Abstract: A surgical stapler, a cartridge for a surgical stapler, a cutting mechanism for a surgical stapler, and a method of applying surgical staples in a patient are disclosed herein. The stapler may have an anvil movably coupled to a support jaw between a clamped configuration and a closed configuration. The cartridge may be configured to fit within an envelope diameter and to removably house a plurality of B-form staples, at least one of the plurality of B-form staples having a base length and a leg length, the leg length at least 53% of the envelope diameter. The cartridge may have slots shaped to house at least a second one of the plurality of staples at an angle oblique to the first one of the plurality of staples.

Abstract: A lever assembly for a steering column includes a rotatable lock lever. The lever assembly also includes a bolt operatively coupled to the rotatable lock lever and rotated therewith. The lever assembly further includes a clamp load assembly operatively coupled to the bolt. The clamp load assembly includes an assist cam having a cam profile defined by at least one ramp. The clamp load assembly also includes an assist follower having a follower profile in contact with the cam profile. The clamp load assembly further includes an assist spring disposed between the assist follower and a column structure, the assist spring biasing the assist follower into contact with the assist cam.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a part comprises providing a component for cutting and directing a water jet at the component so as to cut the component. The water jet comprises water and abrasive particles that are crystalline solids formed from organic acid or calcium oxalate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a part comprises providing a component for cutting and directing a water jet at the component so as to cut the component. The water jet comprises water and abrasive particles having a nucleus made from a first substance and a second substance surrounding the nucleus, the first substance being denser than the second substance.

Abstract: A surgical stapler, a cartridge for a surgical stapler, a cutting mechanism for a surgical stapler, and a method of applying surgical staples in a patient are disclosed herein. The stapler may have an anvil movably coupled to a support jaw between a clamped configuration and a closed configuration. The cartridge may be configured to fit within an envelope diameter and to removably house a plurality of B-form staples, at least one of the plurality of B-form staples having a base length and a leg length, the leg length at least 53% of the envelope diameter. The cartridge may have slots shaped to house at least a second one of the plurality of staples at an angle oblique to the first one of the plurality of staples.

Abstract: A cartridge for a surgical stapler has an elongated body having a first side with a tissue clamping interface and a second side. The elongated body is configured to removably house a plurality of B-form staples, at least one of the plurality of B-form staples having a base and a leg. The elongated body has a first slot shaped to receive a translating cutting mechanism, the first slot passing through the first side and the second side. The elongated body has a second slot shaped to house at least a first one of the plurality of staples; and a third slot shaped to house at least a second one of the plurality of staples at an angle oblique to the first one of the plurality of staples.

Abstract: A cartridge for a surgical stapler has an elongated body having a first side with a tissue clamping interface and a second side. The elongated body is configured to removably house a plurality of B-form staples, at least one of the plurality of B-form staples having a base and a leg. The elongated body has a first slot shaped to receive a translating cutting mechanism, the first slot passing through the first side and the second side. The elongated body has a second slot shaped to house at least a first one of the plurality of staples; and a third slot shaped to house at least a second one of the plurality of staples at an angle oblique to the first one of the plurality of staples.

Abstract: A cartridge for a surgical stapler has an elongated body having a first side with a tissue clamping interface and a second side. The elongated body is configured to removably house a plurality of B-form staples, at least one of the plurality of B-form staples having a base and a leg. The elongated body has a first slot shaped to receive a translating cutting mechanism, the first slot passing through the first side and the second side. The elongated body has a second slot shaped to house at least a first one of the plurality of staples; and a third slot shaped to house at least a second one of the plurality of staples at an angle oblique to the first one of the plurality of staples.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations, or modules, in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a specimen sample, incubating the sample at prescribed temperatures for prescribed periods, performing an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next.

Abstract: A surgical stapler, a cartridge for a surgical stapler, a cutting mechanism for a surgical stapler, and a method of applying surgical staples in a patient are disclosed herein. The stapler may have an anvil movably coupled to a support jaw between a clamped configuration and a closed configuration. The cartridge may be configured to fit within an envelope diameter and to removably house a plurality of B-form staples, at least one of the plurality of B-form staples having a base length and a leg length, the leg length at least 53% of the envelope diameter. The cartridge may have slots shaped to house at least a second one of the plurality of staples at an angle oblique to the first one of the plurality of staples.

Abstract: Disclosed are moisturizing fabric materials for use in articles of wear such as bras. The moisturizing fabric materials include a moisturizer comprising plant oil, plant extract, and an emulsifier. The moisturizer is bonded to polymeric fabric material via a bonding agent to provide the moisturizing fabric material. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing an article of wear such as a bra using moisturizing fabric material.

