Abstract: Methods and apparatus of detecting an obstruction event associated with operation of a heart pump are provided. The method includes receiving a motor current signal associated with a motor of the heart pump, receiving a pump speed signal associated with the heart pump, detecting, using a computer processor, an obstruction event, and displaying, when an obstruction event is detected, an indication of the obstruction event on a user interface associated with the heart pump. Detecting the obstruction event is based, at least in part on a first value of the motor current signal being above a first threshold value at a first time, and a second value associated with the pump speed signal being less than a second threshold value at a second time, wherein the first time and the second time are within a time window having a length of 120 ms or less.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating maximum flow for a heart pump are described. The method comprises receiving data relating motor current to differential pressure measured for a predetermined speed of a motor of the heart pump, extrapolating based on the received data, a first value for the motor current at which the differential pressure is zero, and determining a maximum flow value through the heart pump at the predetermined speed of the motor of the heart pump based, at least in part, on the first value for the motor current.

Abstract: A blended fuel composition including a combination of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and dimethyl ether (DME) is provided, as well as a system for fuel blending and methods thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, a fuel blend comprises a combination of propane and renewable dimethyl ether (rDME). In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fuel blend comprises about 2% to about 18% rDME by volume and about 82% to about 96% propane by volume. In an exemplary embodiment of a fuel blending system of the present invention, a blend tank is fluidically connected to a propane supply and a rDME supply. In embodiments, the fuel blending system further includes one or more loading motor to accommodate recirculation of contents of the blend tank. In embodiments, such loading motor further accommodates loading fuel from the blend tank into another tank.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining flow through a circulatory support device are provided. The method comprises receiving a motor current signal from a motor of the circulatory support device, determining within a time window of the motor current signal, a measured current value at which flow through the circulatory support device is maximum, determining an offset value based, at least in part, on the measured current value, determining based, at least in part, on the received motor current signal, whether an abnormal condition has occurred, adjusting the motor current signal based, at least in part, on the offset value and the determination of whether an abnormal condition has occurred to produce an adjusted motor current signal, and determining the flow through the circulatory support device based, at least in part, on the adjusted motor current signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring operation of a purge system of a cardiac support system are provided. The method includes determining, using at least one computer processor, a first baseline value for a purge flow rate signal associated with the purge system based, at least in part, on a purge flow rate signal associated with the purge system and a purge pressure signal associated with the purge system, and outputting via a user interface associated with the cardiac support system an indication of an alarm when a first value of the purge flow rate signal is less than a first threshold value, wherein the first threshold value corresponds to a first percentage of the first baseline value.

Abstract: An assembly includes a substrate; a coating including a Bingham fluid disposed on a surface of the substrate; and a discrete component partially embedded in or disposed on the coating including the Bingham fluid. A method includes irradiating a dynamic release structure disposed on a carrier, in which a discrete component is adhered to the dynamic release structure, the irradiating causing the discrete component to be released from the carrier; and receiving the released discrete component into or onto a coating disposed on a surface of a substrate, the coating comprising a Bingham fluid.

Abstract: A method is provided herein. The method includes (a) disposing a tape on a vacuum chuck, the tape including (i) a flexible polymer substrate; and (ii) an adhesive die catching film disposed on the flexible polymer substrate; and (b) applying suction to the tape to hold the tape on the vacuum chuck.

Abstract: A system includes a vacuum chuck; and a tape. The tape includes a flexible polymer substrate; and an adhesive die catching film disposed on the flexible polymer substrate facing a front surface of the flexible polymer substrate. The tape is held on the vacuum chuck by suction applied to a rear surface of the flexible polymer substrate.

Abstract: A method includes determining an alignment error between a discrete component of a discrete component assembly mounted in a laser-assisted transfer system and a target position on a target substrate, the discrete component assembly including the discrete component adhered to a support by a dynamic release layer; based on the alignment error, determining a beam offset characteristic; and providing a signal indicative of the beam offset characteristic to an optical element of the laser-assisted transfer system, the optical element being configured to adjust a position of a beam pattern relative to the discrete component according to the beam offset characteristic.

