Abstract: Systems and methods to confirm safe delivery of treatment energy to a patient by identifying a presence of a fault in an energy delivery pathway and identifying a location of the fault within the device. The system includes a processing unit configured to calculate blood impedances external to the device based on known impedance characteristics of the device, and then to calculate impedances within the device during energy delivery based on the calculated blood impedances. The processing unit prevents the delivery of energy in an energy delivery pathway that is determined to be compromised. The processing unit is also configured to compare times for two different frequencies to travel a predetermined distance, the difference in the times corresponding to a location of a fault within the energy delivery pathway.

Abstract: A mobile wound cover, comprising a skin adhesion rim having a skin adhesion layer and an oppositely disposed rim adhesion layer, the skin adhesion rim having a first aperture therein a protective rim having a skin surface and a cover surface, the skin surface arranged to secure to the skin adhesion layer of the skin adhesion rim, the protective rim having a second aperture therein, and a cover, the cover arranged to removably engage the cover surface of the protective rim, the cover further including a removable securement means arranged to removably secure the cover to the cover surface of the protective rim, the securement means disposed a distal surface of the cover, the cover being at least semi-transparent.

Abstract: A method of treating a fluid comprises introducing a feed fluid stream comprising multiple materials to first side of a semi-permeable membrane. A draw fluid stream having a higher temperature than the feed fluid stream is introduced to second, opposing side of the semi-permeable membrane to form a thermal gradient across the semi-permeable membrane. One or more of the multiple materials of the feed fluid stream is drawn through the semi-permeable membrane and into the draw fluid stream via thermal gradient osmosis. A fluid treatment system and a thermal gradient osmosis apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A method includes forming a cold plate including conductive material and having a plurality of openings, and coating the cold plate with dielectric coating. The method further includes placing the cold plate proximal to a metal plate including one or more metals, and exposing the cold plate to moisture and/or water. In an example, a minimum lateral distance between the cold plate and the metal plate is at most 0.5 inch. The method further includes, while the cold plate is exposed to the moisture and/or the water, applying a voltage across the cold plate and the metal plate, and measuring a resultant leakage current through the cold plate. A thickness of the dielectric coating on an edge of an opening of the plurality of openings is at least 0.003 inch.

Abstract: A system for testing thermal runaway in a battery cell includes a first layer of first dielectric material at least in part wrapped around the battery cell, and a wire at least in part wrapped around the first layer of first dielectric material. The system further includes a second layer of second dielectric material at least in part wrapped around the wire, and a power source configured to supply power to the wire. In an example, the first layer of first dielectric material includes a polyimide film, and the second layer of second dielectric material includes mica. The system further includes a temperature sensor in contact with the first layer, the second layer, and/or the battery cell. A controller is to receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor, and control a power supplied by the power source to the wire, based at least in part on the temperature reading.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the growth and/or yield of plants, such as corn and wheat, through the application of one or more phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms and one or more lipo-chitooligosaccharides and/or chitooligosaccharides to plant seeds prior to planting.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to ensure reliable operation of devices, such as medical devices, that are configured to execute installed software are described. A secure software update process for the device utilizes multiple integrity checks in order to prove that software integrity has not been compromised before the device is allowed to be put into service with the software installed thereon. Also described is a computer architecture for an external defibrillator that isolates the execution of installed software applications by separately compiling the code for those applications and by executing the separately-compiled applications on different processors of the defibrillator. Among other things, this allows the defibrillator to be “brought online” faster, such as to deliver a shock to a patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods to confirm safe delivery of treatment energy to a patient by identifying a presence of a fault in an energy delivery pathway and identifying a location of the fault within the device. The system includes a processing unit configured to calculate blood impedances external to the device based on known impedance characteristics of the device, and then to calculate impedances within the device during energy delivery based on the calculated blood impedances. The processing unit prevents the delivery of energy in an energy delivery pathway that is determined to be compromised. The processing unit is also configured to compare times for two different frequencies to travel a predetermined distance, the difference in the times corresponding to a location of a fault within the energy delivery pathway.

Abstract: Methods and systems for combining ablation therapy with navigation of the ablation device. An ablation system may be configured for use with one of two methods to prevent loss of navigation signals during ablation energy delivery. In the first method, ablation energy signals are filtered from the navigation signal. In the second method, the delivery of ablation energy is sequenced with the delivery of navigation energy such that ablation energy and navigation energy are not delivered at the same time and navigation signals received by the system are time-division multiplexed to reconstruct the navigation signals and determine a location of the device within the patient.