Abstract: An improved flavoring composition and process for brewing malt beverages is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the flavoring composition is formed from a high solids percent, room temperature stable, partially aqueous composition of a potassium salt of iso-?-acids. Such composition may be added to the wort kettle or else used as a post-fermentation additive, preferably after dilution with demineralized water. In another embodiment, the flavoring composition comprises a mixture containing reduced (rho-) iso-?-acids in alkali metal salts form, ?-acids and hop oil. This latter composition is useful as a substitute for normal kettle extract, hops or hop pellets, allowing easy preparation of beer that resists formation of unpleasant, “skunky” flavors but has otherwise similar flavor and physical properties.

Abstract: A loop filter for a phase locked loop (PLL) having fast tuning capability while limiting phase noise. The filter includes a fine tune input port to receive a fine tune signal from the phase detector and a coarse tune input port to receive a coarse tune signal from the coarse tuner. The external coarse tuner provides the majority of the voltage slew on the loop filter while a fine tune control, thus reducing tune time. In one embodiment, the loop filter includes a voltage divider to limit the effective tuning sensitivity and thus control noise induced on a voltage-controlled oscillator from the loop filter. An elliptical filter may be employed to attenuate fractional spurs within the filter output signal.

Abstract: An automated method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in a sample, where the method is performed within a housing of a self-contained, stand-alone analyzer. The method includes purifying the nucleic acid after it has been immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support. A pipette of the analyzer is used to form a reaction mixture comprising the purified nucleic acid and all reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification. Amplification products are synthesized that include a nucleotide sequence contained in the nucleic acid or the complement of the nucleic acid. The amplification products are exposed to a probe in a mixture, where the probe forms a hybrid with one of the amplification products. The formation of the hybrid in the mixture provides an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in the sample.

Abstract: An automated method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in a sample, where the method is performed within a housing of a self-contained, stand-alone analyzer. The method includes purifying the nucleic acid after it has been immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support. A pipette of the analyzer is used to form a reaction mixture comprising the purified nucleic acid and all reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification. Amplification products are synthesized that include a nucleotide sequence contained in the nucleic acid or the complement of the nucleic acid. The amplification products are exposed to a probe in a mixture, where the probe forms a hybrid with one of the amplification products. The formation of the hybrid in the mixture provides an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in the sample.

Abstract: A process for the direct hydrogenation of hop resin acids in the absence of a liquid, organic solvent by reacting the hop resin acids with hydrogen in the presence of a noble metal catalyst at a temperature at which the resin acids are sufficiently fluid to allow easy mixing with the catalyst and suitably facilitate the hydrogenation reaction. Alternatively, the necessary fluidity may be achieved at relatively low temperature by subjecting the reactants to a high pressure of CO2 gas such that the quantity of this gas that dissolves into the resin is sufficient to substantially reduce its viscosity, the pressure of the CO2 gas being either less than the liquefaction pressure at temperatures below the critical temperature or less than that which would cause the density to exceed that at the critical point for temperatures above the critical temperature.

Abstract: A loop filter for a phase locked loop (PLL) having fast tuning capability while limiting phase noise. The filter includes a fine tune input port to receive a fine tune signal from the phase detector and a coarse tune input port to receive a coarse tune signal from the coarse tuner. The external coarse tuner provides the majority of the voltage slew on the loop filter while a fine tune control, thus reducing tune time. in one embodiment, the loop filter includes a voltage divider to limit the effective tuning sensitivity and thus control noise induced on a voltage-controlled oscillator from the loop filter. An elliptical filter may be employed to attenuate fractional spurs within the filter output signal.

Abstract: A method of balancing a quadrature modulator includes exciting an in-phase input of the quadrature module and sweeping a phase of an injection signal through a range of degrees, and determining a plurality of in-phase DC components. The method further includes exciting a quadrature input of the quadrature module and sweeping a phase of the injection signal through the range of degrees, and determining a plurality of quadrature DC components. An in-phase sinusoidal equivalent of the plurality of in-phase DC components and a quadrature sinusoidal equivalent of the plurality of quadrature DC components may be determined. At least one correction factor that balances the quadrature modulator may be determined based on a comparison between the in-phase sinusoidal equivalent and the quadrature sinusoidal equivalent.

Abstract: An automated method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in a sample, where the method is performed within a housing of a self-contained, stand-alone analyzer. The method includes purifying the nucleic acid after it has been immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support. A pipette of the analyzer is used to form a reaction mixture comprising the purified nucleic acid and all reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification. Amplification products are synthesized that include a nucleotide sequence contained in the nucleic acid or the complement of the nucleic acid. The amplification products are exposed to a probe in a mixture, where the probe forms a hybrid with one of the amplification products. The formation of the hybrid in the mixture provides an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in the sample.

Abstract: An automated method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in a sample, where the method is performed within a housing of a self-contained, stand-alone analyzer. The method includes purifying the nucleic acid after it has been immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support. A pipette of the analyzer is used to form a reaction mixture comprising the purified nucleic acid and all reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification. Amplification products are synthesized that include a nucleotide sequence contained in the nucleic acid or the complement of the nucleic acid. The amplification products are exposed to a probe in a mixture, where the probe forms a hybrid with one of the amplification products. The formation of the hybrid in the mixture provides an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in the sample.