Abstract: An electrosurgical resection instrument for applying to biological tissue radiofrequency electromagnetic energy has a protective hull comprising a shaped piece of dielectric material mounted to cover an underside of an instrument tip of the instrument. The protective hull acts as a shield to protect tissue that may lie under the instrument tip from damage during treatment. The instrument may be particularly useful in procedures performed in a gastrointestinal tract, where bowel perforation is a concern, or in the pancreas, where damage to the portal vein or the pancreatic duct may occur when a tumor or other abnormality is being resected, dissected or removed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to three enhancements for a surgical snare: an electrosurgical snare in which the loop of snare wire extends from an energy transfer surface which can act both as a physical reaction surface for mechanical cutting using the snare and as a region for emitting electromagnetic energy; a surgical snare having a snare wire having a first end connected to a movable boss that is slidably mounted on a coaxial cable; and a surgical snare having an end cap with a distally facing reaction surface and a pair of channels for guiding a snare wire, where the distally facing reaction surface is arranged to contact the retractable loop when fully retracted

Abstract: The disclosure relates to three enhancements for a surgical snare: an electrosurgical snare in which the loop of snare wire extends from an energy transfer surface which can act both as a physical reaction surface for mechanical cutting using the snare and as a region for emitting electromagnetic energy; a surgical snare having a snare wire having a first end connected to a movable boss that is slidably mounted on a coaxial cable; and a surgical snare having an end cap with a distally facing reaction surface and a pair of channels for guiding a snare wire, where the distally facing reaction surface is arranged to contact the retractable loop when fully retracted.

Abstract: A pollen collection device for collecting pollen from crop plants grown in rows includes a housing assembly configured to be mounted on a base for being transported through a row of crop plants. The housing assembly receives at least a portion of the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants. An agitation assembly is attached to the housing assembly for agitating the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants to displace pollen from the plants. A pollen collection assembly is attached to the housing assembly for collecting the pollen displaced from the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants.

Abstract: Electrical instrument for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, comprising: a distal part comprising an instrument tip for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, the instrument tip comprising first and second conductive elements; a coaxial feed cable comprising an inner conductor, a tubular outer conductor coaxial with the inner conductor, and dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors, the coaxial feed cable being for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to the distal part; wherein: the inner conductor is electrically connected to the first conductive element and the outer conductor is electrically connected to the second conductive element through a rotatable connection between the distal part and the coaxial feed cable that allows rotation of the distal part relative to the coaxial feed cable; and the instrument comprises an actuator for rotating the distal part in a first rotational direction relative to

Abstract: Electrical instrument for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, comprising: a distal part comprising an instrument tip for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, the instrument tip comprising first and second conductive elements; a coaxial feed cable comprising an inner conductor, a tubular outer conductor coaxial with the inner conductor, and dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors, the coaxial feed cable being for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to the distal part; wherein: the inner conductor is electrically connected to the first conductive element and the outer conductor is electrically connected to the second conductive element through a rotatable connection between the distal part and the coaxial feed cable that allows rotation of the distal part relative to the coaxial feed cable; and the instrument comprises an actuator for rotating the distal part in a first rotational direction relative to

Abstract: Electrical instrument for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, comprising: a distal part comprising an instrument tip for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, the instrument tip comprising first and second conductive elements; a coaxial feed cable comprising an inner conductor, a tubular outer conductor coaxial with the inner conductor, and dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors, the coaxial feed cable being for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to the distal part; wherein: the inner conductor is electrically connected to the first conductive element and the outer conductor is electrically connected to the second conductive element through a rotatable connection between the distal part and the coaxial feed cable that allows rotation of the distal part relative to the coaxial feed cable; and the instrument comprises an actuator for rotating the distal part in a first rotational direction relative to

Abstract: Electrical instrument for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, comprising: a distal part comprising an instrument tip for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, the instrument tip comprising first and second conductive elements; a coaxial feed cable comprising an inner conductor, a tubular outer conductor coaxial with the inner conductor, and dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors, the coaxial feed cable being for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to the distal part; wherein: the inner conductor is electrically connected to the first conductive element and the outer conductor is electrically connected to the second conductive element through a rotatable connection between the distal part and the coaxial feed cable that allows rotation of the distal part relative to the coaxial feed cable; and the instrument comprises an actuator for rotating the distal part in a first rotational direction relative to

Abstract: Electrical instrument for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, comprising: a distal part comprising an instrument tip for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, the instrument tip comprising first and second conductive elements; a coaxial feed cable comprising an inner conductor, a tubular outer conductor coaxial with the inner conductor, and dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors, the coaxial feed cable being for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to the distal part; wherein: the inner conductor is electrically connected to the first conductive element and the outer conductor is electrically connected to the second conductive element through a rotatable connection between the distal part and the coaxial feed cable that allows rotation of the distal part relative to the coaxial feed cable; and the instrument comprises an actuator for rotating the distal part in a first rotational direction relative to

