Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a virtual reality surgical training simulator may be described. A virtual reality surgical training simulator may have a rendering engine, a physics engine, a metrics engine, a graphical user interface, and a human machine interface. The rendering engine can display a three-dimensional representation of a surgical site containing visual models of organs and surgical tools located at the surgical site. The physics engine can perform a variety of calculations in real time to represent realistic motions of the tools, organs, and anatomical environment. A graphical user interface can be present to allow a user to control a simulation. Finally, a metrics engine may be present to evaluate user performance and skill based on a variety of parameters that can be tracked during a simulation.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a virtual reality surgical training simulator may be described. A virtual reality surgical training simulator may have a rendering engine, a physics engine, a metrics engine, a graphical user interface, and a human machine interface. The rendering engine can display a three-dimensional representation of a surgical site containing visual models of organs and surgical tools located at the surgical site. The physics engine can perform a variety of calculations in real time to represent realistic motions of the tools, organs, and anatomical environment. A graphical user interface can be present to allow a user to control a simulation. Finally, a metrics engine may be present to evaluate user performance and skill based on a variety of parameters that can be tracked during a simulation.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a virtual reality surgical training simulator may be described. A virtual reality surgical training simulator may have a rendering engine, a physics engine, a metrics engine, a graphical user interface, and a human machine interface. The rendering engine can display a three-dimensional representation of a surgical site containing visual models of organs and surgical tools located at the surgical site. The physics engine can perform a variety of calculations in real time to represent realistic motions of the tools, organs, and anatomical environment. A graphical user interface can be present to allow a user to control a simulation. Finally, a metrics engine may be present to evaluate user performance and skill based on a variety of parameters that can be tracked during a simulation.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a virtual reality surgical training simulator may be described. A virtual reality surgical training simulator may have a rendering engine, a physics engine, a metrics engine, a graphical user interface, and a human machine interface. The rendering engine can display a three-dimensional representation of a surgical site containing visual models of organs and surgical tools located at the surgical site. The physics engine can perform a variety of calculations in real time to represent realistic motions of the tools, organs, and anatomical environment. A graphical user interface can be present to allow a user to control a simulation. Finally, a metrics engine may be present to evaluate user performance and skill based on a variety of parameters that can be tracked during a simulation.

Abstract: According to one described embodiment, a method is provided in which transaction information is determined. The transaction information is associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price. Information is transmitted that facilitates the acquisition of the product by the buyer, in exchange for payment provided by the buyer to the central controller. An amount based on the second price is provided to the merchant.

Abstract: A game to be modified in accordance with the invention involves a first random outcome and a second random outcome that are combined according to game rules to produce a game outcome. The game is administered by receiving a player request for a specific entry, the specific entry replacing one of the random outcomes and being selected from a finite set of possibilities not determined by chance. The requested specific entry affects the probable outcome of the game. The specific entry is combined with the remaining one of the random outcomes according to the game rules to determine the game outcome. According to one embodiment, the specific entry may be a score such as 18 which replaces the player's hand in the game of blackjack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting a promotion and for distributing promotions to potential users provide a merchant or promotion organizer flexibility in the way they conduct the promotion as well as an ability to change one or more aspects of the promotion during the operation of the promotion. One or more outcomes are generated by a controller and provided to a user. In addition, one or more codes which allow the outcomes to be revealed or unlocked are generated by the controller and provided to an intermediary. In exchange for completing or satisfying a qualifying action or criteria, the user may receive a code from the intermediary. The user can then unlock an outcome to reveal a prize, benefit, symbol, value, etc., associated with the unlocked outcome. The user may provide a redemption request to either the controller or the intermediary based on the unlocked outcome to receive a benefit or prize associated with the unlocked outcome.

Abstract: Folding endoscope with incorporated optical sensors and light sources includes a housing having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis and a channel extending between the first and second ends and associated ports at the first and second ends for inserting surgical instruments through the housing into a surgical site. At least two elongate arms having proximal and distal ends are pivotally connected at the distal ends thereof to the first end of the housing. A camera and light source are mounted on each of the elongate arms and when the elongate arms are deployed the cameras have a field of view in a generally forward direction. A linkage mechanism is connected to the arms, and an actuator is connected to the linkage mechanism so that upon activation by the actuator the at least two elongate arms are pivotally deployed from a closed position to an open position.

Abstract: An amplifier arrangement constituted of: a first input lead; a second input lead; a difference amplifier; a first buffer, the input of the first buffer coupled to the first input lead, the output of the first buffer coupled to a first input of the difference amplifier; a second buffer, the input of the second buffer coupled to the second input lead, the output of the second buffer coupled to a second input of the difference amplifier; and a transconductance amplifier, the non-inverting input and the non-inverted output of the transconductance amplifier coupled to the first input of the difference amplifier, the inverting input and the inverted output of the transconductance amplifier coupled to the second input of the difference amplifier. The input signals are thus buffered and the offset of the buffers are compensated for.

Abstract: A tool to fasten tissue or to fasten a prosthetic to tissue includes a gripper to hold one or more tissue portions, a needle, an actuator to drive the needle, a fastener cartridge to store one or more tissue fasteners, a holder cartridge to store one or more holders, and a holder applier to secure one of the holders on one of the fasteners. The actuator drives the needle and the needle pulls a first fastener from the fastener cartridge. The actuator drives the needle through the one or more tissue portions held by the gripper to form a hole in the tissue portions. The needle pulls a leading portion of the first fastener through the hole without a trailing portion of the first fastener being pulled through the hole. The holder applier secures a first holder from the holder cartridge onto the leading portion of the first fastener.