The present invention is related to the use of secretagogue peptides repeatedly administered as part of a pharmaceutical composition that prevent and eradicate the deposition of pathological fibrotic material in parenchymal tissues of internal organs like the liver, lungs, esophagus, small intestine, kidneys, blood vessels, joints, and other systemic forms of cutaneous fibrosis of any etiopathogenesis. Additionally, these peptides prevent and eradicate deposition of amiloid and hyaline materials in any of their correspondent chemical forms and tissue manifestations in the brain, cerebellum, blood vessels, liver, intestines, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, joints and the skin, among others. By this way, cellular, tissular and organ dysfunctions generated by these depositions are corrected. The peptides of the present invention are infiltrated or topically applied, contributing to prevent and eradicate keloids and hypertrophic scars in the skin, derived as sequelae of burns and other cutaneous trauma.

The present invention provides variable mass labeling reagents, a set of the variable mass labeling reagents, and a multiplexed set of variable mass labeling reagents.

The present invention relates to treating a tissue in a mammal from the effects of reperfusion using flagellin.

An apparatus for rotating disc is provided, the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is characterized in that an anti-slip torque that is applied to the upper face of the disc by using the clamp unit and the elastic member is stronger than a rotation torque that is generated by the turn table to inhibit slipping of the optical disc from the turn table.

A cob conveying and cleaning system for use with a corn harvester, incorporating air induction in cooperation with an air flow from the harvester, for cleaning and separating lighter crop residue to be returned to the field from a mixed flow of the residue and cobs, such that the cleaned cobs can be collected, and the lighter residue optionally spread on the field. The air flow and induction are combined to cooperatively lift or draw the lighter residue from the mixed flow, and to optionally spread the removed lighter residue over a field. The induction apparatus can be located on the harvester, and used as a residue spreader when cobs are not collected.

The invention concerns a harvested crop residue chopper and distribution arrangement for a combine (10) with a straw chopper (60) with a rotor (74) that can be brought into rotation about a horizontal axis (98) with chopper blades (76) fastened thereto that define an outer envelope (96), and with at least one impeller blower (82) arranged downstream of the straw chopper (60) with impeller blades (84) that can rotate about an axis of rotation (88) that extends vertically, in which the impeller blades (84) are provided with outer edges (94) that conform to the envelope (96) of the chopper knives (76) and follow it very closely and are not in contact with it.

An agricultural combine having an adjustable spreader assembly is provided that includes a spreader with one or a pair of regulators. The spreader includes a discharge opening about its lateral side. The regulator is pivotably connected to the lateral side of the spreader such that the regulator is in fluid communication with the discharge opening. The regulator can be configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position or to vary the direction of discharge of crop residue. The spreader can be a vertical spreader, a horizontal spreader, or a spread board.

A feed system for a biomass collection device uses a conveyor for dropping a flow comprising a mixture of denser or heavier biomass to be collected such as cobs, and less dense or lighter biomass residue such as leaf trash, through a space, and rotary feed apparatus below for receiving the flow, operable for propelling the received flow into a collection device, in combination with a fan configured and operable for directing a flow of air along a second path intersecting the first path in a manner to divert at least a substantial portion of the less dense or lighter biomass residue away from the feed apparatus, while allowing substantially all of the denser or heavier biomass to continue along the first path to the feed apparatus for feeding into the collection device. Distribution apparatus along the second path can then be used to spread the diverted biomass.

Provided is fuel cell system capable of eliminating any failure caused by freezing of a discharge valve during a low temperature while preventing an increase in size of the system. A fuel cell system is provided, the system including: a fuel cell; a diluter that dilutes a fuel-off gas discharged from the fuel cell with an oxidant-off gas discharged from the fuel cell to discharge the resulting gas to the outside; a fuel-off gas flow path that connects the fuel cell and the diluter; and a discharge valve that is provided to the fuel-off gas flow path to discharge a fuel-off gas flowing through the fuel-off gas flow path to the outside during a valve opening operation. In the fuel cell system, the discharge valve is integrally attached to the diluter.

