Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for sealing an instrument channel of a robotic surgical device, which includes a valve body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough from a proximal end portion of the valve body to a distal end portion of the valve body, and defining an axial bore including an interior valve chamber formed in the proximal end portion of the valve body, a valve seal situated within the interior valve chamber of the valve body for sealing the instrument channel of the robotic surgical device, and an engagement mechanism operatively associated with the distal end portion of the valve body for detachably connecting the valve assembly to the instrument channel of the robotic surgical device.

Abstract: This present disclosure seals the light propagation path in an optical interconnection element from external contaminants. The optical interconnection element includes a reflective surface, which can also be sealed from external contaminants. Additional novel concepts include all enclosed sealed regions of the optical interconnection element being fluidly connected and making the final seal of the optical interconnection element with a thin plate, which can bend reducing the pressure differential between the ambient environment and the sealed internal volume of the optical interconnection element.

Abstract: A battery for use with a power tool and the battery is removable from the power tool. The battery includes a housing having a first rib and a second rib. The battery further includes a release including an actuator and a latch that together move relative to the housing by the actuator from a first position to a second position. The release includes a first recess and a second recess, the first recess receives the first rib of the housing such that the first rib slides along the first recess to guide movement of the release between the first and second positions. The second recess receives the second rib of the housing such that the second rib slides along the second recess to guide movement of the release between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A job site security system contains a wireless communications node and a device such as a tool, a battery, a charger, etc., which contains a controller. Each tool has a locked state and an unlocked state as determined by the controller. Each tool is (initially) in the locked state. When the wireless communications node transmits a signal to the device the controller changes the locked state to the unlocked state allowing the device to be used. A method for securing a job site is also provided.

Abstract: A tension compensation system for a robotically controlled medical device can include an instrument controller configured to operatively connect to a robotically controlled medical device to provide tension to one or more actuation cables of the robotically controlled medical device. The system can include an instrument control module configured to control the instrument controller to provide a compensation tension to at least one actuation cable of the one or more actuation cables to compensate for elongation of the at least one actuation cable of the one or more actuation cables based on actuation data associated with the at least one actuation cable of the one or more actuation cables.

Abstract: This present disclosure seals the light propagation path in an optical interconnection element from external contaminants. The optical interconnection element includes a reflective surface, which can also be sealed from external contaminants Additional novel concepts include all enclosed sealed regions of the optical interconnection element being fluidly connected and making the final seal of the optical interconnection element with a thin plate, which can bend reducing the pressure differential between the ambient environment and the sealed internal volume of the optical interconnection element.

Abstract: An end effector for a minimally invasive medical device can include a base configured to attach to a distal end of a shaft, and a disposable distal portion configured to removably attach to the base to be disposed of after use.

Abstract: A rotary cutter head includes a cylindrical cutter head body oriented for rotation about a rotational axis. The cylindrical cutter head body includes a first face, a second face opposite the first face, and a cylindrical face extending between the first face and the second face. The cylindrical cutter head body includes a recess defined in the first face and a removable indicia plate mounted in the recess.

Abstract: A force transmission system for a robotically controlled medical device includes a pushing actuator adapted and configured to be pushed distally by a robotic instrument controller, a pivot, and a reverse linkage rotatable about the pivot. The reverse linkage includes a first portion extending between the pivot and the pushing actuator, and operably engaged with the pushing actuator, a second portion extending from the pivot away from the first portion, adapted to engage a control wire of the robotically controlled medical device and pull the control wire proximally in response to distal movement of the pushing actuator, and a distal surface of the second portion having an arcuate surface adapted maintain an axial position of the control wire throughout a range of motion thereof.

Abstract: An end effector for a minimally invasive medical device can include a base configured to attach to a distal end of a shaft, and a disposable distal portion configured to removably attach to the base to be disposed of after use.

Abstract: A job site security system contains a wireless communications node and a device such as a tool, a battery, a charger, etc., which contains a controller. Each tool has a locked state and an unlocked state as determined by the controller. Each tool is (initially) in the locked state. When the wireless communications node transmits a signal to the device the controller changes the locked state to the unlocked state allowing the device to be used. A method for securing a job site is also provided.

