Abstract: A deck mount system and method is provided that can be installed and relocated easily without damaging the deck. The deck mount system comprises a top bracket with a top bracket plate and top bracket sides for flanking a deck member, a bottom bracket including a bottom bracket plate and bottom bracket sides for overlapping the top bracket sides, and at least one fastener to reversibly attach the top bracket to the bottom bracket for securing the deck mount system to the deck member. The method for attaching the deck mount system comprises placing a deck mount top bracket over a deck member, placing a deck mount bottom bracket under the deck member, and attaching the top bracket to the bottom bracket using at least one fastener, thereby reversibly fixing the top bracket to the bottom bracket around the deck member.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a balloon of a balloon catheter at a prescribed pressure of between about 0.2 psi and 1 psi comprises the step of: generating a vacuum within a reservoir defined in a burette that is part of a fluid management system that is configured to controllably inflating and deflating the balloon by circulating balloon fill media along a fluid circuit, wherein generating the vacuum results in formation of a pressure differential along the fluid circuit, thereby allowing the balloon to be maintained at the prescribed pressure between about 0.2 psi and about 1 psi.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for using a neural network to estimate scatter in X-ray projection images and then correct for the X-ray scatter. For example, the neural network is a three-dimensional convolutional neural network 3D-CNN to which are applied projection images, at a given view, for respective energy bins and/or material components. The projection images can be obtained by material decomposing spectral projection data, or by segmenting a reconstructed CT image into material-component images, which are then forward projected to generate energy-resolved material-component projections. The result generated by the 3D-CNN is an estimated scatter flux. To train the 3D-CNN, the target scatter flux in the training data can be simulated using a radiative transfer equation method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fill media in a balloon catheter are disclosed. The system comprises a catheter having an inflatable balloon, a reservoir for fill media, and a first conduit for delivering fill media from the reservoir to the balloon. The system includes a second conduit for returning fill media from the balloon to the reservoir and a pump configured to circulate fill media through the conduits. The system also includes a valve assembly configured for placement in at least three positions. In the first position, fill media is delivered from the reservoir to the balloon to inflate the balloon. In the second position, fill media is drawn out of the balloon and returned to the reservoir. In the third position, fill media circulates through the conduits between the pump and the balloon and is prevented from flowing back to the reservoir.

Abstract: An orthosis is fitted to a body joint, in a preferred embodiment the equine fetlock, by locating the center of rotation (COR) of the joint; measuring the bones comprising the joint at points located with respect to the COR; selecting the appropriate orthosis from a selection of models thereof; and custom-fitting the orthosis to the individual by heating it to soften a layer of thermoformable foam on the interior of the orthosis, and clamping the orthosis in place over the body joint. A kit of tools for performing the measurements is disclosed, as are a method for location of the COR of the body joint by palpation and a preferred heater.

Abstract: A security platform running on a server includes (a) protocol stacks each configured to receive and to transmit IP data packets over a network interface, wherein the protocol stacks have predetermined performance characteristics that are different from each other and wherein each protocol stack includes one or more program interfaces to allow changes to its performance characteristics; (b) application programs each configured to receive and transmit payloads of the IP data packets, wherein at least two of the application programs are customized to handle different content types in the payloads and wherein each application program accesses the program interface of at least one protocol stack to tune performance characteristics of the protocol stack; (c) classifiers configured to inspect at a given time IP data packets then received in the network interface to select one of the protocol stack and one of the application programs to service the data packets; and (d) a control program to load and run the selected

Abstract: An end effector for stapling and cutting an anatomical structure includes an anvil, a cartridge, and a blade. The anvil has an anvil face and a plurality of staple pockets positioned on the anvil face. The cartridge has a cartridge face defining a cartridge blade channel, the cartridge being configured to retain a plurality of staples. Each of the plurality of staples comprises a first staple leg, a second staple leg, and a crown connecting the first and second staple legs and having a midpoint. Each of the plurality of staples comprises an open staple configuration and a closed staple configuration where a first portion of the first staple leg and a second portion of the second staple leg are bent relative to the crown such that the first portion of the first staple leg and the second portion of the second staple leg cross the midpoint of the crown.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for packaging and distributing a marine energy storage system. Battery packs including one or more battery cells and a compliant layer enclosed in a sealed housing are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs structurally integrated are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs mounted to an inner surface of an outer hull are disclosed. Vessel hulls including compartments for inserting battery packs are disclosed. Vessel hulls including battery packs mounted in a ballast of the hull are disclosed.

Abstract: A request from a client device is received at a first one of a plurality of compute nodes at a first one of a plurality of data centers of a distributed cloud computing network. A destination of the request is determined. An optimized route for transmitting the request toward an origin server that corresponds with the destination of the request is determined, where the optimized route is based on at least in part on probe data between data centers of the distributed cloud computing network for a plurality of transit connections, and where the optimized route has an IP address that encodes an identification of which of the plurality of transit connections is to be used to deliver the request. The request is transmitted to a next hop as defined by the optimized route over the identified one of the plurality of transit connections.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. In one example, a method for mobile vehicle integration with a home automation system is described, the method including detecting, at the home automation system, an event associated with a mobile vehicle integrated with the home automation system. The method also includes performing, by the home automation system, an action related to the detected event.

