Abstract: A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: A scent dispenser may comprise a vial retaining mechanism, a heating element, vial sensor, and a controller. The vial retaining mechanism includes a vial coupling that removeably retains a vial containing a scented solution. The includes a wick extending from a cavity of the vial through an opening of a neck of the vial. The heating element is shaped to receive and heat the wick of the vial. The vial sensor includes an array of sensor pads that are arranged in alignment with the vial retained by the vial coupling. The controller is electrically coupled to the heating element and electrically coupled to the array of sensor pads. The controller regulates a temperature level of the heating element, and receives signals from the array of sensor pads and processing the signals to determine a fluid level of the vial.

Abstract: A scent dispenser may comprise a vial retaining mechanism, a heating element, vial sensor, and a controller. The vial retaining mechanism includes a vial coupling that removeably retains a vial containing a scented solution. The includes a wick extending from a cavity of the vial through an opening of a neck of the vial. The heating element is shaped to receive and heat the wick of the vial. The vial sensor includes an array of sensor pads that are arranged in alignment with the vial retained by the vial coupling. The controller is electrically coupled to the heating element and electrically coupled to the array of sensor pads. The controller regulates a temperature level of the heating element, and receives signals from the array of sensor pads and processing the signals to determine a fluid level of the vial.

Abstract: An entrainment-based filtering system for use in connection with a facemask or respirator that includes: a filter housing defining an interior volume comprising at least one airflow pathway having an airflow pathway length that is longer than the length of the interior volume and spaced within the interior volume; and a plurality of entrainment substrates. The plurality of entrainment substrates is positioned within the at least one airflow pathway and the plurality of substrates and the dimensions of the at least one airflow pathway together function to entrain particles on the surface of the chemically coated entrainment substrates and prevent at least 95% of particles traveling through the at least one airflow pathway from exiting the entrainment-based filter.

Abstract: A band-pass clock distribution circuit includes a clock tree circuit including at least one clock buffer circuit. The clock tree circuit may be configured to receive a first clock signal from a clock generator circuit and to generate a second clock signal based on the first clock signal. A band-pass filter may be configured to receive the second clock signal and to provide a third clock signal to one or more load circuits. The band-pass filter includes a filtering resonant network including a first inductor and a second inductor coupled to one another at a center tap. The filtering resonant network is configurable to resonate with a parasitic capacitance associated with the one or more load circuits. A portion of the band-pass filter is integrated with the clock tree circuit.

Abstract: A band-pass clock distribution circuit includes a clock tree circuit including at least one clock buffer circuit. The clock tree circuit may be configured to receive a first clock signal from a clock generator circuit and to generate a second clock signal based on the first clock signal. A band-pass filter may be configured to receive the second clock signal and to provide a third clock signal to one or more load circuits. The band-pass filter includes a filtering resonant network including a first inductor and a second inductor coupled to one another at a center tap. The filtering resonant network is configurable to resonate with a parasitic capacitance associated with the one or more load circuits. A portion of the band-pass filter is integrated with the clock tree circuit.

