1. A medical system comprising:
a structure comprising a plurality of elongate members, each elongate member comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion positioned between the first and the second ends, each intermediate portion comprising a thickness, a front surface and a back surface opposite across the thickness from the front surface, the structure further comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, each of the proximal and the distal portions of the structure comprising a respective part of each of at least some of the plurality of elongate members, the structure selectively moveable between:
a delivery configuration in which the structure is sized for delivery through a bodily opening leading to a bodily cavity, at least the respective intermediate portions of the elongate members of the plurality of elongate members arranged front surface-toward-back surface in a stacked array when the structure is in the delivery configuration; and
a deployed configuration in which the structure is sized too large for delivery through the bodily opening leading to the bodily cavity, the proximal portion of the structure forming a first domed shape and the distal portion of the structure forming a second domed shape when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
2. The medical system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first domed shape and the second domed shape has a first radius of curvature in a first spatial plane and a second radius of curvature in a second spatial plane that intersects the first spatial plane, a magnitude of the second radius of curvature different than a magnitude of the first radius of curvature.
3. The medical system of claim 1 wherein each elongate member of the at least some of the plurality of elongate members crosses at least one other elongate member of the plurality of elongate members at least at one location between the proximal and the distal portions of the structure when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
4. The medical system of claim 1 wherein each elongate member of the plurality of elongate members comprises a respective length between the first end and the second end of the elongate member, each elongate member of the at least some of the plurality of elongate members crossing at least one other elongate member of the plurality of elongate members at each of a plurality of spaced apart locations along the respective length of at least the one other elongate member of the plurality of elongate members when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
5. The medical system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of elongate members are fanned with respect to at least one of the plurality of elongate members about an axis passing through a location between the proximal and the distal portions of the structure when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
6. A medical system comprising:
a structure comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the structure selectively movable between:
a delivery configuration in which the structure is sized for delivery through a bodily opening leading to a bodily cavity, the structure arranged to be advanced distal portion first into the bodily cavity, and
a deployed configuration in which the structure is sized too large for delivery through the bodily opening leading to the bodily cavity, the proximal portion of the structure forms a first domed shape and the distal portion of the structure forms a second domed shape when the structure is in the deployed configuration, the proximal and the distal portions of the structure arranged in a clam shell configuration when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
7. The medical system of claim 6 wherein at least one of the first domed shape and the second domed shape has a first radius of curvature in a first spatial plane and a second radius of curvature in a second spatial plane that intersects the first spatial plane, a magnitude of the second radius of curvature different than a magnitude of the first radius of curvature.
8. The medical system of claim 6 wherein the proximal and the distal portions of the structure are physically coupled together to pivot with respect to one another when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
9. The medical system of claim 6 wherein the proximal and the distal portions of the structure are pivotably coupled together by a flexure portion of the structure when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
10. The medical system of claim 6, further comprising at least one actuator operably coupled to the structure to selectively pivot the proximal and the distal portions of the structure with respect to one another when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
11. The medical system of claim 6, further comprising at least one flexible line arranged to physically couple the proximal and the distal portions of the structure together, the at least one flexible line manipulable to vary a distance between the proximal and the distal portions of the structure when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
12. The medical system of claim 6, further comprising at least one actuator selectively operable to act on at least one of the proximal and the distal portions of the structure to distort a respective one of the first domed shape and the second domed shape when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
13. The medical system of claim 6 wherein each of the first domed shape and the second domed shape has a respective volume therein, and the medical system further comprises at least one actuator selectively operable to act on the structure to vary the respective volume of at least one of the first domed shape and the second domed shape when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
14. The medical system of claim 6 wherein each of the proximal and the distal portions of the structure are arranged to pivot with respect to one another about a pivot location when the structure is in the deployed configuration, each of the first domed shape and the second domed shape comprising a respective apex and a respective height extending normally from a respective spatial plane to the respective apex, each respective spatial plane positioned to intersect the pivot location, and wherein the medical system further comprises at least one actuator selectively operable to act on at least one of the proximal and the distal portions of the structure to vary at least one of a magnitude of the respective height of the first domed shape and a magnitude of the respective height of the second domed shape when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
15. The medical system of claim 6 wherein the structure comprises a plurality of elongate members, each of the proximal and the distal portions of the structure comprising a respective portion of each elongate member of the plurality of elongate members.
16. The medical system of claim 15 wherein each elongate member of at least some of the plurality of elongate members crosses at least one other elongate member of the plurality of elongate members at least at one location between the proximal and the distal portions of the structure when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
17. The medical system of claim 15 wherein each elongate member of the plurality of elongate members comprises a first end, a second end, and a respective length between the first end and the second end, each elongate member of at least some of the plurality of elongate members crossing at least one other elongate member of the plurality of elongate members at each of a plurality of spaced apart locations along the respective length of at least the one other elongate member of the plurality of elongate members when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
18. The medical system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of spaced apart locations along the respective length of at least the one other elongate member of the plurality of elongate members comprises at least one location between the respective portion of the one other elongate member of the plurality of elongate members comprised by the proximal portion of the structure and the respective portion of the one other elongate member of the plurality of elongate members comprised by the distal portion of the structure.
19. The medical system of claim 15 wherein at least some of the plurality of elongate members are fanned with respect to one another about an axis that passes through a location between the proximal and the distal portions of the structure when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
20. The medical system of claim 15 wherein each elongate member of the plurality of elongate members comprises a first end, a second end, an intermediate portion positioned between the first end and the second end, and a thickness, the respective intermediate portion of each elongate member comprising a front surface and a back surface opposite across the thickness from the front surface, and wherein the respective intermediate portions of the plurality of elongate members are arranged front surface-toward-back surface in a stacked array when the structure is in the delivery configuration.
