Abstract: An image sensor includes at least one pixel with a transfer gate that is controllable among at least three biasing conditions, including a first biasing condition in which electrons are transferable from a photodiode to a potential well under the transfer gate, a second biasing condition in which the electrons are confined in the potential well under the transfer gate, and a third biasing condition in which the electrons are transferable out of the potential well under the transfer gate. The pixel includes a p+ type doped barrier implant located at least partially under a portion of the transfer gate, and a pinned charge transfer barrier located on the opposite side of the transfer gate from the photodiode that includes a p+ type doped region and an n-type doped region. The image sensor can operate in a global shutter mode and/or a rolling shutter mode.

Abstract: Medical apparatus includes an endoscope, which includes a distal end configured for insertion into a body cavity and which includes an imaging assembly, configured to capture and output an image of a region of the body cavity in proximity to the distal end. An energy source is configured to emit pulses of energy through an energy guide. A control unit is configured to process the image so as to identify a target mass in the body cavity and to verify that an aiming beam directed through the energy guide is incident on the target mass and, responsively to so verifying, to actuate the energy source to direct a pulse of the energy via the energy guide onto the target mass.

Abstract: A device comprising: a handpiece having one or more attachment ports; a tubeset having one or more attachment features for connecting the tubeset to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; a removable tip having an attachment arm for attaching to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; wherein the device comprises one or more of the following: the handpiece includes an attachment port that attaches the handpiece to an active lead and a return lead and the device is adapted to use only the active lead or both leads so that the device can switch between bi-polar energy and mono-polar energy; the tubeset has one or more fluid conduits that are in fluid communication with the removable tip, wherein the removable tip is located at a distal end of the device; and the handpiece connects to one or more electrical input lines; the tubeset connects to one or more fluid lines, and the removable tip is free of direct connection to both the one or more electrical input lines and the one or more fluid

Abstract: A heater assembly can be used with a gas appliance. The gas appliance can be a dual fuel appliance for use with one of a first fuel type or a second fuel type different than the first. The heater assembly can include at least one pressure regulator, a housing, and an actuation member. The housing has a first fuel hook-up for connecting the first fuel type to the heater assembly, and a second fuel hook-up for connecting the second fuel type to the heater assembly. The actuation member can control a setting of the pressure regulator based on whether the first or the second fuel hook-up is used.

Abstract: A device comprising: a handpiece having one or more attachment ports; a tubeset having one or more attachment features for connecting the tubeset to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; a removable tip having an attachment arm for attaching to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; wherein the device comprises one or more of the following: the handpiece includes an attachment port that attaches the handpiece to an active lead and a return lead and the device is adapted to use only the active lead or both leads so that the device can switch between bi-polar energy and mono-polar energy; the tubeset has one or more fluid conduits that are in fluid communication with the removable tip, wherein the removable tip is located at a distal end of the device; and the handpiece connects to one or more electrical input lines; the tubeset connects to one or more fluid lines, and the removable tip is free of direct connection to both the one or more electrical input lines and the one or more fluid

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ablating blood vessels in treatment of uterine fibroids. A monopolar electrode provided on a needle probe is positioned in an artery supplying blood to a uterine fibroid. Energy is supplied to the electrode to ablate the artery. In this way, the uterine fibroid and the surrounding tissues remain relatively undamaged, and the uterine fibroid, deprived of its blood source, is allowed to necrose and eventually shrink.

Abstract: An image sensor includes at least one pixel with a transfer gate that is controllable among at least three biasing conditions, including a first biasing condition in which electrons are transferable from a photodiode to a potential well under the transfer gate, a second biasing condition in which the electrons are confined in the potential well under the transfer gate, and a third biasing condition in which the electrons are transferable out of the potential well under the transfer gate. The pixel includes a p+ type doped barrier implant located at least partially under a portion of the transfer gate, and a pinned charge transfer barrier located on the opposite side of the transfer gate from the photodiode that includes a p+ type doped region and an n-type doped region. The image sensor can operate in a global shutter mode and/or a rolling shutter mode.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of providing a dual hand wagering game on a display device including a controller. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a wagering selection of at least one of a plurality of wagering options, wherein the wagering options are associated with either one or both of a first card and a second card; randomly generating the first card and the second card for display on the display device from at least one standard deck of playing cards; comparing the randomly generated first and second cards with a preset wager winning criteria; and awarding a payout responsive to the wagering selection received matching the preset wager winning criteria satisfied.

Abstract: A game system including a game station, a player input device, a communication device, and a controller. The game station includes a display device configured to display a user interface with a plurality of game options available for selection. Each game option is associated with a game play presentation, with at least one game options being a live bingo game. The player input device is in communication with the display device and receives selected game options, wherein game play presentations are displayed simultaneously on the display device responsive to the player selected game options. The communication device receives independent game data randomly generated for each of the selected game options. Finally, the controller processes the independent game data received by the communication device for each of the selected game options and facilitating independent game play presentations on the display device as a function of the independent game data.

Abstract: A ball ejection system for a roulette game is provided. The system includes a roulette wheel including a plurality of slots, at least one sensor, at least one ejector element, and a first driving mechanism. Each slot is defined by side walls and a bottom surface. Each bottom surface further includes an opening. The at least one sensor is position within each of the plurality of slots and are configured to emit a signal when detecting a ball within the slot. The ejector element is positioned below the roulette and includes at least one air blower. The air blower is configured to blow air circumferentially around the roulette wheel due to the detection of a ball on one of the sensors. Finally, the first driving mechanism is in communication with the at least one ejector element and configured to cause the initiation of the at least one air blower.

