Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for processing ultrasound images to identify objects for diagnostic and/or interventional use. For instance, an ultrasound image of an anatomical structure may be received from a computing device of an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound image may be input to a machine learning model that is trained to identify a plurality of objects in ultrasound images of the anatomical structure. The plurality of objects may include anatomical features, disruptive features, and/or instruments. A prediction of one or more objects from the plurality of objects identified in the ultrasound image may be received as output of the machine learning model. An indication of the prediction may be provided to the computing device for display on a display of the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: A patient interface assembly for a head of a wearer is provided, comprising a nasal cannula or other patient interface, a first connector extending from a first side of the patient interface, a second connector extending from a second side of the patient interface, and a headband configured to wrap around at least a portion of the head of the wearer and maintain a position of the nasal cannula, a first strap coupled to a first strap coupling portion of the headband and configured to couple to the first connector, and a second strap coupled to a second strap coupling portion of the headband and configured to couple to the second connector, wherein the first strap is movable along the first strap coupling portion between the first stop and the second stop. A nasal cannula is provided comprising flexible prongs, and optionally a flexible tubular base.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for processing ultrasound images to identify objects for diagnostic and/or interventional use. For instance, an ultrasound image of an anatomical structure may be received from a computing device of an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound image may be input to a machine learning model that is trained to identify a plurality of objects in ultrasound images of the anatomical structure. The plurality of objects may include anatomical features, disruptive features, and/or instruments. A prediction of one or more objects from the plurality of objects identified in the ultrasound image may be received as output of the machine learning model. An indication of the prediction may be provided to the computing device for display on a display of the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: An air flow system cannula is disclosed. The air flow system cannula comprises: a body having a radius of curvature less than about 180 degrees, the body including two solid portions and an adjustable portion provided between the two solid portions for additional flex and angular contouring, two nasal posts, and two end portions. The adjustable portion can collapse to a plurality of positions. The air flow system cannula can also include an adjustable frame that provides additional structural integrity. The adjustable frame is inserted into the body, snap-fit to the body, pressed-fit to the body, or directly molded in the body.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for processing ultrasound images to identify objects for diagnostic and/or interventional use. For instance, an ultrasound image of an anatomical structure may be received from a computing device of an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound image may be input to a machine learning model that is trained to identify a plurality of objects in ultrasound images of the anatomical structure. The plurality of objects may include anatomical features, disruptive features, and/or instruments. A prediction of one or more objects from the plurality of objects identified in the ultrasound image may be received as output of the machine learning model. An indication of the prediction may be provided to the computing device for display on a display of the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: Various arrangements for monitoring and controlling operation of a HVAC system are provided. Battery-operated temperature monitoring devices may be situated within the structure and connected with a network. A user command may be received that includes a selection of at least one of the battery-operated temperature monitoring devices. An offset may be calculated based on an evaluation of a first temperature reading of the selected battery-operated temperature monitoring device relative to a second temperature reading of the thermostat. The offset may be overridden when an override condition is present.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling operation of a HVAC system within a structure comprises providing a thermostat configured to regulate the HVAC system. The method includes situating a plurality of battery-operated temperature monitoring devices within the structure and coupling the thermostat and each of the plurality of battery-operated temperature monitoring devices to a network. The method comprises receiving over the network a user command that includes a selection of at least one of the battery-operated temperature monitoring devices. The method includes computing at the thermostat an offset based on an evaluation of a first temperature reading of the at least one selected battery-operated temperature monitoring device relative to a second temperature reading of the thermostat. The method comprises applying the offset to the thermostat to cause the thermostat to regulate the HVAC system in view of the first temperature reading, and overriding the offset when an override condition is met.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.

Abstract: Harvesting energy from non-stationary, multi-frequency mechanical vibrations using a tunable electrical circuit. In an embodiment, an apparatus for converting vibrational energy to electrical energy includes a vibrational energy harvester having a transducer for generating time-varying electrical signals in response to environmental vibration; at least one power storage device; a switching network operably coupled between the transducer of the vibrational energy harvester and the at least one power storage device, wherein the switching network includes a plurality of switching elements each defining a switchable current path that is controlled by a control signal supplied to the respective switching element; and electronics configured to generate the control signals for supply to the switching elements of the switching network, the electronics including first circuitry, second circuitry, third circuitry, and fourth circuitry.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack is discontinuously charged in multiple discrete charging intervals. Reductions in battery pack voltage that occur during non-charging intervals, each transpiring between a respective pair of the discrete charging intervals, are measured. Multiple resistance values that characterize the internal resistance (DC resistance) of the battery pack are generated based on the reductions in battery pack voltage that occur during the non-charging intervals.

Abstract: A system for balancing charge within a battery pack with a plurality of cells connected in series, including a capacitor; a processor configured to select a combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the plurality of cells in one of the following two modes: (1) a first mode where the number of donor cells is equal to the number of receiver cells, and (2) a second mode where the number of donor cells is greater than the number of receiver cells; and a plurality of switches that electrically connect the capacitor to the donor cells to charge the capacitor, and that electrically connected the capacitor to the receiver cells to discharge the capacitor. The transfer of charge between cells in the plurality of cells through the capacitor balances the charge within the battery pack.