Abstract: A compression anastomosis system comprises matching first and second compression ring devices (1, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), each compression ring device configured for adjustment from an elongated delivery configuration suitable for passing through a minimally invasive surgical instrument to a deployed radially expanded configuration dimensioned to circumferentially abut an inner wall of a body lumen. The compression rings comprise coupling elements (20, 41, 56, 57) for coupling the rings together in a face-to-face compression anastomosis configuration, and each compression ring device has a radially outward facing surface (10) comprising tissue anchors (12, 58) configured to anchor the ring to the wall of the body lumen when the ring is deployed in the body lumen. A method of forming a compression anastomosis in a body lumen such as a colon is also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display system. The display system includes a backlight configured to emit substantially collimated polarized light from an emission surface thereof. The emitted polarized light is polarized along a polarization direction. The display system further includes a display panel configured to receive an illumination light and form an image. The display system further includes a grating system substantially coextensive in length and width with the display panel and the emission surface. The grating system includes a plurality of substantially parallel elongated features extending along an in-plane first direction and arranged along an orthogonal in-plane second direction. The grating system is configured to receive and transmit an incident polarized light as a first transmitted light having different first and second polarization states in response to different respective first and second signals applied to the grating system.

Abstract: A system for robotic surgery makes use of an end-effector which has been configured so that a drill connected thereto is guided in its trajectory and limited in its advancement into an associated anatomical feature by a drill guide. The drill guide may be adjusted manually to engage a corresponding surface of the drill after its advancement by a pre-selected amount. The drill guide likewise includes features to guide the drill during trajectories having oblique angles relative to the surface of the anatomical feature associated with the medical procedure.

Abstract: A method of operating a telecommunications network (100), said telecommunications network being accessible to a User Equipment (UE) (102) and comprising a cellular telecommunications network (104-2) and a fixed-access telecommunications network (104-1), the method comprising the steps of: providing a set of user plane functions for processing user traffic for the UE, said set comprising at least two user plane functions; providing a combined user plane function (210) for processing user traffic for the UE according to the set of user plane functions; following establishing a network connection between the UE and the cellular telecommunications network via the fixed-access telecommunications network (510), identifying inefficient routing of user traffic associated with the UE (520), said inefficient routing comprising routing user traffic to at least the set of user plane functions; in response to identifying inefficient routing, re-routing user traffic associated with the UE to the combined user plane functio

Abstract: A thermal component has a shield portion and a heat exchanger portion. The shield portion includes a plurality of cells adapted to inhibit radio radiation (RF) having a frequency within a target frequency range, while the heat exchanger portion includes a plurality of elongated channels, each one of the elongated channels being physically connected to and in fluid communication with at least one corresponding cell of the plurality of cells.

Abstract: An integral multilayer optical film includes a plurality of interference layers; a structured layer disposed on the interference layers and including a plurality of particles dispersed in a binder; and a barrier layer disposed between the structured layer and the interference layers and co-extruded with the interference layers and the structured layer. The structured layer has a first major surface facing away from the interference layers and a second major surface facing the interference layers. The barrier layer causes the particles to impart a greater surface roughness to the first major surface than the second major surface so that when the optical film is illuminated with a light source, the optical film has a first average effective transmission T1 when the first major surface faces the light source and a second average effective transmission T2 when the first major surface faces away from the light source, where T1-T2?5%.

Abstract: A light redirecting film includes a first layer disposed on a second layer with structured major surfaces of the first and second layers facing each other. An optically reflective layer or a metal layer is disposed between the first and second layers. The first layer can be a hot melt adhesive layer and the second layer can be a polymeric layer. The first and second layers can be unitary layers. The first layer can be a first polymeric layer having a softening temperature T1 and the second layer can be a second polymeric layer having a softening temperature T2 greater than T1. Heating and/or applying pressure to the film changes an optical characteristic of the film by less than about 5%.

Abstract: A multilayer film comprises first, second, and third layers. The first layer comprises at least one aromatic polyester, and has a loss modulus at 1 hertz and 25° C. of at least 70 megapascals. The second layer is thermoplastic and has a loss modulus at 1 hertz and 25° C. of less than or equal to 60 megapascals and comprises a thermoplastic elastomer and a polyamide. The third layer contacts the second layer opposite the first layer and has a loss modulus at 1 hertz and 25° C. of at least 70 megapascals. The second layer is sandwiched between the first and third layers. A method of making the multilayer film by coextrusion is also disclosed.

Abstract: A substrate including a self-supporting tri-layer stack is described. The tri-layer stack includes first and second outer layers and a biaxially oriented layer disposed between and in direct contact with the first and second outer layers. The biaxially oriented layer may include a first polyester having greater than 45 mole percent naphthalate units and greater than 45 mole percent ethylene units. Each of the first and second outer layers includes a second polyester which may include 40 to 50 mole percent naphthalate units, at least 25 mole percent ethylene units, and 10 to 25 mole percent of branched or cyclic C4-C10 alkyl units.

