An electric braking device for a vehicle. The device includes: front wheel and/or rear wheel braking modules that are not powered when the vehicle is in a standby state; at least one on-board computer; at least one user control module which, upon a user's request, delivers a power supply control signal to control the power supply to the braking modules and braking control signals to activate the braking modules when the modules are powered; and a mechanism for cutting the power supply to the braking modules once the vehicle has zero speed and the wheels are immobilized under action of the braking modules. The device can reduce the power consumption of vehicles.

In a vehicle brake device, when a brake pedal is depressed normally, high regeneration efficiency and high fuel efficiency can be achieved by positively utilizing the regenerative braking force, and early applying of basic hydraulic braking force can be achieved when the brake pedal is suddenly depressed. The vehicle brake device includes an operation force transmitting mechanism on a connecting member between the brake pedal and the master cylinder piston and having first and second rods and a spring member biasing the first and second rods in a direction separating both rods from each other. The operation force transmitting mechanism includes an inner space between both rods and a communication passage allowing communication of the inner space with the exterior. The communication passage restricts the outflow of fluid in the inner space upon an emergency brake pedal depression and allows the outflow thereof upon non-emergency brake pedal depression.

Provided is a driving device that applies a braking force to a first tire and a second tire rotatably arranged in a vehicle body. The driving device includes: a master cylinder configured to include a first liquid pressure chamber and a second liquid pressure chamber that supply a liquid pressure; a piston configured to apply an external force to the first liquid pressure chamber and the second liquid pressure chamber; a first hydraulic braking unit configured to apply a braking force to the first tire based on the liquid pressure supplied from the first liquid pressure chamber; and a second hydraulic braking unit configured to apply a braking force to the second tire based on the liquid pressure supplied from the second liquid pressure chamber.

A control device for a braking system of a vehicle is provided, having a first receiving device which receives a provided brake activation intensity variable, a plunger control device which determines a setpoint fill level variable of a plunger, taking into account at least the received brake activation intensity variable, and a corresponding plunger control signal is outputtable so that a ratio of an actual volume and a maximum fillable volume of a storage volume of the plunger is settable corresponding to the determined setpoint fill level variable. For a brake activation intensity variable corresponding to a predefined non-activation intensity variable, the plunger control device determines a fill level variable different from an empty state as the setpoint fill level variable, and outputs a plunger control signal corresponding to the determined setpoint fill level variable to the plunger such that the plunger is at least partially filled.

A brake control device for a brake system. The control device can perform both an interlocking brake control and an antilock brake control. The brake system includes a front-wheel hydraulic circuit, a front-wheel-side braking part; a rear-wheel hydraulic circuit, a rear-wheel-side braking part; and an electrically-operated pump which pressurizes the brake fluid. The brake control device includes a usual voltage mode where the interlocking brake control or the anti-lock brake control is performed when the supply voltage is a first voltage or more, and a low voltage mode where at least one of the interlocking brake control and the anti-lock brake control is performed in a limited manner when the supplied voltage is a second, lower voltage. An operation mode is changed from the usual voltage mode to the low voltage mode when it is determined that the supply voltage becomes lower than the first voltage.

A method and a device for controlling and/or regulating an electric motor. Such electric motors are used for example in motor vehicles in the form of pump motors. In general, the electric motor is supplied with electrical energy from a battery and/or using a generator. The controlling and regulation take place using a high-frequency pulse width modulation (PWM). When the electric motor is started, the PWM is used to continuously increase the motor current required for the operation of the electric motor, e.g. beginning from 0.

A motor control device comprises: an acceleration upper limit estimating unit; a target acceleration setting unit; a motor control unit; and a deficit calculating unit, wherein the target acceleration setting unit corrects the target acceleration based on the acceleration profile by an amount corresponding to the acceleration deficit within a range in which the target acceleration does not exceed the acceleration upper limit on the basis of the acceleration deficit calculated by the deficit calculating unit to set the target acceleration at each time.