Electrode protection in electrochemical cells, and more specifically, electrode protection in both aqueous and non-aqueous electrochemical cells, including rechargeable lithium batteries, are presented. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell includes an anode comprising lithium and a multi-layered structure positioned between the anode and an electrolyte of the cell. A multi-layered structure can include at least a first single-ion conductive material layer, and at least a first polymeric layer positioned between the anode and the single-ion conductive material. The invention also can provide an electrode stabilization layer positioned within the electrode to control depletion and re-plating of electrode material upon charge and discharge of a battery. Advantageously, electrochemical cells comprising combinations of structures described herein are not only compatible with environments that are typically unsuitable for lithium, but the cells may be also capable of displaying long cycle life, high lithium cycling efficiency, and high energy density.

A microbial fuel cell comprising: a first cathode; at least two anodes electrically connected to each other and to the cathode in a reconfigurable manner; and a processor operatively coupled to the anodes and configured to monitor a parameter of each anode to determine if a given anode has been oxygen-contaminated, and further configured to convert an oxygen-contaminated anode into a second cathode by reconfiguring the electrical connections.

A system for producing energy that includes infusing porous carbon particles produced by pyrolysis of carbon-containing materials with an off-eutectic salt composition thus producing pore-free carbon particles, and reacting the carbon particles with oxygen in a fuel cell according to the reaction C+O2=CO2 to produce electrical energy.

Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which a hydrocarbon-based fuel is reliably reformed, and the oxidative degradation of the anode can be prevented by a reformed gas. A method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC including a reformer; an SOFC; a combustion region for combusting the anode off-gas of the SOFC; and an enclosure for housing the reformer, the SOFC, and the combustion region, wherein the method includes causing the flow rate of a fuel supplied to the reformer to become FE from FS; and stopping the supply of the fuel to the reformer when an anode temperature becomes lower than the oxidative degradation temperature, where FE represents a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer in a state in which the anode temperature is steady and lower than the oxidative degradation temperature, in which in the reformer the fuel is reformed and a reformed gas with a composition suitable to be supplied to an anode is produced, and in which an amount of the reformed gas produced is equal to or more than the requisite minimum flow rate for preventing the oxidative degradation of the anode when the anode temperature is a temperature equal to or higher than the oxidative degradation temperature, and FS represents a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer at the start of the shutdown method. Also provided is an indirect internal reforming SOFC appropriate for this method.

In a method for operating a high-temperature fuel cell, which in normal mode of generating electrical power is supplied with liquid fuel, preferably diesel oil, and is preceded on the anode side by a reformer for liquid fuel, where at least part of the hot anode exhaust gas is recirculated into the anode circuit via a recirculation line. Upstream of a compressor preceding the reformer the liquid fuel is sprayed or injected into the hot anode exhaust gas, the quantity of air needed for reforming the liquid fuel being added to the mixture of anode exhaust gas and fuel. On change-over from normal operational mode to standby mode without power generation, the supply of liquid fuel and air is stopped and the gas mixture present in the anode circuit be permanently circulated. A defined amount of air being introduced into the anode circuit in order to remove deposits and contaminations in the high-temperature fuel cell following standby operation.

A catalyst layer for a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly includes a plurality of agglomerates, adjacent ones of the plurality of agglomerates contacting with each other with pores provided between said adjacent ones of the plurality of agglomerates, each of the plurality of agglomerates being formed by packing a plurality of catalysts each consisting of noble metal fine particles supported on a fiber-like support material, adjacent ones of the plurality of catalysts contacting with each other with pores provided between said adjacent ones of the plurality of catalysts, and each of the plurality of catalysts contacting with a plurality of catalysts other than said each catalyst at a plurality of contact points. This allows providing a catalyst layer, a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, and a fuel cell, each of which has compact size and excellent power generation performance, and a method for producing the same.

A carbon supported catalyst composition for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells is disclosed that shows a high mass activity and favorable stability and durability. The catalyst composition comprises an intermetallic phase or alloy comprising Pt and a metal selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, V and Mo, and comprises an oxide of the metal. The carbon supported catalyst composition can be prepared at relatively low temperature either by first depositing and heating an oxide precursor of the metal on a suitable carbon to make a hybrid support, and then depositing and heating a Pt precursor on the hybrid support, or by depositing both an oxide precursor of the metal and a Pt precursor on a suitable carbon support, and directly heating to a final temperature.

