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In 1983, the first surgical robot, Arthrobot, was used to accurately align a patient’s leg during an orthopedic surgery. In 1985, the PUMA 560 robot assisted in a brain biopsy providing precise tissue sampling. The da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system by Intuitive Surgical debuted in 1998, and received FDA approval in 2000 for laparoscopic surgery. In 2014, the da Vinci Xi was the new system’s advanced version enhancing flexibility, imaging, and instrument control. And in 2023, da Vinci added transoral procedures to its list, all which minimize recovery times through less invasive surgeries. The da Vinci 5 added tactile feedback for the surgeon to “feel” the tools move along soft tissue during surgery, which Intuitive calls Force Feedback technology. It received FDA 510(k) clearance in March of 2024.

Americans have a reputation for having a down-to-business and self-reliant work ethic that started during its first Colony in Virginia (1607), to its thirteenth Colony (Georgia, 1732). Forty-four years later, Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and self-reliance was on a roll. Once the war was over, America began to export its goods, and its first tariff was enacted by the First Continental Congress in 1789 “ . . . to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imports and Excises . . . to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations," which was signed into law by George Washington. Tariffs have been used throughout U.S. history—the U.S. government was funded by tariffs until 1913. After that, it was a combination of taxes and tariffs.

Will Manufacturing Become This Century’s Roaring ’20s? The foundation for the reemergence of American manufacturing is happening quickly after nearly five decades of ramping up outsourcing—at least the corporate manufacturing pledges of $8 trillion and counting during the writing of this article trend in a positive direction. While new manufacturing is still a work in progress, let’s review the unwinding of what was the manufacturing sector in America.

In hospitals, medical clinics, production floor cells, and standard brick-and-mortar offices, the spatial relationship of diagnostic equipment, heavy machinery, and peripheral devices and their AC power outlets can become a tricky geometry to solve—equipment placed tightly against walls where odd angles and tight corners loom. Whether your power cords are 7 or 50 feet in length, you may need cords with angled plugs and cord clips, the latter made of glass-filled polypropylene resin for maximum retention to secure the slack of your excess cord.

Dielelectric Voltage-withstand or Dielectric-strength tests are often referred to as the High Potential Voltage “Hipot” test. It’s a common yet important safety and diagnostic tests used for electrical and electronic components and devices—it can be used in both design and production phases in the manufacturing of electrical products.