Abstract: A passive magnetic detection and discrimination system and method having at least one sensing structure with a plurality of magnetic inductive sensors arranged on a rigid framework; at least one screening area defined by one or more sensing structures, including a plurality of magnetic inductive sensors structured to respond to a magnetized object passing thereby; and a processor and a memory operatively connected to the plurality of sensors and configured to receive data corresponding to amplitude waveforms created in each of the plurality of sensors by the magnetized object. Based on characteristic waveforms, the system detects and discriminates the magnetized object, alternatively or in addition the system utilizes an artificial intelligence or machine learning module to improve identification of a magnetized object based on the characteristic waveforms created by the magnetized object.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementations for detecting a target object via a security post. A plurality of sections are arranged in a vertical direction. Each section is designated to detect the target object in a vertical range by receiving information related to magnetic field from one or more sensors, analyzing the sensed information to extract features characterizing the magnetic field variations in the corresponding vertical range, and determining whether the target object is present in the vertical range based on the extracted features. When the target object is detected by a section, an alarm associated with the section is triggered to indicate the detection. An overall detection result is determined based on the detection result from each of the sections and is displayed on a display screen.

Abstract: A detectable label and associated methods of making a detectable label are provided. One example of the detectable label may include a coil and a capacitor arranged in an LC circuit. The flux direction of the LC circuit is generally parallel a package when the detectable label is attached to the package.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance tag including a tag body member and a connecting member having a pin portion releasably engageable with the tag body member, wherein the pin portion extends along a first axis. The tag further includes a locking member having a clutch mechanism including a plunger member formed from a non-ferromagnetic material and an unlocking member connected to the clutch mechanism. The unlocking member is moveable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein during movement between the locked position and the unlocked position, the unlocking member moves the clutch mechanism between the first position corresponding to the locked state and the second position corresponding to the unlocked state.

Abstract: An apparatus for secondary wireless power transfer includes a WPT secondary pad that receives power wirelessly from a WPT primary pad. The secondary pad includes a first winding and a second winding in parallel with the first winding. The apparatus includes a first rectification section that receives power from the first winding and a second rectification section that receives power from the second winding. The first rectification section is connected in parallel with the second rectification section. The parallel connection between the first and second rectification sections form output terminals. The apparatus includes a switch connecting the first winding in series with the second winding and a controller that intermittently opens and closes the switch to control voltage and current at the output terminals.

Abstract: A mechanically actuated transmitter is disclosed. The transmitter can comprise a magnetoelastic member; a magnet adjacent to the magnetoelastic member for inducing magnetization in the magnetoelastic member; a mechanical driver for applying mechanical stress to the magnetoelastic material, thereby changing the magnetic permeability of the magnetoelastic material to change an external magnetic field.

Abstract: A folded coil label and associated methods of making a folded coil label are provided. On example folded core label may include a core, a coil, and a capacitor. The coil may be wrapped around the core and connected to the capacitor to form a resonant circuit. The coil may be formed of angled traces wrapped around the core to form turns of the coil, and each angled trace may be electrically and physically connected in series to an adjacent angled trace to form a helical structure of the coil.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing local service at a management console includes an accessory interface configured to engage a local service permission tool with a management console in a management enclosure for a computing system, the management enclosure having a closed position with predetermined boundary dimension and an open position, where during engagement with the management console, the local service permission tool prevents the management enclosure from being in the closed position. The apparatus includes a status module that detects whether the local service permission tool is engaged and an access module that disables one or more predetermined remote service functions of the management console in response to the status module detecting that the local service permission tool is engaged. A method and a system for performing local service at a management console perform similar functions to those of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a communication technique for combining a 5G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate than a 4G system with an IoT technology, and a system therefor. The present disclosure can be applied to 5G communication technology and IoT related technology-based intelligent services (for example, smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart cars or connected cars, health care, digital education, retail businesses, security and safety related services, etc.). A method in which a transmitter estimates a position in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises the steps of: transmitting, to a receiver, a magnetic field signal generated from a single coil included in the transmitter; and receiving, from the receiver, position information estimated on the basis of a received signal strength of the magnetic field signal.

Abstract: A method for improving a metal detector, including: processing at least one receive signal due to a receive magnetic field using at least two functions to produce two processed signals, the at least two functions are selected such that the first processed signal is more sensitive to deeply buried targets than the second processed signal; and the second processed signal is more sensitive to shallow-buried conductive objects with characteristic frequency greater than 100 kHz than the first processed signal but not sensitive to saline soil, and that the two processed signals substantially complement each other in terms of sensitivity to targets in terms of target frequency and detection depth; and processing the two processed signals to produce at least one output signal which is sensitive to deeply buried low-frequency targets, shallow-buried low-frequency targets and shallow-buried high-frequency targets while signals due to saline soil are substantially rejected from the output signal.

