Abstract: A portable ultrasound system includes a user interface system including at least one display screen and at least one user input device, a processing circuit configured to perform general computing operations and configured to receive ultrasound imaging data from a removable ultrasound module, a housing containing the user interface system and the processing circuit and having an opening configured to removably receive the removable ultrasound module, and a connector configured to form an electrical connection with a corresponding second connector of the removable ultrasound module when the removable ultrasound module is fully inserted into the portable ultrasound system through the opening of the housing, and wherein the connector includes at least one guiding feature configured to align the connector and the second connector as the removable ultrasound module is inserted into the portable ultrasound system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for optimizing conditional code by identifying conditional code in a source code, adding a no-operation instruction to an executable code corresponding to the source code in place of the conditional code, adding an entry to a table to pair the no-operation instruction to the conditional code, compiling the conditional code, and storing the compiled conditional code separate from the executable code. A computer-implemented method and apparatus to optimize conditional code by loading an executable code to be executed, checking whether conditional code associated with the executable code is enabled for execution, looking up a location of a no-operation instruction in a table and a location of a compiled conditional code in the table, and replacing the no-operation instruction in the executable code with the compiled conditional code.

Abstract: A method for selecting a membrane protein with increased stability, the method comprising: a) providing one or more mutants of a parent membrane protein in a membrane-containing composition, wherein the one or more mutants are exposed to an amount of a membrane destabilizing agent which is effective to destabilize the parent membrane protein in-situ, b) determining whether the or each mutant membrane protein has increased stability with respect to its structure and/or a biological activity compared to the stability of the parent membrane protein with respect to its structure and/or the same biological activity, and c) selecting the one or more mutants which have increased stability compared to the stability of the parent membrane protein.

Abstract: A viscosity regulating composition having a polymeric structure with an internal hydrophobic unit located within the polymer's backbone, multiple hydrophilic units, and terminal hydrophobic units. In one embodiment, the internal hydrophobic unit may have at least three linked hydrophobic segments, of the same or different hydrophobic segments, with the proviso that the multiple hydrophobic segments are not linked to each other by one or more hydrophilic linking segments, for example water-soluble, polymeric groups.

Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of orientation blocks each representing a portion of a catheter assembly and a controller configured to determine an orientation of the plurality of orientation blocks relative to one another. The controller is further configured to output a control signal that causes a tip of a catheter assembly to adopt the orientation determined by the controller. A system includes an actuator configured to manipulate a position and orientation of the catheter assembly. The controller of the input device is configured to output a control signal to the actuator to make a tip of a catheter assembly adopt the orientation determined by the controller. The input device can be virtually represented on a computing device.

Abstract: A device may operate a guide wire and be operable by a single operator digit. The device may include an insertion control device for advancing the guide wire in a forward and in a reverse direction and along a longitudinal axis of the guide wire; and a rotary device for rolling a guide wire about the longitudinal axis. A robotic instrument driver may be operatively coupled to the device and configured to control axial movement of the guide wire along the longitudinal axis according to input received from the insertion control device and to control rotational movement of the guide wire according to input received from the rotary device.

Abstract: An input device for a robotic catheter system includes an inner member having a generally cylindrical shape and defining an axis, and an outer member coaxially disposed on the inner member and configured to rotate about and move along the axis defined by the inner member to control a position and orientation of at least one of a catheter and a guide wire. Rotating the outer member about the axis causes the catheter, the guide wire, or both, to rotate and wherein moving the outer member along the axis causes the catheter, the guide wire, or both, to advance or retract relative to a patient's body.

Abstract: A command interpreter may be in communication with a wireless controller. The command interpreter may be configured to identify a reference location of the wireless controller, identify a second location of the wireless controller, and determine, based on the reference location and the second location, a sequence of instrument commands configured to adjust positioning of the instrument device.

Abstract: One exemplary user interface for a medical robotics system may include a control panel and one or more sliders that may be slidably carried by the control panel to actuate one or more motors for moving a surgical instrument of the medical robotics system. The sliders may be configured to actuate the motors to move the surgical instrument along a respective one of a plurality of degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A viscosity regulating composition having a polymeric structure with an internal hydrophobic unit located within the polymer's backbone, multiple hydrophilic units, and terminal hydrophobic units. In one embodiment, the internal hydrophobic unit may have at least three linked hydrophobic segments, of the same or different hydrophobic segments, with the proviso that the multiple hydrophobic segments are not linked to each other by one or more hydrophilic linking segments, for example water-soluble, polymeric groups.

Abstract: A system and method to detect a foreign object proximate to a source resonator that is part of a wireless energy transfer system. The wireless energy transfer system may be one used to wirelessly charge the batteries of an electric vehicle. Data from a visible light camera and a multiple zone temperature sensor are combined or fused to determine whether a foreign object, such a metallic object or an animal, is in the vicinity of, or in close proximity to, a source resonator. The system controls an electric current provided to the source resonator based on whether a foreign object is detected to reduce or inhibit energy emitted by the source resonator. The visible light camera may be a monochrome or color camera and the temperature sensor may be an infrared camera or a thermopile array.

Abstract: The present invention relates in some aspects to mutant G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and methods for selecting those with increased stability. In certain aspects, the invention relates to the selection and preparation of mutant GPCRs which have increased stability under a particular condition compared to their respective parent proteins.

Abstract: In a direct electron detector, backscattering of electrons into the detector volume from below the sensor is prevented. In some embodiments, an empty space is maintained below the sensor. In other embodiments, a structure below the sensor includes geometry, such as multiple high aspects ratio channels, either extending to or from the sensor to trap electrons, or a structure of angled surfaces to deflect the electrons that pass through the sensor.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to methods of producing a mutant GPCR with increased stability relative to its parent GPCR.

Abstract: In a direct electron detector, backscattering of electrons into the detector volume from below the sensor is prevented. In some embodiments, an empty space is maintained below the sensor. In other embodiments, a structure below the sensor includes geometry, such as multiple high aspects ratio channels, either extending to or from the sensor to trap electrons, or a structure of angled surfaces to deflect the electrons that pass through the sensor.

Abstract: An appliance such as a dishwasher is configured to re-circulate air to reduce the amount of air with high moisture content that is expelled from the dishwasher. In one embodiment, the dishwasher comprises a wash zone in which objects are positioned to be washed and a door assembly, secured to the dishwasher in sealing engagement. Air from an upper region of the wash zone is drawn into a door cavity in the door assembly and re-circulated to a lower region of the wash zone. Inside of the door cavity is a thermal sink with a surface on which vapor in the air condenses, thereby lowering the relative humidity of the air that is ejected from the door assembly and into the lower region of the wash zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutant G-protein coupled receptors with increased conformational stability, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, polynucleotides encoding the mutant G-protein coupled receptors are provided. In some aspects, host cells comprising the polynucleotides are provided. In some aspects, the invention relates to crystallized forms of the mutant G-protein coupled receptors, and methods of preparing the same.