Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: A surgically implanted occluding assembly comprises an implant body having a longitudinally split generally “C”-shaped cross-section tube circumscribing an anatomical lumen. In one embodiment, the surgically implanted occluding assembly is a male continence device selectively occluding a urethra. In some embodiments an occluding magnet is rigidly affixed with the implant body, and an external selective occlusion control assembly is used to selectively activate the surgically implanted occluding assembly. The external assembly has a magnet, and body supporting the magnet. The external selective occlusion control assembly is configured to be selectively placed and retained adjacent to the surgically implanted occluding assembly.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for remotely evaluating and controlling VoIP subscriber terminal equipment using test calls, status queries, and usage statistics are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes initiating test calls with VoIP subscriber terminal equipment and obtaining test call results. The method further includes analyzing usage information regarding the VoIP subscriber terminal equipment and determining subscriber terminal device usage results. The method also includes remotely querying the VoIP subscriber terminal device and determining subscriber terminal equipment state information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for categorizing voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscriber device numbers in accordance to test call results are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes creating a plurality of VoIP test call lists within a test call system and assigning VoIP subscriber device numbers to the plurality of VoIP test call lists. Each of VoIP subscriber device numbers is tested based on the test call list to which each of the VoIP subscriber device numbers is assigned, wherein each test call list corresponds to at least one of a test call type and a test call frequency associated with the test call list. The method also includes obtaining call quality data for at least one of the VoIP subscriber device numbers and automatically reassigning one or more of the VoIP subscriber device numbers to a different test call list based on at least one of results of the testing and the call quality data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for remotely evaluating and controlling VoIP subscriber terminal equipment using test calls, status queries, and usage statistics are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes initiating test calls with VoIP subscriber terminal equipment and obtaining test call results. The method further includes analyzing usage information regarding the VoIP subscriber terminal equipment and determining subscriber terminal device usage results. The method also includes remotely querying the VoIP subscriber terminal device and determining subscriber terminal equipment state information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for categorizing voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscriber device numbers in accordance to test call results are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes creating a plurality of VoIP test call lists within a test call system and assigning VoIP subscriber device numbers to the plurality of VoIP test call lists. Each of VoIP subscriber device numbers is tested based on the test call list to which each of the VoIP subscriber device numbers is assigned, wherein each test call list corresponds to at least one of a test call type and a test call frequency associated with the test call list. The method also includes obtaining call quality data for at least one of the VoIP subscriber device numbers and automatically reassigning one or more of the VoIP subscriber device numbers to a different test call list based on at least one of results of the testing and the call quality data.

Abstract: A computer network encryption/decryption device includes at least one microprocessor, microprocessor support hardware, at least two network ports for connecting to upstream and downstream networks, memory hardware for storing program, configuration, and keylist data, and data encryption/decryption hardware. Both network ports have the same network address, making the device transparent to the local area network in which it is spliced. The device operates by selectively encrypting or decrypting only the data portion of a data packet, leaving the routing information contained in the header and trailer portions of the data packet unchanged.

Abstract: A computer network encryption/decryption device includes at least one microprocessor, microprocessor support hardware, at least two network ports for connecting to upstream and downstream networks, memory hardware for storing program, configuration, and keylist data, and data encryption/decryption hardware. The device operates in one of two modes by selectively encrypting or decrypting packets or portions of packets based on information contained in a packer's header.

Abstract: A computer network encryption/decryption device includes at least one microprocessor, microprocessor support hardware, at least two network ports for connecting to upstream and downstream networks, memory hardware for storing program, configuration, and keylist data, and data encryption/decryption hardware. Both network ports have the same network address, making the device transparent to the local area network in which it is spliced. The device operates by selectively encrypting or decrypting only the data portion of a data packet, leaving the routing information contained in the header and trailer portions of the data packet unchanged.

Abstract: An electrochromic cell is provided having a Li.sup.+ doped oxymethylene-polyoxyethylene solid polymer electrolyte. The film of ionically doped oxymethylene-polyoxyethylene is sandwiched between two complementary electrochromic layers, one of which is tungsten oxide. The other electrochromic layer is a polyaniline or a Prussian Blue material. The complementary electrochromic layers are deposited onto electrically conductive transparent substrates, such as fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass. The electrochromic cell colors and bleaches by the application of an appropriate electrical potential between the two electrochromic films. The Li.sup.+ doped oxymethylene-polyoxyethylene electrolyte is stable at elevated temperatures up to about 100.degree. C.

Abstract: A cleaning system for dislodging dust from the filter bags of a dust filter having dirty and clean air plenums separated by a tube sheet. The tube sheet is divided into segments each having filter bag openings arranged in the same pattern. An air accumulator tank which continuously receives compressed air is rotated in the clean air plenum with a connected distribution arm which applies air pulses to the filter bags through discharge nozzles arranged in the same pattern as the filter bag openings. A position sensor allows cleaning air in the tank to be applied to the distribution arm only when the arm is aligned above a segment with all nozzles centered on the filter bags. A quick acting diaphragm valve is combined with the air tank to control air flow into the distribution arm at a location adjacent to the arm to minimize the response time.

Abstract: A method of removing particulates and sulfur oxides from a hot gas by controllably contacting the hot gas in a first spray-dryer zone with a selected chemically reactive absorbent for the sulfur oxides and then sequentially contacting the hot gas with the absorbent in a second fabric filter zone. The preferred absorbents are calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide. The selected absorbent dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium is controllably introduced into the spray dryer, together with the hot gas, in an amount and at a rate to react in the spray dryer with only a portion of the sulfur oxides in the hot gas to produce a dry particulate reaction product consisting of calcium or sodium sulfites and sulfates, together with sufficient unreacted absorbent of enhanced reactivity for subsequent reaction in the second zone with the remaining sulfur oxides, all being entrained in a substantially water-unsaturated gas of reduced sulfur oxide content.

Abstract: Non-sintered PTFE-bound electrodes for alkaline storage batteries are made by coagulating polytetrafluoroethylene (i.e. PTFE) particles from an aqueous dispersion thereof to form a gelatinous coagulum, mechanically dispersing the coagulum in water such that the coagulum is subdivided into small, sticky clots of PTFE particles which are suspended in the water, mixing the suspension with comminuted electrochemically active material to form a slurry of active material and active-material-coated clots, filtering the slurry to separate the solids (i.e. as a filter cake) therefrom, integrating (e.g. sandwiching) an electrically conductive current collector with the filter cake, compressing the thusly formed composite, and drying the compress.