Abstract: An apparatus for operating on tissue includes a body, a shaft, an ultrasonic blade, and an acoustic assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body. The blade is disposed at the distal end of the shaft. The acoustic assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide coupled with the blade, a piezoelectric transducer element, a fastener, and a coupling member. The transducer element defines an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface. The fastener is configured to secure the transducer element relative to the waveguide. The coupling member is configured to provide electrical continuity between the fastener and the inner diameter surface of the transducer element. The outer diameter surface of the transducer element includes an annular recess. Another coupling member is configured to provide electrical continuity between the annular recess of the piezoelectric transducer element and a power source while permitting the piezoelectric transducer element to rotate relative to the body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. One or both of the shaft assembly or the pivoting member comprise a guide feature. The guide feature is configured to provide lateral alignment of the distal portion of the pivoting member with the blade as the pivoting member is pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, and an end effector. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The clamp arm is configured to pivot toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The shaft assembly comprises an inner tube configured to longitudinally translate to thereby pivot the clamp arm toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. A distal portion of the inner tube is operable to flex to thereby accommodate pivoting of the clamp arm.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector. The shaft extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an active feature configured to operate on tissue. The body includes a drive feature operable to drive the active feature of the end effector. The body is operable to selectively couple with a variety of power sources such that the drive feature may receive electrical power form a battery or from a corded power source, based on a user's preference. The body may include a handpiece that has a socket configured to receive a battery or cable adapter. The body may removably receive various kinds of shaft assemblies to provide various operating modalities. The shaft assemblies may include user interface features.

Abstract: Disclosed are ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices. The disclosed embodiments include ultrasonic blades comprising various grasping features, devices configured to prevent ingress of surgical matter, e.g., fluid and tissue, in the space between an ultrasonic blade and an inner or outer tube distal of the distal seal, alternate closure mechanisms for ultrasonic devices, ultrasonic transducer rotation limiters to limit the rotation of an ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic transducer rotation systems to provide unlimited continuous rotation of an ultrasonic device, integrated ultrasonic instrument electrically connected to provide RF spot coagulation with an ultrasonic (RF) generator, and coated ultrasonic/RF blades.

Abstract: Augmenting service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) governance maturity including receiving an evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA; identifying, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance capability, one or more predefined risks to the SOA; establishing, for each governance capability in dependence upon the predefined risks to the SOA, a risk value representing the severity of the predefined risks; selecting, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA and the predefined risk value, one or more governance work products; and communicating to predetermined stakeholders in the SOA the one or more predefined risks to the SOA identified for each governance capability, the risk value established for each governance capability, and the governance work products selected for each governance capability.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to surgical instruments for use in handheld applications or with robotic surgical systems. The surgical instruments may comprise an end effector to treat tissue and a shaft extending proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. Some embodiments may be usable with an instrument mounting portion of a robotic surgical instrument. For example, the shaft may extend proximally to the instrument mounting portion.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an end effector, a body assembly, a power source, and a control module. The end effector is operable for use in a surgical procedure and can deliver energy to a surgical site. The end effector comprises at least one sensor. The sensor is able to measure at least one physical characteristic associated with the surgical site. The body assembly is in communication with the end effector. The power source is in communication with the body assembly and is operable to deliver power to the end effector. The control module is in communication with the sensor and is operable to change delivery of power to the end effector based on data from the sensor indicating a change in tissue density.

Abstract: A display device coupled with one or more electronic visual displays to present media content positioned in a vehicle for external viewing utilizing a transceiver communications element to deliver and receive information through communications networks while traveling in a vehicle. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Bowel retractor devices. In various forms, the bowel retractor devices are configurable from a collapsed position wherein the retractor may be inserted through a trocar cannula or other opening in a patient's body to a second expanded position wherein at least a portion of the patient's bowel may be advantageously supported in a desired position.

Abstract: Modular surgical instruments are disclosed. In various embodiments, a modular surgical instrument t is disclosed for use with a plurality of interchangeable surgical tool heads that are configured to perform different surgical actions. The instrument is configured to apply a plurality of different rotary drive motions and axial drive motions depending upon the type of surgical tool head attached thereto.

Abstract: Augmenting service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) governance maturity including receiving an evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA; identifying, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance capability, one or more predefined risks to the SOA; establishing, for each governance capability in dependence upon the predefined risks to the SOA, a risk value representing the severity of the predefined risks; selecting, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA and the predefined risk value, one or more governance work products; and communicating to predetermined stakeholders in the SOA the one or more predefined risks to the SOA identified for each governance capability, the risk value established for each governance capability, and the governance work products selected for each governance capability.

