Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a low-output voltage converter, delivering voltage power less than 1 VDC, utilizing distributed secondary circuits. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a voltage converter comprises a primary circuit for receiving an input voltage, comprising a plurality of primary windings arranged in series, a plurality of secondary circuits, each comprising a secondary winding for aligning with a primary winding to form a transformer, and each of the secondary circuits arranged in parallel, and an output for providing an output voltage down to, or less than 1 VDC.

Abstract: A liquid-cooled heat exchanger for electronic assemblies and a method of making the heat exchanger. The exchanger has a solid metal body in the form of an elongated flat plate to which the electronic assembly can be mounted, or a number of such plates formed in an L- or U-shaped configuration to enclose two or more sides of the assembly. The elongated body is formed by extrusion, with parallel enclosed longitudinal passages formed along a length of the body during the extrusion process. Transverse passages are drilled to intersect the extruded longitudinal passages. The longitudinal passages and transverse passages are plugged on at least one of their outside ends, and optionally at points along their lengths, to create desired patterns of liquid flow through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus consistent with the present invention provide additional services, such as cashless gaming and player tracking, at a gaming machine. One such gaming machine includes a game processor, a peripheral device, and a linking component connected between the game processor and the peripheral device. The linking component emulates or relays communication signals sent between the game processor and the peripheral device using the communication protocol used for communication between the game processor and the peripheral device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a low-output voltage converter, delivering voltage power less than 1 VDC, utilizing distributed secondary circuits. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a voltage converter comprises a primary circuit for receiving an input voltage, comprising a plurality of primary windings arranged in series, a plurality of secondary circuits, each comprising a secondary winding for aligning with a primary winding to form a transformer, and each of the secondary circuits arranged in parallel, and an output for providing an output voltage down to, or less than 1 VDC.

Abstract: A cashless gaming system and method provide a plurality of games to a plurality of player terminals connected to a central controller. A remote monitoring system may track and/or control activity at the plurality of player terminals. Game software may be stored on the central controller or remote monitoring system and downloaded to player terminals. The present invention may be used with player terminals that do not accept items of value, including coins, tokens, or magnetic cards.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture for locating or communicating with a patron at a hospitality facility includes a server and a plurality of client terminals. The server may receive, from one of the plurality of client terminals, a patron identifier identifying a patron and a location identifier identifying a location in the hospitality facility and storing the location identifier in an account corresponding to the patron identified by the patron identifier. A patron, using a client terminal may send a request for the location of a particular patron to the server. The server retrieves, from an account corresponding to the particular patron, a location identifier for the particular patron and sends a message based on the location identifier for the particular patron.

Abstract: An image projection system that communicates an image into the air includes screen material particles, a screen generation device, a delivery device and a light projecting system. The screen generation device disperses the screen material particles from the screen generation device at a targeted screen location, thereby forming a projection screen. The delivery device launches the screen generation device from a launch location to the targeted screen location in the air. The light projecting device projects light from a projection location onto the screen to form the image on the screen so as to be visible from an observation location of a viewer.

Abstract: An image projection system that communicates an image into the air includes screen material particles, a screen generation device, a delivery device and a light projecting system. The screen generation device disperses the screen material particles from the screen generation device at a targeted screen location, thereby forming a projection screen. The delivery device launches the screen generation device from a launch location to the targeted screen location in the air. The light projecting device projects light from a projection location onto the screen to form the image on the screen so as to be visible from an observation location of a viewer.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for wirelessly powering and/or communicating with implanted medical devices used for the controlled exposure and release of reservoir contents, such as drugs or sensors. The device may include a substrate having a plurality of reservoirs containing reservoir contents for release or exposure; and a rechargeable or on-demand power source comprising a local component which can wirelessly receive power from a remote transmitter wherein the received power can be used, directly or following transduction, to activate the release or exposure of the reservoir contents.

Abstract: Methods of pre-clinical animal testing to monitor physiological parameters of test animals following exposure of molecules sealed in reservoirs on implanted devices. The test molecules are exposed to physiological fluid of the animal. The molecules can be configured as a sensor chemistry that reacts with the physiological fluid. The molecules can be a drug or drug candidate that is released into the animal. The test animals are non-human mammals.

Abstract: Methods are provided for medical treatment or diagnosis of a patient. The method includes implanting into the patient a device which comprises (i) a substrate in which at least one reservoir is located and covered by a first reservoir cap, (ii) a drug or sensor located in the reservoir, and (iii) control circuitry and a power source for disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir cap, and (iv) an external interface to receive incident light energy; and directing focused light to the external interface of the implanted device to actuate disintegration or permeabilization of the reservoir cap to release the drug or expose the sensor. The device may implanted onto or into the sclera or other tissue surface of the eye of the patient. The focused light may be laser light which may be used to transmit power or data to the device.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a device for the containment and controlled release or exposure of a chemical substance. The method includes (i) providing a device which includes a substrate having a plurality of reservoirs, at least one chemical substance stored in the reservoirs, a plurality of metal reservoir caps, each of which closes an opening of one of said reservoir caps, and power and electrode means for disintegrating each of said reservoir caps; and (ii) disintegrating at least one of said reservoir caps, using said power and electrode means, to expose or release the chemical substance, wherein said disintegration comprises using potentiostatic or galvanostatic control to a voltage potential at said at least one reservoir cap.