Abstract: An orthosis is fitted to a body joint, in a preferred embodiment the equine fetlock, by locating the center of rotation (COR) of the joint; measuring the bones comprising the joint at points located with respect to the COR; selecting the appropriate orthosis from a selection of models thereof; and custom-fitting the orthosis to the individual by heating it to soften a layer of thermoformable foam on the interior of the orthosis and clamping the orthosis in place over the body joint. A kit of tools for performing the measurements is disclosed, as are a method for location of the COR of the body joint by palpation and a preferred heater.

Abstract: X-ray scatter simulations to correct computed tomography (CT) data can be accelerated using a non-uniform discretization of the RTE, reducing the number of computations without sacrificing precision. For example, a coarser discretization can be used for higher-order/multiple-scatter flux, than for first-order-scatter flux. Similarly, precision is preserved when coarser angular resolution is used to simulate scatter within a patient, and finer angular resolution used for the scatter flux incident on detectors. Finer energy resolution is more beneficial at lower X-ray energies, and coarser spatial resolution can be applied to regions exhibiting less X-ray scatter (e.g., air and regions with low radiodensity). Further, predefined non-uniform discretization can be learned from scatter simulations on training data (e.g., a priori compressed grids learned from non-uniform grids generated by adaptive mesh methods).

Abstract: A method for maintaining a balloon of a balloon catheter at a prescribed pressure of between about 0.2 psi and 1 psi comprises the step of: generating a vacuum within a reservoir defined in a burette that is part of a fluid management system that is configured to controllably inflating and deflating the balloon by circulating balloon fill media along a fluid circuit, wherein generating the vacuum results in formation of a pressure differential along the fluid circuit, thereby allowing the balloon to be maintained at the prescribed pressure between about 0.2 psi and about 1 psi.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing honeycomb-structure-forming extrusion dies having a number of slots for use in producing extruded articles having complex honeycomb patterns and extrusion dies for use in the manufacture of extruded honeycomb bodies. The method includes inserting a die insert having a runner and a number of teeth into a slot of an extrusion die such that each of the teeth blocks at least a portion of the slot of the extrusion die. The method further includes separating the runner from the teeth so that the teeth remain within the slot of the extrusion die.

Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of hydraulic effectors operably connected to an engine to control engine parameters. The system also includes a plurality of sensors operably connected to measure a state or parameter of each effector, a pump configured to supply fluid to the plurality of effectors, and a controller operably connected to the plurality of sensors, the plurality of effectors, and the pump. The controller executes a method for an adaptive model-based control for controlling each effector, The method includes receiving a request indicative of a desired state for each effector, receiving a weighting associated each request, obtaining information about a current state of each effector, and updating an adaptive model based control (MBC) based upon the information. The method also includes generating a control command for an effector based upon the adaptive MBC and commanding the effector based upon the control command.

Abstract: An arrival time propagation method and system for statistical circuit analysis that uses a conjugation operation and a negation operation to determine and adjust arrival times in a circuit model and to determine path ordering in a circuit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a medical device comprising an actuator restraining assembly configured to assist in restraining a catheter shaft in a deflected configuration. The actuator restraining assembly may include a brake element, a release element, a connecting sheath, and a connecting rod disposed in a catheter handle, wherein the connecting sheath and connecting rod are attached to an actuator mechanism, and wherein the at brake element is attached to the connecting sheath and the release element is attached to the connecting rod. The brake element is sized and configured to contact an inner wall of the handle to thereby provide resistance to movement of actuator mechanism in a proximal direction with respect to the handle. In one embodiment, the actuator restraining assembly is configured to allow for temporary, i.e., reversible, restraining of the catheter shaft in the deflected configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for using a neural network to estimate scatter in X-ray projection images and then correct for the X-ray scatter. For example, the neural network is a three-dimensional convolutional neural network 3D-CNN to which are applied projection images, at a given view, for respective energy bins and/or material components. The projection images can be obtained by material decomposing spectral projection data, or by segmenting a reconstructed CT image into material-component images, which are then forward projected to generate energy-resolved material-component projections. The result generated by the 3D-CNN is an estimated scatter flux. To train the 3D-CNN, the target scatter flux in the training data can be simulated using a radiative transfer equation method.

Abstract: An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw has a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, and an anvil, which has an anvil face positionable on a first side of the anatomical structure. The second jaw has a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, and a cartridge, which has a cartridge face positionable on a second side of the anatomical structure. The end effector includes a first coupling that couples the first end of the first jaw to the first end of the second jaw; and a second coupling that movably couples the second end of the first jaw to the second end of the second jaw and includes a rigid link connected to the first jaw and the second jaw.

Abstract: An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a surgical procedure includes an anvil and a cartridge. The anvil has an anvil face and a first staple pocket defined by the anvil face, where the first staple pocket comprises a first cup and a second cup for staple formation. The cartridge has a first staple, the first staple having a first open leg with a first tip, a second open leg with a second tip, and a first crown coupling the first open leg and the second open leg, and a first driver. The first staple, once deployed by the first driver and deformed by the first staple pocket, comprises the first tip and the second tip crossing the first midline axis of the first crown in a formed configuration.