143901results about How to "Easy to control" patented technology

Disclosed is a natural-superlattice homologous single-crystal thin film, which includes a complex oxide which is epitaxially grown on either one of a ZnO epitaxial thin film formed on a single-crystal substrate, the single-crystal substrate after disappearance of the ZnO epitaxial thin film and a ZnO single crystal. The complex oxide is expressed by the formula: M1M2O3 (ZnO)m, wherein M1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ga, Fe, Sc, In, Lu, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho and Y, M2 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Ga, In and Al, and m is a natural number of 1 or more. A natural-superlattice homologous single-crystal thin film formed by depositing the complex oxide and subjecting the obtained layered film to a thermal anneal treatment can be used in optimal devices, electronic devices and X-ray optical devices.

The present invention provides a robotic surgical tool for use in a robotic surgical system to perform a surgical operation. The robotic surgical tool includes a wrist mechanism disposed near the distal end of a shaft which connects with an end effector. The wrist mechanism includes a distal member configured to support the end effector, and a plurality of rods extending generally along an axial direction within the shaft and movable generally along this axial direction to adjust the orientation of the distal member with respect to the shaft. Advancement or retraction of a first rod generally along the axial direction tips the base through a first angle. The addition of a second angle allows the distal member to direct the end effector in essentially a compound angle. The robotic surgical tool may also include provisions for roll movement.

Improved robotic surgical systems, devices, and methods often include a first assembly with a surgical end effector supported and manipulated relative to a first base by a first robotic linkage, while a second surgical end effector manipulated and supported relative to a second, independent base by a second robotic linkage. One or more of these robotic assemblies may be moved relative to the other. To coordinate the end effector movements with those of input devices being manipulated by a surgeon relative to a display of a surgical worksite, the processor deriving the commands for movement of the robotic linkages may make use of a signal indicating a relative orientation of the bases of the robotic arm assemblies. Surprisingly, the robotic arm assemblies may not transmit signals to the processor indicating a relative translational position of the bases.

A surgical clip applying apparatus comprises an actuator device, a ratchet mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a clip driving device. The actuator device comprises an interior and a cam mechanism disposed therein. The cam mechanism comprises an axial cam surface. The locking mechanism is movable by the actuator device within the interior in a distal direction and in a proximal direction. While moving in the distal direction, the locking mechanism contacts the axial cam surface, thereby causing the locking mechanism to engage the ratchet mechanism to limit movement of the locking mechanism in the proximal direction. Continued movement of the locking mechanism in the distal direction causes the locking mechanism to move off the axial cam surface, thereby enabling the locking mechanism to bypass the ratchet mechanism during a return stroke.

A medical master / slave manipulator is excellent in operability and capable of reducing burden on the operator. The medical master / slave manipulator includes a master unit provided with an operation control portion, a slave unit provided with a working device, an interlocking mechanism interlocking the slave unit with the master unit, an orientation difference measuring mechanism for measuring the orientation difference between the orientation of the master unit and that of the slave unit, and a control mechanism for controlling the slave unit to adjust the orientation of the slave unit to that of the master unit so that the orientation difference is reduced to zero in a transient master / slave operation mode in which an operation mode changes from an unrestricted operation mode to a master / slave operation mode.

Endoscopic steering apparatus is provided, including an endoscope (80) having distal (82) and proximal (98) ends thereof. In a preferred embodiment, at least one proximal cylinder (92) is disposed in a vicinity of the proximal end of the endoscope, and at least one proximal piston (94) is slidably coupled to the at least one proximal cylinder. This piston is typically manually driven. A first distal cylinder (88) is disposed at the distal end of the endoscope, and a first distal piston (90) is slidably coupled to the first distal cylinder. A second distal cylinder (88) is disposed at the distal end of the endoscope, and a second distal piston (90) is slidably coupled to the second distal cylinder. A first tube (86) is coupled to the first distal cylinder and to the at least one proximal cylinder, and a second tube (86) is coupled to the second distal cylinder and to the at least one proximal cylinder. A linkage (96) is disposed at the distal end of the endoscope and coupled to the first distal piston and to the second distal piston, such that displacement of at least one of the distal pistons causes displacement of the linkage and steering of the distal end of the endoscope.

