Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for completing sales to a consumer with a new card that combines the process of dispensing pre-purchased commodities from a customer account at the point of sale as well as the ability to complete the transaction with a credit and debit function. The present invention includes a distributed system having at least a part for sales of a commodity and at least one a part for dispensing of a commodity. The distributed system includes a communication connection between the parts. A first entity uses the first part of the distributed system to sell commodities to a consumer to be dispensed at a later time. The consumer obtains the commodities in differing amounts from the amounts sold from a second entity. The second entity uses the second part of the distributed system and the communication link between the first and second parts of the distributed system to verify amounts available to be dispensed to the consumer.

Abstract: A boot for an electrosurgical instrument has a conductive boot shield substantially enclosed by one or more insulating layers. The boot shield has a flexible conductive medium. The flexible conductive medium has a plurality of conductive components suspended in at least one of a first liquid or a first gel, whereby the boot is configured to bend with a bend radius of about 10 millimeters or less without a loss in conductivity of the boot shield. A related method and system are also provided.

Abstract: A method of mapping subsurface fracture geometry below a surface of the ground includes two independently powered systems, namely a plurality of sensors distributed through a hole in the subsurface and a downhole tool to facilitate reception and transmission of signal data from the plurality of sensors. The sensors are distributed into fissures within formations that have been hydraulically fractured. The sensors send signal data to the downhole tool for transmission to a unit on the surface. The signal data permits for the mapping of the fissures within the fractured formations.

Abstract: A connector for an inflatable garment that detects a valid connection with a pump.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic and digital building block system includes modular electronic building modules that can be electrically coupled together to create various different electronic devices. In addition to physical electronic modules, the system can include digital building blocks to further enhance and integrate the functions of an assembled bit-system that can be created/assembled by a user of the block electronic building system. The digital building blocks are not a physical module, but digital content or other software or cloud applications that can be represented as virtual digital blocks, and that can interface with the physical modules. The digital blocks can provide integration between the functionality of the physical building blocks and functionality of computer-based and/or web-based applications, programs and systems. The electronic and digital building block system can include a system program and a visualizer that can be viewed on the display of a computer device.

Abstract: A connector for an inflatable garment that detects a valid connection with a pump.

Abstract: An apparatus for promoting vascular circulation, including a garment configured to at least partially surround an anatomical structure of a patient. A compression element is coupled to the garment and configured to compress at least a portion of the anatomical structure when the compression element is actuated. A controller is configured to selectively actuate the compression element over a plurality of cycles. Each cycle has an actuated time during which the compression element is arranged to exert a first pressure and an unactuated time during which the compression element is arranged to exert a second pressure different than the first pressure, and the controller is configured to use a random value in determining the deflated time of one or more of the cycles.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for coupling a valve element of a fluid control valve assembly to an actuator shaft (104) of the assembly, comprising an elongate body (106) having a first end region and a second end region, wherein the first end region comprises a first connecting portion for connecting to an actuator shaft of a fluid control valve assembly, and the second end region comprises a second connecting portion for connecting to a valve element of the assembly. A kit of parts and a method for selectively assembling a fluid control valve assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for communication protocol pass reduction amongst recipient nodes capable of receiving broadcast messages, the recipient nodes functioning as different decisions points for determination of a passing joint set of nodes for squadron communication therebetween. The method and system provide squadron communication between different ones of the recipient nodes, wherein one of the recipient nodes becomes a squadron leader node upon a selection of a specific broadcast message for distribution to other recipient nodes for acceptance. The squadron leader node and the other recipient nodes upon acceptance form the passing joint set of nodes for squadron communication therebetween.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting faults in a shield of an electrosurgical instrument is described. The device has a relay configured to selectively interrupt power to the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a shield in the electrosurgical instrument, control circuitry to control the relay, and a battery power source. The monitoring circuitry has an envelope detector and a detected average shield current detector. The monitoring circuitry is configured to compare a shield current peak value to a shield current peak threshold value, and to compare a detected average shield current value to a detected average shield current threshold value. The device is further configured to operatively couple an active electrode of an electrosurgical instrument and a return electrode to an electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: A cable assembly and methods for indicating an electrical measurement in an electrosurgical instrument are disclosed. The assembly has a circuit having a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a processing device operatively coupled to the at least one active conductor. The assembly also has a substantially electrically non-conductive housing enclosing the circuit and a portion of at least one active conductor, and exposing a contact portion of the at least one active conductor, the at least one active conductor configured to conduct power to an electrosurgical instrument. The assembly also has an indicator operatively coupled to the processing device.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting faults in a shield of an electrosurgical instrument is described. The device has a relay configured to selectively interrupt power to the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a shield in the electrosurgical instrument, control circuitry to control the relay, and a battery power source. The monitoring circuitry has an envelope detector and an detected average shield current detector. The monitoring circuitry is configured to compare a shield current peak value to a shield current peak threshold value, and to compare an detected average shield current value to an detected average shield current threshold value. The device is further configured to operatively couple an active electrode of an electrosurgical instrument and a return electrode to an electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: A boot for an articulable electrosurgical instrument having a conductor is disclosed. The boot has: a first layer having a flexible substantially non-conductive material; a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer having a flexible conductive medium configured to be electrically coupled to at least one shield conductor, whereby the boot is configured to transmit normal current and fault current to a reference potential; and a third layer disposed on the second layer, the third layer having a flexible non-conductive material.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes a first unit including a generator, and a second unit including an electrode assembly, the second unit being detachably connectible to the first unit such that radio frequency power can be conveyed to the electrode assembly, wherein the second unit firstly includes a passive electrical identification component having a parameter of a finite non-zero value indicative of a characteristic of the electrode assembly, and the second unit additionally includes an output circuit adapted to generate an identifiable characteristic signal, the first unit firstly including a sensing circuit for determining the value of the electrical identification component so as to identify the second unit when the second unit is connected to the first unit, and the first unit additionally including means for receiving the identifiable characteristic signal from the output circuit when the second unit is connected to the first unit.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting faults within a shielded electrosurgical instrument are disclosed. The method includes sensing at least two of: an active voltage in the active electrode; a current in the active or return electrodes; or power in the electrosurgical instrument shield. The method also includes determining whether a power fault exists, wherein determining whether a power fault exists includes multiplying the sensed current and the sensed active voltage. The method also includes determining at least one of: whether one or more current faults exists; or whether a capacitance fault exists. The method also includes altering power delivery to the active electrode if any of the power fault, current faults, or capacitance faults exist.

