Powered surgical instruments with firing system lockout arrangements

Surgical instruments and/or fastener apparatuses comprising an end effector with a pair of jaws pivoted at a proximal end thereof and movable between an open and closed position. At least one of the jaws may comprise a channel for receiving a cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners. Also, an electrically powered actuator may be for deploying the surgical fasteners and may comprise a power source and a motor. An activation mechanism may be attached to the handle to move the pair of jaws from the open to the closed position and to activate the actuator. A lockout mechanism may be configured to permit current to flow from the power source to the motor when the pair of jaws is in the closed position and to prevent current from flowing to the power source to the motor when the pair of jaws is in the open position.

Articulatable surgical instrument comprising a firing drive

A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector rotatably coupled to the shaft by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument can further include a staple cartridge positioned within the end effector and a firing drive operably coupled with a trigger wherein the operation of the trigger can advance and/or retract a firing member of the firing drive relative to the end effector. The surgical instrument can further comprise an articulation drive which is selectively engageable with the firing drive. When the articulation drive is engaged with the firing drive, the operation of the firing drive can operate the articulation drive and articulate the end effector. When the articulation drive is not engaged with the firing drive, the firing drive can be operated independently of the articulation drive.

Dissection tip and introducer for surgical instrument

A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends, an end effector including a first movably coupled to a second jaw that is positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion, and an introducer member. The introducer member has proximal and distal portions, and is configured and dimensioned for releasable connection with the end effector. The introducer member is at least partially formed from a flexible material, and is configured and dimensioned to separate target tissue from collateral tissue prior to positioning of the target tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector.

Methods for forming a silicon germanium tin layer and related semiconductor device structures

A method for forming a forming a silicon germanium tin (SiGeSn) layer is disclosed. The method may include, providing a substrate within a reaction chamber, exposing the substrate to a pre-deposition precursor pulse, which comprises tin tetrachloride (SnCl4), exposing the substrate to a deposition precursor gas mixture comprising a hydrogenated silicon source, germane (GeH4), and tin tetrachloride (SnCl4), and depositing the silicon germanium tin (SiGeSn) layer over a surface of the substrate. Semiconductor device structures including a silicon germanium tin (SiGeSn) layer formed by the methods of the disclosure are also provided.

Method and apparatus for reducing flow of currents on an outer surface of a structure

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that can include a coupler having a structure that facilitates guiding electromagnetic waves along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and a suppressor coupled to an inner surface of the structure that facilitates at least a reduction in a flow of an electrical current from the inner surface of the structure to an outer surface of the structure. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for steering radiation on an outer surface of a structure

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that includes a coupler having a structure that facilitates guiding electromagnetic waves along a transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and a device coupled to an outer surface of the structure, wherein the device facilitates steering a wireless signal generated by a flow of an electrical current on the outer surface of the structure. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Robotic surgical systems and instrument drive assemblies

An instrument drive assembly includes a housing assembly and a coupling assembly. The housing assembly includes a drive assembly. The coupling assembly releasably couples an instrument drive shaft to a drive member of the drive assembly and an instrument sleeve of the surgical instrument to the housing assembly. Actuation of a retention mechanism of the coupling assembly between a locked and unlocked configuration couples and decouples the instrument sleeve of the surgical instrument therewith.

Intelligent device arbitration and control

This relates to systems and processes for using a virtual assistant to arbitrate among and/or control electronic devices. In one example process, a first electronic device samples an audio input using a microphone. The first electronic device broadcasts a first set of one or more values based on the sampled audio input. Furthermore, the first electronic device receives a second set of one or more values, which are based on the audio input, from a second electronic device. Based on the first set of one or more values and the second set of one or more values, the first electronic device determines whether to respond to the audio input or forego responding to the audio input.

Method and system for enhancing the security of a transaction

This invention concerns a method and system for improving the security of transaction in an emulated Integrated Circuit. During compilation time of a payment application, at least one detection agent are inserted into the code of the payment application. This detection agent is configured to detect an unauthorized use of the payment application. During a runtime of the payment application, if the detection agent result indicates “no threat detected” the payment application retrieves from a predefined map of “no threat detected”, the right value associated to the detection agent, otherwise a random false value is generated. The payment application alters at least one data manipulated during the transaction with the value retrieved or generated. A reverse mechanism of the payment application retrieve the right value and apply a restoration process to the altered data with the retrieved right value. The payment application computes a cryptogram from the restored manipulated data. From the computed cryptogram, a third party can authorize or reject the transaction.

Hydraulic fracturing equipment with non-hydraulic power

The present disclosure is directed to a hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation. In an embodiment, the system can include an electric pump fluidly connected to a well associated with the formation, and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the formation and fractures the formation. The system can further include one or more ancillary units associated with the fluid pumped into the wellbore. The system can further include a first motor electrically coupled to the electric pump to operate the electric pump, and one or more second motors, each of the second motors electrically coupled to each of the ancillary units to operate the one or more ancillary units.