Abstract:
A solar vapor generator includes an absorber to absorb sunlight and an emitter, in thermal communication with the absorber, to radiatively evaporate a liquid under less than 1 sun illumination and without pressurization. The emitter is physically separated from the liquid, substantially reducing fouling of the emitter. The absorber and the emitter may also be heated to temperatures higher than the boiling point of the liquid and may thus may be used to further superheat the vapor. Solar vapor generation can provide the basis for many sustainable desalination, sanitization, and process heating technologies.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to methodology for preventing increased cardiovascular disease in subjects with diabetes mellitus. The methods include the use of compounds to inhibit activation of the extracellular response kinase pathway, activate 5′ adenosine monophosphate protein kinase, and inhibit microRNA-221 and microRNA-222 for the purpose of reducing microRNA-221 and -222 levels in the vasculature. Reduction of microRNA-221 and -222 in the vasculature of diabetic patients restores normal levels of intimal thickening and enhances the effectiveness of the standard of care in diabetic subjects.
Abstract:
Robotic surgical tools, systems, and methods for preparing for and performing robotic surgery include a memory mounted on the tool. The memory can perform a number of functions when the tool is loaded on the tool manipulator: first, the memory can provide a signal verifying that the tool is compatible with that particular robotic system. Secondly, the tool memory may identify the tool-type to the robotic system so that the robotic system can reconfigure its programming. Thirdly, the memory of the tool may indicate tool-specific information, including measured calibration offsets indicating misalignment of the tool drive system, tool life data, or the like. This information may be stored in a read only memory (ROM), or in a nonvolatile memory which can be written to only a single time. The invention further provides improved engagement structures for coupling robotic surgical tools with manipulator structures.
Abstract:
A container protection apparatus comprises a protector and one or more flanges disposed along a circumference of the lower end of the protector. The flanges extend inwardly toward a central axis of the protector and flex about the lower end of the protector. An expandable longitudinal slot runs down the length of the protector from its upper end to its lower end. When the protector is coaxially positioned, force fitted, and moved down the length of the container having a wheel at its lower end, till the lower end of the protector projects beyond a lower edge of the wheel, the width of the longitudinal slot narrows, the inner surface of the protector snap-fits around the outer surface of the container, and the flanges engage with a cylindrical surface and a lower surface of the wheel, thereby preventing the wheel from being inadvertently turned.
Abstract:
A machine for canning tuna and similar food products comprises a conveyor belt feeder, a plurality of dosing chambers aligned with the feeder and formed in a rotor rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the feed direction, a mouth connecting the feeder to the dosing chambers, a blade to separate the product introduced in the dosing chambers from the bulk of fed product so as to obtain product cakes, shaping means suitable to shape the cakes into the desired shape and transferring means arranged at a second station reachable through a partial rotation of the rotor to transfer the shaped cakes into the cans carried by another rotor. The connecting mouth has a cross-section of substantially constant shape and the shaping is performed in the dosing chambers by shapers radially mobile along the arms of the rotor when the dosing chambers are still aligned with the feeder.
Abstract:
A feeder for a machine for canning tuna and similar food products includes a feeding device with conveyor belts. The feeding device is suitable to feed tuna loins towards the conveyor belt of the canning machine and to shape the loins into loins having a set thickness. An outlet mouth is located at the end of the belts, together with a knife adjacent to the mouth and suitable to separate the portion of loin projecting through the latter. A mobile wall located opposite the outlet mouth is also provided, as well as a mobile shovel suitable to move the newly formed tuna pat perpendicularly in the direction of motion of the conveyor belt of the canning machine.
Abstract:
A surgical instrument is inserted through a guide tube. A telemanipulation system moves the distal end of the surgical instrument in all six Cartesian degrees of freedom independently of any guide tube movements.
Abstract:
The distal end of a surgical instrument is movable in all six Cartesian degrees of freedom independently of other components of a telemanipulated surgical system. The surgical instrument extends trough a guide tube. The distal end is moved by actuators that are telemanipulatively controlled.
Abstract:
A surgical instrument has a parallel motion mechanism coupled between an instrument body segment and the instrument's distal end. The parallel motion mechanism changes the end effector's position without changing the end effector's orientation. In an aspect of the invention, the parallel motion mechanism and the body segment have essentially the same cross section so that the parallel motion mechanism can be inserted through a guide tube. In an aspect of the invention, the parallel motion mechanism is telemanipulatively controlled.
Abstract:
A compact capstan includes a drum, a coupled hub, a passage extending through the drum and hub, and a shaft extending through the drum and hub. The shaft engages the passage such that the shaft can transmit a torsional force to the drum and the hub which are free to move along the length of the shaft. The drum includes a spiral groove to receive a cable loop wound around the drum. The hub has a thread with substantially the same pitch as the spiral groove to engage a threaded support such that the hub and the drum move laterally along their length relative to the threaded support as the hub and the drum are rotated. The shaft has a length that is substantially greater than the passage such that the shaft extends beyond both ends of the passage.