Surgical tools having a two degree-of-freedom wrist, wrist articulation by linked tension members, mechanisms for transmitting torque through an angle, and minimally invasive surgical tools incorporating these features are disclosed. An elongate intermediate wrist member is pivotally coupled with a distal end of an instrument shaft so as to rotate about a first axis transverse to the shaft, and an end effector body is pivotally coupled with the intermediate member so as to rotate about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. Linked tension members interact with attachment features to articulate the wrist. A torque-transmitting mechanism includes a coupling member, coupling pins, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft. The drive shaft is coupled with the driven shaft so as to control the relative orientations of the drive shaft, the coupling member, and the driven shaft.

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework. First, alliances are identified among a plurality of business entities in terms of components of a current network framework. Next, a pictorial representation is displayed of the current network framework and the components. The alliances are then conveyed by indicia coding the components of the current network framework in which the alliances exist.

An intragastric device generally comprises a strip digestive-resistant mesh material that is operable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration is sufficiently small to permit introduction of the digestive-resistant mesh material into a gastric lumen of the mammal. The second configuration is sufficiently large to prevent the digestive-resistant mesh material from passing through the mammals pylorus, thereby permitting the mesh member to act as an artificial bezoar. Methods and devices for delivering the mesh member are also provided, including a pusher that is operable to engage and disengage the mesh member for delivery through the gastric lumen via a delivery sheath.

A method of producing a diode drive current in an oximeter includes sensing at least a part of a current passing through the diode and converting the sensed current to a sensed voltage, inputting the sensed voltage to a feedback amplifier for stabilizing the current passing through the diode, and eliminating an offset voltage across inputs of the feedback amplifier. A pulse oximeter includes a diode for emitting light flashes, a feedback amplifier having inputs, a feedback capacitor, and an output, the feedback amplifier stabilizing a current passing through the diode, a nulling amplifier having inputs, a nulling capacitor, and an output, the nulling amplifier charging and discharging the feedback capacitor until the inputs of the feedback amplifier are at a same voltage. The operation may include synchronizing an elimination of input offset voltages of the feedback and nulling amplifiers with on or off state of diode current.

A surgical system or assembly for performing cardiac surgery includes a surgical instrument; a servo-mechanical system engaged to the surgical instrument for operating the surgical instrument; and an attachment assembly for removing at least one degree of movement from a moving surgical cardiac worksite to produce a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. The surgical system or assembly also includes a motion tracking system for gathering movement information on a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. A control computer is engaged to the attachment assembly and to the motion tracking system and to the servo-mechanical system for controlling movement of the attachment assembly and for feeding gathered information to the servo-mechanical system for moving the surgical instrument in unison with the resultant surgical cardiac worksite such that a relative position of the moving surgical instrument with respect to the resultant surgical cardiac worksite is generally constant. A video monitor is coupled to the control computer; and an input system is coupled to the servo-mechanical system and to the control computer for providing a movement of the surgical instrument. The video monitor displays movement of the surgical instrument while the resultant surgical cardiac worksite appears substantially stationary, and while a relative position of the surgical instrument moving in unison with the resultant surgical cardiac worksite, as a result from the movement information gathered by the motion tracking system, remains generally constant. A method of performing cardiac surgery without cardioplegia comprising removing at least one degree of movement freedom from a moving surgical cardiac worksite to produce at least a partially stationary surgical cardiac worksite while allowing a residual heart section, generally separate from the at least partially stationary surgical cardiac worksite, to move as a residual moving heart part. Cardiac surgery is performed on the at least partially stationary cardiac worksite with a surgical instrument such as needle drivers, forceps, blades and scissors.