21. The medical system of claim 15 wherein each elongate member of the plurality of elongate members comprises a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion positioned between the first end and the second end, the respective intermediate portion of each elongate member of at least some of the plurality of elongate members comprising a slotted opening between the respective first and the second ends of the elongate member, at least two of the slotted openings arranged to cross one another when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
22. The medical system of claim 21, further comprising at least one actuator selectively operable to act on the structure to change a location where the at least two slotted openings cross one another when the structure is in the deployed configuration.
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 voice-operated control circuit for a toy vehicle comprising:
an audio detector circuit for receiving audible sound signals;
a switch having an open position and a closed position;
a motor; and
an integrated circuit coupled to the audio detector circuit, said integrated circuit configured to determine, from when said switch is in its open position to when said switch is in its closed position, the cumulative duration in which audible sound signals greater than a predetermined decibel level are received by said audio detector circuit, to calculate a period based on said cumulative duration, and to provide output signals to activate said motor for said period.
2. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 1, wherein said switch is placed in said open position when said toy vehicle is picked up off a surface and said switch is placed in said closed position when said toy vehicle is placed on the same or other surface.
3. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising an audio output device, wherein said integrated circuit provides second output signals to activate said audio output device.
4. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising one or more light emitting devices, wherein said integrated circuit provides third output signals to activate said one or more light emitting devices.
5. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a second switch having a first position and a second position, wherein when said switch is placed in said closed position and said second switch is placed in said second position said toy vehicle is configured to operate in connection with a play set.
6. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit is configured to determine the cumulative duration in which said audio detector circuit does not receive audible sound signals greater than said predetermined decibel level.
7. A voice-operated control circuit for a toy vehicle comprising:
an audio detector circuit for receiving audible sound signals;
a switch having an open position and a closed position;
a motor; and
an integrated circuit coupled to the audio detector circuit, said integrated circuit configured to determine, from when said switch is in its open position to when said switch is in its closed position, the duration in which audible sound signals are received by said audio detector circuit within each of a plurality of decibel level ranges, to calculate a period based on said duration in which audible sound signals are received by said audio detector circuit within each of said plurality of decibel level ranges, and to provide output signals to activate said motor for said period.
8. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 7, wherein said switch is placed in said open position when said toy vehicle is picked up off a surface and said switch is placed in said closed position when said toy vehicle is placed on the same or other surface.
9. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 7, further comprising an audio output device, wherein said integrated circuit provides second output signals to activate said audio output device.
10. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 7, further comprising one or more light emitting devices, wherein said integrated circuit provides third output signals to activate said one or more light emitting devices.
11. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 7, further comprising a second switch having a first position and a second position, wherein when said switch is placed in said closed position and said second switch is placed in said second position said toy vehicle is configured to operate in connection with a play set.
12. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 7, wherein said integrated circuit is configured to determine the cumulative duration in which said audio detector circuit does not receive audible sound signals greater than said predetermined decibel level.
13. A voice-operated control circuit for a toy vehicle comprising:
an audio detector circuit for receiving audible sound signals;
a switch having an open position and a closed position;
a motor; and
an integrated circuit coupled to the audio detector circuit, said integrated circuit configured to determine, from when said switch is in its open position to when said switch is in its closed position, the decibel levels of audible sound signals received by said audio detector circuit, and to provide output signals to activate said motor for a period based on the highest decibel level received by said audio detector circuit.
14. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 13, wherein said switch is placed in said open position when said toy vehicle is picked up off a surface and said switch is placed in said closed position when said toy vehicle is placed on the same or other surface.
15. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 13, further comprising an audio output device, wherein said integrated circuit provides second output signals to activate said audio output device.
16. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 13, further comprising one or more light emitting devices, wherein said integrated circuit provides third output signals to activate said one or more light emitting devices.
17. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 13, further comprising a second switch having a first position and a second position, wherein when said switch is placed in said closed position and said second switch is placed in said second position said toy vehicle is configured to operate in connection with a play set.
18. The voice-operated control circuit according to claim 13, wherein said integrated circuit is configured to determine the cumulative duration in which said audio detector circuit does not receive audible sound signals greater than said predetermined decibel level.
19. A method of controlling a toy vehicle having a motor comprising the steps of:
receiving sound signals;
determining the duration of the received sound signals; and
activating said motor at a user-defined time for a period dependent upon the duration of the received sound signals.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said activating said motor at said user-defined time occurs when said toy vehicle is placed on a surface.
21. The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of receiving sound signals occurs after said toy vehicle is picked up off of a surface.
22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of activating an audio output device for said period.
23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of activating one or more light emitting devices for said period.
24. A method of controlling a toy vehicle having a motor comprising the steps of:
receiving sound signals;
determining the duration of the sound signals within each of a plurality of decibel level ranges; and
activating said motor at a user-defined time for a period dependent upon the duration of the sound signals received within each of the plurality of decibel level ranges.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said activating said motor at said user-defined time occurs when said toy vehicle is placed on a surface.
26. The method according to claim 24, wherein said step of receiving sound signals occurs after said toy vehicle is picked up off of a surface.
27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of activating an audio output device for said period.
28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of activating one or more light emitting devices for said period.
29. A method of controlling a toy vehicle having a motor comprising the steps of:
receiving sound signals;
determining the duration of the received sound signals; and
activating said motor at a user-defined time for a period dependent upon the highest decibel level of the received sound signals.
30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said activating said motor at said user-defined time occurs when said toy vehicle is placed on a surface.
31. The method according to claim 29, wherein said step of receiving sound signals occurs after said toy vehicle is picked up off of a surface.
32. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of activating an audio output device for said period.
33. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of activating one or more light emitting devices for said period.