Abstract: In examples, a method of operating a surgical device comprises disengaging an obturator from a funnel portion of a cannula; removing a shaft portion of the obturator from a cannula lumen of the cannula; disengaging a seal cartridge from the funnel portion of the cannula; and removing the seal cartridge from the funnel portion after removing the shaft portion of the obturator from the cannula lumen.

Abstract: Fibrous filter medium that includes a surface-loading filter layer comprising fine fibers having an average diameter of less than 1 micron; a depth loading filter layer; and a support layer; wherein the layers are configured and arranged for placement in a gas stream with the surface loading filter layer being the most upstream layer.

Abstract: According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory on which is stored machine readable instructions that may cause the processor to access data about an environment of an agent, identify an actor in the environment, and access candidate models, in which each of the candidate models may predict a certain action of the identified actor. The instructions may also cause the processor to apply a selected candidate model of the accessed candidate models on the accessed data to determine a predicted action of the identified actor and may implement a recursive reinforcement learning model using the predicted action of the identified actor to determine an action that the agent is to perform. The instructions may further cause the processor to cause the agent to perform the determined action.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe for percutaneous insertion into an incision and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for imaging neural structures at a surgical site of a patient. An exemplary ultrasound probe can be a portable ultrasound probe configured to be passed percutaneously into an incision and can have an imaging region extending distally from a distal tip of the probe. In one embodiment the ultrasound probe can be a navigated portable ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe can be connected to a computing station and configured to transmit images to the computing station for processing. In another embodiment, an ultrasound probe can be part of a network of sensors, including at least one external sensor, where the network of sensors is configured to transmit images to the computing station for processing. The computing station can process and display images to visualize and/or highlight neurological structures in an imaged region.

Abstract: According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory on which is stored machine readable instructions that may cause the processor to access data about an environment of an agent, identify an actor in the environment, and access candidate models, in which each of the candidate models may predict a certain action of the identified actor. The instructions may also cause the processor to apply a selected candidate model of the accessed candidate models on the accessed data to determine a predicted action of the identified actor and may implement a recursive reinforcement learning model using the predicted action of the identified actor to determine an action that the agent is to perform. The instructions may further cause the processor to cause the agent to perform the determined action.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed herein for determining character strings that share a pattern, even though the pattern is not necessarily known. In particular, character strings of a plurality of character strings are pairwise compared to one or more other character strings of the plurality by a trained model. Each character string pair determined by the trained model to share a pattern is included in a group. After completion of the pairwise comparison, the group includes all character strings of the plurality of character strings that share the pattern.

Abstract: An air cleaner assembly is disclosed, along with related methods. In one aspect, the air cleaner assembly has a housing including a housing body and a removable cover that together define an interior volume for holding a filter cartridge. The housing can include a first part of a first connection arrangement. The air filter cartridge can include a second part of the first connection arrangement. In one aspect, the first and second parts can be secured together place the air filter cartridge in a latched position by moving the air filter cartridge in a first direction. In one aspect, the first and second parts can be disconnected from each other to place the air filter cartridge in an unlatched position by moving the air filter cartridge in the first direction. The air cleaner assembly can include a second connection arrangement securing the air filter cartridge to the housing cover such that the housing body and housing cover are secured together.

Abstract: Fibrous filter medium that includes a surface-loading filter layer comprising fine fibers having an average diameter of less than 1 micron; a depth loading filter layer; and a support layer; wherein the layers are configured and arranged for placement in a gas stream with the surface loading filter layer being the most upstream layer.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods are disclosed, including, in one embodiment, a system having a coupling system disposed on a distal end portion of a surgical robot arm that secures a navigation array to the robot arm in a plurality of different orientations. The system further includes a navigation system configured to determine a precise location of the distal end portion by measuring a precise location of the navigation array by visually observing the navigation array, receiving a location of the coupling system via one or more encoders in the robot arm, determining the orientation of the navigation array relative to the robot arm based on the visual observation of the navigation array and the received location of the coupling system, and determining the precise location of the distal end portion of the surgical robot arm based on a known spatial relationship between the distal end portion and the coupling system.

Abstract: A trocar assembly can include a cannula, a seal cartridge, and an obturator. The seal cartridge is configured to be releasably coupled to the cannula and to be disposed at least partially within the cannula in a coupled configuration of the seal cartridge. The obturator is configured to directly latch to the cannula and to extends through the cannula and the seal cartridge in a coupled configuration of the obturator.

