Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for wound treatment. In some embodiments, a negative pressure source is incorporated into a wound dressing apparatus so that the wound dressing and the negative pressure source are part of an integral or integrated wound dressing structure that applies the wound dressing and the negative pressure source simultaneously to a patient's wound. The negative pressure source and/or electronic components may be positioned between a wound contact layer and a cover layer of the wound dressing. A component may be used to prevent wound exudate from contacting the inlet of the negative pressure source.

Abstract: A pallet sled includes a base and a plurality of tines extending forward from the base. At least one of the plurality of tines includes a wheel supporting the tine away from the base. A brake assembly is positioned adjacent the wheel to selectively brake the wheel. The brake assembly may include a drum adjacent the wheel. Alternatively, the brake assembly may include a brake shoe selectively directly contacting the wheel to brake the sled.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating the usage of a mobile communications device that itself provides access to a resource. In the method, a detected usage of the mobile communications device is compared to a stored usage pattern of an authorized user. When a measure associated with the difference between the detected usage and the stored usage pattern exceeds a threshold, it is concluded that the mobile communications device is being used by an unauthorized user. In response to this conclusion, a restriction is placed on an ability of the mobile communications device to access the resource.

Abstract: Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a wound dressing, negative pressure source, user interface, sensor, and control circuitry. The user interface can receive an activation input. The sensor can detect whether the wound dressing is positioned over a wound. The control circuitry can cause supply of negative pressure in response to receipt of the activation input and a determination that the sensor detects that the wound dressing is positioned over the wound. In addition, the control circuitry can prevent supply of negative pressure in response to a determination that the sensor does not detect that the wound dressing is positioned over the wound.

Abstract: A container moving assembly includes a frame with a drive wheel pivotably attached to the frame about a steering axis. A pair of guide wheels are rotatably attached relative to the frame opposite the drive wheel. A platform lifting assembly is pivotable relative to the frame and includes an engagement platform for supporting a container.

Abstract: Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a driving circuit that supplies a driving signal to a negative pressure source to cause the negative pressure source to provide negative pressure via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing. The apparatus furthers include a controller that adjusts a frequency of the driving signal supplied by the driving circuit according to a comparison of a previous magnitude and a subsequent magnitude of the driving signal while the negative pressure source provides negative pressure. The transfer of power to the negative pressure source can thereby be tuned to maximize an amount of power transferred to the negative pressure source.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing a mobile communications device with access to a provider with a plurality of security levels. The security state of the device varies according to severity levels of device security events. The mobile communications device generates data regarding security events and provides the data to the provider, which compares that security state to a policy associated with the provider. The mobile communications device is allowed to access to a provider service where the device's current security state meets or exceeds the security state required for the provider service.

Abstract: A wearable impact protection system is provided that includes an inner layer of a first shear thickening material that faces a wearer in use, an outer layer of a second shear thickening material and an intermediate deformable layer. In one example the impact protection system is provided in the form of a helmet.

Abstract: A computing system for enabling the analysis of multiple raw data sets whilst protecting the privacy of information within the raw data sets, the system comprising a plurality of synthetic data generators and a data hub. Each synthetic data generator is configured to: access a corresponding raw data set stored in a corresponding one of a plurality of raw data stores; produce, based on the corresponding raw data set, a synthetic data generator model configured to generate a synthetic data set representative of the corresponding raw data set; and push synthetic information including at least one of the corresponding synthetic data set and the synthetic data generator model to the data hub. The data hub is configured to store the synthetic information received from the synthetic data generators for access by one or more clients for analysis.

Abstract: The method disclosed herein provides for performing user authentication and maintaining user authentication and access to a first device based on the user maintaining control of the first device. The continued control may be based on determining the user's continued possession of the first device, or determining an acceptable proximity of the user to the first device. The proximity of the user may be determined using a second device associated with the user, or sensors associated with the first device.

Abstract: Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a wound dressing, negative pressure source, user interface, sensor, and control circuitry. The user interface can receive an activation input. The sensor can detect whether the wound dressing is positioned over a wound. The control circuitry can cause supply of negative pressure in response to receipt of the activation input and a determination that the sensor detects that the wound dressing is positioned over the wound. In addition, the control circuitry can prevent supply of negative pressure in response to a determination that the sensor does not detect that the wound dressing is positioned over the wound.

