According to the present disclosure there is provided an arrangement for influencing fluid flow, the arrangement comprising: a first section selectively configurable to provide a vortex generator surface, the vortex generator surface comprising a series of laterally aligned projections, to induce vortices in the liquid flow.

A surgical instrument comprising a waveguide, an end effector, and an electrical switch is disclosed. The waveguide comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer and one output of a radio frequency (RF) generator. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the waveguide and electrically coupled to the waveguide. The clamp arm comprises a movable jaw member electrically coupled to another output of the RF generator. The electrical switch is operable to cause the surgical instrument to deliver electrical current from the RF generator to the movable jaw member for a first period, and to cause the surgical instrument to deliver ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade for a second period.

Disclosed material flow amplifiers have opposing amplifier bodies each with a profile that jointly defines an amplifier body (i.e., “clamshell configuration”). The amplifier body has a flow expander section and a vortex inducer section. A vortex chamber insert is within at least an interior space of the vortex inducer section. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing laminar flow.

A vortex flow inducer has inducer body with an interior end, an outer end and a length extending there between, and a longitudinal axis extending between the interior and the outer ends. A flow passage extends between the interior and outer ends of the inducer body. The flow passage has an inlet at the outer end and an exit at the interior end. The flow passage is swept laterally toward a side of the inducer body in a direction from the outer end toward the interior end such that the exit is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis. The interior end of the inducer body has a concave curvature. The swept flow passage and the curved interior end induce a vortex flow in a fluid flowing through the flow passage as it exits the flow passage and into a flow passage of a conduit the that extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the inducer body.

According to the present disclosure there is provided a liquid flow influencing duct arrangement comprising: a first duct section arranged to receive a liquid flow therethrough, the first duct section defining a first direction through the first duct section from a liquid inlet end to a liquid outlet end; a second duct section defining a second direction through the second duct section from a liquid inlet end to a liquid outlet end, the second duct section comprising a vortex generator surface, wherein the vortex generator surface is arranged to induce vortices in the liquid flow through the first duct section, wherein the duct arrangement further comprises a rotor housed in one of the duct sections.

Disclosed fluid flow modifying devices are useful with flexible fluid flow conduits. Such devices are adapted for mitigating adverse flow considerations arising from one or more bends in flexible fluid flow conduits. These adverse flow considerations are generally characterized as enhanced laminar flow and associated increased backpressure arising from reduced flow velocity caused by the one or more bends. Beneficially, disclosed fluid flow modifying devices cause flow of flowable material (e.g., a liquid) within a flow passage of a fluid flow conduit to have a rotational flow profile. Such a rotational flow profile advantageously reduces frictional losses associated with laminar flow and with directional change of fluid flow.

Disclosed are ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices. The disclosed embodiments include a surgical instrument comprising a waveguide, and end effector and an electrical switch. The waveguide may comprise a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer and one output of a radio frequency (RF) generator. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm coupled. The ultrasonic blade may be mechanically coupled to the distal end of the waveguide and electrically coupled to the waveguide. The clamp arm may comprise a movable jaw member electrically coupled to another output of the RF generator such that an electrical current can pass through the movable jaw member and the ultrasonic blade through tissue located between the movable jaw member and the ultrasonic blade. The electrical switch may be configured to electrically couple to the RF generator and the movable jaw member, wherein the switch is operable to cause the surgical instrument to deliver electrical current from the RF generator to the movable jaw member for a first period, and to cause the surgical instrument to deliver ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade for a second period.

Material flow amplifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion and head losses) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile (e.g., increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like).

Material flow amplifiers comprise at least one helix vane within a vortex chamber of an amplifier body and at least a portion of an outer edge portion of the at least one helix vane is attached to an interior surface of the amplifier body. A centralizer tube is centrally located within the amplifier body and has at least a portion of an inner edge portion of the at least one helix vane is attached to an exterior surface thereof. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing laminar flow to provide for increased flow rate in addition to reducing inner pipeline wear and energy consumption.

Disclosed fluid flow modifying devices are useful with flexible fluid flow conduits. Such devices are adapted for mitigating adverse flow considerations arising from one or more bends in flexible fluid flow conduits. These adverse flow considerations are generally characterized as enhanced laminar flow and associated increased backpressure arising from reduced flow velocity caused by the one or more bends. Beneficially, disclosed fluid flow modifying devices cause flow of flowable material (e.g., a liquid) within a flow passage of a fluid flow conduit to have a rotational flow profile. Such a rotational flow profile advantageously reduces frictional losses associated with laminar flow and with directional change of fluid flow.