Abstract: Implantable devices for fixation of curved bone such as the pelvic ring pubic symphysis and acetabulum, and methods for the use of the devices are disclosed. The implantable devices are convertible between a flexible state and a rigid state, and include an elongate structure having a proximal bone interface, a main body, and a distal bone interface. In a flexible state, the devices may be inserted along, and conform to a curved pathway, and in the rigid state, the devices may support the mechanical loads required to fixate a fracture.

Abstract: A system for magnetic field direction detection when placing a catheter is disclosed, including a sensor configured to track a medical device, the sensor including a magnetic sensor printed circuit board including a plurality of magnetometers arranged in a magnetometer array. The system can include a console coupled to the sensor, including a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored a plurality of logic modules that when executed by the processor, are configured to perform operations including receiving detected magnetic field strength values detected by the plurality of magnetometers, determining a position on the sensor of each of the plurality of magnetometers, determining the magnetic field source direction based on the detected magnetic field strength values and the position on the sensor of each of the plurality of magnetometers, and displaying the magnetic field source direction on the display.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods including an electromechanical brake used downhole to impart dynamic or static braking capabilities while absorbing or otherwise reducing shock loads. The electromechanical brake may be used for a downhole electromechanical linear actuator to control a valve for the production of subterranean fluid. In some examples, it may be desirable for an electromechanical linear actuator to maintain a retracted position during certain safety and/or maintenance operations. The electromechanical brake includes a brake housing, a first armature rotatably disposed in the brake housing, a second armature rotatably disposed in the brake housing for rotation by a motor, an electrical coil energizable to urge the second armature into axial engagement with the first armature, and a rotational spring for biasing the first armature to a neutral rotational position relative to the brake housing while allowing a limited rotation of the first armature relative to the brake housing.

Abstract: A handheld imaging device has a data receiver that is configured to receive reference encoded image data. The data includes reference code values, which are encoded by an external coding system. The reference code values represent reference gray levels, which are being selected using a reference grayscale display function that is based on perceptual non-linearity of human vision adapted at different light levels to spatial frequencies. The imaging device also has a data converter that is configured to access a code mapping between the reference code values and device-specific code values of the imaging device. The device-specific code values are configured to produce gray levels that are specific to the imaging device. Based on the code mapping, the data converter is configured to transcode the reference encoded image data into device-specific image data, which is encoded with the device-specific code values.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums which provide for an agent support application with a plurality of plug-in communication support assistants. Each of the plurality of plug-in communication support assistants monitors communications between the agents and customers for different conversational triggers. Conversational triggers may be any conversation, either by the agent or the customer, that the communication support assistant is trained to detect. Upon detecting one of these conversational triggers, the plug-in communication support assistant provides one or more suggestions to the agent.

Abstract: A medical system includes a vascular device operatively coupled with a system module. The vascular device includes a pressure measurement capability as the distal end thereof. Logic of the system module acquires and pressure measurements during downstream advancement of the vascular device along a venous vasculature. The logic determines that the distal end of the vascular device is advanced to a defined location, such as the cavoatrial junction, for example, based on a minimum average pressure and/or maximum pressure variation. The vascular device may include a pressure sensor located at the distal end. The pressure sensor may include fiber optic Bragg grating of an optical fiber extending along the vascular device. The vascular device may be central catheter.

Abstract: Ultraviolet light disinfection systems expose medical devices, surfaces, patients and healthcare clinicians to UV light having wavelengths consist with killing microorganisms. UV light systems may use logic to govern the operation of UV light sources so as to apply a disinfecting dose of the UV light. UV detectors measure UV light exposure. Enclosures contain medical devices and flood the medical devices with the UV light. Some enclosures accommodate a person. Some UV systems project UV light onto high-touch surfaces of a healthcare environment. Some systems may be deployed within a patient transport vehicle. Some UV systems may be incorporated into medical devices.

Abstract: A disinfection system can include a console and an operably connected disinfection unit. The console can have electronic circuitry including memory with executable instructions configured to cause the console to perform various processes when executed by one or more processors of the console. The various processes can include characterizing with medical-device characterization logic characteristics of at least an elongate portion of a medical device for establishing or maintaining vascular access in a patient. The various processes can also include determining with disinfection logic a disinfection profile for disinfecting at least the elongate portion of the medical device with ultraviolet (“UV”) light. The disinfection unit can include a disinfection compartment suitably sized to enclose the medical device therein.

Abstract: A system and method for disinfecting medical devices includes a covering for a medical cart that exposes medical devices disposed on the cart to a disinfecting ultraviolet light. The covering includes a light emitting system that includes a number of UV light sources, such as LEDs, configured to define an ultraviolet light environment beneath the covering. The light emitting system may include one or more light pipes and/or optical fibers. systems and methods. An opaque layer of the covering contains the ultraviolet light environment beneath the covering. Portions of the light emitting system suspend from the covering so as to emit UV light between adjacent medical devices on the cart.

