1. A suturing device, comprising:
a first arcuate needle adapted to rotate in a first direction through a dermal layer of a first section of skin to be sutured and through the dermal layer of a second section of skin to be sutured;
a second arcuate needle adapted to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first rotational direction and through a dermal layer of a second section of skin to be sutured and through the dermal layer of the first section of skin to be sutured; and
a drive mechanism forcing rotation of the first and second arcuate needles upon activation by a user and adapted to insert a suture detachably attached to the first and second arcuate needles.
2. The suturing device of claim 1, further including a cartridge containing one or more sutures being held within the cartridge prior to installation.
3. The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the suture is transformable from a first shape to a second shape, the first shape being within at least one plane, the second shape being one of an open helix and a closed helix.
4. The suturing device of claim 1, further including first and second guide channels and a septum blade positioned between the first and second guide channels.
5. The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted to push the suture through the first and second sections of skin as the first and second arcuate needles are advanced in an antegrade configuration.
6. The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted to pull the suture through the first and second sections of skin as the first and second arcuate needles are retracted in a retrograde configuration.
7. The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second arcuate needles rotate at identical and symmetrical rates of angular displacement.
8. The suturing device of claim 1, further including more than one arcuate needle rotating in each direction.
9. The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second arcuate needles and the drive mechanism are configured to penetrate through a superficial surface of skin.
10. The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second arcuate needles and the drive mechanism are adapted to suture tissues other than skin.
11. A method of suturing skin, comprising;
positioning a suturing device proximate first and second sections of skin to be sutured together;
driving first and second arcuate needles in opposing directions of rotation into the first and second sections of skin, the first and second needles separately entering dermal layers of the first and second sections of skin; and
deploying a suture connecting the first and second sections of skin upon movement of the first and second needles.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the driving is configured to penetrate through a superficial surface of skin.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the deploying is performed upon forward rotation of the first and second arcuate needles in an antegrade configuration.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the deploying is performed upon reverse rotation of the first and second arcuate needles in a retrograde configuration.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the deploying is performed such that the suture is transformed from a first configuration to a helical configuration, the suture being within at least one plane in the first configuration.
16. A tissue suture, comprising:
an elongated filament having first and second ends, the filament having a pre-insertion orientation and a post-insertion orientation, the pre-insertion orientation being within at least one plane, the post-insertion orientation being helical;
a first needle guide positioned at the first filament end; and
a second guide surface positioned at the second filament end.
17. The tissue suture of claim 16, wherein the filament further includes a plurality of outwardly extending elements, the outwardly extending elements extending in at least first and second directions to prevent retraction.
18. The tissue suture of claim 16, wherein the filament includes finned cone type retention elements.
19. The tissue suture of claim 16, wherein a plurality of needle guides is disposed at one or more of the first and second filament ends.
20. The tissue suture of claim 16, wherein the needle guides are shaped into one or more of a loop, a circle, an ellipse, an oval, a square, a triangle, a polygon, and a thickening, and configured to be engaged by a needle during insertion thereof and prevent retraction from tissue once deployed.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A smart card comprising:
processing and memory circuitry;
an interface for electrically connecting said smart card to a host device, said interface comprising a power line for receiving power from said host device;
a primary battery disposed in said smart card for providing power to said processing and memory circuitry; and
a secondary rechargeable battery disposed in said smart card for providing power to said processing and memory circuitry;
recharging circuitry for recharging said secondary battery with power from said host device; and
means for preventing said primary and secondary batteries from charging each other including a first diode preventing discharge of said secondary battery into said primary battery and a second diode preventing discharge of said primary battery into said secondary battery.
2. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said primary battery is non-rechargeable.
3. The smart card of claim 2, wherein said primary battery is a lithium battery.
4. The smart card of claim 1, further comprising access control data for a cable television system stored in said processing and memory circuitry.
5. A method of providing power to processing and memory circuitry of a smart card said method comprising:
providing a charged primary battery and a charged secondary battery in said smart card prior to initial installation of said smart card in a host device;
determining whether said primary or secondary battery has a higher voltage prior to initial installation of said smart card in said host device; and
providing power to said processing and memory circuitry with whichever battery has said higher voltage prior to initial installation of said smart card in said host device.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said primary battery is a lithium battery.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
installing said smart card in a host device;
electrically connecting said smart card to said host device and providing power to said smart card from said host device; and
charging said secondary battery with power from said host device.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing power to said processing and memory circuitry with said secondary battery when said smart card is removed from said host device.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
charging said secondary battery prior to installation of said smart card in a host device; and
powering said processing and memory circuitry with said secondary battery after depletion of said primary battery.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising preventing discharge of said secondary battery into said primary battery.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising preventing discharge of said primary battery into said secondary battery.
12. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing access control data for a cable television system in said processing and memory circuitry of said smart card.
13. The method of claim 5, further comprising charging said secondary rechargeable battery with power from said host device when said smart card is installed in said host device.
14. The method of claim 5, wherein said primary battery is non-rechargeable.
15. The method of claim 5, further comprising periodically determining whether said primary or secondary battery has a higher voltage prior to installation of said smart card in said host device; and providing power to said processing and memory circuitry with whichever battery has said higher voltage prior to installation of said smart card in said host device.
16. The method of claim 5, further comprising switching which of the two said batteries provides power to said processing and memory circuitry when a voltage of the battery supplying power drops below a voltage of the battery not supplying power.
17. The method of claim 5, further comprising, if said primary and secondary batteries have an equal voltage, supplying power to said processing and memory circuitry with both said primary and secondary batteries.
18. A method of providing power to processing and memory circuitry of a smart card said method comprising:
providing power to said processing and memory circuitry with a primary non-rechargeable battery disposed in said smart card prior to installation of said smart card in a host device;
charging a secondary battery prior to initial installation of said smart card in a host device; and
powering said processing and memory circuitry with said secondary battery prior to initial installation of said smart card in a host device.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said primary battery is a lithium battery.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
charging said secondary rechargeable battery with power from said host device when said smart card is installed in said host device; and
providing power to said processing and memory circuitry with said secondary battery when said primary battery is depleted and said smart card is removed from said host device.
21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
preventing discharge of said secondary battery into said primary battery; and
preventing discharge of said primary battery into said secondary battery.
22. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing access control data for a cable television system in said processing and memory circuitry of said smart card.