Abstract: A thermal cutting element for a surgical instrument includes a substrate, a Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) coating disposed on the substrate, and a heating element disposed on the PEO coating and including first and second end portions adapted to connect to different potentials of electrical energy to heat the heating element. A jaw member of a surgical instrument includes a structural frame including a proximal flange portion and a distal body portion, a jaw housing surrounding the distal body portion of the structural frame, a tissue-treating plate disposed atop the jaw housing and defining a longitudinal slot therethrough along at least a portion of a length thereof, and the thermal cutting element disposed within the longitudinal slot.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermal cutting element for a surgical instrument includes manufacturing a substrate, coating at least a portion of the substrate via Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO), and disposing a heating element on at least a portion of the PEO-coated substrate. The method may further include attaching the thermal cutting element to a jaw member of a surgical instrument.

Abstract: An energy generator includes a connector port configured to couple to an electrosurgical instrument including an electrode having a polymeric dielectric coating; a power converter configured to generate energy; and a sensor coupled to the power converter and configured to sense a parameter of the energy. The energy generator also includes a controller coupled to the sensor and the power converter. The controller is configured to: control the power converter to output energy to modify an electrical property of the polymeric dielectric coating; and determine whether the electrical property of the polymeric dielectric coating has been sufficiently modified by the energy.

Abstract: The method disclosed herein provides for performing device authentication based on the of proximity to another device, such as a key device. When a key device is not near a mobile communications device, an unlock screen is allowed to be presented on a display screen. Based on the mobile communications device receiving a first code to unlock the mobile communications device, the mobile communications device is unlocked in a first mode. Based on receiving a second code while the unlocked mobile communications device is in the first mode, the unlocked mobile communications device changes from the first mode to a second mode, wherein a level of functionality of the mobile communications device in the second mode is greater than a level of functionality of the mobile communications device in the first mode.

Abstract: A method of testing an emergency network, includes: simulating, by test logic, a public emergency network entity and a plurality of interfaces between the public emergency network entity and a test device; monitoring, by the test logic, the plurality of interfaces to determine that data flowed correctly on each interface in response to an emergency alert sent from the test device such that the emergency alert is not actually sent to the public emergency network entity; and determining, by the test logic, a test status for each interface indicating a success or failure of a test, for each interface, the test status based on data correctness such that the test confirms that the emergency alert and associated emergency data would be sent to the public emergency network entity correctly.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein aim to improve environmental sensing by providing a computationally efficient and accurate means for fusing sensor data and using this fused data to control sensors to focus on areas that would most reduce the uncertainty in the sensing system. In this way, the system can direct sensors to focus on the most important areas and features within the environment in order to provide the most effective sensor data (e.g. for use by a control system). The methods described herein make use of multi-agent sensor-action fusion. The methods are multi-agent in that a set of machine learning agents are trained in order to control the sensors to focus on the most important features and regions. The embodiments implement sensor-action fusion in that sensor fusion is performed in order to obtain a combined view of the environment and this combined view is utilised to determine the most appropriate actions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a wound treatment apparatus with electronic components integrated within a wound dressing. In some embodiments, a wound dressing apparatus can comprise a wound contact layer, an absorbent layer over the wound contact layer, the absorbent layer comprising one or more apertures, a cover layer configured to cover and form a seal over the wound contact layer and the absorbent layer, and an electronics assembly comprising a negative pressure source. A portion of the cover layer overlying the one or more apertures in the absorbent layer can be configured to be compressed within the aperture in the absorbent layer when negative pressure is applied to the wound dressing apparatus. The compressed cover layer can indicate a level of negative pressure below the cover layer. In some embodiments, the wound dressing apparatus can comprise an indicator material layer and a cover layer configured to cover and form a seal over the wound contact layer and the indicator material layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for safe operation of a wound treatment apparatus with electronic components integrated on or within a wound dressing. In some embodiments, the electronic components include a power source, an isolation circuit, a controller, a capacitor, and a negative pressure source. The isolation circuit provides multiple activation states with at least one state preventing application of power to the other electronic components capable of storing electrical energy, thereby providing a safe operation of the apparatus. For example, sterilization of the apparatus can be performed safely.

Abstract: A fan assembly and associated methods are disclosed. In one example, the fan assembly includes an electric motor and motor controller with a heat exchanger coupled between the motor controller and an airflow pathway of the fan assembly. In selected examples, a method of operating a fan assembly includes cooling a motor controller that is located external to an airflow pathway by conducting heat from the motor controller into the airflow pathway using a heat exchanger.