There is provided a flexible circuit board capable of preventing corrosion and elution of a conductor layer constituting a current collector even under high-temperature and high-voltage working conditions while achieving sufficient electric connection with an MEA. A flexible circuit board having a current collector of a fuel cell provided thereon includes an insulating flexible base material 1, a plurality of openings 5 that supply fuel or air, the openings 5 being provided in a specified region so as to penetrate through the flexible base material 1 in a thickness direction, a plating film 6 that constitutes the current collector, the plating film 6 being formed on front and back surfaces of the flexible base material 1 in the specified region and on inner walls of the openings 5, a surface treatment film 9 formed on the plating film 6 and having corrosion resistance higher than that of the plating film.

A fuel-cell-system providing structure is provided which is capable of preventing a collision of a fuel cell with a related apparatus of the fuel cell while suppressing the increase in weight of a vehicle. A fuel cell system provided in a vehicle includes: a fuel cell unit in which a fuel cell is contained; and a related apparatus that is electrically connected to the fuel cell and that is located adjacent to the fuel cell unit. The related apparatus is arranged at a position closer to an outer surface of the vehicle than the fuel cell unit.

The present invention provides non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery, comprising an ester-based compound having a branched-chain alkyl group and an ester-based compound having a straight-chain alkyl group; and a lithium secondary battery using the same.

A portable carrier for containing, using, displaying, protecting and modifying blueprints in an outdoor working environment. The Blueprint Caddy (“Caddy”) includes a removable and durable plastic or polyethylene cover, affixed by means of two detachable pin hinges, which allows for both the protection of any prospective blueprints and easy alterations or amendments to same by means of a wax pencil. The back of the Caddy is constructed with a storage area allowing for the safe and convenient storage of the cover when its use is not desired. The Caddy is equipped with two plastic lock down elongated clamps which fit into channeled grooves of the Caddy to support and restrain blueprints of either twenty-four or thirty-six inches in length with a wrap around storage slot to slide unwanted pages of any blueprints utilized. The top of the Caddy is constructed with two small contained storage areas for carrying wax pencils or other writing materials, erasers, cloths, etc. The Caddy is also equipped with a handle at the top and four one inch removable legs on the back to allow it to be laid flat or posted on a wall for use in the field. The handle likewise allows the Caddy to be carried in convenient fashion to respective job sites.

A server for facilitating real-time betting, wherein the server communicates with clients via a distributed computing network. The server includes a memory storing an operating system, an instruction set, event data related to a sporting event, gambler data related to gamblers participating in a competition based upon the sporting event and site data related to electronic pages associated with the real-time para-mutuel betting. A processor runs the instruction set and communicates with the memory and the distributed computing network. The processor is operative to enroll the gamblers by presenting betting rules associated with the sporting event, collect wagering from the gamblers, accept predictions for discrete events within the sporting event from each gambler and determine a first winner of the competition based upon the predictions. Applications include lotteries with entries received from mobile devices.

A removable label guest book assembly provides a record of guests attending an event and removable labels to facilitate subsequent communication with those who attended the event. The guest book assembly includes a plurality of pages coupled together forming a book. A plurality of removable labels is coupled to the pages. The labels each have a writing surface configured for being written on by a writing implement. A plurality of recording sheets is provided. Each label has an associated recording sheet positioned between the label and the page. Thus, the recording sheet transfers writing on the writing surface of the label onto the associated page.

Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to provide a mechanical indicator to correlate magnetic disk drive IOP performance with features of mechanical and/or acoustic vibrational frequencies that are generated and captured or sensed outside of the disk drive itself. In one example, disk drive PES data may be collected concurrently with the capture of mechanical and/or acoustic vibrational data at different and progressive locations of vibration source, vibration path and vibration receiver in a disk drive operating environment, e.g., such as for disk drives installed within a server and/or storage chassis enclosure. In such case, PES threshold may be utilized to correlate performance of Drive IOP or drive servo-mechanical performance as a function of measured characteristics of vibration source/s that impart vibration to a disk drive.

Systems and methods for retrieving service request messages stored in a messaging queue and received by a queue in real-time. The service request messages are retrieved using a plurality of threads that comprise at least one retrieval criteria. Service request messages may be retrieved from the message queue or retrieved as they are received by the message queue in real-time using criteria in addition to or instead of the arrival time of the service request message which may also be referred to as the put-time. Service request messages may be requested and retrieved in an iterative process wherein multiple threads execute consecutively, concurrently, or a combination of both, in order to retrieve service request messages requested by an application.