Abstract: This work provides event selection in the context of gas leak pinpointing using mobile gas concentration and atmospheric measurements. The main idea of the present approach is to use a moving minimum to estimate background gas concentration, as opposed to the conventional use of a moving average for this background estimation.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method. The apparatus includes an interference mitigation processor, including an input, and an output, the interference mitigation processor configured to sum n msec received correlators over m msec, and analyze the n msec correlators to reduce interference. The method includes summing, by an interference mitigation processor, n msec received correlators over m msec; and analyzing, by an interference mitigation processor, the n msec correlators to reduce interference.

Abstract: An environmental sensor for measuring physical quantities associated with a surrounding environment includes one or more sensor elements that detect the physical quantities, and a communication unit that transmits, when a physical quantity detected by at least one of the sensor elements included in the environmental sensor changes in accordance with a predetermined rule, a predetermined maintenance signal including unit identification information identifying at least the environmental sensor.

Abstract: Compact and power efficient acoustically actuated magnetoelectric antennas for transmitting and receiving very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic waves utilize magnetoelectric coupling in a magnetic/piezoelectric heterostructure to provide voltage control of magnetization in transmission mode and magnetic control of electric polarization in receiving mode. The magnetoelectric antennas provide a power efficiency enhanced by orders of magnitude compared to magnetically or mechanically switching the magnetization. The antennas can be used in groups or arrays and can be combined to form VLF communication systems.

Abstract: A magnetic field based micro-vibration measurement device and a measuring therefore are provided, which are applied in a micro-vibration measurement technical field. Fluxgate sensors and a control processing circuit are included. Each of the fluxgate sensors is disposed with an excitation coil and an induction coil that are mutually corresponding; the control processing circuit includes: an excitation signal generating module, a frequency-selective amplifying module, a phase-sensitive rectifying module, a smooth filtering module an ambient magnetic field acquisition module, and a vibration data statistics module. Excitation coils generate excitation magnetic field signals according to the excitation signal sent from the excitation signal generating module the induction coils are for generating induced current signals according to the receive excitation magnetic field signal and the ambient magnetic field signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a marker. The method comprising: receiving, by a communications element of the marker, a marker deactivation signal from an external device; and causing a coil surrounding at least the marker's resonator to be shorted in response to the marker deactivation signal, by supplying power to a deactivation element so that the deactivation element switches from an open state to a closed state. In some scenarios, the power is supplied by an energy harvesting element disposed in the marker.

Abstract: A combination of a media display and an electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection system is provided for use with an RF security tag, the combination comprising: a base for retaining a power supply, housing a system controller and each of the media display and the EAS such that the media display is proximate the EAS, the media display including a plurality of LCD screens, an at least one electrical line in electrical communication with the power supply and the plurality of LCD screens; the EAS including a transceiver, and an at least one RF antenna that is an emitter and an at least one RF antenna that is a receiver or an at least one RF antenna that is a combination emitter and receiver, the RF antennae in electronic communication with the transceiver; and a physical shield, the physical shield located between at least the plurality of LCD screens and the RF antennae of the EAS detection system.

Abstract: Near field detection using a magnetometer is disclosed. A transmitter may distort magnetometer measurements of Earth's magnetic field by producing rapid but controlled fluctuations to encode a specific message in a manipulated magnetic field. When a mobile device is brought in range of the transmitter, a magnetometer of the mobile device detects that manipulated magnetic field. An application running on the mobile device forms messages based on the magnetometer output. In response to detecting the specific message, the application may execute an action on the mobile device or a remote device. NFC read-based near field detection similarly involves the application accessing an NFC chip of the mobile device, and scanning for one or more particular NFC tags that are read by the NFC chip. In response to detecting a particular NFC tag, the application executes an action on the mobile device or a remote device.

Abstract: A transceiver circuit including: a substrate; a signal coupler configured on the substrate and including a coiled first conductive layer pattern; and a notch filter configured on the substrate and including a coiled second conductive layer pattern; wherein each of the first conductive layer pattern and the second conductive layer pattern is arranged as a substantially symmetrical pattern with respect to a first virtual axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a measuring arrangement for detecting an object (3) hidden behind an article (1). The method comprises the following steps: applying a first alternating voltage (5) to a first sensor (7); applying a second alternating voltage (9) to a second sensor (11) arranged adjacent to the first sensor (7); determining an effect (15) of the article (1) on at least one of the alternating voltages (5, 9) depending on a distance (13) of the sensor (7, 11) to the article (1); determining a change (17) in the dependent effect (15) occurring during a movement (19) of the sensor (7, 11) along the article (1); and detecting the object (3) in accordance with the change (17) of the dependent effect (15).

