Abstract: Bi-directional trench power switches. At least one example is a semiconductor device comprising: an upper base region associated with a first side of a substrate of semiconductor material; an upper-CE trench defined on the first side, the upper-CE trench defines a proximal opening at the first side and a distal end within the substrate; an upper collector-emitter region disposed at the distal end of the upper-CE trench; a lower base region associated with a second side of substrate; and a lower collector-emitter region associated with the second side.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly including a jaw assembly and an impedance assembly. The jaw assembly includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The tool assembly supports an impedance assembly for measuring the impedance of tissue grasped within the jaw assembly.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes an end effector and a handle assembly operably coupled to the end effector. The end effector includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The surgical stapling device also includes a specimen bag adhered to both the anvil assembly and the elongated support channel of the cartridge assembly. The specimen bag includes a drawstring within a drawstring housing. Once the surgical stapling device is inserted into a patient's body and the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly are open, a tissue specimen is placed into the specimen bag. The anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly are then closed on the tissue specimen and the surgical stapling device is fired. The specimen bag then separates from the surgical stapling device and both the surgical stapling device and the specimen bag are removed from the patient.

Abstract: A staple cartridge is adapted to enhance cell migration towards a wound site when staples are placed in tissue. In order to enhance cell migration, the staple cartridge is adapted to create an electrical potential within the tissue in the area of a wound or cut line. In embodiments, the electrical potential is created within the tissue by using staples in spaced rows formed of dissimilar metals having different anodic indexes to create a voltage gradient in the tissue to enhance cell migration toward the cut line.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly including a jaw assembly and an impedance assembly. The jaw assembly includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The tool assembly supports an impedance assembly for measuring the impedance of tissue grasped within the jaw assembly.

Abstract: A staple cartridge is adapted to enhance cell migration towards a wound site when staples are placed in tissue. In order to enhance cell migration, the staple cartridge is adapted to create an electrical potential within the tissue in the area of a wound or cut line. In embodiments, the electrical potential is created within the tissue by using staples in spaced rows formed of dissimilar metals having different anodic indexes to create a voltage gradient in the tissue to enhance cell migration toward the cut line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of confectionery production, particularly to the use of a modular, flexible process and the use thereof in combination with the confectionery cooling step of the present invention.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes an end effector and a handle assembly operably coupled to the end effector. The end effector includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The surgical stapling device also includes a specimen bag adhered to both the anvil assembly and the elongated support channel of the cartridge assembly. The specimen bag includes a drawstring within a drawstring housing. Once the surgical stapling device is inserted into a patient's body and the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly are open, a tissue specimen is placed into the specimen bag. The anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly are then closed on the tissue specimen and the surgical stapling device is fired. The specimen bag then separates from the surgical stapling device and both the surgical stapling device and the specimen bag are removed from the patient.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a handle assembly having a controller; a first motor; and a second motor. The surgical device also includes an adapter assembly having: a tubular housing defining a longitudinal axis having a proximal end portion configured to couple to the handle assembly, and a distal end portion; a first actuation assembly disposed within the tubular housing and coupled to the first motor; and a second actuation assembly disposed within the tubular housing and coupled to the second motor. The surgical device further includes an end effector configured to couple to the distal end portion of the adapter assembly. The end effector is coupled to the first actuation assembly that articulates the end effector about an articulation axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The end effector also includes a flexible drive beam coupled to the second actuation assembly and movable axially by the second actuation assembly.

Abstract: A transmission position sensor body assembly configured to be securely attached to a transmission housing includes a sensor body housing, a cap member and compression limiters. The sensor body housing has a central rim and a pair of outer receiving lobes that define a corresponding pair of bores. The cap member has a central body portion including integrally formed outer ears extending therefrom. The cam member is coupled to the sensor body. The compression limiters are coupled to the cap member at the respective outer ears and that extend through the bores of the sensor body housing. Fasteners are received through respective compression limiters. Clamping forces are transferred onto the cap member during the tightening of the fasteners to the transmission housing without acting on the sensor body housing.