A trocar needle includes an elongate body having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, a penetrating tip formed at the distal end portion of the body, and an attachment portion formed at the proximal end portion for attaching a tether thereto. A grip region can further be provided and can be formed for example, at the proximal end portion of the body to facilitate gripping by a surgical grasping device. Additionally or alternatively, a notch or otherwise reduced cross-sectional area can be provided. Such a feature can be formed, for example, at the distal end portion of the body, arranged proximal from a distal end thereof for enhancing haptic perception by a surgeon when utilizing the needle.

A medical robotic system having non-ideal actuator-to-joint linkage characteristics, includes a control system including a proximal control loop with actuator sensor feedback to control dynamic response of an actuator coupled to a distal joint which in turn, is coupled to an end effector to provide a degree of freedom movement of the end effector, a distal control loop with distal joint sensor feedback and feedforward to the actuator to ensure steady-state convergence of the distal joint position, and an end effector control loop with end-point sensor feedback to control the end effector position to reach a commanded end effector position.

In a lithographic apparatus, a localized area of the substrate surface under a projection system is immersed in liquid. The height of a liquid supply system above the surface of the substrate can be varied using actuators. A control system uses feedforward or feedback control with input of the surface height of the substrate to maintain the liquid supply system at a predetermined height above the surface of the substrate.

A medical manipulator system includes a manipulator, an operating unit for entering operation commands, motors for actuating a working unit, and a controller for energizing the motors based on operation commands supplied from the operating unit. When an activation resetting switch and a resetting switch are operated according to a predetermined procedure, the controller performs a resetting process to return the motors to an origin. The controller is capable of controlling three manipulators. The activation resetting switch is shared by the three manipulators, and there are three resetting switches corresponding to the three manipulators.

A surgical system and associated method for sealing the passageway of a fluid-carrying vessel with a diameter up to 5 millimeters comprises an electrosurgical generator capable of delivering electrosurgical power, a surgical instrument electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to transfer electrosurgical power from the electrosurgical generator to a pair of end effectors disposed at a distal end of the surgical instrument. The system also includes a power control circuit for controlling the delivery of radio frequency energy to the vessel through the end effectors, wherein the delivery of the radio frequency energy to the vessel comprises, raising the output current to a range below 1.75 Amperes RMS and the output voltage to a range below 135 Volts RMS. Radio frequency energy is applied to the vessel for a period of time while the power is held approximately constant. The flow of radio frequency energy is terminated when the impedance of the vessel being sealed reaches a predetermined level.

Coating compositions, methods and articles of manufacture comprising a nanoparticle system employing same to impart surface modifying benefits for all types of soft surfaces, and in some cases, hard surfaces, are disclosed. In some embodiments, dispersement of nanoparticles in a suitable carrier medium allows for the creation of coating compositions, methods and articles of manufacture that create multi-use benefits to the modified surfaces. These surface modifications can produce long lasting or semi-permanent multi-use benefits that, in some embodiments, may include at least one of the following improved surface properties: cleaning, wettability, liquid strike-through, comfort, stain resistance, soil removal, malodor control, modification of surface friction, reduced damage to abrasion and color enhancement, relative to the surfaces unmodified with such nanoparticle systems.

Devices and methods are provided for controlling and indicating the deployed length of an interventional element on an interventional catheter. The interventional element may be a stent or series of stents, a balloon, or any other interventional element for which length control is necessary or desirable. Devices for controlling the length of the interventional element include gear driven actuators, motors, and other mechanisms. Devices for indicating length of an interventional element to the user include sensors, detents, visual displays and other mechanisms providing visual, audible, and tangible indications of length to the user. The control and indication devices preferably work in tandem to enable highly precise adjustment of interventional element length.

An input / output interface receives an access request from a requester. A processor associated with the input / output interface applies a filter operation to select a subset of rules from a master set of rules maintained within an authorization database. Rules can be selected in this manner using filter operations so that all rules in the rule set need not be processed. A rule may include a disregard instruction. The processor further performs at least one rule operation based on the subset of rules to produce an access control decision in the memory system until either a rule operation including a disregard instruction is performed to limit performance of rule operations in the selected set of rules or until all rule operations in the selected set of rules that are applicable to the access control decision are performed.