Through an asynchronous callback enhancement, a thread makes a non-blocking request (e.g., send, receive, I/O) to a message passing interface library, and a callback routine is associated with the request as an asynchronous callback to the thread. The callback is queued for execution in the requesting thread and so has a deterministic execution context. Callback queuing may occur in response to another thread detecting that the request is complete. Further control over callback execution is provided by state transitions which determine whether the thread is open to processing (e.g., executing) an asynchronous callback. Callback association is done by a broad or by narrow association routines. An application which has processes organized in ranks, each including a communication thread with associated callback(s), and multiple worker threads. Interruptible wait enhancements may also be present.

A touch sensitive screen mobile information apparatus having a wireless communication unit for wireless device discovery is herein disclosed. Close proximity wireless device discovery is enabled by wireless searching near distance via radio frequency field for a wireless device, receiving information from the wireless device over the near distance wireless communication, and storing the received information at the information apparatus for future wireless connections. Authentication or pairing of devices may be eliminated due to close proximity of the direct wireless device discovery. After wireless device discovery, the information apparatus and the wireless device may become locked or paired for subsequent wireless communication over any number of wireless communication protocols or standards (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, 2.4GHz) without the need to repeat wireless discovery or pairing. Examples of information apparatus include smart phones, digital camera, laptops, or information pads. Examples of wireless devices include televisions, audio output devices, or printers.

Methods and systems are provided for prioritizing carriers in femtocell frequency-hopping pilot beacons. A femtocell receives registration requests from a number of mobile devices requesting to hand off service from a macro-network carrier to the femtocell. The femtocell identifies the macro-network carrier that each mobile device has handed off from. The femtocell then uses that information to prioritize future broadcasts of its frequency-hopping pilot beacon on those macro-network carriers on which the most mobile devices have handed off from. The prioritization could take the form of broadcasting more often on the higher priority one or more carriers per cycle, or broadcasting for a longer continuous period of time on the higher priority one or more carriers per cycle.

Methods and apparatus for performing radio resource management (RRM) measurements in a heterogeneous network (HetNet) are provided in an effort to prevent failure of RRM measurement procedures in a dominant interference scenario. Several alternatives are provided for determining particular resources (e.g., subframes) to use for performing the RRM measurements, wherein the particular resources are based on cooperative resource partitioning between cells of the HetNet, wherein the cells may be of different types (e.g., macro, pico, or femto cells). These alternatives include, for example: (1) intra-frequency or intra-RAT (radio access technology) alternatives, which may involve transmitting resource partitioning information (RPI) in or deriving non-serving cell RPI based on the serving cell's RPI, as well as (2) inter-frequency or inter-RAT alternatives, where the RRM measurements may be performed during a measurement gap.

A vehicle is provided including a battery module, a DC/DC converter module portioned from the battery module, a duct, one blower, and a jumper duct. The battery module includes inlet and outlet ports. The DC/DC converter module includes inlet and outlet ports. A duct is arranged to direct cooling air into each of the inlet ports. The blower is arranged to draw cooling air from the duct, through the modules, and out the outlet ports. The jumper duct is arranged up stream of the blower with the converter outlet port, and configured to reduce an effective cross sectional area of the converter outlet port to define a flow rate of the cooling air into the battery inlet port.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) to facilitate safe performance of a surgical procedure. The apparatus includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff adapted to encircle a region of a patient limb to provide both a sensor during a pre-surgical time period and an effector during a surgical time period. An effector module communicates pneumatically with an inflatable bladder of the cuff for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a PTP during the surgical time period to safely stop penetration of arterial blood past the cuff. A pulsation sensor that communicates pneumatically with the inflatable bladder during the pre-surgical time period senses and characterizes pressure pulsations that are indicative of penetration of arterial blood into the region of the limb encircled by the cuff. A PTP estimator is responsive to the pulsation sensor for producing an estimate of the PTP, such that the estimate of the PTP is a function of the sensed pulsations.