Abstract: An air cleaner assembly is disclosed, along with related methods. In one aspect, the air cleaner assembly has a housing including a housing body and a removable cover that together define an interior volume for holding a filter cartridge. The housing can include a first part of a first connection arrangement. The air filter cartridge can include a second part of the first connection arrangement. In one aspect, the first and second parts can be secured together place the air filter cartridge in a latched position by moving the air filter cartridge in a first direction. In one aspect, the first and second parts can be disconnected from each other to place the air filter cartridge in an unlatched position by moving the air filter cartridge in the first direction. The air cleaner assembly can include a second connection arrangement securing the air filter cartridge to the housing cover such that the housing body and housing cover are secured together.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for surgical instruments, systems, and methods for preventing skiving of a drilling instrument during a robotic or robot-assisted surgery are disclosed. In one embodiment, a scan of a patient's anatomy can be performed to produce a model of the bone to be drilled into and analysis of the surface can determine if the curvature is such that, if a target trajectory for a bore were followed, skiving of the drilling instrument is likely. If so, an alternate anti-skiving trajectory can be determined. The anti-skiving trajectory of a bore differs from the target trajectory by at least one of entry point, diameter, axis, or depth.

Abstract: An insulating holder is provided for a conventional disposable beverage cup. The insulating holder includes an upward-facing flange that supports the beverage cup at its peripheral bead and without interfering with a disposable lid that may be fitted to the cup by snap fit over the peripheral bead. The insulating holder further includes a retaining mechanism that holds the disposable cup and lid in the holder without interfering with the ability of the user to drink from the cup. The insulating holder further includes means to facilitate insertion of the cup into the holder without requiring the user to hold the cup either by its bead or by the lid.

Abstract: Fibrous filter medium that includes a surface-loading filter layer comprising fine fibers having an average diameter of less than 1 micron; a depth loading filter layer; and a support layer; wherein the layers are configured and arranged for placement in a gas stream with the surface loading filter layer being the most upstream layer.

Abstract: An assembly for holding a beverage cup is provided herein. The assembly may include a cup holder and a retainer. The cup holder may include a closed bottom, a generally cylindrical or frustoconical side wall, and an upper access opening configured to receive the beverage cup. An outer surface of the side wall of the cup holder may include a latch-engagement feature. The retainer may include a retaining ring, a skirt, a latch, and a hinge. The latch is configured to engage the latch-engagement feature.

Abstract: An insulating holder is provided for a conventional disposable beverage cup. The insulating holder includes an upward-facing flange that supports the beverage cup at its peripheral bead and without interfering with a disposable lid that may be fitted to the cup by snap fit over the peripheral bead. The insulating holder further includes a retaining mechanism that holds the disposable cup and lid in the holder without interfering with the ability of the user to drink from the cup. The insulating holder further includes means to facilitate insertion of the cup into the holder without requiring the user to hold the cup either by its bead or by the lid.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe for percutaneous insertion into an incision and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for imaging neural structures at a surgical site of a patient. An exemplary ultrasound probe can be a portable ultrasound probe configured to be passed percutaneously into an incision and can have an imaging region extending distally from a distal tip of the probe. In one embodiment the ultrasound probe can be a navigated portable ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe can be connected to a computing station and configured to transmit images to the computing station for processing. In another embodiment, an ultrasound probe can be part of a network of sensors, including at least one external sensor, where the network of sensors is configured to transmit images to the computing station for processing. The computing station can process and display images to visualize and/or highlight neurological structures in an imaged region.

Abstract: A stand-up wheeled vehicle may include an electrically powered wheel and a deck configured to limit a maximum value of an angle of declination of the deck in a forward direction of travel, for example, to less than about 20 degrees, 15 degrees, 10 degrees, or 8 degrees. The deck may be asymmetric, such that a length of a first portion of the deck between the wheel and a first end of the deck is greater than a length of a second portion of the deck between the wheel and a second end of the deck. The deck may include a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a chassis disposed in the second surface. The chassis may have a cavity formed therein configured to receive a stand-up wheeled vehicle. A coupling mechanism may be utilized to removably retain the stand-up wheeled vehicle in the cavity of the chassis.

Abstract: In examples, a method of operating a surgical device comprises disengaging an obturator from a funnel portion of a cannula; removing a shaft portion of the obturator from a cannula lumen of the cannula; disengaging a seal cartridge from the funnel portion of the cannula; and removing the seal cartridge from the funnel portion after removing the shaft portion of the obturator from the cannula lumen.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe for percutaneous insertion into an incision and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for imaging neural structures at a surgical site of a patient. An exemplary ultrasound probe can be a portable ultrasound probe configured to be passed percutaneously into an incision and can have an imaging region extending distally from a distal tip of the probe. In one embodiment the ultrasound probe can be a navigated portable ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe can be connected to a computing station and configured to transmit images to the computing station for processing. In another embodiment, an ultrasound probe can be part of a network of sensors, including at least one external sensor, where the network of sensors is configured to transmit images to the computing station for processing. The computing station can process and display images to visualize and/or highlight neurological structures in an imaged region.