An amorphous oxide containing hydrogen (or deuterium) is applied to a channel layer of a transistor. Accordingly, a thin film transistor having superior TFT properties can be realized, the superior TFT properties including a small hysteresis, normally OFF operation, a high ON / OFF ratio, a high saturated current, and the like. Furthermore, as a method for manufacturing a channel layer made of an amorphous oxide, film formation is performed in an atmosphere containing a hydrogen gas and an oxygen gas, so that the carrier concentration of the amorphous oxide can be controlled.

An apparatus for processing a substrate is provided which includes a proximity head proximate to a surface of the substrate when in operation. The apparatus also includes an opening on a surface of the proximity head to a cavity defined in the proximity head where the cavity delivers an active agent to the surface of the substrate through the opening. The apparatus further includes a plurality of conduits on the surface of the proximity head that generates a fluid meniscus on the surface of the substrate surrounding the opening.

Medical devices and related methods for closing a perforation in a bodily wall are provided. The medical device generally includes an introducer device having a base defining a plurality of recesses formed therein. Visceral staples are disposed within the recesses in a delivery state and are biased toward a deployed state. A holding mechanism retains the staples in the delivery state, and the holding mechanism is moveable relative to the base to allow the staples to extend out of the recesses. The biased nature of the staples will cause them to transition into the deployed state after the staples have been released, such that the staples will thereby pierce adjacent tissue and remain closed. The holding mechanism can be retractable or pivotable out of engagement with the staples. The introducer device can include upper and lower jaws or a slidable cover relative to the base.

Telerobotic, telesurgical, and / or surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods employ surgical robotic linkages that may have more degrees of freedom than an associated surgical end effector n space. A processor can calculate a tool motion that includes pivoting of the tool about an aperture site. Linkages movable along a range of configurations for a given end effector position may be driven toward configurations which inhibit collisions. Refined robotic linkages and method for their use are also provided.

A lid assembly for a semiconductor processing system is provided. The lid assembly generally includes a lid having a gas manifold mounted on a first side and a baffle plate mounted on a second side. The gas manifold is configured to deliver a plurality of gases to a plenum defined between the baffle plate and the lid. The gases are mixed within a recess formed in the baffle plate before exiting into the processing system through a singular passage.

An amorphous oxide containing hydrogen (or deuterium) is applied to a channel layer of a transistor. Accordingly, a thin film transistor having superior TFT properties can be realized, the superior TFT properties including a small hysteresis, normally OFF operation, a high ON / OFF ratio, a high saturated current, and the like. Furthermore, as a method for manufacturing a channel layer made of an amorphous oxide, film formation is performed in an atmosphere containing a hydrogen gas and an oxygen gas, so that the carrier concentration of the amorphous oxide can be controlled.

A method for manufacturing a porous ceramic scaffold having an organic / inorganic hybrid coating layer containing a bioactive factor includes (a) forming a porous ceramic scaffold; (b) mixing a silica xerogel and a physiologically active organic substance in a volumetric ratio ranging from 30:70 to 90:10 and treating by a sol gel method to prepare an organic / inorganic hybrid composite solution; (c) adding a bioactive factor to the organic / inorganic hybrid composite solution and agitating until gelation occurs; and (d) coating the porous ceramic scaffold with the organic / inorganic composite containing the bioactive factor added thereto. In accordance with the method, the porous ceramic scaffold may be uniformly coated with the organic / inorganic hybrid composite while maintaining an open pore structure, and stably discharge the bioactive factor over a long period of time.

Low temperature electronic vaporization devices and method are described herein for emulating smoking wherein the devices generate an aerosol for inhalation by a subject by heating a viscous material that can have a tactile response in the mouth or respiratory tract.