Abstract: A system and methods for supporting minimally invasive surgery, involving a control module configurable to: receive an initial MRI image from an MRI imaging device; transmit the initial MRI image to a planning module configured to determine a surgical plan; receive the surgical plan from the planning module; transmit the surgical plan to a guidance module configured to operate with a medical instrument and the MRI imaging device, the medical instrument configured to couple with an MRI micro-coil, and the MRI imaging device configured to operate with the MRI micro-coil; and receive, in real-time, a subsequent MRI image from the MRI imaging device operating with the MRI micro-coil during guidance of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A seed unit for placing seeds into soil is described herein. A seed unit includes a seed meter for singulating seeds, a shaft to deliver the seeds into soil during operation, and an actuator coupled to the shaft. The actuator moves the shaft during operation and the shaft delivers seeds into the soil without a continuous seed trench.

Abstract: The disclosure includes comprehensive system and methods for enabling a user of a social gaming service to receive additional virtual value based on transaction account activities in the physical world. A participant that is registered with the system and that is issued a participating transaction account may receive loyalty points in the form of at least one of virtual currency and/or virtual goods in response to activities associated with a participating/linked transaction account, such as an open loop pre-paid transaction account.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and associated method for providing a national medical database. A medical record is scanned at a facility of a first client, and clinical data is extracted from the record. The clinical data into a clinical outcomes database, and the personal data is stored in a personal data database. Access to the clinical data is provided to the first client and a second client. Access to the personal data is provided only to the first client providing access to the clinical outcomes database to the first client and a second client.