Author: claimsbot

1. A suturing system for use with a needle, the suturing system comprising:
a cartridge having a cartridge body, a plurality of jaws, and a cartridge interface;
a drive unit having a drive unit body, a linkage, and a drive unit interface, the cartridge interface removably mountable to the drive unit interface, cycling of the linkage effecting alternating grasping of the needle by the jaws when the drive unit interface engages the cartridge interface and the needle is positioned for use;
the drive unit interface or the cartridge interface comprising a latch having a latched position maintaining the cartridge interface in engagement with the drive unit interface and a released position releasing the cartridge from the drive unit; and
a latch input coupled to the latch so that two opposed motions, each relative to the drive unit body, effect movement of the latch to the released position and removal of the cartridge from the drive unit,
wherein the cartridge interface is removable from the drive unit interface along a removal orientation, and wherein the latch input is coupled to the latch so that a movement of the latch input along a mounting orientation moves the latch to the released position, the mounting orientation opposing the removal orientation so that removal of a latched drive unit involves opposed motions of the latch input and the cartridge, and
wherein the cartridge interface or the drive unit interface includes a channel and the other includes a shaft and a column, the channel axially receiving the column along the mounting orientation.
2. The suturing system of claim 1, wherein movement of the cartridge along the mounting orientation effects movement of a latching surface to the latched position as the cartridge interface engages the drive unit interface.
3. The suturing system of claim 2, wherein the jaws are each included in a clamping assembly that reciprocates along an associated jaw reciprocation axis during cycling of the linkage, wherein each associated jaw reciprocation axis is disposed transverse to the mounting orientation.
4. The suturing system of claim 2, wherein the latch input comprises the shaft, wherein the shaft and the column are included in the drive unit interface, the column supporting and axially receiving a portion of the shaft, and wherein the channel is included in the cartridge interface with the channel extending through the cartridge body so that the latch input is accessible beyond the channel of the cartridge body.
5. The suturing system of claim 1, wherein the latch is included in an interface assembly detachably mounted to the drive unit body to facilitate sterilization andor replacement of the interface assembly independently of at least a portion of the linkage.
6. A suturing system for use with a needle, the suturing system comprising:
a cartridge unit having a cartridge unit body, a plurality of jaws, and a cartridge unit interface;
a drive unit having a drive unit body, a linkage, and a drive unit interface including a latch, the cartridge unit interface removable from the drive unit interface along a removal orientation, cycling of the linkage effecting alternating grasping of the needle by the jaws when the drive unit interface engages the cartridge unit interface and the needle is positioned for use;
the latch having a latched position maintaining the cartridge unit interface in engagement with the drive unit interface and a released position releasing the cartridge unit from the drive unit; and
a latch input coupled to the latch so that a movement of the latch input moves the latch to the released position, the movement of the latch input being along a mounting orientation so that removal of a latched drive unit involves opposed motions, relative to the drive unit body, of the latch input and cartridge unit,
wherein the cartridge interface is removable from the drive unit interface along a removal orientation, and wherein the latch input is coupled to the latch input so that a movement of the latch input along a mounting orientation moves the latch to the released position, the mounting orientation opposing the removal orientation so that removal of a latched drive unit involves opposed motions of the latch and the cartridge, and
wherein the cartridge interface or the drive unit interface includes a channel and the other includes a shaft and a column, the channel axially receiving the column along the mounting orientation.
7. A suturing system for use with a needle, the suturing system comprising:
a cartridge having a cartridge body, a plurality of jaws, and a cartridge interface including a channel through the cartridge body;
a drive unit having a drive unit body, a linkage, and a drive unit interface including a latch and a shaft assembly fittingly receivable within the channel along a mounting orientation, cycling of the linkage effecting alternating grasping of the needle by the jaws when the drive unit interface engages the cartridge interface and the needle is positioned for use;
the latch having a latched position maintaining the cartridge interface in engagement with the drive unit interface and a released position releasing the cartridge from the drive unit; and
a latch input extending along the shaft assembly of the drive unit interface so that the latch input is accessible through the channel of the cartridge and so that articulation of the latch input transmits motion along the shaft assembly to the latch.
8. The suturing system of claim 7, wherein
the cartridge interface is removable from the drive unit interface along a removal orientation,
and wherein the latch input is coupled to the latch so that a movement of the latch input moves the latch to the released position, the movement of the latch input being along the mounting orientation so that removal of a latched drive unit involves opposed motions, relative to the drive unit body, of the latch input and cartridge.
9. The suturing system of claim 8, wherein the drive unit interface further includes a column supporting and axially receiving a portion of the shaft.
10. The suturing system of claim 8, wherein the latch is included in a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism engaging the drive unit interface as the drive unit advances along the mounting orientation so as to effect movement of the latch to the latched position in response to movement of the cartridge relative to the drive unit.