Abstract: A system and method for the safe delivery of treatment energy to a patient, which includes verification of system integrity before, during, or after the delivery of treatment energy and provides several mechanisms for rapid termination of the delivery of potentially harmful energy to the patient when a fault condition in the device and/or system is identified. The system may include an energy generator having processing circuitry to determine if there is a fault condition in the system and to automatically terminate a delivery of treatment energy when the processing circuitry determines there is a fault condition. The method may generally include performing a series of pre-checks, synchronizing a treatment energy delivery to the proper segment of the heart's depolarization pattern, configuring the system for treatment energy delivery, delivering the treatment energy, and performing post-treatment evaluation.

Abstract: A method and system for mapping tissue and producing lesions for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in a non-thermal and optimal manner, minimizing the amount of energy required to selectively stun or ablate the target tissues. Energy may be delivered only at the moment(s) of best device position and proximity of an electrode to target tissue, and only during a time in the cardiac cycle determined to be optimal for reversible or irreversible effects. A method may include determining timing of the cardiac cycle and an optimal time within the cardiac cycle for energy delivery, evaluating proximity between at least one energy delivery electrode and the target tissue, and delivering pulsed field energy from the at least one energy delivery electrode to the target tissue when, during the optimal time for energy delivery, the at least one energy delivery electrode is in close proximity with the target tissue.

Abstract: A method and system for inputting a user rating in an electronically-presented space is disclosed. A user may position icons, which represent items for rating, in the electronically-presented space. For example, the user may position, using a mouse, the icons on a 2-D area on a display screen in order to rate the icons. Responsive to the positioning, the system may identify the positions of the icons, such as the positions of the icon within the 2-D area on the display screen, in order to determine the rating, such as a relative rating or an absolute rating. In this way, the method and system disclose a straightforward and simple way for users to input user preference in the electronically-presented space.

Abstract: A mix chamber for a plural component sprayer is configured to receive first and second component materials and emit a spray of a resulting plural component material. The mix chamber includes a chamber body extending between a first end and a second end and including flat lateral sides. A ramp feature is disposed proximate the first end and is configured to contact and push first and second side seals, respectively, away from a body axis as the mix chamber shifts in a first direction through a cartridge bore to increase a gap between the first side seal and the second side seal such that the first side seal engages the first flat lateral side and the second side seal engages the second flat lateral side.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of enhancing plant growth, comprising a) treating plant seed with an effective amount of at least one phosphate solubilizing microorganism that may include a strain of the fungus Penicillium, and b) treating the seed or plant that germinates from the seed with an effective amount of at least one lipo chitooligosaccharide (LCO) and/or at least one chitoogliosaccharide (CO), wherein upon harvesting the plant exhibits at least one of increased plant yield measured in terms of bushels/acre, increased root number, increased root length, increased root mass, increased root volume and increased leaf area, compared to untreated plants or plants harvested from untreated seed.

Abstract: A reflective wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of wires 12 on a face of a substrate 11, with channels 15 between adjacent wires 12. The wires 12 can have certain characteristics for WGP performance, such as index of refraction, alternating high/low index continuous thin films, thickness of layer(s), duty cycle, reflective rib shape, a curved side of transparent ribs 21 or 32, aspect ratio, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A golf accessory tool is securable to a golf club and includes three panels that are attached to each other with two hinges. The panels rotate about the hinges between an open position for receiving a golf club and a closed position surrounding the golf club. Two of the panels can be secured to each other with a securing mechanism to attach the tool to the club in the closed position. The panels include recesses and cavities for receiving golf accessories, such as a divot repair tool and ball markers, with the accessories removably coupled to the tool. A golf grip includes a golf accessory portion at a proximal end of the grip that similarly includes recesses and cavities for receiving accessories and the accessories removably coupled to the grip.

Abstract: A metasurface optical device can include an array of pillars 13 on a first-side 11f of a substrate 11 aligned with an aperture 15 of, or proximate to, a blocking-layer 12. The blocking-layer 12 can located on the first-side 11f of the substrate 11, on a second-side 11s of the substrate 11 opposite of the first-side 11f, or both. The blocking-layer 12 can prevent light from transmitting through the device in undesirable locations. The blocking-layer 12 can be opaque to incident light and can include an absorptive-layer. Thus, the blocking-layer 12 can have dual functions—blocking and absorbing light.

Abstract: A mix chamber for a plural component sprayer is configured to receive first and second component materials and emit a spray of a resulting plural component material. The mix chamber includes a chamber body extending between a first end and a second end and including flat lateral sides. A ramp feature is disposed proximate the first end and is configured to contact and push first and second side seals, respectively, away from a body axis as the mix chamber shifts in a first direction through a cartridge bore to increase a gap between the first side seal and the second side seal such that the first side seal engages the first flat lateral side and the second side seal engages the second flat lateral side.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.