Abstract: A fluidic actuator including an angled bottom plate having a cap and first and second plate arms on opposing sides of and extending from the cap. The fluidic actuator further includes a top plate coupled about the cap of the angled bottom plate and a rotatable coupling of the angled bottom plate and top plate.

Abstract: A solar tracker system having one or more solar trackers that each include one or more panels and one or more actuators coupled to the one or more panels, the one or more actuators having a first and second vessel; and an electronic control unit configured to inflate the first vessel with fluid from a fluid source and configured to separately inflate the second vessel with fluid from the fluid source. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a stow event is present based on a first set of environmental data obtained from an environmental sensor that indicates environmental conditions pose a threat to the one or more solar trackers, and in response to determining that the stow event is present, actuate the one or more panels toward a stow configuration target angle by at least inflating the first or second vessels with fluid from the fluid source.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering an implant having both a rigid portion and a flexible portion to a body lumen. The delivery system includes an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer tubular member. The inner tubular member includes at least one opening positioned in a side wall adjacent to a distal end region. An expandable implant, including a rigid portion and a flexible portion, is disposed about the outer surface of the inner tubular member. A distal portion of a thread is wrapped around the flexible portion of the implant and configured to maintain the flexible portion in a radially collapsed configuration during delivery of the implant. A distal end region of the outer tubular member is disposed around the rigid portion of the implant to maintain the rigid portion in a radially collapsed configuration during delivery of the implant.

Abstract: A pneumatic control unit configured to inflate a first and second set of bellows with fluid from a pneumatic fluid source via a pneumatic circuit, the first and second set of bellows associated with one or more pneumatic actuators. The pneumatic control unit determines a target configuration of the actuators based on a determined current position of the sun; determines a current configuration of the actuators; determines a difference between the determined current configuration and target configuration of the actuators; determines that the difference between current configuration and the target configuration of the actuators is outside of a tolerance range; and actuates the actuators toward the determined target configuration by at least one of inflating the first or second set of bellows with fluid from the pneumatic fluid source via the pneumatic circuit.

Abstract: An actuator that includes a bottom plate, a top-plate, and a first and second hub assembly extending between the bottom and top plates. The actuator can further include a first and second bellows disposed on opposing sides of the hub assemblies, the first and second bellows each extending between and coupled to the top plate and bottom plate. The actuator can also include a plurality of washers disposed between the top and bottom plates, with each of the washers coupled to the first and second hub assembly, a first set of the plurality of washers surrounding the first bellows and a second set of the plurality of washers surrounding the second bellows.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering an implant having both a rigid portion and a flexible portion to a body lumen. The delivery system includes an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer tubular member. The inner tubular member includes at least one opening positioned in a side wall adjacent to a distal end region. An expandable implant, including a rigid portion and a flexible portion, is disposed about the outer surface of the inner tubular member. A distal portion of a thread is wrapped around the flexible portion of the implant and configured to maintain the flexible portion in a radially collapsed configuration during delivery of the implant. A distal end region of the outer tubular member is disposed around the rigid portion of the implant to maintain the rigid portion in a radially collapsed configuration during delivery of the implant.

Abstract: A medical device may include a snare loop and an elastic member that connects at least two sides of the snare loop. The elastic member is configured to transition from an unexpanded state where the elastic member is in a plane of the snare loop to an expanded state where the elastic member is outside the plane of the snare loop. The snare loop has a same shape when the elastic member is in the unexpanded shape and the expanded shape.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering an implant having both a rigid portion and a flexible portion to a body lumen. The delivery system includes an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer tubular member. The inner tubular member includes at least one opening positioned in a side wall adjacent to a distal end region. An expandable implant, including a rigid portion and a flexible portion, is disposed about the outer surface of the inner tubular member. A distal portion of a thread is wrapped around the flexible portion of the implant and configured to maintain the flexible portion in a radially collapsed configuration during delivery of the implant. A distal end region of the outer tubular member is disposed around the rigid portion of the implant to maintain the rigid portion in a radially collapsed configuration during delivery of the implant.

Abstract: A pneumatic control unit configured to inflate a first and second set of bellows with fluid from a pneumatic fluid source via a pneumatic circuit, the first and second set of bellows associated with one or more pneumatic actuators. The pneumatic control unit determines a target configuration of the actuators based on a determined current position of the sun; determines a current configuration of the actuators; determines a difference between the determined current configuration and target configuration of the actuators; determines that the difference between current configuration and the target configuration of the actuators is outside of a tolerance range; and actuates the actuators toward the determined target configuration by at least one of inflating the first or second set of bellows with fluid from the pneumatic fluid source via the pneumatic circuit.

Abstract: An actuator that includes a bottom plate, a top-plate, and a first and second hub assembly extending between the bottom and top plates. The actuator can further include a first and second bellows disposed on opposing sides of the hub assemblies, the first and second bellows each extending between and coupled to the top plate and bottom plate. The actuator can also include a plurality of washers disposed between the top and bottom plates, with each of the washers coupled to the first and second hub assembly, a first set of the plurality of washers surrounding the first bellows and a second set of the plurality of washers surrounding the second bellows.

Abstract: A medical device may include a snare loop and an elastic member that connects at least two sides of the snare loop. The elastic member is configured to transition from an unexpanded state where the elastic member is in a plane of the snare loop to an expanded state where the elastic member is outside the plane of the snare loop. The snare loop has a same shape when the elastic member is in the unexpanded shape and the expanded shape.

Abstract: An injectable composition for intravascular delivery of a therapeutic agent includes one or more first microspheres containing a first therapeutic agent, one or more second microspheres containing a second therapeutic agent, and a liquid carrier. The first microspheres includes a wall comprising a biodegradable polymer that encapsulates the first therapeutic agent and the second microspheres includes a wall comprising the biodegradable polymer that encapsulates the second therapeutic agent.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a body that has a flexible outer layer encapsulating a composition. The composition includes one or more first microspheres, one or more second microspheres, and a carrier. Each first microsphere includes a first therapeutic agent and a wall containing a first biodegradable polymer that encapsulates the first therapeutic agent. Each second microsphere includes a second therapeutic agent and a wall containing a biodegradable polymer that encapsulates the second therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for associating license entitlements to a customer of computer software or hardware in a multi-tiered distribution channel. A partner of a vendor places an order for computer products on behalf of the end user customer. The order may go through several distribution channels before the vendor receives the order. Upon receiving the order, a vendor license manager generates entitlements based on the order and prompts the partner to provide a customer identifier corresponding to a customer account maintained on the vendor cloud. Once the license manager receives the customer identifier, the license manager provisions the license entitlements to the customer account.