Abstract: System and method for providing patient-specific models to distinguish between epochs of electrocardiograms (ECGs) located far away from atrial fibrillation rhythms and those located just prior to the onset of those episodes, to provide for the prediction of the onset of an occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for solvent-free direct extraction of target compounds from compositions of matter are disclosed herein. The disclosed systems and methods use low pressure to reduce the evaporation temperature of target compounds without affecting the chemical integrity thereof. Target compounds are extracted from the composition of matter in an evacuation chamber and then collected using a capture system. Target compounds may be drawn from the evacuation chamber into the capture system using a carrier gas to facilitate transport of the targeted compounds in the vapor phase. A processed vapor stream may be transported from the capture system back into the evacuation chamber using a recirculation system that includes a blower. The disclosed systems and methods may be used, for example, to extract target compounds from plant matter such as fresh or dried cannabis and hemp, lavender, rosemary, lilac, or other suitable plant matter containing desirable compounds for extraction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for solvent-free direct extraction of target compounds from plant matter are disclosed herein. The disclosed systems and methods use low pressure to reduce the evaporation temperature of target compounds without affecting the chemical integrity thereof. Target compounds are extracted from the plant matter in an evacuation chamber, and the extracted target compounds are then collected using a cooling system. Target compounds may be drawn from the evacuation chamber into the cooling system using a carrier gas to facilitate transport of the targeted compounds in the vapor phase. The evaporated target compounds may, for example, be drawn into the cooling system using a recirculation system that includes a blower. The disclosed systems and methods may be used, for example, to extract target compounds from plant matter such as fresh or dried cannabis and hemp, lavender, rosemary, lilac, or other suitable plant matter containing desirable compounds for extraction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for solvent-free direct extraction of target compounds from plant matter are disclosed herein. The disclosed systems and methods use low pressure to reduce the evaporation temperature of target compounds without affecting the chemical integrity thereof. Target compounds are extracted from the plant matter in an evacuation chamber, and the extracted target compounds are then collected using a cooling system. Target compounds may be drawn from the evacuation chamber into the cooling system using a carrier gas to facilitate transport of the targeted compounds in the vapor phase. The evaporated target compounds may, for example, be drawn into the cooling system using a recirculation system that includes a blower. The disclosed systems and methods may be used, for example, to extract target compounds from plant matter such as fresh or dried cannabis and hemp, lavender, rosemary, lilac, or other suitable plant matter containing desirable compounds for extraction.

Abstract: A hybrid digital-to-analog converter (DAC) driver circuit includes a current-mode DAC driver, a voltage-mode DAC driver, and a combination circuit. The current-mode DAC driver may be configured to receive a first set of bits of a digital input signal and to generate a first analog signal. The voltage-mode DAC driver may be configured to receive a second set of bits of the digital input signal and to generate a second analog signal. The combination circuit may be configured to combine the first analog signal and the second analog signal and to generate an analog output signal. The DAC driver circuit may be terminated by adjusting resistor values of the voltage-mode DAC driver. The current-mode DAC driver and the voltage-mode DAC driver are differential drivers, and may be configured to operate with a single clock signal.

Abstract: An entrainment-based filtering system for use in connection with a facemask or respirator that includes: a filter housing defining an interior volume comprising at least one airflow pathway having an airflow pathway length that is longer than the length of the interior volume and spaced within the interior volume; and a plurality of entrainment substrates. The plurality of entrainment substrates is positioned within the at least one airflow pathway and the plurality of substrates and the dimensions of the at least one airflow pathway together function to entrain particles on the surface of the chemically coated entrainment substrates and prevent at least 95% of particles traveling through the at least one airflow pathway from exiting the entrainment-based filter.

Abstract: A hybrid digital-to-analog converter (DAC) driver circuit includes a current-mode DAC driver, a voltage-mode DAC driver, and a combination circuit. The current-mode DAC driver may be configured to receive a first set of bits of a digital input signal and to generate a first analog signal. The voltage-mode DAC driver may be configured to receive a second set of bits of the digital input signal and to generate a second analog signal. The combination circuit may be configured to combine the first analog signal and the second analog signal and to generate an analog output signal. The DAC driver circuit may be terminated by adjusting resistor values of the voltage-mode DAC driver. The current-mode DAC driver and the voltage-mode DAC driver are differential drivers, and may be configured to operate with a single clock signal.

Abstract: A DAC driver includes a number of DAC drivers coupled to a load network. A first DAC driver includes a first set of data switches that can be controlled by a first digital input signal. The first DAC driver further includes a first set of output switches, a first set of dump switches and a first set of current sources. Another DAC driver includes a second set of output switches, dump switches, and current sources. The first set of output switches or the second set of output switches are operable to respectively couple either one of the first set of data switches or the first set of current sources to the load network. The first set of dump switches or the second set of dump switches are operable to respectively dump the first set of current sources or the second set current sources into a respective dump load.