11. The suturing system of claim 8, wherein the latch is included in an interface assembly detachably mounted to the drive unit body to facilitate sterilization andor replacement of the interface assembly independently of at least a portion of the linkage.
12. The suturing system of claim 7, wherein the
cartridge interface includes a latch receiving surface engageable by the latch so as to restrain the cartridge interface in engagement with the drive unit interface, and so that actuation of the input is transmitted through the channel so as to release the cartridge from the drive unit.
13. The suturing system of claim 12, wherein movement of the cartridge along the mounting orientation effects movement of a latching surface to the latched position.
14. The suturing system of claim 12, wherein the jaws are each included in a clamping assembly that reciprocates along an associated jaw reciprocation axis during cycling of the linkage, wherein each associated jaw reciprocation axis is disposed transverse to the mounting orientation.
15. The suturing system of claim 12, wherein the latch input is mounted to the shaft so that the latch input is accessible beyond the channel of the cartridge interface.
16. The suturing system of claim 7 wherein the
drive unit includes an articulatable handle such that cycling of the articulatable handle cycles the linkage and effects alternating grasping of the needle by the jaws when the drive unit interface engages the cartridge unit interface and the needle is positioned for use; and
wherein a fixed handle surface extends continuously along the drive unit body beyond the interfaces and onto the cartridge, the handle surface configured for ergonomic grasping by a hand of a user while the hand engages the cartridge body and the drive unit body, and while fingers of the hand manipulate the articulatable handle, so as to allow a user to forma suture stitch in an open surgical environment by moving the suturing system and articulating the articulatable handle with the hand and without assistance of any other hand.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A heat sink assembly, comprising:
a hollow base having an air flow path therethrough and one or more apertures; and
a fin structure having contact portions mounted to the base and fins extending from the contact portions through the apertures of the base.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the base comprises a first material having a first thermal conductivity; and
the fin structure comprises a second material having a second thermal conductivity that is higher than the first thermal conductivity.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the fin structure comprises copper.
4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the base comprises a die cast metal.
5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the fins are about 1 inch long or greater, and the fin spacing is about 0.3 inches or less.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the fin thickness is about 0.1 inches or less.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fin structure comprises a single curved sheet, the sheet further comprising bottom portions connecting adjacent fins.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fin structure comprises a plurality of separate fin modules, each fin module comprising a contact portion and a pair of the fins extending vertically from the contact portion.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the contact portions of the fin modules are curved.
10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the fins of the fin modules are curved.
11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fastener coupling the fin structure to the base.
12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base comprises plastic.
13. An electronics assembly, comprising:
an electronics module comprising electronic components mounted on a support;
a fin structure having a contact portion contacting a bottom surface of the support and fins extending from the contact portion; and
means to apply load to the contact portion of the fin structure such that the contact portion directly contacts the bottom surface of the support.
14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the means to apply load to the contact portion of the fin structure comprises a curvature defined in the contact portion that is curved away from the bottom surface of the support.
15. The assembly of claim 14, further comprising a fastener coupling the fin structure to the support.
16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the means to apply load to the contact portion of the fin structure comprises a hollow base coupled to the fin structure and the support and a means for coupling the base to the fin structure, the hollow base comprising:
a horizontal surface applying load to the contact portions of the fin structure; and
slots through which the fins of the fin structure extend.
17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the means for coupling comprises a fastener to couple the base to the fin structure and the support.
18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the support comprises a thermally conductive pallet and the fin structure comprise a thermally conductive material.
19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the pallet and fin structure are composed of copper.
20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the pallet comprises aluminum.
21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the fin structure comprises aluminum.
22. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the base comprises a die cast material.
23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the die cast material comprises aluminum.
24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the die cast material comprises plastic.
25. An RF power amplifier assembly, comprising:
a housing;
at least one amplifier disposed within the housing;
a pallet composed of a thermally conductive material coupled to a bottom of the amplifier;
a fin structure attached to the pallet, the fin structure having contact portions that are in direct contact with a lower surface of the pallet and fins extending from the contact portions; and
a base supporting the fin structure and having an air flow path therethrough and one or more apertures through which the fins extend into the air flow path.
26. The amplifier assembly of claim 25, wherein the base apertures comprise slots through which the fins extend.
27. The amplifier assembly of claim 26, wherein the fin structure comprises an integral curved sheet, the sheet comprising the fins, the contact portions and bottom walls in an alternating configuration, each contact portion being coupled to an adjacent bottom wall by a fin.
28. The amplifier assembly of claim 26, wherein the fin structure comprises a plurality of separate U-shaped fin modules, each fin module comprising a pair of fins extending downwardly from each contact portion, the contact portion of each fin module defining an upper surface of the fin structure that is direct contact with the lower surface of the pallet.