An electric motor, having a stator (465), a rotor (470), and an apparatus for evaluating a signal provided for controlling said motor (110), comprises a receiving unit (430, 440) for receiving a control signal (PWM_mod), which is a pulse width modulated signal (PWM) onto which a data signal (DIR, DATA) is modulated. An evaluation unit (440) is provided for evaluating the modulated control signal (PWM_mod). The unit is configured to extract, from the modulated control signal (PWM_mod), data provided for operation of the motor (110). The control apparatus includes a signal generator (450) configured to generate, on the basis of the extracted or ascertained data provided for operation of the motor (110), at least one control signal for the motor (110), such as a commanded direction of rotation. Piggybacking other control data onto the PWM power level signal reduces hardware investment, by permitting omission of a signal lead which would otherwise be required in the motor structure.

A method and device for controlling an electric motor, in particular a machine tool drive, wherein during a sensorless open-loop control mode of operation of the electric motor the speed and the torque are determined from the motor current and the motor voltage, and the moment of inertia of the electric motor torque are determined from the determined motor current and the determined motor voltage, wherefrom then a control torque is determined, which is then associated with an open-loop torque control value and supplied as the torque setpoint value to a control element for setting the motor current and/or the motor voltage in the open-loop mode of operation. As long as the speed is below a minimum speed, the control element receives as input variable a control or pilot control torque generated from a predefined moment of inertia for a sensorless closed-loop control mode of operation of the electric motor.

A device and method to determine the stopping rotor position of a washing machine motor includes an inverter, a permanent magnet synchronous motor, and an electronic motor controller. The controller determines the stopped rotor position of the motor by measuring induced currents in the stator field coils of the motor. While the motor is de-energized and slowly rotating, the controller directs the inverter to connect all of the stator field coils of the motor together. The stator field coils may be connected to a common D.C. rail, output from an A.C.-D.C. converter of the washing machine. In an embodiment, the controller determines the rotor position based on the polarities of current induced in the stator field coils. In another embodiment, the controller determines the rotor position based on the phase angle and angular frequency of the three phase currents, transformed into a stationary reference frame.

The invention relates to an electric motor assembly, particularly for driving a fan for an engine cooling system and/or an air conditioner of a motor vehicle, comprising an electric motor and a motor control device for activating the electric motor. According to the invention, the motor control device can be adjusted according to a characteristic curve (1,2,3,4) of the electric motor and/or of the fan, and thereby the power and/or rotational speed of the electric motor can be adjusted.

The invention relates to a method for detecting blocking or sluggishness (M1, M3) of a DC motor (2). The method comprises the following steps: applying a voltage pulse (Uv,t=Os) to the DC motor (2); monitoring a motor current (IMotor) flowing through the DC motor (2); detecting a maximum value of the motor current (IMotor) following the application of the voltage pulse; checking whether a change in the motor current (IMotor) after reaching the maximum value exceeds a specific amount; signalling the blocking or the sluggishness (M1, M3) of the DC motor (2) if the change in the motor current (IMotor) after reaching the maximum value exceeds the specific amount.

A wiper device that includes: a wiper motor that swings a wiper blade that is coupled to the wiper motor through a wiper arm to-and-fro over a window pane between an upper return position and a lower return position; and a drive component that gradually increases power supplied to the wiper motor until the rotation speed of the wiper motor reaches a specific speed when the wiper motor has been restarted from a stationary state of the wiper blade between the upper return position and the lower return position.

Reduction in cooling rate of a substrate having a lower temperature is suppressed because the substrate having a lower temperature is not affected by radiant heat of a substrate having a higher temperature while cooling a plurality of substrates in a cooling chamber. The substrate processing apparatus includes a load lock chamber configured to accommodate stacked substrates; a first transfer mechanism having a first transfer arm provided with a first end effector, and configured to transfer the substrates into/from the load lock chamber at a first side of the load lock chamber; a second transfer mechanism having a second transfer arm provided with a second end effector, and configured to transfer the substrates into/from the load lock chamber at a second side of the load lock chamber; a barrier installed between the substrates to be spaced apart from the substrates supported by a substrate support provided in the load lock chamber; and an auxiliary barrier unit installed between the substrate support and the barrier, wherein the auxiliary barrier unit is installed at places other than standby spaces of the end effectors.

