Abstract: Systems and methods for managing surgical sponges. A dispenser assembly coupled to a main support includes an internal or first storage location to removably receive a carton of sponge sorters, and an external or second storage location to removably support a carton of surgical draping. At least one arm may be supported on the housing and movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position. The arm may include weighing means to measure a weight of the surgical sponge being disposed in a sponge sorter supported by the arm. The arm may be a cantilever and abeam load cell may be disposed within a channel of a beam. A processor may determine fluid weight based on measured weight and dry weight correlated with the surgical sponge being counted out as detected with a data reader. The processor may estimate blood loss to be displayed on a display.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided that permit efficient and selective separation of liquid biological specimens into at least two constituent components to facilitate subsequent quantitative and qualitative analysis on at least one analyte of interest in at least one of the components. The devices generally include one or more sample deposition regions supported on a base. Each sample deposition region includes a separation membrane for separating the liquid biological specimen into two different fractions. The first fraction is trapped by the separation membrane while the second fraction passes through the separation membrane and into a respective collection membrane. The separation and collection membranes are easily separable from the devices and can be utilized for further processing and analysis.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided that permit efficient and selective separation of liquid biological specimens into at least two constituent components to facilitate subsequent quantitative and qualitative analysis on at least one analyte of interest in at least one of the components. For example, a liquid biological specimen separation device includes a base defining a base surface, a collection housing extending away from the base surface to a collection end, a collection membrane disposed on the collection housing adjacent the collection end, and a cap assembly secured to the collection housing. The cap assembly includes a cap defining an aperture therein configured to allow deposition of a liquid biological specimen therethrough, a separation membrane secured to the cap and extending across the aperture, a cap ring rotatably secured about the collection housing, and a tether coupling the cap to the cap ring.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a centralized managing system and method for creating, deploying, administering, and managing a plurality of separate and distinct virtual computer networks on a virtualization platform for offering cloud computing services (SaaS). Embodiments of the invention relate to a computer system for a centralized management of separate and distinct virtual computer networks, which has a security grid which has at least one grid processor and a memory device that stores a managing application. The managing application has a virtualization platform, a grid access layer, a virtual computer network template system, a plurality of resource distribution tools and a plurality of monitoring and metering tools. The grid processor is adapted by the managing application so that it can create, deploy, administer, and manage the plurality of separate and distinct computer networks.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided that permit efficient and selective separation of liquid biological specimens into at least two constituent components to facilitate subsequent quantitative and qualitative analysis on at least one analyte of interest in at least one of the components. The devices generally include one or more sample deposition regions supported on a base. Each sample deposition region includes a separation membrane for separating the liquid biological specimen into two different fractions. The first fraction is trapped by the separation membrane while the second fraction passes through the separation membrane and into a respective collection membrane. The separation and collection membranes are easily separable from the devices and can be utilized for further processing and analysis.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided that permit efficient and selective separation of liquid biological specimens into at least two constituent components to facilitate subsequent quantitative and qualitative analysis on at least one analyte of interest in at least one of the components. The devices generally include one or more sample deposition regions supported on a base. Each sample deposition region includes a separation membrane for separating the liquid biological specimen into two different fractions. The first fraction is trapped by the separation membrane while the second fraction passes through the separation membrane and into a respective collection membrane. The separation and collection membranes are easily separable from the devices and can be utilized for further processing and analysis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a centralized managing system and method for creating, deploying, administering, and managing a plurality of separate and distinct virtual computer networks on a virtualization platform for offering cloud computing services (SaaS). Embodiments of the invention relate to a computer system for a centralized management of separate and distinct virtual computer networks, which has a security grid which has at least one grid processor and a memory device that stores a managing application. The managing application has a virtualization platform, a grid access layer, a virtual computer network template system, a plurality of resource distribution tools and a plurality of monitoring and metering tools. The grid processor is adapted by the managing application so that it can create, deploy, administer, and manage the plurality of separate and distinct computer networks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a centralized managing system and method for creating, deploying, administering, and managing a plurality of separate and distinct virtual computer networks on a virtualization platform for offering cloud computing services (SaaS). Embodiments of the invention relate to a computer system for a centralized management of separate and distinct virtual computer networks, which has a security grid which has at least one grid processor and a memory device that stores a managing application. The managing application has a virtualization platform, a grid access layer, a virtual computer network template system, a plurality of resource distribution tools and a plurality of monitoring and metering tools. The grid processor is adapted by the managing application so that it can create, deploy, administer, and manage the plurality of separate and distinct computer networks.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided that permit efficient and selective separation of liquid biological specimens into at least two constituent components to facilitate subsequent quantitative and qualitative analysis on at least one analyte of interest in at least one of the components. The devices generally include one or more sample deposition regions supported on a base. Each sample deposition region includes a separation membrane for separating the liquid biological specimen into two different fractions. The first fraction is trapped by the separation membrane while the second fraction passes through the separation membrane and into a respective collection membrane. The separation and collection membranes are easily separable from the devices and can be utilized for further processing and analysis.

