Adapter assemblies for interconnecting surgical loading units and handle assemblies

An adapter assembly includes an elongated body, a switch, a sensor link, and an annular member. The elongated body includes a proximal portion configured to couple to a handle assembly and a distal portion configured to couple to a surgical loading unit. The switch is configured to be toggled in response to the surgical loading unit being coupled to the distal portion of the adapter assembly. The sensor link is disposed within the distal portion of the adapter assembly and biased toward a distal position. The sensor link is longitudinally movable between a proximal position and the distal position. The annular member is disposed within the distal portion and is rotatable between a first orientation, in which the annular member prevents distal movement of the sensor link, and a second orientation, in which the sensor link moves distally to toggle the switch.

Methods for forming a metallic film on a substrate by cyclical deposition and related semiconductor device structures

Methods for forming a metallic film on a substrate by cyclical deposition are provided. In some embodiments methods may include contacting the substrate with a first reactant comprising a non-halogen containing metal precursor comprising at least one of copper, nickel or cobalt and contacting the substrate with a second reactant comprising a hydrocarbon substituted hydrazine. In some embodiments related semiconductor device structures may include at least a portion of a metallic interconnect formed by cyclical deposition processes.

Hydration sensor

A hydration sensor is provided that includes a circulator having a plurality of ports, an amplitude-modulated coherent source connected to a first port of the circulator, a rectifier or other power sensor connected to a second port of the circulator followed by an RF baseband low-noise amplifier, a coupling structure connected to the third port of the circulator, and a demodulator connected to the output of the rectifier. The hydration sensor can include an RF low noise amplifier between the circulator and rectifier, and/or a second amplitude modulator between the circulator and the coupling structure. The coupling structure can be either a guided-wave near-field structure or an interfacial capacitive or inductive element. In the former case, the hydration is determined by measuring the reflectivity of the guided-wave radiation, and in the latter case it is determined by measuring the change of reflectivity (through change of impedance) of the interfacial element.

Surgical procedure planning system with multiple feedback loops

A surgical procedure planning system and method that uses multiple feedback loops to optimize creation or design of future surgical preoperative plans.

VAPOR PHASE FILM-FORMING APPARATUS

In an embodiment, a vapor phase film-forming apparatus 10 includes a susceptor 12 for holding a film forming substrate 14. A flow channel 40 is formed horizontally by the opposite surface 20 facing the susceptor 12. In the flow channel 40, a material gas introduction port 42 and material gas and a purge gas exhaust port 48 are provided. On the opposite surface 20, many purge gas nozzles 36 are provided and divided into a plurality of purge areas PE1-PE 3. Mass flow controllers (MFCs) 52A-52C and 62A-62C for adjusting the flow rate for each purge area are provided in each purge area. Then, the mass flow rate of the purge gas is controlled by the MFCs 52A-52C and 62A-62C for each purge area.

Intelligent digital assistant system

To address the issues of handling conversations with multiple users, an intelligent digital assistant system is provided. The system may include at least one microphone configured to receive an audio input, a speaker configured to emit an audio output, and a processor. The processor may be configured engage in a conversation with a first user, and, concurrent with the first user being engaged in the conversation with the system, recognize speech of one or more additional users in the audio input. The processor may process the recognized speech of the one or more additional users to determine a context for each additional user, and execute a conversation disentanglement module to select and perform one or more predetermined conversation disentanglement actions according to the context of the recognized speech of each additional user.

ARTICULATING ROBOTIC PROBES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS INCORPORATING THE SAME, AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SURGICAL PROCEDURES

A system for performing a medical procedure comprises a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly comprises an articulating probe assembly and a first housing. The articulating probe assembly comprises an outer probe and an inner probe. The outer probe comprises: multiple articulating outer links and a first connector. The inner probe comprises multiple articulating inner links and a second connector. The first housing comprises: a proximal portion; a distal portion; and an opening positioned in the first housing distal portion. The articulating probe is constructed and arranged to pass through the first housing opening. The second assembly comprises: a first carriage constructed and arranged to operably engage the first connector of the outer probe; a second carriage constructed and arranged to operably engage the second connector of the inner probe; a dual linear drive assembly configured to independently translate the first carriage and the second carriage; and a second housing comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. The first assembly is constructed and arranged to operably attach to the second assembly. Methods of performing a medical procedure are also described.

Intelligent assistant with intent-based information resolution

A method for use with a computing device is provided. The method may include executing one or more programs of an intelligent digital assistant system at a processor and presenting a user interface to a user. At the processor, the method may include receiving natural language user input from the user, parsing the user input at an intent handler to determine an intent template with slots, populating the slots in the intent template with information from user input, and performing resolution on the intent template to partially resolve unresolved information. If a slot with missing slot information exists in the partially resolved intent template, a loop may be executed at the processor to fill the slots. The method may include, at the processor, determining that all required information is available and resolved and generating a rule based upon the intent template with all required information being available and resolved.

DRIVE SYSTEM USING BALLS WITHIN A CONDUIT FOR TRANSMISSION OF MOTIVE POWER

A system for transmitting motive force. The system includes a conduit or tube and a plurality of balls (e.g., spherical objects) positioned within the tube. The system includes a drive assembly moving the balls within the tube, and the system includes an actuated element operating to generate an output in response to movement of the balls within the tube. In some cases, the balls are metal ball bearings, and the tubing is one of polyethylene tubing, tubing with a metal lining, or tubing having a hardness greater than a hardness of polyethylene. The drive assembly may include a feed screw driven by a motor to provide positive displacement of the balls in the tube. The actuated element may take a variety of forms to practice the system. For example, the actuated element may be a linear or rotational actuator, e.g., an actuator used to actuate a robotic joint.

Implicit target selection for multiple audio playback devices in an environment

A user can utter a voice command in an environment where multiple audio playback devices are located to have audio output on a single device, or a predefined group of devices in a synchronized manner. In instances when the voice command uttered by the user does not specify a target for audio output, an implicit target selection algorithm can evaluate one or more criteria to determine an appropriate target for output of the audio corresponding to the voice command. An example criterion is met if a predetermined time period has lapsed since a last utterance was detected by a device in the environment. However, other criteria can be evaluated for determining a target output device(s).