In some aspects, an unloading device for a pipe processing system includes a depositing carriage having a depositing surface for depositing a pipe during and/or after a pipe processing operation, the depositing carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, and a supporting carriage having a supporting member for the pipe, the supporting member having a wall for radially supporting the pipe, and the supporting carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, where the depositing surface of the depositing carriage and/or the supporting member of the supporting carriage is configured to move in at least one other direction in addition to the longitudinal direction of the pipe so that the depositing carriage and the supporting carriage can be at least partially moved past each other along the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

Method for laterally replacing a heavy component of a plant assembly, the method including disconnecting the heavy component from other components of the plant assembly and from a base plate to which the heavy component is fixed; lifting the heavy component above the base plate with a lifting system provided within the base plate; connecting at least a pair of rails to the base plate, under the lifted heavy component, such that the at least a pair of rails extends at substantially a right angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the heavy component; lowering the heavy component on crawling mechanisms disposed on the at least a pair of rails; and laterally replacing the heavy component from the base plate and the other components of the plant assembly by actuating the crawling mechanisms.

Boom drive apparatus for substrate transport systems and methods are described. The boom drive apparatus is adapted to drive one or more multi-arm robots rotationally mounted to the boom to efficiently put or pick substrates. The boom drive apparatus has a boom including a hub, a web, a first pilot above the web, and a second pilot below the web, a first driving member rotationally mounted to the first pilot, a second driving member rotationally mounted to the second pilot, a first driven member rotationally mounted to the boom above the a web, a second driven member rotationally mounted to the boom below the a web, and a first and second transmission members coupling the driving members to driven members located outboard on the boom. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Source support arm of a liquid crystal panel transportation device is provided, which includes a primary arm section. The primary arm section includes a plurality of ancillary arm sections that are rotatable to open mounted thereon. A liquid crystal panel transportation device is also disclosed, which includes a support arm having a primary arm section and ancillary arm sections that are mounted to the primary arm section and are rotatable to open.

The present invention is a cardboard sheet batch division device for dividing batches, disposed on the downstream side of a batch-forming device for separating loaded cardboard sheets and forming batches of a predetermined sheet count. The cardboard sheet batch division device for dividing batches comprises: a transfer conveyor for transferring batches formed by the batch-forming device in a predetermined transfer direction; and batch division means furnished with two separating members respectively contacting the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of a batch on the transfer conveyor, for dividing the batch into two sub-batches, upper and lower, by moving the two separating members relative to one another in a direction parallel to the predetermined transfer direction.

A connector device enables universal compatibility and interchangeability between any work tool accessory having a boom feature and any skid steer loader as well as controlled support of the work tool accessory. The connector device also prevents machine instability issues.

Reinforcement devices and systems for holding a traffic control assembly in compression are provided. The traffic control assembly includes a traffic signal disconnect hanger and/or a traffic signal and a first span wire positioned above the traffic control assembly. In some embodiments, the reinforcement device includes an upper support device connected to the first span wire where the upper support device has a length that is greater than a width of the traffic control assembly and the upper support device is configured to spread the load of the traffic signal assembly to the first span wire. The reinforcement device includes a lower support device operably connected to the traffic signal, a first vertical support member, and a second vertical support member where the first and second vertical members are tensioned when the upper support device, the lower support device and the first and second vertical support members are connected together.

Disclosed is a method for the monitoring of a cabin region of a transport system located outside a field of view, wherein at least one light beam is emitted, passing through the cabin region in the longitudinal direction, and in the event of a disturbance of the at least one light beam path a message is generated. A monitoring device is also provided, with at least one emitter unit for purposes of emitting at least one light beam, with at least one receiver unit for purposes of receiving the emitted light beam, and with at least one messaging unit for purposes of generating a message in the event of a disturbance of the at least one light beam path; also disclosed is an aircraft cabin with at least one such monitoring system.

A system and method for controlling power usage of a reporting device associated with an asset is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method determines whether the reporting device is in a sleep mode or an active mode and in response to determining the reporting device is in the sleep mode, the method maintains the sleep mode and in response to determining a state change associated with the reporting device, the method powers up the reporting device to the active mode.

An interface (303) between adjacent ones of light guide sections (310) is inclined with respect to an incident surface (301) and an emission surface (302) of the light guide element (300A) so that an incident surface (311) of at least a part of the light guide sections (310) overlaps a part of a display region (202) in a liquid crystal panel (200A) and an emission surface (312) of said at least a part of the light guide sections (310) overlaps at least a part of a frame region (203) above which an image on the display region (202) is to be displayed. Furthermore, a relation 5°

A device for displaying a text message, comprising a display (10) having a plurality of characters, each of said characters being arranged at a fixed position, not overlapping with any other of said characters, and being adapted to be switched on and off, and a controller being connected to said plurality of characters and being adapted to switch on and off selected characters so that at a given time, a selected sub-group of said characters is switched on, the selected sub-group displaying a text message.