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure include an apparatus configured to and methods for the transfer of wireless power. The apparatus comprises a first coil enclosing a first area. The apparatus also comprises a second coil enclosing a second area different than the first area, the second coil positioned to be at least partially coplanar with the first coil. The apparatus further comprises a ferrite material and a third coil and a fourth coil each wound about the ferrite material, the third coil at least partially enclosed by the first coil and the fourth coil at least partially enclosed by the second coil.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a marker. The methods comprise: disposing a resonator with a flat planar cross-sectional profile in a cavity formed in a first substrate partially defining a marker housing; sealing the cavity using a second substrate; placing a first bias element adjacent to the second substrate so that the resonator will be biased by the first bias element when the marker is in use to oscillate at a frequency of a received transmit burst; and using a physical structure in the cavity or a magnetic field passing through the cavity to reduce frictional forces between the resonator and at least the second substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods to wirelessly transmit power are provided. A coil assembly is provided. In some examples, the coil assembly is configured to generate a signal in response to an ambient field, and to magnetically couple with a device to deliver power to the device.

Abstract: Systems of detecting high-voltage lines to guard against electrocution when using heavy machinery are disclosed. Systems of the inventive subject matter include an antenna to detect the high-voltage line, and upon detection, the system can cut power to a movement system of the heavy machinery. A manual override is provided so that a user can remove the heavy machinery from an area at risk of causing electrocution either by contact with the high-voltage line or by arcing from the high-voltage line.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a capacitor can having one or more capacitors. The monitoring system includes an antenna. The monitoring system includes at least one sensor disposed within the capacitor can and configured to detect an operating characteristic associated with health of the one or more capacitors of the capacitor can. The monitoring system includes a processor configured to receive a first signal from the at least one sensor indicative of the operating characteristic. The processor is configured to send a second signal, via the antenna, indicative of a value of the operating characteristic to a receiving device outside of the capacitor can.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a device configured as one or both of a spin wave generator or a spin wave detector. In one aspect, the device includes a magnetostrictive film and a deformation film physically connected to the magnetorestrictive film. The device also includes an acoustic isolation surrounding the magnetostrictive film and the deformation film to form an acoustic resonator. When the device is configured as the spin wave generator, the deformation film is configured to undergo a change physical dimensions in response to an actuation, where the change in the physical dimensions of the deformation film induces a mechanical stress in the magnetostrictive film to cause a change in the magnetization of the magnetostrictive film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system integrated to product labels in order to allow checking authenticity of products. The system of the present application comprises a near field communication (NFC) chip and a near field communication (NFC) chip antenna. The system is basically an integrated solution allowing checking whether a product with a label or barcode is original or not, by means of assigning parameters formed by novel encryption algorithms running on servers to NFC or RFID chips and then providing their online inquiry for preventing imitation of labels and barcodes.

Abstract: A smart crib is provided that includes a horizontal support platform and one or more vertical surfaces connected thereto that enclose a space above the horizontal support platform and/or define a space above the horizontal support platform. The horizontal support platform and/or the vertical surfaces may include one or more sensors that can be used to learn behavior of the crib occupant and/or determine conditions of the occupant and/or environment of the crib and/or the crib's surrounding area. The crib may receive responses from a client device and/or automatically act upon a detected condition in the crib or with the occupant.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (1500, 1600) for operating a Security Tag (“ST”). The methods involve communicating a Wireless Signal (“WS”) to ST (132) tag attached to an article (102) when a successful purchase thereof has been verified. WS includes a detach command. A mechanical component (922) of ST is caused to be released in response to a reception of WS at ST, whereby a pin (308) of ST transitions from an engaged position to an unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to ST. An end (1002) of the pin resides within an aperture (1102) formed in a first portion (312) of an enclosure (302) spaced apart from a second portion (310) of the enclosure by a gap when the pin is in the engaged position. The pin is fully retracted into the second portion when it is in the unengaged position.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (1500) for operating a security tag. The methods involve: converting rotational motion of a pinion gear in a first direction into linear motion of a rack gear in a second direction so as to cause a pin to transition from an unengaged state in which the pin is retracted into a first portion of an enclosure to an engaged state in which an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in a second portion spaced apart from the first portion of the enclosure; mechanically retaining the pin in the engaged position using a pawl that prevents movement of the pinion gear in a third direction opposed to the first direction; and automatically releasing the pawl in response to a reception of a wireless signal at the security tag, whereby the pin is returns to the unengaged state.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and nonmagnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and nonmagnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone.