Methods and devices for ophthalmic tissue closure and fixation of ophthalmic prostheses are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, devices for both grasping and clipping a plurality of ocular tissue and ocular prostheses are provided. Various device embodiments are provided for both malleable clips and delivery of normally closed clips (i.e. shape memory). The device may accommodate a plurality of clips which include, but are not limited to: malleable metals, absorbable, shape memory, drug-eluting, and adhesive dispensing. The clips may be pigmented to match the colors of associated tissue (cornea, iris, conjunctiva, sclera, retina) to serve to camouflage fixation clips for healing duration or permanently. According to one aspect, shallow angle access to anatomy may be provided by specialized angulation of device shaft and closure jaws that are intended to access the eye through a small self-healing cornea incision and/or any ocular tissue.

A device for deploying a tissue fixation apparatus of the type including first and second tissue anchors coupled together by an adjustable suture assembly. The device comprises a handle mechanism and a needle cartridge assembly releasably coupled to the handle mechanism. The needle cartridge assembly includes a needle cannula with a side opening through which a tissue anchor can be loaded into an internal chamber of the needle cannula. A push rod is disposed in the needle cannula and is operable between an extended position in which the push rod prevents the tissue anchor from entering the chamber through the side opening, and a retracted configuration in which the tissue anchor can be pushed into the chamber under the action of a resilient band positioned over the side opening.

A microwave ablation system includes an energy source adapted to generate microwave energy and a power splitting device having an input adapted to connect to the energy source and a plurality of outputs. The plurality of outputs are configured to be coupled to a corresponding plurality of energy delivery devices. The power splitting device is configured to selectively divide energy provided from the energy source between the plurality of energy devices.

In one or more embodiments, an integrated circuit includes a programmable memory, a key generation module and a module. The programmable memory is to maintain a first key portion. The key generation module is to generate a key using the first key portion from the programmable memory and a second key portion received via a memory interface. The module is to encrypt or decrypt data using the key.

An apparatus and method for converting a random binary sequence into a random integer is provided. The present invention converts a random binary sequence into a random integer, and determines whether the corresponding random integer falls within a preset integer interval. Further, if it is determined that the random integer generated from the random binary sequence does not fall within the preset integer interval, the present invention repeatedly updates a random binary sequence until a random integer falling within the corresponding integer interval is obtained, thus outputting uniformly distributed random integers which fall within the preset integer interval.

An electronic device may determine to present a video frame still image sequence version of a video instead of the video. The electronic device may derive a plurality of still images from the video. The electronic device may generate the video frame still image sequence by associating the plurality of still images. The electronic device may present the video frame still image sequence. The video frame still image sequence may be displayed according to timing information to resemble play of the video. In some cases, audio may also be derived from the video. In such cases, display of the video frame still image sequence may be performed along with play of the audio.

An antenna array for a radar sensor, wherein the antenna array has a number of antenna elements linearly arranged next to one another. The antenna elements are designed for transmitting or receiving a radar signal, and the antenna array has a switching unit, which is designed to connect the antenna elements according to a predetermined switching sequence individually, one after the other in time, with a transmitting or receiving unit of the radar sensor. The switching sequence, according to which the antenna elements are connected one after the other with the transmitting or receiving unit, deviates from the spatial sequence of the antenna elements in the antenna array.

A housing for an electronic circuit for a fuel pump includes a base and a cover which is connected to the base, a printed circuit board and, disposed on one side of the latter, electric and/or electronic components. Disposed on either side of the printed circuit board in each case is a cover in such a way that each component is arranged in a region covered by a cover.

A control system (128) for controlling a switched reluctance (SR) machine (110) having a rotor (116) and a stator (118) is provided. The control system (128) may include a converter circuit (122) operatively coupled to the stator (118) and including a plurality of switches (132) in selective communication with each phase of the stator (118) and a controller (130) in communication with each of the stator (118) and the converter circuit (122). The controller (130) may be configured to determine a position of the rotor (116) relative to the stator (118), and generate a modulated switching frequency (152) based on the rotor position.

Defining a radio frequency identification read area includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader operable to read RFID tags within a specified read area. An RFID transmitter is coupled with the RFID reader and is operable to radiating a modulated carrier in an area adjacent to the specified read area. The RFID reader controls the RFID transmitter to transmit the modulated carrier during a preamble transmission of the RFID reader to prevent any RFID tags in the adjacent area from recognizing an interrogation signal from the RFID reader.