An image processing device configured to be installed in a vehicle includes an image acquirer, an image selector, a first luminance adjuster, a synthetic image generator, and an image provider. The image acquirer acquires camera images captured by cameras provided on the vehicle. The image selector selects one of the camera images as a representative image based on luminances of the camera images. The first luminance adjuster adjusts a luminance of at least one of the other camera images based on a luminance of the representative image. The synthetic image generator generates a synthetic image showing a periphery of the vehicle, based on the representative image and the other camera images the luminance of at least one of which has been adjusted by the first adjuster. The image provider outputs, to a display device installed in the vehicle, information corresponding to the synthetic image.

An input device includes a display section, an input section, and an authentication section. The display section has a display area and displays a plurality of symbols in respective first regions of the display area. The input section receives an input indicating which of the plurality of symbols displayed on the display section is selected by a user by specifying a position in the display area. The authentication section authenticates the user based a result received by the input section. The input section receives an input indicating which of the plurality of symbols is selected, by receiving an input indicating which of a plurality of second regions allocated to each first region is selected. The authentication section authenticates the user based on the first region corresponding to the selected symbol from among the plurality of first regions and the second region selected from among the plurality of second regions.

Presented is a near field communication system and method to automatically establish an interconnection between two electronic devices. The system includes a first electronic device including an NFC chip communicatively coupled to a passive NFC tag, where the NFC tag having an integrated circuit with a predefined information content, a second device including an active NFC reader configured to read the predefined information content from the NFC tag based on an identification of a proximate distance therebetween, and where the NFC tag is capable of transmitting an activation signal to the NFC chip to enable transition of the NFC chip from a first state to a second state such as to establish a near field wireless communication link between the two devices to enable exchange of digital content therebetween.

A vehicle computer system comprising a transceiver in a vehicle configured to wirelessly connect with a nomadic device, wherein the nomadic device is capable of running a contextual application which operates at least in part based on vehicle environment data. The vehicle computer system further comprises one or more vehicle modules configured to receive environment data and capable of causing the transceiver to provide the vehicle environment data to the nomadic device for processing by the contextual application.

In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying proximity of a mobile computing device to another mobile computing device. A computing system determines that a set of mobile computing devices are geographically proximate to a first mobile computing device based on identifying that each of the mobile computing devices received a first type of signal from an emitting device for which the first mobile computing device also received the first type of signal. The computing system determines a subset of the mobile computing devices that share a physical space with the first mobile computing device based on identifying that each of the mobile computing devices emitted a second type of signal that was detected by the first mobile computing device, or detected the second type of signal that was emitted by the first mobile computing device.

A wireless access device in a wireless network, whether a known or unknown entity, can be located using a geolocation system according to the present invention. A signal strength is determined by a wireless intrusion detection system (WIDS) node in a wireless network for each wireless access device that it detects. Based on the signal strength, an approximate distance from the node is determined, which, in one embodiment corresponds to a radius of a circle around the node. To account for error, an approximation band of the circle is calculated that will allow a user to determine the approximate location of the device within the wireless network.

The present disclosure relates to location and communication systems that can be utilized for locating people, pets and other objects with a software defined radio set. A personal electronic device (PED) such as a cellular telephone, personal data assistant (PDA) or other device that include a software defined radio set can be configured for operation as a locator device. The PED transmits a signal A transponder or micro-transponder (MT) that is tagged to an object is arranged to reply to a transmission received from the PED. The PED based locator is arranged to calculate a distance between the PED and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission and the receipt of a reply. The absolute geographic position of the PED can be determined using satellite navigation information, while the position of the MT relative to the PED can be determined from the TOF information.