Abstract: A method of cleaning (e.g., selectively removing an oxide from) a surface of a substrate is disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing one or more of a haloalkylamine and a halogenated sulfur compound to a reaction chamber to selectively remove the silicon oxide from the surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system and methods for monitoring a medical process. The system can include a plurality of electrodes coupled with a medical device, and a monitoring module electrically coupled with the plurality of electrodes, the module including logic stored in memory that, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of operations including transmitting an electrical signal between a first electrode and a second electrode, determining an electrical impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and providing a notification to the operator when the determined electrical impedance is outside a predefined impedance range. The system can include logic stored in memory that, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of operations including transmitting an electrical signal between a first distal electrode and a second proximal electrode and determining an electrical impedance between the electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are impedance-determining medical systems. An impedance-determining medical system can include an impedance interrogator and an impedance-sensing medical device. The impedance interrogator can include instructions configured to instantiate one or more processes in random-access memory upon processing by one or more processors that determine impedance from electrical signals corresponding to electrical currents passed through a biological or non-biological material. The impedance-sensing medical device can include two or more longitudinal conductors distributed among one or more pieces of the impedance-sensing medical device and separated by one or more longitudinal insulators. The two-or-more conductors can be configured to emit, detect, or alternately emit and detect via two or more electrodes thereof the electrical currents passed through the biological or non-biological material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are magnetically trackable stylets and methods thereof. A magnetically trackable stylet can include a stylet body including a core wire, a magnetic assembly, and an outer construction over the core wire and the magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly can include one or more magnetic field-producing elements disposed alongside the core wire in a magnetically trackable distal portion of the stylet body. The outer construction, which can be an overmolded layer, a reflowed layer, a potting layer, or a shrink-wrapped layer, can be around the core wire and the magnetic assembly. The stylet body can be configured to be disposed in a lumen of a medical device such as a catheter for magnetically tracking a tip of the medical device in vivo without breakage of the stylet body due to bending-related fatigue. A method of such a magnetically trackable stylet can include a method of using the stylet.

Abstract: A susceptor has a circular pocket portion, an annular ledge portion, and an annular rim ledge portion. The circular pocket portion is arranged along a rotation axis and has a perforated surface. The annular ledge portion extends circumferentially about pocket portion and has ledge surface that slopes axially upward from the perforated surface. The rim portion extends circumferentially about the ledge portion and is connected to the pocket portion by the ledge portion of the susceptor. The susceptor has one or more of a tuned pocket, a contact break, a precursor vent, and a purge channel located radially outward of the perforated surface to control deposition of a film onto a substrate supported by the susceptor. Semiconductor processing systems, film deposition methods, and methods of making susceptors are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for ultrasound-and-bioimpedance-based guidance of medical devices. A system can include an ultrasound probe, a needle, a console, and a display screen. The ultrasound probe is configured to emit ultrasound pulses and receive reflected ultrasound pulses reflected back through one or more tissues for producing ultrasound images. The needle can be configured to emit, detect, or alternately emit and detect electrical currents passed through the one-or-more tissues disposed between a pair or more of system electrodes for measuring bioimpedance. The console can be configured to instantiate one or more console processes for the ultrasound-and-bioimpedance-based guidance with the ultrasound probe and the needle.

Abstract: A system for magnetic field direction detection when placing a catheter is disclosed, including a sensor configured to track a medical device, the sensor including a magnetic sensor printed circuit board including a plurality of magnetometers arranged in a magnetometer array. The system can include a console coupled to the sensor, including a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored a plurality of logic modules that when executed by the processor, are configured to perform operations including receiving detected magnetic field strength values detected by the plurality of magnetometers, determining a position on the sensor of each of the plurality of magnetometers, determining the magnetic field source direction based on the detected magnetic field strength values and the position on the sensor of each of the plurality of magnetometers, and displaying the magnetic field source direction on the display.

Abstract: A food condiment slice, method of using, composition and method for making, and methods for manufacturing are described. The food condiment slices are used with sandwiches, other food products, and beverages. The food condiment slices may have different structures such as face-fused, side-fused, face-fused-side-fused, woven, and chopped. The food condiment slices are formed from condiments such as catsup, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, steak sauce, jellies, jam, preserves, butter, margarine, marinades, creamers, and syrups. More than one food condiment can be integrated into a single food condiment slice. The food condiment slices eliminate the need and inconvenience of using and carrying spreadable, squeezable, and pourable food condiments. Also included are beverage condiment slices or discs such as coffee or tea dairy and non-dairy creamers.

Abstract: An intraosseous access system to access a medullary cavity includes a driver including an access assembly, a motor, and an energy source. The intraosseous access system further includes a sensor configured to detect a first input from one of the motor or the energy source. The intraosseous access system further including a processing unit, communicatively coupled with the sensor, configured to receive the first input from the sensor, and determine access to a medullary cavity. The processing unit can then modify operation of one of the motor and the energy source to automatically stop operation of the system and prevent backwalling.

Abstract: Syringes and methods of using are described which protect materials within the syringe barrel cavity from contaminants and photo-chemical degradation. A syringe is provided having an inspection window for viewing medications or other materials within the cavity of a syringe barrel. The inspection window is located within a housing that is formed in the wall of the syringe barrel. Optionally, the syringe is provided with a contaminant shield for preventing contaminant entry by way of the rear terminal opening of the syringe barrel. The syringe barrel and other syringe components may be clear, colored, opaque, darkened, amber, or tinted; and/or the syringe barrel may have applied thereto light polarizing filters; or materials having light polarizing properties can be used to manufacture the syringe barrel and other components of the syringe.

Abstract: To effectively implement ILM policies and account for unreliability in a geographically distributed large-scale storage system, “scanners” and “ILM rules appliers” can be deployed on nodes throughout the storage system for large scale ILM implementation. Each scanner is programmed to deterministically self-assign a region of object namespace and scan that region of object namespace. To “scan” a region, a scanner accesses metadata of each object that has an identifier within the scanner's region and inserts the object metadata into one of a set of queues for ILM evaluation. An ILM rules applier dequeues object metadata for evaluation against ILM rules and determines whether an ILM task is to be performed for ILM rule compliance.