Abstract: A tissue removal apparatus (20) is provided that includes a retrieval bag (30) having an opening (32) for receiving a resected tissue specimen (22) within a patient's body (24). An electrosurgical slicing wire (34) includes a slicing segment (36) detachably coupled to a wall (38) of the retrieval bag (30), and a pulling segment (40) free of the wall (38) and extending out of the opening (32). The slicing segment (36) winds around a central longitudinal axis (46) of the retrieval bag (30) at varying locations along the central longitudinal axis (46). Pulling the pulling segment (40), during application of RF electrosurgical power when the resected tissue specimen (22) is within the retrieval bag (30), detaches successive longitudinal portions of the slicing segment (36) from the wall (38) and slices the resected tissue specimen (22) within the retrieval bag (30). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is described including a tool, the tool including a shaft having a distal portion that is sized and shaped to be inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. The tool includes a tissue-treatment tip, at the distal portion, that defines a beam deflector. An optical fiber is positioned to emit laser energy into the beam deflector. The beam deflector has a deflector surface, a first portion of which is shaped and positioned to reflect the laser energy toward a tissue-treatment tip surface, and a second portion of which is configured to absorb the laser energy and thermally conduct the absorbed energy to the tissue-treatment tip surface. The tissue-treatment tip surface is configured to thermally conduct the absorbed energy to the tissue by contacting the tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A tool has a handle and an elongate shaft that extends distally from the handle. A distal portion of the shaft is inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. An optical fiber delivers laser energy to a tip at the distal portion of the shaft. The tip includes a mechanical cutting mechanism including a moving part that absorbs the laser energy, thermally conducts the absorbed energy to tissue that is disposed between the moving part and another part, and moves with respect to the other part in order to cut tissue that is disposed between the parts using a mechanical force that is lower than a mechanical force that would be required to cut the tissue in the absence of the laser energy. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A tool has a handle and an elongate shaft that extends distally from the handle. A distal portion of the shaft is inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. An optical fiber delivers laser energy to a tip at the distal portion of the shaft. The tip includes a mechanical cutting mechanism including a moving part that absorbs the laser energy, thermally conducts the absorbed energy to tissue that is disposed between the moving part and another part, and moves with respect to the other part in order to cut tissue that is disposed between the parts using a mechanical force that is lower than a mechanical force that would be required to cut the tissue in the absence of the laser energy. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A tool has a handle and an elongate shaft that extends distally from the handle. A distal portion of the shaft is inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. An optical fiber delivers laser energy to a tip at the distal portion of the shaft. The tip includes a mechanical cutting mechanism including a moving part that absorbs the laser energy, thermally conducts the absorbed energy to tissue that is disposed between the moving part and another part, and moves with respect to the other part in order to cut tissue that is disposed between the parts using a mechanical force that is lower than a mechanical force that would be required to cut the tissue in the absence of the laser energy. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A tool has a handle and an elongate shaft that extends distally from the handle. A distal portion of the shaft is inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. An optical fiber delivers laser energy to a tip at the distal portion of the shaft. The tip includes a mechanical cutting mechanism including a moving part that absorbs the laser energy, thermally conducts the absorbed energy to tissue that is disposed between the moving part and another part, and moves with respect to the other part in order to cut tissue that is disposed between the parts using a mechanical force that is lower than a mechanical force that would be required to cut the tissue in the absence of the laser energy. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system for user-provided automotive data collection includes a receiver configured to receive signals from respective electronics in respective automotive vehicles in a geographical area, the signals indicating respective amounts of fuel or respective amounts of fuel relative to capacity in the respective automotive vehicles' tanks, and a processor configured to aggregate the respective amounts of fuel to approximate a total amount of fuel relative to capacity for the geographical area, and to allocate fuel distribution to gas stations in the geographical area based on the total amount of fuel relative to capacity for the geographical area.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention include tool storage units and methods for storing tools. In examples of the present invention, a tool storage unit comprises a moveable housing with a guide system for allowing movement of the moveable housing in at least one direction. In various examples, the moveable housing is engaged with a base unit and is moved relative to the base unit by a moving mechanism. The moving mechanism moves the moveable housing to provide access to and/or conceal, at least in part, the moveable housing.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention include tool storage units and methods for storing tools. In examples of the present invention, a tool storage unit comprises a moveable housing with a guide system for allowing movement of the moveable housing in at least one direction. In various examples, the moveable housing is engaged with a base unit and is moved relative to the base unit by a moving mechanism. The moving mechanism moves the moveable housing to provide access to and/or conceal, at least in part, the moveable housing.

Abstract: A novel and useful low power Bluetooth page and inquiry scan mechanism. Efficient and low power page and inquiry scans are performed by measuring the energy received at each frequency and comparing it to a threshold. If the energy sensed is greater than the threshold, normal Bluetooth page or inquiry scans are then performed within the scan window. The energy sensing is done by quickly sweeping the receiver in the radio over all 79 Bluetooth frequencies in less than 68 ?s at least 19 times in order to cover at least 1.25 ms thus ensuring capturing any page or inquiry message transmissions. For noisy environments, a mechanism is provided to turn frequency sweeping off until interference is at a low enough level to reduce the number of false positive detections to an acceptable level.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method thereof for performing frequency hopping communication with another party over a subset of hopping frequencies from available frequencies. The spectrum is arranged into a plurality of segments, with each segment corresponding to a subset of the spectrum of frequencies, preferably a contiguous subset of the spectrum. The apparatus includes a communication device for communicating with another party. The communication device receives data over a used segment from a plurality of the segments and signal strength data indicating a current reception power level for the hopping frequency from the other party. A processing unit analyzes the received data to determine an occurrence or non-occurrence of an error over the used segment and notifies the other party to modify the current transmission power level for that used segment according to the occurrence or non-occurrence of an error, via said communication means.