Abstract: A device uses twist- or push-initiated force to collect, meter, filter and store a blood sample.

Abstract: A firearm is disclosed. The firearm has a power assembly, a member driven by the power assembly between a first position and a second position, and a trigger assembly. The member blocks a movement of the trigger assembly in the first position. The member allows a movement of the trigger assembly in the second position. The member is a rotatable member that rotates between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A balanced planetary gearbox including an assembly having an input stage and an output stage. The assembly includes two grounds, each with ground rollers and ground rings. The two grounds are fixedly attached to one another. The assembly includes a sun gear and planet sub-assemblies between the two grounds. The planet sub-assemblies include at least one input planet gear and one output planet gear. The sun gear and the input planet gears include rollers. An abutment of rollers in the gearbox keeps the sun gear and the planet gears in alignment. The output gear meshes with an output ring disposed in between the two ground rings, such that a combination of the at least one input planet gears from each of the plurality of planet sub-assemblies provides a structural symmetry to the planetary gearbox.

Abstract: An educational system presents an interactive avatar representing a subject matter expert in a particular field on a student's device, where the avatar can respond to queries posed by the student, and accompany the response with additional supporting information. The avatar's responses are based on artificial intelligence comparisons between the student queries and a knowledge base of anticipated questions, responses and learning goals. An authoring manager system employs natural language processing to identify an underlying meaning in the student's query and to add semantically equivalent questions in the knowledge base and internet searches to aid in compiling the list of anticipated questions. A student profile is stored containing student information and a history of the student's interaction with the avatar. Learning manager software, using the learning goals in the knowledge base and a record of the conversation, can compare and assess the student's progress to the learning goals.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are described for a gear contact system configured to support radial, thrust, and moment loads, the system comprising a first gear comprising a first roller having a first roller bearing surface, the first roller bearing surface having a convex curvature defined by a first radius of curvature; and a second gear comprising a second roller having a second roller bearing surface, the second roller bearing surface having a concave curvature defined by a second radius of curvature.

Abstract: A firearm is disclosed. The firearm has a power assembly, a member driven by the power assembly between a first position and a second position, and a trigger assembly. The member blocks a movement of the trigger assembly in the first position. The member allows a movement of the trigger assembly in the second position. The member is a rotatable member that rotates between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An educational system presents an interactive avatar representing a subject matter expert in a particular field on a student's device, where the avatar can respond to queries posed by the student, and accompany the response with additional supporting information. The avatar's responses are based on artificial intelligence comparisons between the student queries and a knowledge base of anticipated questions, responses and learning goals. An authoring manager system employs natural language processing to identify an underlying meaning in the student's query and to add semantically equivalent questions in the knowledge base and internet searches to aid in compiling the list of anticipated questions. A student profile is stored containing student information and a history of the student's interaction with the avatar. Learning manager software, using the learning goals in the knowledge base and a record of the conversation, can compare and assess the student's progress to the learning goals.

Abstract: A balanced planetary gearbox including an assembly having an input stage and an output stage. The assembly includes two grounds, each with ground rollers and ground rings. The two grounds are fixedly attached to one another. The assembly includes a sun gear and planet sub-assemblies between the two grounds. The planet sub-assemblies include at least one input planet gear and one output planet gear. The sun gear and the input planet gears include rollers. An abutment of rollers in the gearbox keeps the sun gear and the planet gears in alignment. The output gear meshes with an output ring disposed in between the two ground rings, such that a combination of the at least one input planet gears from each of the plurality of planet sub-assemblies provides a structural symmetry to the planetary gearbox.

Abstract: A device for capturing at least three views of an object with a camera includes a housing having a cavity. A slot in the housing communicates with the cavity and is adapted to accept an object. A plurality of mirrors in the cavity reflects at least three views of the object towards the camera, allowing the camera to capture an image of the views. A system for capturing multiple views of an object includes a housing having a cavity. A slot in the housing communicates with the cavity and is adapted to receive an object. A camera, a light source, and a plurality of mirrors in the cavity reflect at least three views of the object towards the camera, allowing the camera to capture an image three views.

Abstract: A rehabilitation system that combines robotics and interactive gaming to facilitate performance of task-specific, repetitive, upper extremity/hand motor tasks, to enable individuals undergoing rehabilitation to improve the performance of coordinated movements of the forearm and hand is disclosed. More specifically, the rehabilitation system includes a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) robotic, upper limb rehabilitation system and interactive gaming hardware that is coupled to a computer, to provide a virtual reality-like environment.

Abstract: The Active Knee Rehabilitation Orthotic System (ANdROS) is a wearable and portable assistive tool for gait rehabilitation and monitoring of people with motor control deficits due to a neurological ailment, such as stroke. ANdROS reinforces a desired gait pattern by continually applying a corrective torque around the knee joint, commanded by a impedance controller. A sensorized yet unactuated brace worn on the unimpaired leg is used to synchronize the playback of the desired trajectory based on the user's intent. The device is mechanically grounded through two ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) rigidly attached to the main structure, which helps reduce the weight perceived by the user.