Abstract: Augmenting service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) governance maturity including receiving an evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA; identifying, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance capability, one or more predefined risks to the SOA; establishing, for each governance capability in dependence upon the predefined risks to the SOA, a risk value representing the severity of the predefined risks; selecting, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA and the predefined risk value, one or more governance work products; and communicating to predetermined stakeholders in the SOA the one or more predefined risks to the SOA identified for each governance capability, the risk value established for each governance capability, and the governance work products selected for each governance capability.

Abstract: A biopsy site marker delivery device includes a relatively flexible marker deployer tube having a closed distal end, a push rod slidably disposed within the tube, and at least one marker disposed in the tube. The deployer tube includes a side exit port with an adjacent ramp for transversely dispensing the marker upon distal advancement of the push rod within the tube. An elongate member such as a sleeve is operable to guide and/or stabilize the flexible deployer tube as the tip of the tube is inserted into an access channel such as a channel provided by a cannula or biopsy device. An internal package member is configured to support the marker delivery device and the elongate member, with the elongate member being positioned over the side exit port to prevent the marker from inadvertently exiting the side exit port.

Abstract: A method for controlling mobilizing and immobilizing a vehicle using a valid passive entry-passive start key includes detecting that a vehicle operator exits the vehicle, determining that the key is absent from the vehicle, automatically immobilizing the vehicle by preventing vehicle propulsion; if a power source of the vehicle is immobilized after the operator exits the vehicle, automatically mobilizing the vehicle to allow vehicle propulsion when a key authorized to operate the vehicle is detected in the vehicle after a vehicle door is opened and closed, and automatically placing the vehicle in a low energy consumption operating state, if a reference period expires after the operator exits the vehicle with the power source running.

Abstract: Augmenting service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) governance maturity including receiving an evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA; identifying, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance capability, one or more predefined risks to the SOA; establishing, for each governance capability in dependence upon the predefined risks to the SOA, a risk value representing the severity of the predefined risks; selecting, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA and the predefined risk value, one or more governance work products; and communicating to predetermined stakeholders in the SOA the one or more predefined risks to the SOA identified for each governance capability, the risk value established for each governance capability, and the governance work products selected for each governance capability.

Abstract: A system for bookmarking viewer selected TV broadcast events and displaying a set of associated internet locations or website hotlinks, comprising the selection of a set of broadcast events using a remote control, and storing a set of event-identifier data associated with the set of selected broadcast events in an activity table, and then generating a set of associated internet locations or website hotlinks by comparing the set of event identifiers with a database of TV schedules, events and company information. The generated set of associated internet locations or website hotlinks can then be used by viewer for access to and display of the selected internet locations associated with the set of selected broadcast events.

Abstract: A method of inferring the temperature of a heated exhaust gas oxygen sensor is used in the control of the operation of an electronic engine control for an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A mode-locked solid state laser is disclosed for generating ultrashort optical pulses from a semiconductor type laser. A semiconductor pulse slicer/demultiplexer/modulator with gain amplification is used to modulate and amplify a generated optical beam whether or not the beam is pulsed, continuous wave, q-switched, or modelocked. Alternatively, the semiconductor pulse slicer/demultiplexer/modulator with gain amplification is used to gate a generated optical beam whether or not the beam is pulsed, continuous wave, q-switched, or modelocked. Alternatively, the semiconductor pulse slicer/demultiplexer/modulator with gain amplification is used to demultiplex a generated optical beam whether or not the beam is pulsed, continuous wave, q-switched, or modelocked. The invention uses only semiconductor type materials such as Titanium Saphire, Gallium Arsenide, Aluminum Gallium Arsenide (GaAs/AlGaAs) as both the pulse slicer/demultiplexer/modulator with gain amplification, and the mode-locked laser itself.

Abstract: An engine air/fuel controller (12) is responsive to a two-state exhaust gas oxygen sensor (16) positioned upstream of a three-way catalytic converter (20) and a proportional exhaust gas oxygen sensor (24) positioned downstream of the catalytic converter. A base fuel signal is trimmed by a feedback variable derived by integrating (402-428) the upstream (16) sensor output. The feedback variable is biased towards leaner air/fuel ratios when a distribution of the downstream sensor output amplitudes has a peak value indicating a rich air/fuel ratio. And the feedback variable is biased towards richer air/fuel ratios when the downstream sensor output distribution has a peak value indicating a lean air/fuel ratio (320-396).