Explore the 8,162 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 49th week of 2020, including 6,518 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Surgical instruments with non-symmetrical articulation arrangements
A surgical instrument that comprises an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. A surgical end effector is pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about an articulation axis that is laterally offset from the shaft axis and extends transversely relative thereto. An end effector driver link is operably coupled to the surgical end effector and an articulation driver that is supported for longitudinal travel in distal and proximal directions upon application of articulation motions thereto. A flexible de-articulation member is coupled to the elongate shaft assembly and the surgical end effector to apply de-articulation motions to the surgical end effector.
Published: 2020-12-03 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Articulatable surgical stapling instruments
A surgical instrument that includes a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a proximal articulation joint that defines a first articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and a distal articulation joint that defines a second articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the first articulation axis. The instrument further includes an anvil that is non-removably attached to the shaft assembly and a channel that is removably attachable to the shaft assembly and configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge.
Published: 2020-12-03
INTERCHANGEABLE TOOLS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
A surgical tool system. Various embodiments of the surgical tool system may comprise surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion operably coupled to the handle assembly. An elongated body protrudes from the handle assembly and operably supports a control rod therein that interfaces with the drive system. The surgical tool system further includes at least two surgical tools selected from the group of surgical tools consisting of: manipulators, nippers, scissors, endocutters, tissue thickness measurement devices, staple appliers, clip appliers, syringes for applying glue, sealant, drugs or medicaments and cauterization devices wherein each of the surgical tool within the group of surgical tools at least has a housing that is removably couplable to the elongated body and a drive assembly that is removably couplable to the control rod for receiving the drive motions therefrom.
Published: 2020-12-03 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Loading unit coupleable to a surgical stapling system
A loading unit coupleable to a surgical stapling system is disclosed. The loading unit comprises an end effector, a firing system, and a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a clamped position. The firing system comprises a firing assembly and an indicator. The firing assembly is movable toward a distal position through the end effector in response to a firing motion from the surgical stapling system. The indicator is configured to visually communicate a position of the firing assembly to a user of the surgical stapling system. The shaft assembly is removably couplable with the surgical stapling system and comprises an open slot region aligned with the firing assembly. The open slot region extends proximally with respect to the second jaw.
Published: 2020-12-03 Assignee: BEIJING BYTEDANCE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO LTD., BYTEDANCE INC..
Inter prediction with refinement in video processing
Devices, systems and methods for digital video coding, which includes inter prediction with refinement, are described. An exemplary method of video processing includes determining to use, for a conversion between a current block of a video and a bitstream representation of the video, a first linear optimization model for the conversion using a first coding mode, the first linear optimization model being derived from a second linear optimization model that is used for the conversion using a second coding mode, and performing, based on the determining, the conversion. Another exemplary method of video processing includes determining to use, for a conversion between a current block of a video and a bitstream representation of the video, a gradient value computation algorithm for a bi-directional optical flow tool, and performing, based on the determining, the conversion.
Published: 2020-12-03 Assignee: APPLE INC..
User activity shortcut suggestions
Systems and processes for accelerating task performance are provided. An example method includes, at an electronic device with a display, displaying a candidate shortcut affordance associated with a user activity, detecting a first set of inputs corresponding to a selection of the candidate shortcut affordance, in response to detecting the first set of inputs, displaying a first set of candidate task affordances, detecting a second set of inputs corresponding to a selection of a candidate task affordance associated with a first task, displaying a second set of candidate task affordances, detecting a third set of inputs corresponding to a selection of a candidate task affordance associated with a second task, and in response to detecting the second set of inputs and the third set of inputs, associating the first task and the second task with a task sequence for a voice shortcut corresponding to the user activity.
Published: 2020-12-03
SENTIMENT AND INTENT ANALYSIS FOR CUSTOMIZING SUGGESTIONS USING USER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant to provide customized suggestions based on user-specific information are provided. An example method includes obtaining impressions and performing, based on the impressions, at least one of: analyzing sentiment of at least a portion of the impressions; and predicting user intent based on at least a portion of the impressions. The method further includes determining a plurality of concepts based on the obtained impressions; and weighing the plurality of concepts based on context associated with obtaining the impressions and based on at least one of a sentiment analysis result or a predicted user intent. The method further includes generating, based on the one or more weighted concepts, a representation of a collection of user-specific information; and facilitating to provide one or more suggestions to the user based on the representation of the collection of user-specific information.
Published: 2020-12-03 Assignee: APPLE INC..
Voice identification in digital assistant systems
Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. An example method includes receiving, from one or more external electronic devices, a plurality of speaker profiles for a plurality of users; receiving a natural language speech input; determining, based on comparing the natural language speech input to the plurality of speaker profiles: a first likelihood that the natural language speech input corresponds to a first user of the plurality of users; and a second likelihood that the natural language speech input corresponds to a second user of the plurality of users; determining whether the first likelihood and the second likelihood are within a first threshold; and in accordance with determining that the first likelihood and the second likelihood are not within the first threshold: providing a response to the natural language speech input, the response being personalized for the first user.
Published: 2020-12-03 Assignee: APPLE INC..
Voice assistant discoverability through on-device targeting and personalization
Systems and processes for providing personalized suggestions indicating that a task may be performed using a digital assistant of an electronic device are provided. An example method includes, at an electronic device with a display, receiving context data associated with the electronic device; determining, based on the context data, a task that may be performed by a digital assistant of the electronic device in response to a natural-language expression; determining, based on the context data, whether suggestion criteria associated with the determined task are satisfied; and in accordance with a determination that the suggestion criteria are satisfied, providing a suggestion indicating that the determined task may be performed using the digital assistant of the electronic device.
Published: 2020-12-03 Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED.
Synchronization of traffic and discontinuous reception and/or semipersistent scheduling
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a base station (BS) may receive an indication of a traffic pattern for application traffic. The BS may determine, based at least in part on one or more measurements associated with the traffic pattern, one or more parameters for at least one of a discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration for the application traffic, or a semipersistent scheduling (SPS) configuration for the application traffic. The BS may transmit, to a user equipment (UE) that is to receive the application traffic, an indication of the at least one of the DRX configuration or the SPS configuration. Numerous other aspects are provided.