Abstract: A sample containing particles having high-molecular-weight (HMW) DNA is entrapped in a gel matrix, and the gel matrix is exposed to a lysis reagent configured to release the HMW DNA from the particles. The HMW DNA may be purified by subjecting the gel matrix to an electrophoretic field that removes the HMW DNA from the particles, lysis reagents, and/or other sample constituents, from the gel matrix such that the HMW DNA remains. The gel matrix may be subjected with DNA cleavase reagents configured to cleave at specific DNA sequences within the HMW DNA to liberate defined segments of the DNA as fragments of reduced size. The gel matrix may also be subjected to an electrophoretic field, which moves and separates the DNA fragments from uncleaved DNA of the HMW DNA, which remains substantially immobile. The electrophoretically separated DNA fragments may be isolated from the gel matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of revealing portions of outcomes of real-world wagers through interactive media by storing reserve wagers, receiving an indication a first token has been acquired by a user, determining a tracking wager associated with the first token, matching a stored reserve wager with the tracking wager, associating the matched reserve wager with the first token, and revealing at least a portion of the outcome of the matched reserve wager to the user by the user's interaction with the interactive media. By integrating real-world wager outcomes with user interactions, the system may provide an engaging user experience with interactive media. For example, a game may reveal an outcome of a real-world wager (which has already occurred), in response to in-game actions such as user actions in the game, other players' actions, game events, and/or other events.

Abstract: A design for the electrical infrastructure of a data center enables two different configurations to be utilized, including a distributed, redundant configuration that provides higher reliability and a non-redundant configuration that provides higher capacity. In the distributed, redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from at least two different power supply systems. This enables load shifting when a power supply system becomes unavailable, which can have the effect of increasing server reliability. In the non-redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from only one power supply system. Load shifting is not utilized in the non-redundant configuration, which eliminates the need to maintain reserve capacity and thereby increases capacity. Advantageously, it is possible to switch between these two configurations without making any internal changes to the data center other than modifying connections between sets of server racks and power buses.

Abstract: A design for the electrical infrastructure of a data center enables two different configurations to be utilized, including a distributed, redundant configuration that provides higher reliability and a non-redundant configuration that provides higher capacity. In the distributed, redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from at least two different power supply systems. This enables load shifting when a power supply system becomes unavailable, which can have the effect of increasing server reliability. In the non-redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from only one power supply system. Load shifting is not utilized in the non-redundant configuration, which eliminates the need to maintain reserve capacity and thereby increases capacity. Advantageously, it is possible to switch between these two configurations without making any internal changes to the data center other than modifying connections between sets of server racks and power buses.

Abstract: A design for the electrical infrastructure of a data center enables two different configurations to be utilized, including a distributed, redundant configuration that provides higher reliability and a non-redundant configuration that provides higher capacity. In the distributed, redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from at least two different power supply systems. This enables load shifting when a power supply system becomes unavailable, which can have the effect of increasing server reliability. In the non-redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from only one power supply system. Load shifting is not utilized in the non-redundant configuration, which eliminates the need to maintain reserve capacity and thereby increases capacity. Advantageously, it is possible to switch between these two configurations without making any internal changes to the data center other than modifying connections between sets of server racks and power buses.

Abstract: A method for facilitating increased utilization of a data center includes receiving information about availability of components in a data center's electrical infrastructure and about power consumption of servers in the data center. The method may also include detecting that the power consumption of the servers in the data center exceeds a reduced total capacity of the electrical infrastructure. The reduced total capacity may be caused by unavailability of at least one component in the data center's electrical infrastructure. The method may also include causing power management to be performed to reduce the power consumption of the servers so that the power consumption of the servers does not exceed the reduced total capacity of the electrical infrastructure of the data center.

