Surgical instrument systems comprising feedback mechanisms

A surgical instrument system comprising a handle assembly is disclosed. The handle assembly comprises an actuation trigger comprising a curved proximal portion and a curved cylinder surrounding the curved proximal portion of the actuation trigger. The curved cylinder comprises an electroactive polymer. The surgical instrument system comprises an actuation rod which is configured to transmit an actuation force and a sensor system which is configured to detect the magnitude of the actuation force. The electroactive polymer is responsive to the actuation force and provides feedback to a user of the surgical instrument system.

Robotically powered surgical device with manually-actuatable reversing system

A surgical tool for use with a robotic system that includes a tool drive assembly that is operatively coupled to a control unit of the robotic system that is operable by inputs from an operator and is configured to robotically-generate output motions. A drive system is configured to interface with a corresponding portion of the tool drive assembly for receiving the robotically-generated output motions and applying the output motions to a drive shaft assembly which is configured to apply control motions to a surgical end effector operably coupled thereto. A manually-actuatable control system operably interfaces with the drive shaft assembly to facilitate the selective application of manually-generated control motions to the drive shaft assembly.

Method of processing a substrate and a device manufactured by the same

Provided is a substrate processing method capable of preventing over-etching of a part of a stair-case structure due to an etching solution, when a barrier layer is selectively formed on a VNAND device having the stair-case structure. The substrate processing method includes: alternately stacking a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer; forming a stepped structure having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface connecting the upper surface to the lower surface by etching the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer that are stacked; densifying the stepped structure; forming a barrier layer on the densified second insulating layer; and performing isotropic etching on at least a part of a sacrificial word line structure including the second insulating layer and the barrier layer. During etching the barrier layer at the isotropic etching step, the second insulating layer is not etched or etched a little to an ignorable degree.

Method of selectively depositing a capping layer structure on a semiconductor device structure

A method of selectively depositing a capping layer structure on a semiconductor device structure is disclosure. The method may include; providing a partially fabricated semiconductor device structure comprising a surface including a metallic interconnect material, a metallic barrier material, and a dielectric material. The method may also include; selectively depositing a first metallic capping layer over the metallic barrier material and over the metallic interconnect material relative to the dielectric material; and selectively depositing a second metallic capping layer over the first metallic capping layer relative to the dielectric material. Semiconductor device structures including a capping layer structure are also disclosed.

Time domain resource allocation for mobile communication

Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for time domain resource allocations in wireless communications systems. Disclosed embodiments include time-domain symbol determination and/or indication using a combination of higher layer and downlink control information signaling for physical downlink shared channel and physical uplink shared channel; time domain resource allocations for mini-slot operations; rules for postponing and dropping for multiple mini-slot transmission; and collision handling of sounding reference signals with semi-statically or semi-persistently configured uplink transmissions. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Apparatus for processing substrates or wafers

A vacuum apparatus includes process chambers, and a transfer chamber coupled to the process chambers. The transfer chamber includes one or more vacuum ports, thorough which a gas inside the transfer chamber is exhausted, and vent ports, from which a vent gas is supplied. The one or more vacuum ports and the vent ports are arranged such that air flows from at least one of the vent ports to the one or more vacuum ports are line-symmetric with respect to a center line of the transfer chamber.

Access point and methods for communicating with guided electromagnetic waves

In accordance with one or more embodiments, an access point includes a first communication interface having: a first coupler configured to receive, via a first transmission medium, first guided electromagnetic waves from a first waveguide system of a distributed antenna system, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the first transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path; and also a first receiver configured to receive first data from the first guided electromagnetic waves. A data switch is configured to select first selected portions of the first data for transmission to at least one communication device in proximity to the access point.

Access point and methods for communicating resource blocks with guided electromagnetic waves

In accordance with one or more embodiments, an access point includes a first communication interface that receives, first guided electromagnetic waves from a first waveguide system wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves convey a first plurality of resource blocks containing first data. A data switch selects first selected portions of the first data corresponding to a first subset of the first plurality of resource blocks for transmission to at least one communication device in proximity to the access point and select second selected portions of the first data corresponding to a second subset of the first plurality of resource blocks by omitting the first subset from the first plurality of resource blocks. A second communication interface generates second guided electromagnetic waves conveying the second selected portions of the first data to facilitate reuse of the first subset of the first plurality of resource blocks by a second waveguide system.

Semiconductor structure with source/drain multi-layer structure and method for forming the same

A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure, a gate spacer and a source/drain structure. The gate structure is positioned over a fin structure. The gate spacer is positioned over the fin structure and on a sidewall surface of the gate structure. The source/drain structure is positioned in the fin structure and adjacent to the gate spacer. The source/drain structure includes a first source/drain epitaxial layer and a second source/drain epitaxial layer. The first source/drain epitaxial layer is in contact with the fin structure. The first source/drain epitaxial layer is connected to a portion of the second source/drain epitaxial layer below a top surface of the fin structure. The lattice constant of the first source/drain epitaxial layer is different from the lattice constant of the second source/drain epitaxial layer.

Robotic surgical assemblies and instrument drive units thereof

An instrument drive unit for use with a surgical robotic arm includes a body, a first gear, and a driven coupler. The body has a proximal end and a distal end configured to be coupled to a surgical instrument. The first gear is non-rotatably coupled to the proximal end of the body. The driven coupler is disposed at the proximal end of the body and laterally offset from the first gear. The driven coupler is operably coupled to the first gear such that rotation of the driven coupler rotates the first gear to effect rotation of the body about a longitudinal axis defined by the body.