Abstract: An optical film includes a plurality of polymeric microlayers disposed between, and co-extruded and co-stretched with, opposing first and second polymeric skins. Each of the polymeric microlayers has an average thickness of less than about 400 nm. Each of the first and second polymeric skins has an average thickness of greater than about 1 micron. At least one of the first and second polymeric skins includes a plurality of polymeric skin layers. Each of the polymeric skin layers has an average thickness of greater than about 0.5 microns. The plurality of polymeric skin layers includes a polymeric second skin layer disposed between polymeric first and third skin layers. The polymeric second skin layer includes one or more of a greater degree of crystallinity, a greater glass transition temperature, a greater modulus, and a greater in-plane birefringence than each of the polymeric first and third skin layers.

Abstract: This disclosure describes multilayer polymer films that are configured so that successive constituent layer packets may be delaminated in continuous sheet forms from the remaining film. This disclosure further describes compositions, materials, and methods for minimizing the likelihood of removing multiple layer packets together including by increasing the peel force between layer packets. In some embodiments, that the peel force becomes successively greater from the interface between the first layer packet and the second layer packet to the interface between the next to last ((n?1)th layer packet) and the last (nth layer packet).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a printable composition. The printable composition includes a polymer, a polymerizable component, a temporary solvent, a photoinitiator, and optionally an inhibitor. The present disclosure also provides an article including an integral blend of a thermoset polymer and a second polymer different from the thermoset polymer. Further, the present disclosure provides a method of making an article. The method includes (i) providing a printable composition; (ii) selectively curing the printable composition to form a gelled article; and (iii) removing at least a portion of the temporary solvent from the gelled article. The method may optionally include (iv) curing unpolymerized polymerizable component remaining before or after step (iii). Also, methods are provided, including receiving, by a manufacturing device having one or more processors, a digital object comprising data specifying a plurality of layers of an article, the article including: an integral blend of 8 to 50 wt.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to films having at least a first profiled layer and a second layer having an inverse profile of the first layer. Those films can be used as protection tapes for various surfaces. Exemplary uses of the films of the present disclosure include leading edge protection tapes for rotor blades.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a secure conversation gateway by which an audio voice stream is made to be replicable and convertible into other media types are provided. The method includes receiving an audio voice data stream; converting the received audio voice data stream into a predetermined media format; and transmitting the converted audio data stream to a user. The method may also include receiving an interaction event that corresponds to the audio data stream; generating metadata based on the interaction event; and applying a machine learning algorithm to the audio data stream and the metadata in order to generate a response that relates to the audio data stream. The method may also include replicating the audio data stream and distributing copies thereof to a set of recipients.

Abstract: The axle welder can be easily configured and adjusted to accommodate axle assemblies of varying axle shaft lengths, hub styles (“straight” and “drop axle”) and lug bolt configurations. The axle welder uses a sliding carriage that slides along the support frame at one end of the welder to accommodate differing shaft lengths. The axle welder also includes a pair of pivoting hub lifts that accommodate both straight and drop axle style axle hubs using modular mounting plates. Modular mounting plates (“hub adaptors”) fitted to the hub lifts accommodate hub assemblies with differing lug bolt patterns. The axle welder is built on a rectangular frame that supports a pair of weld units and articulated electrode arms. The axle welder also includes a pair axle supports for carrying the axle shafts within the support frame. A shaft drive pivotally mounted to the support frame lowers to engage and rotate the axle shaft and hub assemblies in unison during the welding process.

Abstract: A linear friction welding system includes a processing circuit configured to execute program instructions stored in a memory to control a first motor using one of a torque and speed control, placing a plurality of timing gears in a configuration wherein a fixed projection of one of the timing gears is at a trail position of a slot of another timing gear such that two power shafts of a cam assembly are rotating in phase and a ram is motionless. The processing circuit further controls a hydraulic press to generate a pressure between two components to be welded with the power shafts rotating in phase, and controls the second motor using the one of the torque and speed control to place the timing gears in a second configuration whereat the fixed projection is at a lead position of the slot thereby forcing the ram to oscillate.

Abstract: A light redirecting film includes a first layer disposed on a second layer with structured major surfaces of the first and second layers facing each other. An optically reflective layer or a metal layer is disposed between the first and second layers. The first layer can be a hot melt adhesive layer and the second layer can be a polymeric layer. The first and second layers can be unitary layers. The first layer can be a first polymeric layer having a softening temperature T1 and the second layer can be a second polymeric layer having a softening temperature T2 greater than T1. Heating and/or applying pressure to the film changes an optical characteristic of the film by less than about 5%.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to top films comprising a semi-crystalline core polymeric layer sandwiched by two amorphous skin layers, one on each side of the core polymeric layer. In preferred embodiments, an acrylic layer adjacent one of the amorphous skin layers is present as an outermost layer. The present application is also directed to retroreflective articles comprising such top films.

Abstract: Polyester copolymeric materials include 40 to 51 mol % substituted naphthalate units, such as dimethyl-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate units, 10 to 40 mol % ethylene units, and 10 to 40 mol % hexane units. The polyester copolymers can be used to prepare multi-layer optical films by coextrusion and/or co-stretching. The copolyester polymeric materials have desirable optical properties and permit thermal processing at lower temperatures.