Abstract: A ultra-high speed DAC apparatus (e.g., with a full sampling frequency not less than 20 GHz) may include one or more digital pre-coders and DAC modules. Each DAC module may include multiple current-mode DAC systems and a first power combiner. The gate length of transistors within each DAC module may be between 6 and 40 nm. Each current-mode DAC system includes a transmission line (e.g., 40 to 80 microns long) coupled to multiple interleaving sub-DAC systems (within the current-mode DAC systems) and the first power combiner. The first power combiner combines, without interleaving, analog signals that have been interleaved within the current-mode DAC systems. The impedance of the first power combiner matches the impedance of each of the current-mode DAC systems and a load of the first power combiner. A second power combiner combines, without interleaving, analog signals from the DAC modules.

Abstract: A DAC driver includes a number of DAC drivers coupled to a load network. A first DAC driver includes a first set of data switches that can be controlled by a first digital input signal. The first DAC driver further includes a first set of output switches, a first set of dump switches and a first set of current sources. Another DAC driver includes a second set of output switches, dump switches, and current sources. The first set of output switches or the second set of output switches are operable to respectively couple either one of the first set of data switches or the first set of current sources to the load network. The first set of dump switches or the second set of dump switches are operable to respectively dump the first set of current sources or the second set current sources into a respective dump load.

Abstract: A ultra-high speed DAC apparatus (e.g., with a full sampling frequency not less than 20 GHz) may include one or more digital pre-coders and DAC modules. Each DAC module may include multiple current-mode DAC systems and a first power combiner. The gate length of transistors within each DAC module may be between 6 and 40 nm. Each current-mode DAC system includes a transmission line (e.g., 40 to 80 microns long) coupled to multiple interleaving sub-DAC systems (within the current-mode DAC systems) and the first power combiner. The first power combiner combines, without interleaving, analog signals that have been interleaved within the current-mode DAC systems. The impedance of the first power combiner matches the impedance of each of the current-mode DAC systems and a load of the first power combiner. A second power combiner combines, without interleaving, analog signals from the DAC modules.

Abstract: A double-balanced radio-frequency (RF) mixing digital-to-analog converter (DAC) apparatus includes a load network, a first set of resistive DAC driver circuits and a first mixing core. The first mixing core can receive first RF input signals from the first set of resistive DAC driver circuits and can provide a first mixed signal to the load network. The first mixing core includes a first input differential pair coupled to two first cross-coupled differential pairs. The first input differential pair can receive first RF input signals at respective first input nodes. Each of the two first cross-coupled differential pairs can receive first positive and negative local oscillator (LO) signals at corresponding first input nodes. The first mixing core can mix the first RF input signals with the first positive and negative LO signals.

Abstract: A double-balanced radio-frequency (RF) mixing digital-to-analog converter (DAC) apparatus includes a load network, a first set of resistive DAC driver circuits and a first mixing core. The first mixing core can receive first RF input signals from the first set of resistive DAC driver circuits and can provide a first mixed signal to the load network. The first mixing core includes a first input differential pair coupled to two first cross-coupled differential pairs. The first input differential pair can receive first RF input signals at respective first input nodes. Each of the two first cross-coupled differential pairs can receive first positive and negative local oscillator (LO) signals at corresponding first input nodes. The first mixing core can mix the first RF input signals with the first positive and negative LO signals.

Abstract: A band-pass clock distribution circuit includes a clock tree circuit including at least one clock buffer circuit. The clock tree circuit may be configured to receive a first clock signal from a clock generator circuit and to generate a second clock signal based on the first clock signal. A band-pass filter may be configured to receive the second clock signal and to provide a third clock signal to one or more load circuits. The band-pass filter includes a filtering resonant network including a first inductor and a second inductor coupled to one another at a center tap. The filtering resonant network is configurable to resonate with a parasitic capacitance associated with the one or more load circuits. A portion of the band-pass filter is integrated with the clock tree circuit.