Abstract: A brushless direct-current motor is provided includes an inner stator and an outer rotor. The rotor includes a rotor core disposed around the stator, an inner annular member mounted on a rotor shaft, and a plurality of radial blades extending angularly from the rotor core to the inner annular member forming a fan. A first end cap is provided including a radial back plate proximate the fan and a center opening in the radial back plate through which the rotor shaft extends. A second end cap is provided including a main body disposed adjacent the stator opposite the fan. The radial back plate of the first end cap includes at least one sloped surface forming at least one air gap such that the airflow generated by the fan is centrifugally guided within the first end cap by the sloped surface and caused to exit through the air gap.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a prosthetic component include injection molding a prosthetic component with a polymeric material. The prosthetic component includes a final surface positioned on one side and multiple coring features positioned on an opposite side. The coring features may include multiple ribs and slots. The method further includes machining the prosthetic component to remove the coring features and form a final surface on the opposite side. The prosthetic component may be a femoral component for a prosthetic knee joint.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of an event-based automatic transaction on behalf of a user include and not limited to, determining, based on a plurality of information sources including a plurality of news information sources independent of a particular physical location, a probability of an event occurring, the probability being based on a predetermined percentage of news information sources indicating that the event is going to occur or is occurring, in response to the probability of the event occurring satisfying a predetermined threshold corresponding to the predetermined percentage, determining a location impacted by the event, in response to determining that the location of the user is proximate to the location impacted by the event, initiating a transaction with a mobile banking client application linked to an authorized financial account on behalf of the user, the authorized financial account being associated with the user and provided by the financial institution computing system.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided to implement a bias identification engine that identifies bias in the operation of a trained cognitive computing system. A bias risk annotator is configured to identify a plurality of bias triggers in inputs and outputs of the trained cognitive computing system based on a bias risk trigger data structure that specifies terms or phrases that are associated with a bias. An annotated input and an annotated output of the trained cognitive computing system is received and processed by the bias risk annotator to determine if they comprise a portion of content that contains a bias trigger. In response to at least one of the annotated input or annotated output comprising a portion of content containing a bias trigger a notification is transmitted, to an administrator computing device, that specifies the presence of bias in the operation of the trained cognitive computing system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for allocating computing resources. In one aspect, a method includes receiving intent data specifying one or more computing services to be hosted by a computing network, requested characteristics of computing resources for use in hosting the computing service, and a priority value for each requested characteristic. A budget constraint is identified for each computing service. Available resources data is identified that specifies a set of available computing resources. A resource allocation problem for allocating computing resources for the one or more computing resources is generated based on the intent data, each budget constraint, and the available resources data. At least a portion of the set of computing resources is allocated for the one or more computing services based on results of evaluating the resource allocation problem to meet a particular resource allocation objective.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling delivery of a therapeutic coating to a medical implant device. An identifier of the medical implant device may be received. It may be determined, based at least in part on the first identifier, that the first medical implant device is approved to receive the therapeutic coating. A coating applicator system may be switched from a locked state in which it is prohibited from applying the therapeutic coating to an unlocked state in which it is permitted to apply the therapeutic coating. The coating applicator system may, while in the unlocked state, apply the therapeutic coating to the first medical implant device. After the applying of the therapeutic coating, the coating applicator system may be switched from the unlocked state back to the locked state.

Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed. The surgical system comprises an end effector configured to move through a grasping motion, a motor configured to drive the grasping motion, an encoder configured to detect rotary positions, a load sensor configured to detect loads delivered, a position sensor configured to detect three-dimensional positions of the end effector, and a control circuit configured to receive a position parameter, a rotary parameter, and a load parameter, store the position parameter at the outset of the grasping motion, calculate an amount of work performed during the grasping motion while the position sensor detects the position of the end effector within a three-dimensional zone around the stored position parameter, transmit a work signal indicative of the amount of work performed, and reset the calculation of the amount of work performed when the position sensor detects a displacement of the end effector out of the three-dimensional zone.

