum-based fire resistant border.

Abstract: An endoscope including an examination field cleaning system and a method of using the endoscope to clean an examination field in an internal body cavity are disclosed herein. The endoscope includes an inner channel that includes a primary working channel, lens system, and light delivery system and an outer secondary working channel that includes an examination field cleaning system. The inner channel is approximately cylindrical and is encompassed by a rigid or flexible tube. The outer secondary working channel is encompassed by an outer cylinder that is approximately concentric with and fully encompasses the inner channel and tube, where the examination field cleaning system may include one or more fluid delivery channels. The endoscope may further have an anchoring bridgethat secures the outer cylinder to the inner channel.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle door includes the step of pushing an unlatched door to an ajar position. The unlatched door is mechanically held in the ajar position. In one embodiment, the method is performed using a door presenting system that includes a door checker that is configured to hold a door in the ajar position. A presenting actuator is movable between retracted and extended positions. The extended position corresponds to the ajar position. A controller is configured to move the presenting actuator between the retracted and extended positions in response to a presenting signal.

Abstract: A hybrid frame-based and event driven pixel, the pixel comprising a frame-based capture circuit, an event-driven capture circuit, and a photodiode in electrical communication with both the frame-based and event-driven capture circuits, wherein the frame based capture circuit is a buffered direct injection circuit, and wherein the event-driven capture circuit is a dynamic vision system circuit.

Abstract: A total ankle replacement prosthesis may comprise a tibial implant, a talar implant, and an intermediate implant. The intermediate implant may fixedly attach to the tibial implant and may articulate with respect to the talar implant. The intermediate implant may have unequal front and back angular extent, so as to discourage a particular direction of subluxation, and a kit may be provided containing various such intermediate implants. Various features may be provided in regard to dovetails, fins, recesses, the placement of fins and pegs, and the shape of the perimeter of the tibial implant. Recesses may allow a surgical blade to slice a latch off of an already-installed intermediate implant, in order to allow its removal from the tibial implant.