29. The amplifier assembly of claim 25, further comprising a fastener coupling the base to the fin structure and the pallet such that the base applies contact load to the fin structure to cause the upper surface of the fin structure to directly contact the lower surface of the pallet.
30. The amplifier assembly of claim 25, wherein:
the fin structure comprises a first material having a first thermal conductivity; and
the base comprises a different second material having a second thermal conductivity that is lower than the first thermal conductivity.
31. A method for assembling an electronics assembly, the method comprising:
providing a housing;
providing an electronics module having one or more electronic components mounted on a pallet within the housing;
providing a fin structure with contact portions and fins extending from the contact portions;
contacting a bottom surface of the pallet with contact portions of the fin structure; and
applying load to the contact portions of the fin structure such that a substantial area of the contact portions is in direct thermal contact with the bottom surface of the pallet.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein contacting a bottom surface of the pallet with contact portions of the fin structure comprises fastening the fin structure directly to the pallet.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein applying load to the contact portions of the fin structure comprises curving the contact portions away from the bottom surface of the pallet.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein applying load to the contact portions of the fin structure comprises coupling a base having apertures to the fin structure and the pallet.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein coupling a base to the fin structure and the pallet comprises inserting the fins of the fin structure through the slots of the base.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein coupling a base to the fin structure and the pallet comprises:
forming an aperture in the pallet, the fin structure and the base; and
inserting a fastener through the aperture of the pallet, the fin structure and the base.
37. The method of claim 34, wherein directly contacting a bottom surface of the pallet with contact portions of the fin structure comprises disposing the contact portions of the fin structure beneath the pallet and above the base.
38. The method of claim 31, wherein providing a fin structure comprises providing an integral corrugated sheet of high thermal conductive material.
39. The method of claim 31, wherein providing a fin structure comprises providing a plurality of inverted U-shaped fin modules.
40. A method for manufacturing a heat sink assembly comprising:
providing a base having one or more apertures;
providing a fin structure that is separate from the base;
forming contact portions and fins in the fin structure; and
coupling the base to the fin structure such that the fins extend through the one or more apertures.
41. The method of claim 40, further comprising contacting a bottom surface of a pallet of an electronics assembly with the contact portions of the fin device.
42. The method of claim 41, further comprising forming the pallet out of aluminum.
43. The method of claim 41, further comprising forming the pallet out of copper.
44. The method of claim 41, wherein providing a fin structure that is separate from the base comprises forming the fin structure out of aluminum.
45. The method of claim 40, wherein providing a base comprises die casting the base.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein die casting the base comprises die casting aluminum.
47. The method of claim 45, wherein die casting the base comprises die casting plastic.
48. The method of claim 40, wherein providing a base having one or more apertures comprises forming slots in the base.
49. The method of claim 48, wherein coupling the base to the fin structure comprises inserting the fins of the fin structure through the slots of the base.
50. The method of claim 40, wherein forming contact portions and fins in the fin structure comprises stamping a single sheet to provide an integral corrugated sheet.
51. The method of claim 40, wherein forming contact portions and fins in the fin structure comprises stamping a plurality of single layer sheets to form a plurality of U-shaped fin modules, wherein each U-shaped fin module comprises one of the contact portions and a pair of the fins extending from the contact portion.
52. The method of claim 51, further comprising curving the contact portion of each fin.
53. The method of claim 51, further comprising curving the fins of each fin module.
54. The method of claim 40, wherein:
providing a base comprises forming the base out of a first material having a first thermal conductivity; and
providing a fin structure that is separate from the base comprises forming the fin structure out of a second material having a second thermal conductivity that is higher than the first thermal conductivity.
55. The method of claim 54, wherein forming the fin structure out of a second material having a second thermal conductivity that is higher than the first thermal conductivity comprises forming the fin structure out of copper.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein forming the base out of a first material having a first thermal conductivity comprises forming the base out of aluminum.

1. A frontal impact countermeasure assembly for an automotive vehicle, the countermeasure assembly comprising:
a pair of front side rail extending in a generally longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having a forward end;
a bumper attached to and extending between the front side rails and generally laterally to the longitudinal direction of the front side rails, the bumper having an outboard end; and
a pivot link having outer and inner mounting portions, the outer mounting portion being pivotably engaged with the bumper in a region of the outboard end to define a front pivot joint, the inner mounting portion being engaged with the front side rail to define a rear joint, the rear joint being located rearward and inward relative to the front pivot joint,
wherein the pivot link has first, second, and third major side surfaces, the first major side surface facing the bumper, the second major side surface facing the front side rail, and the third major side surface facing away from the bumper and extending between the inner and outer mounting portions of the pivot link.
2. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear joint is a rear pivot joint and includes a pivot bracket engaging the inner mounting portion and fastened to an outer wall of the front side rail, the front side rail defining a box structure including the outer wall and having an inner wall, an upper wall and a lower wall.
3. The countermeasure assembly of claim 2, wherein the outer wall defines a vertical width of the front side rail, the pivot bracket having a base defining a length greater than the vertical width of the front side rail.
4. The countermeasure assembly of claim 3, wherein the base of the pivot bracket is further fastened to a downward protrusion, the downward protrusion extending downwardly from the lower wall of the front side rail.
5. The countermeasure assembly of claim 4, wherein the downward protrusion defines an outer wall that is generally planar with the outer wall of the front side rail.
6. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein the bumper further comprises a main bumper member and a bumper extension, the bumper extension extending laterally from the main bumper member and defining the outboard end of the bumper.
7. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein the first major side surface includes an undercut, the undercut being defined wherein a lower portion of the first major side surface is recessed relative to an upper portion of the first major side surface.
8. A frontal impact countermeasure assembly for an automotive vehicle, the countermeasure assembly comprising:
a pair of front side rail extending in a generally longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having a forward end;
a bumper attached to and extending between the front side rails and generally laterally to the longitudinal direction of the front side rails, the bumper having an outboard end; and
a pivot link having outer and inner mounting portions, the outer mounting portion being pivotably engaged with the bumper in a region of the outboard end to define a front pivot joint, the inner mounting portion being engaged with the front side rail to define a rear joint, the rear joint being located rearward and inward relative to the front pivot joint,
wherein a center of the front pivot joint is offset from a center of the rear joint in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle.
9. The countermeasure assembly of claim 8, wherein the center of the front pivot joint is located vertically higher relative to the vehicle than the center of the rear joint.
10. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner mounting portion of the pivot link exhibits a thickness that is less than a thickness defined by the outer mounting portion of the pivot link.
11. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot link is a generally triangular shaped body.
12. The countermeasure assembly of claim 1, wherein the first major side surface is not parallel with the third major side surface.
13. The countermeasure assembly of claim 12, wherein the first major side surface and the third major side surface defining an angle therebetween that is less than 90\xb0.
14. A method of redirecting impact forces through a wheel structure of an automotive vehicle during a collision with an object, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the vehicle with a counter measure assembly having a bumper at the front of the vehicle extending laterally across the vehicle, the bumper having a first end, a front side rail extending rearwardly from the bumper, a bumper extension extending from the first end of the bumper in an outward direction from the centerline, a pivot link having outer and inner mounting portions, the outer mounting portion being pivotably mounted to the bumper extension, and the inner mounting portion being pivotably mounted to the front side rail;
upon a frontal impact with the first end of the bumper with the object, rotating the pivot link outwardly from the center line about the inner mount portion while maintaining the pivot link in engagement with the first end of the bumper;
crushing a front end of the front side rail;
further rotating the pivot link so that a front surface of the pivot link defines a surface angled rearward and outward relative to the vehicle;
shifting the object outward relative to the pivot link;
directing the object to engage a wheel of the vehicle;
impinging the wheel of the vehicle between the object and a portion of a frame member of the vehicle;
directing impact forces through a steering knuckle coupled to the wheel of the vehicle;
breaking the steering knuckle and separating the wheel from the vehicle;
pivoting the object away from a passenger cabin of the vehicle upon separating of the wheel from the vehicle; and
whereby the object does not impinge upon the passenger cabin of the vehicle.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An electro-optical device comprising:
an electro-optical panel;
a backlight unit disposed so as to face the electro-optical panel;
a cover including a window portion opened in correspondence with a pixel region of the electro-optical panel and a first sidewall provided so as to face the side surfaces of the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit, the first sidewall having an engagement portion engaged with the backlight unit; and
a frame which holds the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit and has a second sidewall provided so as to face the side surfaces of the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit, the second sidewall having a protrusion for guiding the engagement portion to an engagement place.
2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein:
the protrusion has a first surface formed on the side of the electro-optical panel and a second surface formed on the opposite side of the electro-optical panel, and
the first surface is formed of an inclined surface inclined in a direction away from the electro-optical panel.
3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further comprising:
an engagement hole as the engagement portion formed in the sidewall of the cover; and
an engagement protrusion provided so as to protrude from the side surface of the backlight unit,
wherein the cover and the backlight are fixed by engaging the engagement hole with the engagement protrusion.
4. The electro-optical device according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion is disposed at a position overlapping with the engagement protrusion in a planer manner.
5. The electro-optical device according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion is provided so as to protrude further than the engagement protrusion.
6. An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 1.