Abstract: Techniques and technologies for guiding medical instruments during medical procedures using real-time imaging technologies are disclosed. A representative apparatus includes a medical instrument, an imaging system, a stage assembly, and a control system. The medical instrument includes an elongated portion configured to be inserted into a body portion and having an optical fiber that includes a tip portion that is extendable beyond a distal end of the elongated portion. The imaging system provides a sampling energy that is emitted from the tip portion. The stage assembly actuates the tip portion to perform scanning of one or more tissues with the sampling energy. The imaging system receives a reflected energy, providing a plurality of one-dimensional arrays of intensity values of the reflected energy.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a prosthetic component include injection molding a prosthetic component with a polymeric material. The prosthetic component includes a final surface positioned on one side and multiple coring features positioned on an opposite side. The coring features may include multiple ribs and slots. The method further includes machining the prosthetic component to remove the coring features and form a final surface on the opposite side. The prosthetic component may be a femoral component for a prosthetic knee joint.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling delivery of a therapeutic coating to a medical implant device. An identifier of the medical implant device may be received. It may be determined, based at least in part on the first identifier, that the first medical implant device is approved to receive the therapeutic coating. A coating applicator system may be switched from a locked state in which it is prohibited from applying the therapeutic coating to an unlocked state in which it is permitted to apply the therapeutic coating. The coating applicator system may, while in the unlocked state, apply the therapeutic coating to the first medical implant device. After the applying of the therapeutic coating, the coating applicator system may be switched from the unlocked state back to the locked state.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical instrument can comprise an end effector including a staple cartridge and a datum portion positioned proximal to the staple cartridge. The surgical instrument can further comprise a shaft and an articulation joint configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft. In addition, the surgical instrument can further comprise a firing member configured to deploy a plurality of staples from the staple cartridge and a drive assembly including a drive member configured to move the firing member. The drive assembly may also include a stop configured to engage the datum portion to limit the movement of the drive member after the plurality of staples are fired.

Abstract: A surgical system comprising a housing assembly, a shaft extending from the housing assembly, a closure system, an end effector extending from the shaft, and a rotation system is disclosed. The housing assembly comprises a motor. The end effector is configurable in an unclamped configuration and a clamped configuration. The end effector is moved into the clamped configuration by the closure system. The end effector comprises a staple cartridge and a firing member. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality staples. The firing member is configured to move through the staple cartridge and deploy the plurality of staples. The rotation system is configured to rotate the end effector about a rotation axis when the end effector is in the unclamped configuration and prevent the end effector from rotating about the rotation axis when the end effector is in the clamped configuration.

Abstract: Surgical end effectors are disclosed. The surgical end effectors can include a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member configured to translate relative to the first jaw and the second jaw during a firing stroke. The firing member can include at least one floating flange. The floating flange can be configured to shift or slide relative to a fixed portion of the firing member such as a fixed flange.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member is disclosed. The firing member comprises one or more cams configured to position the first jaw relative to the second jaw. In various instances, one of the cams is oriented at a non-parallel angle relative to another cam in order to reduce strain within the cams. In certain instances, at least one of the cams comprises a leading projection and a trailing projection positioned behind the leading projection which are configured to engage the same jaw. The ends of the leading projection and the trailing projection are not attached to one another and can move relative to one another. In some instances, one or more of the cams has a plastically deformable or wearable feature configured to facilitate multiple uses of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A surgical instrument with separate actuatable closure and firing systems for closing a movable jaw and actuating a firing member. In one form, the surgical instrument comprises an elastic spine assembly that includes a proximal spine portion and a distal spine portion that is elastically coupled to the proximal spine portion for axial movement relative thereto between a neutral position and an elongated position such that during actuation of the firing system results in an increased application of closure motions to the movable jaw without actuating the closure system.

Abstract: Surgical end effectors are disclosed. The surgical end effectors can include a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member configured to translate relative to the first jaw and the second jaw during a firing stroke. The firing member can include at least one floating flange. The floating flange can be configured to shift or slide relative to a fixed portion of the firing member such as a fixed flange.

Abstract: A surgical instrument with separate actuatable closure and firing systems for closing a movable jaw and actuating a firing member. In one form, the surgical instrument comprises an elastic spine assembly that includes a proximal spine portion and a distal spine portion that is elastically coupled to the proximal spine portion for axial movement relative thereto between a neutral position and an elongated position such that during actuation of the firing system results in an increased application of closure motions to the movable jaw without actuating the closure system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member is disclosed. The firing member comprises one or more cams configured to position the first jaw relative to the second jaw. In various instances, one of the cams is oriented at a non-parallel angle relative to another cam in order to reduce strain within the cams. In certain instances, at least one of the cams comprises a leading projection and a trailing projection positioned behind the leading projection which are configured to engage the same jaw. The ends of the leading projection and the trailing projection are not attached to one another and can move relative to one another. In some instances, one or more of the cams has a plastically deformable or wearable feature configured to facilitate multiple uses of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical instrument can comprise an end effector including a staple cartridge and a datum portion positioned proximal to the staple cartridge. The surgical instrument can further comprise a shaft and an articulation joint configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft. In addition, the surgical instrument can further comprise a firing member configured to deploy a plurality of staples from the staple cartridge and a drive assembly including a drive member configured to move the firing member. The drive assembly may also include a stop configured to engage the datum portion to limit the movement of the drive member after the plurality of staples are fired.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical instrument can comprise an end effector including a staple cartridge and a datum portion positioned proximal to the staple cartridge. The surgical instrument can further comprise a shaft and an articulation joint configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft. In addition, the surgical instrument can further comprise a firing member configured to deploy a plurality of staples from the staple cartridge and a drive assembly including a drive member configured to move the firing member. The drive assembly may also include a stop configured to engage the datum portion to limit the movement of the drive member after the plurality of staples are fired.