Abstract: A distance of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tag on an item from a scanner is determined when a code for the item is read by the scanner. When the distance is greater than a predefined distance, a delay period is initiated and when the delay period expires with the EAS tag not having been placed within the predefined distance from the scanner, an alert is raised to an operator of a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal.

Abstract: A wireless power line sensing device can include an external antenna port that permits connection of an external loop antenna to the wireless power line sensing device. The external loop antenna can be used in place of the integral loop antenna which can be disabled when the external loop antenna is connected. The external loop antenna can extend substantially linearly to define a non-spherical sensing field. The wireless sensing device can also include an ultracapacitor that provides power to the wireless sensing device and/or a curved solar panel that maximizes the solar input over a wide range of angles, providing power over a longer period of time compared to a flat solar panel.

Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner includes a chassis that supports a motor and a camera that is associated with the chassis and configured to identify at least one object. A controller is in communication with the camera and is configured to control movement of the pool cleaner based on output from the camera.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance (EAS) assembly is installable in a workstation that processes products associated with targets to be electro-optically read. The assembly includes a radio frequency (RF) antenna having a pair of RF feed lines and a conductive loop for generating an electromagnetic field to deactivate EAS tags associated with the products to be processed, and a protective carrier for supporting and protecting the antenna during the installation in a predetermined position in the workstation.

Abstract: The invention provides a target object detection system, comprising a plurality of sensing nodes (10) for positioning at respective detection locations with respect to a detection area (12) that is situated within a field generated by an ambient AC source of excitation. Each sensing node has at least one electric potential sensor (22, 42) designed to detect perturbations in said field caused by a target object (14), said one sensor including an electrode (20, 40) responsive to the AC excitation field for generating detection signals, an amplifier (28) connected to the electrode for receiving and amplifying the detection signals to produce AC measurement signals as output, and at least one feedback circuit (30, 36) from an output of the amplifier to an input thereof for enhancing the input impedance of the amplifier.

Abstract: A surgical imaging system includes a light source configured to illuminate a portion of a surgical environment and a light sensor configured to receive light from the illuminated portion in response to the illumination. The surgical imaging system determines spectrographic content of the received light and uses the determined spectrographic content to identify the illuminated portion of the surgical environment; for example, to determine that the portion contains a surgical instrument, a foreign body, a suture, a particular type of tissue, a blood vessel, and/or a fluorescent marker. This identification of the illuminated portion of the surgical environment could be used to implement a surgical intervention. For example, a surgical laser could be operated, based on such generated identification information, to ablate cancerous tissue in the surgical environment that is marked with a fluorophore while avoiding ablating any sutures or surgical instruments disposed in the surgical environment.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus, including: a feeder mechanism that feeds a sheet in a sheet-feeding direction; a metal-detector antenna capable of detecting an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag on the sheet entirely in the carriage-moving direction over the sheet; a carriage that moves back and forth in the carriage-moving direction and includes a print head, the print head forming an image on an area of the sheet, the area having passed the metal-detector antenna; an NFC antenna on the carriage, the NFC antenna being capable of communicating with the NFC tag via near field communication; and an NFC writer that writes NFC data in the NFC tag via the NFC antenna.

Abstract: An adjustable security sensor device is described. The device comprises a magnetic field sensor, a user input element, and a processor. The magnetic field sensor measures and samples magnetic fields from a magnet external to the device. The magnetic field sensor generates a first range of magnetic fields measurements sampled based on a first position of the magnet relative to the magnetic field sensor. The user input element identifies a second range of magnetic fields measurements based on a second position of the magnet relative to the magnetic field sensor. The device generates a sampling of magnetic fields measurements using the magnetic field sensor, compares the sampling of magnetic fields measurements with the first range of magnetic fields measurements and the second range of magnetic fields measurements, and identifies a position of the device relative to the magnet based on the comparison.