Abstract: A robotic meal preparation system includes a robotic meal assembly device configured to assemble a meal using multiple ingredients; a computer-implemented system is configured to display to a consumer a menu or list of meal choices, in which a specific meal has a number of different main ingredients, each at a pre-set weight, and the system is further configured to enable the consumer to select a meal and to then vary or set the weight of one or more of the main ingredients of that selected meal, to form a customised or personalised version of that selected meal. The robotic meal assembly device is then configured to assemble that customised or personalised version of that meal. The system hence provides complete meal personalisation, with high levels of consistency, greatly increasing customer satisfaction and reducing food waste. And does so quickly and efficiently, based on rapid, robotic preparation of each meal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating maximum flow for a heart pump are described. The method comprises receiving data relating motor current to differential pressure measured for a predetermined speed of a motor of the heart pump, extrapolating based on the received data, a first value for the motor current at which the differential pressure is zero, and determining a maximum flow value through the heart pump at the predetermined speed of the motor of the heart pump based, at least in part, on the first value for the motor current.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining flow through a circulatory support device are provided. The method comprises receiving a motor current signal from a motor of the circulatory support device, determining within a time window of the motor current signal, a measured current value at which flow through the circulatory support device is maximum, determining an offset value based, at least in part, on the measured current value, determining based, at least in part, on the received motor current signal, whether an abnormal condition has occurred, adjusting the motor current signal based, at least in part, on the offset value and the determination of whether an abnormal condition has occurred to produce an adjusted motor current signal, and determining the flow through the circulatory support device based, at least in part, on the adjusted motor current signal.

Abstract: A system includes a vacuum chuck; and a tape. The tape includes a flexible polymer substrate; and an adhesive die catching film disposed on the flexible polymer substrate facing a front surface of the flexible polymer substrate. The tape is held on the vacuum chuck by suction applied to a rear surface of the flexible polymer substrate.

Abstract: A method includes determining an alignment error between a discrete component of a discrete component assembly mounted in a laser-assisted transfer system and a target position on a target substrate, the discrete component assembly including the discrete component adhered to a support by a dynamic release layer; based on the alignment error, determining a beam offset characteristic; and providing a signal indicative of the beam offset characteristic to an optical element of the laser-assisted transfer system, the optical element being configured to adjust a position of a beam pattern relative to the discrete component according to the beam offset characteristic.

Abstract: An assembly includes a substrate; a coating including a Bingham fluid disposed on a surface of the substrate; and a discrete component partially embedded in or disposed on the coating including the Bingham fluid. A method includes irradiating a dynamic release structure disposed on a carrier, in which a discrete component is adhered to the dynamic release structure, the irradiating causing the discrete component to be released from the carrier; and receiving the released discrete component into or onto a coating disposed on a surface of a substrate, the coating comprising a Bingham fluid.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide a configurable robotic processing system in which the sequence of operations performed by the system may vary (in contrast to a conveyor-based system) and may be dynamically-scheduled.

Abstract: Techniques are described optimizing operations of an integrated healthcare system in real-time using a machine learning framework. In one embodiment, a method comprises monitoring, by a system operatively coupled to a processor, activity of healthcare workers of a healthcare system over a defined timeframe in association with operation of the healthcare system, including monitoring performance of healthcare tasks scheduled for performance over the defined timeframe. The method further comprises determining, by the system based on the monitoring, a timeslot within the defined timeframe in which a healthcare worker of the healthcare workers is not performing, anticipated to perform, or scheduled to perform a healthcare task of the healthcare tasks, and determining, by the system, a supplemental healthcare task for performance by the healthcare worker during the timeslot.

Abstract: Systems for use in assisted respiration can permit insertion of one or more elongated medical instruments into the proximal and/or distal airway of a patient during administration of assisted respiration, which may, in some instances, proceed with a patient awake or only minimally sedated. In some systems, a bite block is coupled with a mask and is movable relative to the mask such that the system is capable of accommodating differing patient anatomies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detection, classification, and diagnosis of vocal anomalies in vocal streams are disclosed. Discussed are a method for generating a biometric voiceprint for analyzing user vocal streams to detect and classify vocal anomalies and a method for notifying the appropriate party, where the notification is based on the diagnosis reported by the system. Manual classification in the event of automatic classification failure is discussed, where the manual classification data can be used as training data to improve the functionality of the classification model.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detection, classification, and diagnosis of vocal anomalies in vocal streams are disclosed. Discussed are a method for generating a biometric voiceprint for analyzing user vocal streams to detect and classify vocal anomalies and a method for notifying the appropriate party, where the notification is based on the diagnosis reported by the system. Manual classification in the event of automatic classification failure is discussed, where the manual classification data can be used as training data to improve the functionality of the classification model.