A method for detecting electromagnetic waves derived from bacterial DNA, comprising extracting and purifying nucleic acids from a sample; diluting the extracted purified nucleic acids in an aqueous solvent; measuring a low frequency electromagnetic emission over time from the diluted extracted purified nucleic acids in an aqueous solvent; performing a signal analysis of the low frequency electromagnetic emission over time; and producing an output, based on the signal analysis, in dependence on the DNA in the sample. The DNA may be extracted from at least one of blood, feces, urine, saliva, tears, seminal fluid, sweat, seminal and vaginal fluids of a patient, or water to determine, e.g., potability. The samples may be frozen. The extracting and purifying may comprise diluting the sample with an aqueous buffer and mixing; degrading proteins in the diluted sample; precipitating DNA from the buffer solution; and resuspending the precipitated DNA in an aqueous solution.

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 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.

The present disclosure relates to surgical fastener applying apparatus and the application of variable compression to tissue. More specifically, the presently disclosed surgical fastener applying apparatus act to limit the flow of blood through tissue immediately adjacent a cut-line formed therein to effectuate hemostasis, while maximizing the flow of blood through tissue more removed from the cut-line to limit unnecessary necrosis. In one embodiment, a surgical fastener applying apparatus is disclosed having a tool assembly coupled to a distal end thereof with first and second jaws respectively including an anvil and a surgical fastener cartridge. The surgical fastener cartridge includes, among other things, angled pushers that engage surgical fasteners of varying lengths.

A surgical fastening instrument is provided. The surgical fastening instrument includes a handle portion and an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis along a length thereof. The surgical fastening instrument also includes an end effector assembly that includes an anvil and a cartridge supported adjacent a distal end of the elongate portion. Each of the anvil and the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. One or more independently movable pushers is configured to support one or more surgical fasteners. A thrust bar is operatively coupled to the elongate portion, wherein the thrust bar is movable over a predetermined stroke to effect sequential ejection of at least two surgical fasteners of the plurality of surgical fasteners from the cartridge.

Devices for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue include a sheath and a staple push rod. The sheath has a distal end configured to be pressed against the target tissue. The staple push rod is disposed within at least a portion of the sheath and is slidable relative thereto. The staple push rod includes a pair of stakes. Each stake is dimensioned to abut a surface of a staple to apply pushing forces thereto. The stakes are biased to assume a bow-like shape such that an intermediate portion of a staple extends tautly between the first stake and the second stake when the stakes are extending beyond the distal end of the tubular member. Methods for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue are also disclosed.

A device for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue. The device includes a fastener push rod including a first portion, a second portion and a force limiting mechanism operably coupled between the first portion and the second portion. A fastener is carried by the second portion of the fastener push rod. The force limiting mechanism transmits longitudinal movement of the first portion to the second portion while the forces applied to the fastener by the fastener push rod are less than a predetermined value such that longitudinal movement of the first portion of the fastener push rod causes substantially equivalent longitudinal movement of the second portion. The force limiting mechanism allows relative longitudinal motion between the first and second portions while the forces applied to the fastener are equal to or greater than the predetermined value such that the application of undue forces to the fastener is prevented.

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.

One example of a surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt, a plurality of staples frangibly connected to the feeder belt, and at least one pull tab extending laterally from the feeder belt. An example of a surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient may include providing at least one feeder belt and staples frangibly connected thereto, and at least one wedge movable relative to the feeder belt; moving at least one wedge in a first direction to contact and thereby form and shear at least one staple from at least one feeder belt; and moving at least one wedge in a second direction to engage and advance the feeder belt.

A sequential punch press includes an upper die (10), a lower die (90), and an adjusting device (60) in the upper die. The upper die sequentially includes a punch set (20), a punch pad (30), a punch holder (40), and a stripper (50). A punch (70) is vertically and movably secured in the punch holder and received in the stripper. The adjusting device includes first and second sliding plates (64, 66) respectively having protrusions (65b, 67b), a piston cylinder (68) having a piston rod (682) fixedly connected with the first sliding plate, and a programmable controller for causing the piston rod to slidingly move the first sliding plate. When the first protrusions opposingly abut the second protrusions, the punch can extend beyond the stripper to punch a workpiece. When the first protrusions do not opposingly abut the second protrusions, the punch cannot extend beyond the stripper to punch the workpiece.