An underwater communication device (100) is provided with a voice interface (4), a transceiving unit, a voice quality converting unit and a body (1), etcetera. A bone conduction/throat microphone unit, assembled in the voice interface (4), converts the vocal cord vibrations of a diver to voice signals. The voice quality converting unit converts the voice signals to voice signals based on a clearer voice. A transmitting unit, assembled in the transceiving unit, transmits the converted voice signals to the outside. A receiving unit, assembled in the transceiving unit, receives voice data which is transmitted from the outside. A bone-conduction speaker unit, assembled in the voice interface (4), outputs vibrations corresponding to the voice data received by the receiving unit. Attachment equipment (1, 2, 3) are put on a diver in a state where the bone-conduction speaker unit is in attached to the diver. The receiving unit and the bone-conduction speaker unit are integrally attached to the body (1).

Provided is a display device of an electric vehicle that enables an occupant of an electric vehicle to more easily realize an effect of regeneration of braking energy. This display device of the electric vehicle calculates integrated cumulative value of the actual driving distance of the electric vehicle as a first distance, calculates, upon detecting regeneration of braking energy, integrated cumulative value of a drivable distance extended by the regeneration of the braking energy as a second distance, and displays both the first distance and the second distance on a display section.

A method and device for activating and deactivating a valet parking function for a motor vehicle is provided. An activated valet parking function prevents access to one or more lockable areas in the motor vehicle. The method including the steps of checking whether a freely operable control element has been actuated. If the actuation of a control element has been detected, the valet parking function is activated to prevent exclusively the access to the lockable area in the motor vehicle, particularly to a trunk.

A communication process between two constitutive elements of the network of electricity distribution in a domestic or industrial premise including circuit breakers, electrical modules, switches, electrical plugs and light connection devices. The process including the following steps: assignment by a protocol such as DHCP, BootP or RARP of a first IP address to a first element of the power distribution network, assignment of a second IP address to a second element, and establishment of a communication between the first and second elements of the power distribution network.

Described herein are particular embodiments relating to a microfluidic device that may be utilized for cell sensing, counting, and/or sorting. Particular aspects relate to a microfabricated device that is capable of differentiating single cell types from dense cell populations. One particular embodiment relates a device and methods of using the same for sensing, counting, and/or sorting leukocytes from whole, undiluted blood samples.

Microfluidic devices having a protein renaturation component and methods for using the same are provided. Aspects of the present disclosure include microfluidic devices that include a separation medium with a first flow path and a protein renaturation component in fluid communication with the separation medium and having a second flow path. Also provided are methods of using the devices as well as systems and kits that include the devices. The devices, systems and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including diagnostic and validation assays.

A method for analyzing the liquefied petroleum gas includes the following steps. Provide a sample of the liquefied petroleum gas, and one main component group of the liquefied petroleum gas includes at least one sub component group. Analyze the sample of the liquefied petroleum gas so as to obtain a first measured THC corresponding to the main component group and a second measured THC corresponding to the sub component group. Obtain a regressed THC according to the second measured THC and a predetermined relationship of THC. Obtain a result of THC according to the first measured THC, the regressed THC, and a predetermined range of THC. The predetermined range of THC corresponds to the main component group. The device for analyzing the liquefied petroleum gas includes an inlet, a multiposition valve, a first column, a second column, an analyzing apparatus, and a computing unit.

A two step lateral flow assay method for identifying IgE antibodies in a sample comprises applying a sample to a sample port of a device, wherein the device is adapted to deliver the sample to a lateral flow matrix having a plurality of IgE antigen species immobilized at respective positions at a first location; allowing the sample to travel along the lateral flow matrix through the immobilized plurality of IgE antigen species to a second location downstream of the first location; and, after a predetermined period of time, applying liquid buffer to the lateral flow matrix to mobilize labeled reagent which is adapted to bind anti-IgE antibody and which is dried on the lateral flow matrix at a location upstream of the sample port delivery of the sample to the lateral flow matrix, and allowing labeled reagent mobilized by the liquid buffer to travel along the lateral flow matrix through the immobilized plurality of IgE antigen species and bind with any IgE antibody bound to the immobilized IgE antigen species, and to travel to a second location downstream of the first location where the mobilized labeled reagent causes a visible change to occur at the second location.

Methods and systems for selectively capturing analytes, such as cells, e.g., circulating tumor cells (CTCs), from fluid samples are disclosed. The methods include contacting the sample with an analyte binding moiety that selectively binds to the analytes; optionally separating first components of the sample including a majority of the analytes bound to the binding moieties from second components of the sample using size-based separation, e.g., in a microfluidic channel; adding to the first components of the sample a plurality of binding agents under conditions that enable a plurality of the binding agents to be linked to the analyte binding moieties to form multivalent tagging agents bound to the analyte; passing the first components of the sample past a surface to which is attached a plurality of capture agents that selectively bind to the binding agents; and capturing the analytes by providing conditions that enable the multivalent tagging agents bound to the analytes to bind to one or more of the capture agents.