Abstract: A transmission position sensor body assembly configured to be securely attached to a transmission housing includes a sensor body housing, a cap member and compression limiters. The sensor body housing has a central rim and a pair of outer receiving lobes that define a corresponding pair of bores. The cap member has a central body portion including integrally formed outer ears extending therefrom. The cam member is coupled to the sensor body. The compression limiters are coupled to the cap member at the respective outer ears and that extend through the bores of the sensor body housing. Fasteners are received through respective compression limiters. Clamping forces are transferred onto the cap member during the tightening of the fasteners to the transmission housing without acting on the sensor body housing.

Abstract: A portable seat assembly for safely securing an occupant such as a child within a vehicle is provided. The portable seat assembly readily converts between an expanded state and a collapsed state. In the expanded state, the portable seat assembly can secure the occupant in the vehicle. In the collapsed state, the portable seat assembly is readily carried and/or stowed by a user.

Abstract: Flour-based cookies having any standard commercial cookie formulation which includes at least the presence of flour, sugar, and fat, as well as any other cookie ingredients as required, are prepared so that the fat constituent of the commercial cookie formulation comprises a cookie-compatible lipid which has been combined with 0.2% to 7.0% of an organically derived phospholipid, based on the weight of fat solids of the cookie-compatible lipid. The fat constituent is thoroughly mixed with the sugar constituent of said commercial cookie formulation prior to the mixture of the fat constituent and the sugar constituent being added to all other cookie ingredients of the specific commercial cookie formulation.

Abstract: A vehicle communication and control system is provided that may be more readily installed in a vehicle and that utilizes minimal additional wiring. According to some of the disclosed embodiments, the electrical components of the “brick” of a communication and control system are integrated into a rearview mirror assembly. Preferably, the microwave antenna for the GPS and the cellular telephone antenna are also integrated into the rearview mirror assembly. Various functions and features of the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A control system for one or more electrochromic elements used in an outside electrochromic (OEC) mirror used in automobiles or other vehicular applications, to control the glare of both IEC elements used as a rearview mirror (20) as well as the OEC elements (24, 26) used as sideview mirrors (24, 26). An ambient light senor (129) and glare sensor (133) operate to determine a glare level used to control both IEC and OEC electrochromic elements. The drive circuits for the OEC's elements may be controlled so as to account for various factors such as tinted glass characteristics in the vehicle.

Abstract: A microphone includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides. The microphone transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which with the circuit produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone can be employed in a vehicle accessory.

Abstract: A healthcare decision support system simulates effects of a change in a number of patients. A repository includes patient specific clinical and non-clinical data, comprising multiple medical record attributes of multiple patients. A simulation processor receives data representing multiple factors for adjusting a value representing number of patients in corresponding multiple associated subsets of the multiple patients. An individual subset comprises patients having a particular medical record attribute of a particular type. A calculation processor identifies patients common to different particular subsets, and calculates a change in a value representing number of patients common to the different particular subsets by calculating a product of factors associated with the different particular subsets.

Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.

Abstract: A vehicle communication and control system is provided that may be more readily installed in a vehicle and that utilizes minimal additional wiring. According to some of the disclosed embodiments, the electrical components of the “brick” of a communication and control system are integrated into a rearview mirror assembly. Preferably, the microwave antenna for the GPS and the cellular telephone antenna are also integrated into the rearview mirror assembly. Various functions and features of the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A control system for a plurality of electrochromic elements, for example, used in automobiles, to control the glare of the IEC elements used as a rearview mirror (20) as well as the OEC elements (24, 26) used as sideview mirrors (24, 26). The drive circuits for the OEC's elements may be customized to account for various factors such as the type of curvature as well as the size, vehicle glass characteristics, such as tinting, operating temperature and shape.