Abstract: A force transmission system for a robotically controlled medical device can include a pushing actuator configured to be pushed by a robotic instrument controller and a wire. The wire can include a first end attached to an end of the pushing actuator to be pushed distally by the pushing actuator, and a second end attached to a distal location of the medical device. The system can include a reverse motion device that can be interfaced with the wire between the first end and the second end. The reverse motion device can be configured to cause a proximal pulling action on the second end in response to pushing of the first end distally by the pushing actuator or other actuation by the pushing actuator. The reverse motion device can be configured to maintain a point of contact with the wire in the same spatial location to prevent wire motion due to actuation.

Abstract: A mechanical assembly includes a shaft having a central axis and an outer member having a bore disposed about the shaft, either the shaft or the outer member having a gland defined by a circumferential surface and at least one radial surface and the other one of the shaft and the outer member being angularly displaceable about the central axis. A seal has an annular body disposed within the gland and is formed of an flexible material, preferably a plastic or elastomeric material, the annular body having a main body portion with inner and outer radial ends. An inner sealing lip extends radially inwardly from the inner end of the main body portion and is configured to engage with the shaft. An outer sealing lip extends radially outwardly from the outer radial end of the main body portion and is configured to engage with the outer member.

Abstract: A mechanical assembly includes a shaft having a central axis and an outer member having a bore disposed about the shaft, either the shaft or the outer member having a gland defined by a circumferential surface and at least one radial surface and the other one of the shaft and the outer member being angularly displaceable about the central axis. A seal has an annular body disposed within the gland and is formed of an flexible material, preferably a plastic or elastomeric material, the annular body having a main body portion with inner and outer radial ends. An inner sealing lip extends radially inwardly from the inner end of the main body portion and is configured to engage with the shaft. An outer sealing lip extends radially outwardly from the outer radial end of the main body portion and is configured to engage with the outer member.

Abstract: A steerable overtube assembly for a robotic surgical system can include a steerable shaft having one or more instrument channel and a control hub configured to mount to the steerable shaft. The assembly can also include a manual actuator extending from the control hub and configured to allow the steerable shaft to be manually steered by a user's hand, and a robotic actuator housed by and/or extending from the control hub configured to connect to a robotic driver to allow robotic steering of the steerable shaft.

Abstract: Herein reported are new tricyclic cytidine compounds, such as 8-diethylamino-tC (8-DEA-tC), that respond to DNA and/or RNA duplex formation with up to a 20-fold increase in fluorescent quantum yield as compared with the free nucleoside, depending on neighboring bases. This turn-on response to duplex formation is by far the greatest of any reported nucleoside analogue that can participate in Watson-Crick base pairing. Measurements of the quantum yield of 8-DEA-tC mispaired with adenosine and, separately, opposite an abasic site show that there is almost no fluorescence increase without the formation of correct Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds. Kinetic isotope effects from the use of deuterated buffer show that the duplex protects 8-DEA-tC against quenching by excited state proton transfer. DFT calculations provide a rationale for the observed photophysical properties that is dependent on duplex integrity and the electronic structure of the analogue.

Abstract: A steerable overtube assembly for a robotic surgical system can include a steerable shaft having one or more instrument channel and a control hub configured to mount to the steerable shaft. The assembly can also include a manual actuator extending from the control hub and configured to allow the steerable shaft to be manually steered by a user's hand, and a robotic actuator housed by and/or extending from the control hub configured to connect to a robotic driver to allow robotic steering of the steerable shaft.

Abstract: A device for storage, generation, transmission, distribution and/or other use of electrical energy, comprising a flame retardant molded article, comprising a polymer matrix containing a crosslinked aliphatic polyketone (PK) in combination with at least one flame retardant and to a method for improving the flame retardant properties of molded articles for electrical devices. In addition electric vehicles, battery energy storage systems, power tools and devices for power generation and to parts therof, comprising a flame retardant molded article, comprising a polymer matrix containing a crosslinked aliphatic polyketone (PK) in combination with at least one flame retardant.

Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial antigen-presenting cell (aAPC) comprising at least one immune stimulatory ligand and co-stimulatory ligands comprising or consisting of CD86, CD70 and CD137L, methods of preparing an aAPC and methods of inducing proliferation of an immune cell or expanding a population of immune cells. The invention also relates to methods for inducing an immune response or treating a medical condition in a subject. The invention further relates to methods of identifying an antigenic peptide or method of identifying or detecting the presence of an immune cell that recognizes an antigen.