Abstract: An active electrode probe for an enhanced control surgery system is disclosed. The probe has a flexible conductor for delivering electrosurgical energy during an electrosurgical procedure, and is adapted for connection to an electrosurgical generator. The probe also has a flexible electrical insulation substantially surrounding the conductor. The probe also has a flexible conductive shield substantially enclosing the electrical insulation, the flexible conductive shield electrically connected to a reference potential, whereby any current which flows in the flexible conductive shield from the conductor is conducted to the reference potential. The flexible conductive shield is formed from a conductive wire.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting faults within an electrosurgical instrument having a shield and an active electrode uses multiple possible fault conditions. In one embodiment the monitoring system comprises an electrosurgical generator coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and adapted to deliver power to the active electrode of the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry coupled to the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is provided for the treatment of tissue, the system comprising an electrosurgical generator (1) and an instrument (3) comprising an instrument shaft (10) having a longitudinal axis, and an electrode assembly (12) at one end of the shaft. The electrode assembly (12) comprises a first tissue treatment electrode (11), a second tissue treatment electrode (14), and first and second return electrodes (24, 25) electrically insulated from the first and second tissue treatment electrodes by means of insulation members (12, 15). The first and second tissue treatment electrodes (11, 14) each have an exposed surface for treating tissue, the exposed surface of the first tissue treatment electrode (11) being such as to treat tissue disposed on the longitudinal axis, and the exposed surface of the second tissue treatment electrode (14) being such as to treat tissue disposed laterally of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Inflatable mattress apparatus includes a mattress provided with a plurality of inflatable cells (A, B); a manifold unit (V1-V4) connected to the plurality of cells, wherein the manifold (V1-V4) couples the cells into a plurality of individual sets of cells; and a control unit connected to the manifold, the control unit being operable to provide substantially simultaneous inflation and deflation of cells (A, B) in each set of cells over a period, and time offset inflation and deflation of cells in different sets of cells. The apparatus can provide the same benefits of a 1 of 2? system with reduced movement of the entire surface at any point in the cycle, less air moving at any given time and thus a reduction in the audible noise produced in any pump supplying the air and the associated airflow in the mattress. The arrangement provide other benefits too.

Abstract: A connector for an inflatable garment that detects a valid connection with a pump.