Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing insufflation loss due to gas leakage during a laparoscopic surgical procedure are provided. The surgical procedure includes the use of a surgical instrument having an end effector and a trocar through which the surgical instrument is inserted for access to the abdominal cavity of a patient receiving laparoscopic surgery. The trocar includes a lip, a lip seal disposed within the lip, and a cannula located beneath the lip. The systems and methods reduce or prevent a loss of insufflation when using conventional systems and methods to insert the surgical instrument through a conventional trocar.

Abstract: A system for preventing unwanted tissue migration in surgical staplers includes a surgical stapler having an end effector including an upper jaw and a lower jaw. A distal end of the upper jaw is connected to a distal end of the lower jaw, and a proximal end of the upper jaw is connected to a proximal end of the lower jaw. First and second tissue stops are formed on the distal and proximal ends of the lower jaw, respectively. The second tissue stop and the proximal end of the upper jaw define a no cut zone when the surgical stapler is in an open position. The surgical stapler also includes a tissue cutting device disposed within the lower jaw for resecting tissue. The system also includes a warning, blocking, impeding, or barrier forming device for preventing the unwanted migration of tissue into the no tissue zone.

Abstract: A gaming system which enables a player to exchange progressive awards of corresponding progressive award levels of different multi-level progressive award (“MLP”) configurations. Following the determination of a progressive award of a specific progressive award level of a specific MLP configuration, the gaming system enables the player to accept that determined progressive award or forfeit that determined progressive award for another progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration. The gaming system thus enables a player to swap or replace one progressive award of one progressive award level of one MLP configuration for a different progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing one or more incentives to delay termination of a gaming session. In general, for a player, the gaming system utilizes gaming session data collected from the player's previous gaming sessions to determine one or more termination causation events for the player. When a designated number of the termination causation events occur during a current gaming session of the player, the gaming system provides an incentive to the player, wherein the incentive is configured to cause the player to delay expected termination of the player's current gaming session. In certain embodiments, the gaming system optimizes an incentive available to be provided to a player based on the effectiveness of prior incentives provided to the player.

Abstract: A gaming system which enables a player to exchange progressive awards of corresponding progressive award levels of different multi-level progressive award (“MLP”) configurations. Following the determination of a progressive award of a specific progressive award level of a specific MLP configuration, the gaming system enables the player to accept that determined progressive award or forfeit that determined progressive award for another progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration. The gaming system thus enables a player to swap or replace one progressive award of one progressive award level of one MLP configuration for a different progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration.

Abstract: A gaming system which enables a player to exchange progressive awards of corresponding progressive award levels of different multi-level progressive award (“MLP”) configurations. Following the gaming system determining a progressive award of a specific progressive award level of a specific MLP configuration, the gaming system enables the player to accept that determined progressive award or forfeit that determined progressive award for another progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration. The gaming system thus enables a player to swap or replace one progressive award of one progressive award level of one MLP configuration for a different progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration.

Abstract: Techniques for providing on-demand validation services for wager-based virtual machines deployed in a cloud based virtual environment. In some implementations, data sources store master deployment sets containing virtual machines. The master deployment sets may be deployed to component servers to provide a gaming related software services to remote client machines. The on-demand service takes snapshots of the virtual machines in the deployment and the virtual machines in the master deployment set. The snapshots are compared to ensure that important files in the master deployment set have not been improperly modified in the deployment. In some implementations, a secure hashing algorithm creates signatures for the snapshots prior to the comparison and the signatures are compared. The validation result may be sent to a remote client that requested the validation.

Abstract: Techniques for providing on-demand validation services for wager-based virtual machines deployed in a cloud based virtual environment. In some implementations, data sources store master deployment sets containing virtual machines. The master deployment sets may be deployed to component servers to provide a gaming related software services to remote client machines. The on-demand service takes snapshots of the virtual machines in the deployment and the virtual machines in the master deployment set. The snapshots are compared to ensure that important files in the master deployment set have not been improperly modified in the deployment. In some implementations, a secure hashing algorithm creates signatures for the snapshots prior to the comparison and the signatures are compared. The validation result may be sent to a remote client that requested the validation.

Abstract: A gaming system which enables a player to exchange progressive awards of corresponding progressive award levels of different multi-level progressive award (“MLP”) configurations. Following the gaming system determining a progressive award of a specific progressive award level of a specific MLP configuration, the gaming system enables the player to accept that determined progressive award or forfeit that determined progressive award for another progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration. The gaming system thus enables a player to swap or replace one progressive award of one progressive award level of one MLP configuration for a different progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing one or more incentives to delay termination of a gaming session. In general, for a player, the gaming system utilizes gaming session data collected from the player's previous gaming sessions to determine one or more termination causation events for the player. When a designated number of the termination causation events occur during a current gaming session of the player, the gaming system provides an incentive to the player, wherein the incentive is configured to cause the player to delay expected termination of the player's current gaming session. In certain embodiments, the gaming system optimizes an incentive available to be provided to a player based on the effectiveness of prior incentives provided to the player.