Abstract: A medical robotic assembly configured to support, insert, retract, and actuate a surgical instrument. The medical robotic assembly includes a surgical instrument carriage configured for detachably mounting a surgical instrument to the surgical instrument carriage. The surgical instrument carriage includes a motor housing, a first output assembly in the motor housing, a second output assembly in the motor housing, a first sensor assembly configured to sense a rotational orientation of a first output drive coupling, and a second sensor assembly configured to sense a rotational orientation of a second output drive coupling.

Abstract: A robotic assembly is configured to support, insert, retract, and actuate a surgical instrument mounted to the robotic assembly. The robotic assembly includes an instrument holder base member, a motor housing moveably mounted to the instrument holder base member, a carriage drive mechanism operable to translate the motor housing along the instrument holder base member, a plurality of drive motors, a plurality of gear boxes, and a plurality of output drive couplings driven by the gear boxes. The robotic assembly includes a sensor assembly that includes an orientation sensor, a sensor target, and a sensor shaft drivingly coupling the sensor target to a corresponding one of the output drive couplings.

Abstract: A robotic assembly is configured to support, insert, retract, and actuate a surgical instrument mounted to the robotic assembly. The robotic assembly includes an instrument holder base member, a motor housing moveably mounted to the instrument holder base member, a carriage drive mechanism operable to translate the motor housing along the instrument holder base member, a plurality of drive motors, a plurality of gear boxes, and a plurality of output drive couplings driven by the gear boxes. The robotic assembly includes a sensor assembly that includes an orientation sensor, a sensor target, and a sensor shaft drivingly coupling the sensor target to a corresponding one of the output drive couplings.

Abstract: A robotic assembly is configured to support, insert, retract, and actuate a surgical instrument mounted to the robotic assembly. The robotic assembly includes an instrument holder base member, a motor housing moveably mounted to the instrument holder base member, a carriage drive mechanism operable to translate the motor housing along the instrument holder base member, a plurality of drive motors, and a plurality of output drive couplings driven by the drive motors. One or more of the drive motors includes one or more magnetic flux shields to inhibit magnetic interference with an adjacent drive motor and/or with an adjacent motor orientation sensor.

Abstract: A cart and drawer assembly (20, 120) comprising a pair of panels (22) each having an inner surface (26) disposed in spaced and parallel relationship with one another with said inner surfaces (26) facing each other. Each of the panels (22) defines a pair of beams (32). At least one shelf (66, 166) is disposed between the panels (22) in perpendicular relationship to the panels (22). A plurality of ribs (122) extend from the beams (32) and are spaced from one another along the beams (32). A pair of ears (124, 224) extend from each of the shelves (66, 166) and engage an adjacent pair of the ribs (122) to maintain the panels (22) in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and perpendicular to the shelf (66, 166). Each of the beams (32) define a plurality of sockets (34) spaced from one another. A pair of plugs (76) extend from each of the mounting sides (67, 167) in one of the sockets (34) connecting the shelves (66, 166) to the panels (22). The ears (124, 224) are disposed between said plugs (76).

Abstract: A cart and drawer assembly (20, 120) comprising a pair of panels (22) each having an inner surface (26) disposed in spaced and parallel relationship with one another with said inner surfaces (26) facing each other. Each of the panels (22) defines a pair of beams (32). At least one shelf (66, 166) is disposed between the panels (22) in perpendicular relationship to the panels (22). A plurality of ribs (122) extend from the beams (32) and are spaced from one another along the beams (32). A pair of ears (124, 224) extend from each of the shelves (66, 166) and engage an adjacent pair of the ribs (122) to maintain the panels (22) in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and perpendicular to the shelf (66, 166). Each of the beams (32) define a plurality of sockets (34) spaced from one another. A pair of plugs (76) extend from each of the mounting sides (67, 167) in one of the sockets (34) connecting the shelves (66, 166) to the panels (22). The ears (124, 224) are disposed between said plugs (76).