A testing cartridge for metering of a sample to be tested. The testing cartridge includes a casing defining a casing opening and a sliding member defining a sliding member opening. The casing opening or the sliding member opening can define a specified volume, wherein the casing opening and the sliding member opening collectively define a sample application region dimensioned to accommodate receiving an amount of sample exceeding the specified volume. The sliding member is movable transversely to the casing opening by having the sliding member and the casing traverse across each other's respective openings to remove excess sample from the received amount of sample and retain the specified volume from the received amount of sample.

An instrument is configured to receive a staple cartridge to staple tissue and expel a fluid from within a container in the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge has an upper deck including staple apertures and orifices formed therein. The orifices are in fluid communication with the containers. The staple cartridge includes staple drivers having a driver body to translate a staple and a container protrusion to expel the fluid out the orifices. The fluid may be expelled while driving the staples out through the staple apertures. The container may be vertically compressible container or, in one alternative, may be a container having a channel and a sealant that is configured to be pierced as the fluid is expelled. Some configurations for the fluid include a hemostatic agent, thrombin, a gel, or a medicament. The containers may also be formed as reservoirs defined within the upper deck and/or cartridge body.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a spontaneous joining unit and a deformative joining unit. The spontaneous joining unit overlaps a first substrate and a second substrate and spontaneously joins mutual center portions of respective joint faces of the first substrate and the second substrate. The deformative joining unit deforms at least one peripheral portion of the respective joint faces of the first substrate and second substrate joined by the spontaneous joining unit toward the other peripheral portion and joins the mutual peripheral portions of the respective joint faces.

A corner device (10) having a main body (12) for carrying information or an ornamental pattern on an upper surface and locating formation (14) extending from one end of the main body. The locating formation locates and aligns the corner device with respect to an article before attaching the corner device to the article. The locating formation is shaped to receive the legs of a staple on either side thereof. The device also includes a folding area adapted to allow the main body to be folded over the locating formation once the corner device has been attached to the article, thereby to display the information or ornamental pattern.

A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.

A surgical stapling device including a handle assembly, an endoscopic portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a first longitudinal axis. The end effector defines a second longitudinal axis and includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly is supported adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion and includes a dissecting tip extending therefrom. The cartridge assembly is pivotably mounted adjacent the distal end of the endoscopic portion. The cartridge assembly is mounted for pivotal movement in relation to the anvil assembly between open and approximated positions.

A surgical device is provided, the surgical device including a first driver for performing a first movement function; a second driver for performing a second movement function; a first rotatable drive shaft configured, upon actuation, to cause selective engagement of one of the first and second drivers with a second rotatable drive shaft, wherein the second rotatable drive shaft is configured to drive the selectively engaged one of the first and second drivers. Third and fourth drivers may also be included. The drivers may function to rotate a shaft portion of the surgical device relative to, and about the longitudinal axis of, a handle; move a jaw portion relative to the shaft portion; move a first jaw relative to a second jaw; and/or move a surgical member within the second jaw.

An apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers for receiving an associated plurality of staples, each formed with a shape memory that allows the staple to adopt a straightened configuration, when placed in a stapler, and a deployed configuration for suturing when released from the stapler; and a sleeve moveable relative to the chambers between a first position, in which the staples are trapped by the sleeve within the chambers in the straightened configuration, and a second position, whereby the staples are freed to adopt the deployed configuration, wherein the sleeve is adapted to move between the first and second positions by rotating relative to the chambers.

Circular stapling instruments and anvil assemblies. The anvil assemblies may have collapsible anvil support members that may be inserted through an opening in a patient and then expanded to be attached to an anvil plate assembly that has a staple-forming surface thereon. The anvil support member is attachable to the anvil plate assembly in such a way that when the anvil assembly is coupled to the stapling head of a circular stapler, the staple-forming surface is in substantial registry with the staples supported in the stapling head. A variety of different anvil support members and anvil plate assemblies are disclosed. Various embodiments have a tissue-piercing feature.