Abstract: A sensor package is disclosed that includes, a compass, an accelerometer, and an electromagnetic flux tag based open/close sensor. The compass may be activated by a microcontroller in response to an indication of movement detected by an accelerometer. The compass's data may be utilized to determine an orientation for the object such as a door on which the sensor package is situated. The orientation data may indicate that the door is ajar and/or that a second magnetic field is present, suggesting tampering. A notice may be dispatched to a controller for the home security system, a client device, a remote system, etc.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for scanning articles, such as footwear, to provide information regarding the contents of the articles are described. According to one aspect, a footwear scanning system includes a platform configured to contact footwear to be scanned, an antenna array configured to transmit electromagnetic waves through the platform into the footwear and to receive electromagnetic waves from the footwear and the platform, a transceiver coupled with antennas of the antenna array and configured to apply electrical signals to at least one of the antennas to generate the transmitted electromagnetic waves and to receive electrical signals from at least another of the antennas corresponding to the electromagnetic waves received by the others of the antennas, and processing circuitry configured to process the received electrical signals from the transceiver to provide information regarding contents within the footwear.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (1700) for providing a marker (102). The methods comprise forming a magnetic core (200) having a bone shape defined by two end portions (208, 212) and a center potion (210) disposed between the two end portions. The end portions each have a cross-sectional area larger than a cross-sectional area of the center portion. A coil (224) is disposed around the center portion. The coil is coupled to a passive electronic component (206) so as to form a resonator. The resonator is disposed in a housing (126) of the marker. The resonator resonates when an interrogation signal is produced by a transmitter circuit (112) located remote from and in proximity to the marker, whereby a variation in a magnetic field occurs.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to managing characteristics of a mobile device based upon capacitive detection of materials proximate the mobile device, a capacitive gesture system that can allow the same gestures be used in arbitrary locations within range of a mobile device. One such method includes receiving a first capacitive sensor measurement with a first capacitive sensor of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a value indicative of a material adjacent to the mobile device based on a correspondence between the first capacitive sensor measurement and stored values corresponding to different materials. The method further includes sending instructions to adjust a characteristic of the mobile device based on the determined value indicative of the material adjacent to the mobile device. In certain examples, gesture sensing can be performed using capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: A multilayer casing device for attenuating electromagnetic waves is made of at least one textile material, at least one metal material. The device is made up of a stack provided with at least, consecutively from the inside to the outside: a first diamagnetic metal material layer at least partially made of copper, a second textile layer at least partially made of wool or cotton, a third layer made of a ferromagnetic material, and a fourth textile layer at least partially made of wool and cotton. The device is also made up of a complementary stack of identical layers (the second textile layer, the third ferromagnetic layer and the fourth textile layer) extending symmetrically in relation to the first copper layer.

Abstract: A detection system for detecting the presence and direction of a subject moving through a doorway is disclosed. The system comprises magnets disposed on the doorway, a communication device, typically a smartphone and a server. The magnets are positioned on the doorway to create a magnetic field across the doorway. When the subject having the smartphone on the body passes through the doorway, a magnetometer in the smartphone senses perturbations caused by the magnetic field and generates signals corresponding to the sensed perturbations and a processor of the smartphone processes the signals to detect the presence and direction of the subject through the doorway. The data generated by the processor and a unique identification associated with the smartphone is transmitted to the remotely located server.

Abstract: For a secure attention indicator at a mobile device, a method is disclosed for detecting a secure attention indicator at a mobile computing device, the secure attention indicator comprising input from one or more of a microphone, a touch sensor, an accelerometer, a photoreceptor, and an orientation sensor, notifying the mobile computing device in response to detecting the secure attention indicator, and executing secure trusted executable code in response to the notification, the secure trusted executable code not modifiable by a user.

Abstract: A magnetic field probe, a magnetic field measurement system, and a magnetic field measurement method are provided. The magnetic field probe includes a probe head. The probe head includes a first and second inner metal layer. The first inner metal layer includes a first sensing part and a first connecting part coupled thereto. The first sensing part is configured for detecting a magnetic field signal of a device under test to form a first magnetic field distribution signal. The second inner metal layer includes a second sensing part and a second connecting part coupled thereto. The second sensing part is configured for detecting the magnetic field signal of the device under test to form a second magnetic field distribution signal. A distance between the first sensing part and the device under test is smaller than that between the second sensing part and the device under test.

Abstract: A magnetic permeability detector includes an LC oscillator circuit including a coil and a capacitor; and a resistor connected in series with the coil.

Abstract: A surgical imaging system includes a light source configured to illuminate a portion of a surgical environment and a light sensor configured to receive light from the illuminated portion in response to the illumination. The surgical imaging system determines spectrographic content of the received light and uses the determined spectrographic content to identify the illuminated portion of the surgical environment; for example, to determine that the portion contains a surgical instrument, a foreign body, a suture, a particular type of tissue, a blood vessel, and/or a fluorescent marker. This identification of the illuminated portion of the surgical environment could be used to implement a surgical intervention. For example, a surgical laser could be operated, based on such generated identification information, to ablate cancerous tissue in the surgical environment that is marked with a fluorophore while avoiding ablating any sutures or surgical instruments disposed in the surgical environment.