Abstract: Methods are provide for fabricating a microchip device having containment reservoirs. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate; forming a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate, each reservoir having an opening in a surface of the substrate; fabricating a plurality of metal reservoir caps, each of which closes off one of said openings; and sealing each of said reservoirs. The method may further include loading chemical molecules, such a drug, into each of said reservoirs before said sealing of the reservoirs.

Abstract: A wagering game system is described herein. In embodiments the wagering game system comprises a plurality of player terminals configured to present wagering games and to collect player activity information associated with the wagering games, the player activity information indicating player inputs and financial transactions. In embodiments, the wagering game system further comprises one or more account servers configured to receive the player activity information and to perform the financial transactions on player accounts and a monitoring system configured to receive the player activity information and to remotely disable ones of the plurality of player terminals.

Abstract: A pump patch device is provided for drug delivery. The device may include a substrate having a plurality of discrete reservoirs, each reservoir having a reservoir opening; a drug disposed in the reservoirs; a pump for delivering a carrier fluid through or adjacent to the reservoir openings; a flow channel for receiving and combining the carrier fluid from the pump with the drug from the reservoirs to form a fluidized drug; and a needle for delivering the fluidized drug into the skin or another biological tissue of a patient. A device is provided for use in dialysis that includes a non-disposable module including a pump or pressure generator; and a disposable cassette operably connected to the pump or pressure generator and including a plurality of discrete reservoirs containing drug and sensors. A fluidics connection device is provided that includes a compression cold weld seal for a microfluidic via.

Abstract: Devices are provided for the controlled exposure of a sensor or sensor component. The device may include a substrate; at least one reservoir provided in the substrate; at least one sensor or sensor component located in the at least one reservoir; at least one reservoir cap closing an opening in the at least one reservoir to isolate the sensor or sensor component from a selected environmental component outside of the at least one reservoir; at least one intermediate barrier layer disposed in the at least one reservoir between the reservoir cap and the sensor or sensor component; and means for disintegrating the reservoir cap to expose the sensor or sensor component to the selected environmental component.

Abstract: A method is provided for non-invasively detecting mechanical wear of a prosthetic device implanted in a patient, the method comprises using a non-invasive imaging technique to image the prosthetic device that includes a wear indicating composition; and detecting whether the wear indicating composition has been released from the prosthetic device, and, if so, the location, type, and/or amount thereof. The implant device includes a prosthetic device body having at least one outer surface area; at least one reservoir (e.g., a plurality of discretely spaced micro-reservoirs) in the device body; a wear indicator composition disposed in said at least one reservoir, wherein mechanical wear of the at least one outer surface area of the device body in vivo causes release of at least part of the wear indicator composition. The prosthetic device body may be one for replacement of a hip, a knee, a shoulder, an elbow, or a vertebra.

Abstract: Methods are provided for hermetically sealing an opening in a reservoir of a containment device. The method comprises applying a polymeric material to an opening in a reservoir of a containment device, the reservoir comprising reservoir contents (such as a drug or a sensor) to be hermetically isolated within the reservoir, the applied polymeric material closing off the opening and forming a temporary seal; and adhering a hermetic sealing material onto the polymeric material to hermetically seal the opening. The reservoir can be a micro-reservoir. The containment device can comprises an array of two or more of reservoirs, and the method comprises hermetically sealing each of the two or more reservoirs.

Abstract: Implantable devices and methods for use in the treatment of osteonecrosisare provided. The device includes at least one implant device body adapted for insertion into one or more channels or voids in bone tissue; a plurality of discrete reservoirs, which may preferably be microreservoirs, located in the surface of the at least one implant device body; and at least one release system disposed in one or more of the plurality of reservoirs, wherein the release system includes at least one drug selected from the group consisting of bone growth promoters, angiogenesis promoters, analgesics, anesthetics, antibiotics, and combinations thereof. The device body may be formed of a bone graft material, a polymer, a metal, a ceramic, or a combination thereof. The device body may be a monolithic structure, such as one having a cylindrical shape, or it may be in the form of multiple units, such as a plurality of beads.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention allow a patron to play games from an off-site location via an online network. For example, a server may receive, from a first client terminal, a purchase request for at least one wager. The server may determine the results of the at least one wager and store the results of the at least one wager in a database. Then, the server may receive, from a second client terminal, a request to reveal the results of the at least one wager, for example, via an online network, and send the results of the at least one wager to the second client terminal.