Hand instruments with shaped shafts for use in laparoscopic surgery

A surgical instrument for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures is disclosed that includes an elongated shaped outer shaft having opposed proximal and distal end portions, and having a non-circular cross-sectional profile, an end effector operatively associated with a distal end portion of the shaped outer shaft and including a pair of cooperating jaw members configured for movement between open and closed positions, a proximal handle assembly operatively associated with a proximal end portion of the shaped outer shaft and including a pivoting actuation handle, and an elongated actuation member extending through the shaped outer shaft from the proximal handle assembly to the end effector, whereby movement of the actuation handle causes corresponding movement of the cooperating jaw members.

Transmission medium and method for facilitating propagation of electromagnetic waves via a core

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission medium for propagating electromagnetic waves. The transmission medium can include a core for propagating electromagnetic waves guided by the core without an electrical return path, a rigid material surrounding the core, wherein an inner surface of the rigid material is separated from an outer surface of the core, and a conductive layer disposed on the rigid material. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Repeater and methods for use therewith

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a repeater device having a first coupler to extract downstream channel signals from first guided electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium of a guided wave communication system. An amplifier amplifies the downstream channel signals to generate amplified downstream channel signals. A channel selection filter selects one or more of the amplified downstream channel signals to wirelessly transmit to the at least one client device via an antenna. A second coupler guides the amplified downstream channel signals to the transmission medium of the guided wave communication system to propagate as second guided electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Chemoepitaxy etch trim using a self aligned hard mask for metal line to via

A method of forming metal lines that are aligned to underlying metal features that includes forming a neutral layer atop a hardmask layer that is overlying a dielectric layer. The neutral layer is composed of a neutral charged di-block polymer. Patterning the neutral layer, the hardmask layer and the dielectric layer to provide openings that are filled with a metal material to provide metal features. A self-assembled di-block copolymer material is deposited on a patterned surface of the neutral layer and the metal features. The self-assembled di-block copolymer material includes a first block composition with a first affinity for alignment to the metal features. The first block composition of the self-assembled di-block copolymer is converted to a metal that is self-aligned to the metal features.

Repeater and methods for use therewith

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a repeater device having a first coupler to extract downstream channel signals from first guided electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium of a guided wave communication system. An amplifier amplifies the downstream channel signals to generate amplified downstream channel signals. A channel selection filter selects one or more of the amplified downstream channel signals to wirelessly transmit to the at least one client device via an antenna. A second coupler guides the amplified downstream channel signals to the transmission medium of the guided wave communication system to propagate as second guided electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

INJECTOR FOR SEMICONDUCTOR EPITAXY GROWTH

A processing chamber with a top, a bottom, and a sidewall coupled together to define an enclosure, a substrate support having a substrate supporting surface, an energy source coupled to the top or the bottom, and a gas injector liner disposed at the sidewall. The gas injector liner comprises a first plurality of gas outlets disposed at a first height, wherein one or more of the first plurality of gas outlets are oriented upwardly or downwardly, a second plurality of gas outlets disposed at a second height shorter than the first height, wherein one or more of the second plurality of gas outlets are oriented upwardly or downwardly, and a third plurality of gas outlets disposed at a third height shorter than the second height, wherein one or more of the third plurality of gas outlets are oriented upwardly or downwardly with respect to the substrate supporting surface.

Reactor system for sublimation of pre-clean byproducts and method thereof

A reactor system and related methods are provided which may include a heating element in a wafer tray. The heating element may be used to heat the wafer tray and a substrate or wafer seated on the wafer tray within a reaction chamber assembly, and may be used to cause sublimation of a native oxide of the wafer.

FINFET structures and methods of forming the same

FinFETs and methods of forming finFETs are described. According to some embodiments, a structure includes a channel region, first and second source/drain regions, a dielectric layer, and a gate electrode. The channel region includes semiconductor layers above a substrate. Each of the semiconductor layers is separated from neighboring ones of the semiconductor layers, and each of the semiconductor layers has first and second sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls are aligned along a first and second plane, respectively, extending perpendicularly to the substrate. The first and second source/drain regions are disposed on opposite sides of the channel region. The semiconductor layers extend from the first source/drain region to the second source/drain region. The dielectric layer contacts the first and second sidewalls of the semiconductor layers, and the dielectric layer extends into a region between the first plane and the second plane. The gate electrode is over the dielectric layer.

Method and system for coexistence of radar and communication systems

A method for coexistence with a pulsed interference source in a communications network includes receiving a communications signal, determining a first portion of the communications signal that is affected by the pulsed interference source, blanking the first portion of the communications signal, and processing the communications signal.

Unmanned aerial vehicle management

A base module may be used to receive and house one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) via one or more cavities. The base module receives commands from a manager device and identifies a flight plan that allows a UAV to execute the received commands. The base module transfers the flight plan to the UAV and frees the UAV. Once the UAV returns, the base module once again receives it. The base module then receives sensor data from the UAV from one or more sensors onboard the UAV, and optionally receives additional information describing its flight and identifying success or failure of the flight plan. The base module transmits the sensor data and optionally the additional information to a storage medium locally or remotely accessible by the manager device.