Abstract: An electrosurgical cutting tool comprising a pair of pivotable blades that are mechanically operable as scissors or pliers. The blades have electrodes capable of delivery RF and/or microwave energy to cut or coagulate tissue between them. The tool combines the actuation and energy delivery mechanisms in a compact arrangement that enables the tool to be inserted through an instrument channel of a surgical scoping device, such as an endoscope, gastroscope or laparoscope. Each blade may comprise a planar body made of dielectric material that separates a first conductive element from a second conductive element. The blades may rotate relative to each other in the plane of the blades.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an energy conveying structure for delivering RF and/or microwave energy to an electrosurgical instrument, where the energy conveying structure is incorporated into an insertion tube of a surgical scoping device (e.g. endoscope, laparoscope or the like). The insertion tube is a flexible conduit that is introduced into a patient's body during an invasive procedure, and can include an instrument channel and an optical channel. The energy conveying structure may be a layered coaxial structure that formed a liner that fits within the scoping device, e.g. within an instrument channel. Alternatively, the energy conveying structure may be a coaxial structure integrally formed as part of the flexible conduit.

Abstract: Electrical instrument for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, comprising: a distal part comprising an instrument tip for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, the instrument tip comprising first and second conductive elements; a coaxial feed cable comprising an inner conductor, a tubular outer conductor coaxial with the inner conductor, and dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors, the coaxial feed cable being for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to the distal part; wherein: the inner conductor is electrically connected to the first conductive element and the outer conductor is electrically connected to the second conductive element through a rotatable connection between the distal part and the coaxial feed cable that allows rotation of the distal part relative to the coaxial feed cable; and the instrument comprises an actuator for rotating the distal part in a first rotational direction relative to

Abstract: A method of aligning a first component and a second component with elastic averaging includes offsetting a first part and a second part of the first component and creating a shut-off slot between the first part and the second part of the first component by offsetting the first part and the second part. The shut-off slot has a slot vector that is not parallel to a main die vector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a surgical snare structure in which the material used for the snare and the deployment mechanism of the snare are configured to improve the cutting efficacy of the snare. In particular, the surgical snare structure of the invention may omit the kink or nib present in the loop of known surgical snares and/or may provide a reaction surface against which the cutting action of the snare is effective. The surgical snare of the invention may be a cold, i.e. mechanical-only effect, snare, or may be used in conjunction with radiofrequency (RF) and/or microwave energy to enhance a cutting or coagulation effect.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for estimating a value of a resistivity property of an earth formation intersected by a borehole. Apparatus may include a carrier conveyable in the borehole; a tri-axial induction antenna assembly along the carrier; and a magnetically transparent sleeve enclosing the antenna assembly. The antenna assembly includes panels circumferentially arrayed about a portion of the carrier to form at least three collocated antennas. Each panel includes a magnetic core, an axially sensing coil that is transversely wound about the magnetic core, and a laterally sensing coil that is longitudinally wound about the magnetic core. The axially sensing coil of each panel may be electrically connected to the axially sensing coils of the other panels to form an axial antenna. Corresponding lateral coils may be electrically connected to form a lateral antenna. Each panel may be individually removable from the carrier, and assembled together may form a cylinder.

Abstract: An attraction system includes a first level, a second level positioned vertically above or below the first level, and one or more controllers configured to present a game environment to one or more riders in a ride vehicle as the ride vehicle travels along a path on the first level. The attraction system also includes a lift configured to move the ride vehicle vertically from the first level to the second level based at least in part on a performance of the one or more riders in the game environment.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for applying to biological tissue RF electromagnetic energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy, wherein the instrument tip has a protective hull with a smoothly contoured convex undersurface facing away from a planar body, and wherein the planar body has a tapering distal edge, and wherein an underside of the planar body extends beyond the protective hull at the tapering distal edge. Also disclosed herein is an interface joint for integrating into a single cable assembly all of (i) a fluid feed, (ii) a needle movement mechanism, and (iii) an energy feed (e.g. a coaxial cable), and a torque transfer device for permitting controlled rotation of the cable assembly within the instrument channel of an endoscope. The interface joint and torque transfer device may be integrated as a single component.

Abstract: An attraction system includes a first level, a second level positioned vertically above or below the first level, and one or more controllers configured to present a game environment to one or more riders in a ride vehicle as the ride vehicle travels along a path on the first level. The attraction system also includes a lift configured to move the ride vehicle vertically from the first level to the second level based at least in part on a performance of the one or more riders in the game environment.

Abstract: A method of aligning a first component and a second component with elastic averaging includes offsetting a first part and a second part of the first component and creating a shut-off slot between the first part and the second part of the first component by offsetting the first part and the second part. The shut-off slot has a slot vector that is not parallel to a main die vector.

Abstract: A package for retaining a food item includes a tray with a base connected to at least one sidewall. The sidewall extends away from the base to a rim to define an inner chamber. The tray is made of a fluid impermeable material to retain fluids in the inner chamber. The package also includes a shelf made of the fluid impermeable material that is removably supported in the inner chamber such that the shelf is spaced apart from the base of the tray to permit an absorbent pad to be positioned therebetween. The shelf is configured to support the food item in the inner chamber separated from the absorbent pad.