Abstract: A lithotripter is provided for fragmenting a stone inside a patient's body. In one form, the lithotripter includes a motor having at least two modes of operation and is configured to produce first and second waveforms. A wave guide shaft is configured to transmit the first and second waveforms to the stone. In one form, at least one of the first and second waveforms is provided to the stone at a frequency that is about equal to a natural frequency of the stone. In a variation, the lithotripter may include an ultrasonic driver configured to produce an ultrasonic frequency waveform and a sonic driver configured to produce a sonic frequency waveform. The sonic driver is mechanically coupled to the ultrasonic driver. The ultrasonic driver and the sonic driver may be disposed within a driver housing. In another variation, the lithotripter may include a brushless DC motor.

Abstract: A tip element for a lithotripter is provided. The tip element includes a proximal end configured for attachment to a waveguide of the lithotripter and a distal end configured for placement against at least one urinary tract stone. The lithotripter transmits energy from the tip element to the at least one urinary tract stone to break up the at least one urinary tract stone into fragments. The tip element may further include a tip element passage that extends between the proximal end and the distal end. The tip element passage communicates with a lumen of the waveguide for at least one of suctioning and irrigating a urinary tract. The distal end has one or more sharp edges to maintain contact between the at least one urinary tract stone and the distal end during suctioning. The distal end may be configured to limit the size of fragments from the at least one urinary tract stone drawn into the tip element passage during suctioning.

Abstract: Medical apparatus, including a local medical tool and a remote medical tool, located remotely from the local medical tool. The apparatus includes a lockable joint, physically connected to the local medical tool, that is operable in a locked state or in an unlocked state. A handle is physically connected to the lockable joint, so that in the locked state of the joint, movements of the handle are directly transferred to corresponding movements of the local medical tool. The apparatus includes sensors that are configured, in the unlocked state of the joint, to measure motions of the handle with respect to the lockable joint. The apparatus also includes a controller, which in the unlocked state of the joint receives indications of the motions of the handle with respect to the lockable joint, and which is configured to apply the indications to generate corresponding motions for the remote medical tool.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to devices, methods, and systems for the treatment of tissue using energy delivery. Specifically, certain embodiments may be used for the treatment of lung tissue, such as lung nodules, using RF ablation, via a catheter provided with a first electrode attached to a distal end of the catheter, wherein the first electrode is hollow, wherein the first electrode comprises a piercing tip configured to pierce through an airway all and a second electrode received in a movable manner within the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is extendable from the first electrode to form a first extended configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanically heated catheter tips are provided. The systems include, for example: a catheter body with an axial lumen; a catheter tip with at least some of the tip constructed out of a high-friction, thermally-conductive material; a friction producing plug disposed in the axial lumen of the catheter tip and constructed at least in part out of a high-friction material; a drive wire running through the axial lumen of the catheter body being connected on the proximal end to a power source and on the distal end to the friction producing plug. Methods include using the drive wire to rotationally or axially translationally move the friction producing plug within the catheter tip. The friction produced by the movement of the friction producing plug and the inner wall of the catheter tip generates heat which can be conducted outward by the thermally conductive material.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical assembly is for use in female pelvic surgical procedures. A first shaft includes a uterine manipulator, a second shaft that fits over the first shaft includes a colpotomy cup and first and second electrodes, and a third shaft can be provided over the second shaft and carries a seal for maintaining pneumoperitoneum. The colpotomy cup uses the first and second electrodes for resecting uterine tissue. Incision and resection may be performed by positioning the colpotomy cup near the cervico-vaginal junction, activating the first electrode, and moving one or both of the electrodes.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for delivering ablation fluid to a location of interest within a body (e.g., a location with the lung) are described herein. Ablation fluid delivery systems and devices can include flexible delivery needles within which a plurality of smaller flexible needles is housed. The smaller flexible needles can be configured to articulate or bend with respect to the flexible delivery needle to increase an effective delivery area for the ablation fluid. The smaller flexible needles can include apertures or other openings to facilitate delivery of the ablation fluid to the location of interest.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to devices, methods, and systems for the treatment of tissue using energy delivery. Specifically, certain embodiments may utilize a thermochemical reaction between at least two reagents where a first reagent has been preloaded into a catheter while a limiting reagent is circulated through the catheter to react with the first reagent. The resulting chemical reaction may be exothermic or endothermic, and a heat transfer fluid may be used to exchange energy between the chemical reaction and surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a hollow sleeve member with an open interior section and a sleeve proximal and a sleeve distal end. Two or more probes are disposed within the open interior section and extending beyond the sleeve distal end when in a deployed position. Distal ends of the probes have a lateral space between each other. One or more tissue manipulators are disposed at the distal end of each of the at least two probes. The hollow sleeve member and the two or more probes move axially relative to each other to reduce the lateral space. A method of closing a vaginal cuff of a vaginal canal is also provided.

Abstract: A uterine manipulator for manipulation of a uterus of a patient is provided. The uterine manipulator has an articulation section having a proximal end and a distal end. The articulation section defines a channel therethrough. An elongate tensioning member extends through the channel of the articulation section. A tension release mechanism is connected to the tensioning member. The tension release mechanism is configured to selectively relax and tighten the tensioning member. A manipulator end is disposed at the distal end of the articulation section. The manipulator end is configured to be inserted into a vaginal canal and the uterus of the patient.