Abstract: A gaming system which enables a player to exchange progressive awards of corresponding progressive award levels of different multi-level progressive award (“MLP”) configurations. Following the gaming system determining a progressive award of a specific progressive award level of a specific MLP configuration, the gaming system enables the player to accept that determined progressive award or forfeit that determined progressive award for another progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration. The gaming system thus enables a player to swap or replace one progressive award of one progressive award level of one MLP configuration for a different progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing one or more incentives to delay termination of a gaming session. In general, for a player, the gaming system utilizes gaming session data collected from the player's previous gaming sessions to determine one or more termination causation events for the player. When a designated number of the termination causation events occur during a current gaming session of the player, the gaming system provides an incentive to the player, wherein the incentive is configured to cause the player to delay expected termination of the player's current gaming session. In certain embodiments, the gaming system optimizes an incentive available to be provided to a player based on the effectiveness of prior incentives provided to the player.

Abstract: Techniques for providing deployment and management services for wager-based virtual machines deployed in a cloud-based on-demand service environment. In some implementations, a master deployment set is stored in one or more data sources under a repository of master deployment sets. The master deployment set includes one or more virtual machines configured to be deployed to one or more component servers to provide a component service to a client terminal in one or more jurisdictions. The repository of master deployment sets is configured to include one or more master deployment sets having regulatory approval in the one or more jurisdictions. The master deployment set may be deployed to the one or more component servers. The repository of master deployment sets, the master deployment set, and the deployment may be managed by an authorized user.

Abstract: A gaming system which enables a player to exchange progressive awards of corresponding progressive award levels of different multi-level progressive award (“MLP”) configurations. Following the gaming system determining a progressive award of a specific progressive award level of a specific MLP configuration, the gaming system enables the player to accept that determined progressive award or forfeit that determined progressive award for another progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration. The gaming system thus enables a player to swap or replace one progressive award of one progressive award level of one MLP configuration for a different progressive award of a corresponding progressive award level of a different MLP configuration.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing one or more incentives to delay termination of a gaming session. In general, for a player, the gaming system utilizes gaming session data collected from the player's previous gaming sessions to determine one or more termination causation events for the player. When a designated number of the termination causation events occur during a current gaming session of the player, the gaming system provides an incentive to the player, wherein the incentive is configured to cause the player to delay expected termination of the player's current gaming session. In certain embodiments, the gaming system optimizes an incentive available to be provided to a player based on the effectiveness of prior incentives provided to the player.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing one or more incentives to delay termination of a gaming session. In general, for a player, the gaming system utilizes gaming session data collected from the player's previous gaming sessions to determine one or more termination causation events for the player. When a designated number of the termination causation events occur during a current gaming session of the player, the gaming system provides an incentive to the player, wherein the incentive is configured to cause the player to delay expected termination of the player's current gaming session. In certain embodiments, the gaming system optimizes an incentive available to be provided to a player based on the effectiveness of prior incentives provided to the player.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing one or more incentives to delay termination of a gaming session. In general, for a player, the gaming system utilizes gaming session data collected from the player's previous gaming sessions to determine one or more termination causation events for the player. When a designated number of the termination causation events occur during a current gaming session of the player, the gaming system provides an incentive to the player, wherein the incentive is configured to cause the player to delay expected termination of the player's current gaming session. In certain embodiments, the gaming system optimizes an incentive available to be provided to a player based on the effectiveness of prior incentives provided to the player.

Abstract: Techniques for providing deployment and management services for wager-based virtual machines deployed in a cloud-based on-demand service environment. In some implementations, a master deployment set is stored in one or more data sources under a repository of master deployment sets. The master deployment set includes one or more virtual machines configured to be deployed to one or more component servers to provide a component service to a client terminal in one or more jurisdictions. The repository of master deployment sets is configured to include one or more master deployment sets having regulatory approval in the one or more jurisdictions. The master deployment set may be deployed to the one or more component servers. The repository of master deployment sets, the master deployment set, and the deployment may be managed by an authorized user.

Abstract: Techniques for providing on-demand validation services for wager-based virtual machines deployed in a cloud based virtual environment. In some implementations, data sources store master deployment sets containing virtual machines. The master deployment sets may be deployed to component servers to provide a gaming related software services to remote client machines. The on-demand service takes snapshots of the virtual machines in the deployment and the virtual machines in the master deployment set. The snapshots are compared to ensure that important files in the master deployment set have not been improperly modified in the deployment. In some implementations, a secure hashing algorithm creates signatures for the snapshots prior to the comparison and the signatures are compared. The validation result may be sent to a remote client that requested the validation.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing one or more incentives to delay termination of a gaming session. In general, for a player, the gaming system utilizes gaming session data collected from the player's previous gaming sessions to determine one or more termination causation events for the player. When a designated number of the termination causation events occur during a current gaming session of the player, the gaming system provides an incentive to the player, wherein the incentive is configured to cause the player to delay expected termination of the player's current gaming session. In certain embodiments, the gaming system optimizes an incentive available to be provided to a player based on the effectiveness of prior incentives provided to the player.