Abstract: A robotic assembly is configured to support, insert, retract, and actuate a surgical instrument mounted to the robotic assembly. The robotic assembly includes an instrument holder base member, a motor housing moveably mounted to the instrument holder base member, a carriage drive mechanism operable to translate the motor housing along the instrument holder base member, a plurality of drive motors, and a plurality of output drive couplings driven by the drive motors. One or more of the drive motors includes one or more magnetic flux shields to inhibit magnetic interference with an adjacent drive motor and/or with an adjacent motor orientation sensor.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus comprising a drive section, an upper arm, a first forearm, and a second forearm. The upper arm is rotatably connected to the drive section at a first end of the upper arm. The upper arm is rotatably connected to the drive section for rotating the upper arm about an axis of rotation of the drive section. The first forearm is pivotably connected to the upper arm for pivoting relative to the upper arm. The first forearm has a first end effector depending therefrom. The second forearm is pivotably connected to the upper arm for pivoting relative to the upper arm. The second forearm has a second end effector depending therefrom.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a strap drive-train for use in a robotic arm to enable movement of a linkage assembly of the robotic arm is provided. The linkage assembly includes a plurality of links pivotally coupled in series together at a plurality of joints, respectively, for movement of the robotic arm about a pitch axis. The strap drive-train includes a first driver pulley rigidly coupled to a link of the plurality of links and a second driver pulley rigidly coupled to another link of the plurality of links. The electro-mechanical strap stack includes at least one of a ground strap and an electrical cable strap in a stacked configuration with a drive strap, wherein the electro-mechanical strap stack is connected between the first driver pulley and the second driver pulley through a middle link.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for setting, maintaining, and adjusting a cable tension in a telerobotic surgical system are provided. A cable tensioning apparatus includes, in one example, an arm, a pulley rotatably coupled to the arm, and a base operably coupled to the arm, the base including a translation mechanism for changing the position of the pulley to control a tension of a cable movable along the pulley. A termination block includes, in one example, a block including two cable pathways with each cable pathway having a retaining means for a ball fitting, and a support for moving a cable along the two cable pathways, the cable including a ball fitting in each of the cable pathways.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic arm is provided including a linkage assembly and a strap drive train. The linkage assembly includes first, second, third, and fourth links pivotally coupled in series together at first, second, and third joints to define a parallelogram with an insertion axis. The strap drive train includes first and second sets of straps coupled to the linkage assembly. As the linkage assembly is moved about a pitch axis, the first set of straps ensures the third link maintains the same angle relative to the first link, and the first and second set of straps ensures the fourth link maintains the same angle relative to the second link.

Abstract: Medical, surgical, and/or robotic devices and systems often including offset remote center parallelogram manipulator linkage assemblies which constrains a position of a surgical instrument during minimally invasive robotic surgery are disclosed. The improved remote center manipulator linkage assembly advantageously enhances the range of instrument motion while at the same time reduces the overall complexity, size, and physical weight of the robotic surgical system.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus comprising a drive section, an upper arm, a first forearm, and a second forearm. The upper arm is rotatably connected to the drive section at a first end of the upper arm. The upper arm is rotatably connected to the drive section for rotating the upper arm about an axis of rotation of the drive section. The first forearm is pivotably connected to the upper arm for pivoting relative to the upper arm. The first forearm has a first end effector depending therefrom. The second forearm is pivotably connected to the upper arm for pivoting relative to the upper arm. The second forearm has a second end effector depending therefrom.

Abstract: A robotic arm has a base with a top surface and an aperture therein. A shaft extends up through the aperture, and there is a gap between the shaft and an inner edge of the aperture. A splash guard may extend over said gap, and an indentation in said top surface may at least partially surround the gap. A seal, including a bearing and a barrier, is located in the gap. The bearing allows the inner and outer surfaces to rotate relative to each other. The barrier includes a plurality of annular outward-pointing flanges attached to an inner surface interleaved with a plurality of annular inward-pointing flanges attached to an outer surface. The flanges may be angled and have an upturned lip located at an inner edge of each flange. The seal may include a magnet attached to a flange.