1. A method for advertising businesses or goods and services and conducting cash auction via a communications network such as an Internet website comprising the steps of;
(a) a seller accessing the cash deposit auction website;
(b) the seller uploading business information or information of goods and services for sale to the website;
(c) collecting a fee for advertisement and information uploaded to the website
(d) creating and maintaining a common pool of money funded by the fees collected from sellers;
(e) making said listing information available to prospective bidders;
(f) allowing prospective bidders to register to bid on cash deposit;
(g) registered bidders place bids on the website;
(i) (Canceled)
(j) determining which bidder has placed the winning bid;
(k) awarding and allowing the winning bidder to use the cash deposit thus auctioned to purchase assets, goods andor services from the sellers advertising their businesses and items for sale on the website.
2. A method for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:
collecting a fee for said seller uploading specific business advertisement or assets, goods and services sales information regarding an item or items for sale to the website.
3. A method for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:
said business advertisement or specific assets, goods and services sales information includes business logos and description and photographs, specification and actual value of the assets, goods and services.
4. A method for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:
selection and notification of the successful bidder at the end of the auction period.
5. A method for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:
said making the listing information available to prospective bidders facilitated via email, text message or other electronic means of communication.
6. A method for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:
collecting the winning bid amount from winning bidder.
7. A method for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:
successful bidder using the cash deposit won in the auction to pay the seller the total value of assets, goods or services.
8. A method for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:
said winning bidder paying an additional fee for services rendered by said website owner.
9. A system for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website comprising;
(a) a computer server;
(b) a website administrator;
(c) a cash deposit auction website hosted on said computer server and maintained by said website administrator;
(d) a software program customized to facilitate operation of said website;
(e) a secure database used to collect and hold information;
(f) sellers who access the cash deposit auction website via an input device means;
(g) means for uploading business descriptions and specific assets, goods and services sales information to the website by the seller onto said database;
(h) means for collecting fees for each information or advertisement uploaded by seller;
(i) means for creating and maintaining a common pool of money funded by the fees collected from sellers;
(j) a plurality of prospective bidders register their details into said database using an input device means to bid on cash deposits;
(k) means for making said goods and services sales information available to prospective bidders;
(l) a plurality of registered bidders to place bids on the website by using said input device means to send bid information to said server; and
(o) means for awarding the cash to the successful bidder allowing the bidder to use the cash to purchase assets, goods and items from the sellers advertising on the website.
10. A system for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website comprising as set forth in claim 10 further comprising;
said input device means used by sellers and bidders to access said website is a PC.
11. A system for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website comprising as set forth in claim 10 further comprising;
said means for making said assets, goods and services sales information available to prospective bidders includes the use of email and text messaging.
12. A method for conducting a cash deposit auction via a communications network such as an Internet website comprising the steps of;
(a) a seller accessing the cash deposit auction website;
(b) uploading business information along with specific assets, goods and services sales information regarding an item for sale to the website by the seller;
(c) creating and maintaining a common pool of money funded by the fees collected from sellers;
(d) allowing prospective bidders to register to bid on cash being auctioned;
(e) making said listing information available to prospective bidders;
(f) registered bidders place bids on the website;
(g) determining which bidder has placed the winning bid;
(h) collecting the winning bid amount from winning bidder;
(i) awarding the cash thus won in the cash deposit auction to the successful bidder
(j) allowing the successful bidder to use the cash won in the auction to pay the seller the total value of the goods or services purchased; and
(k) allowing the bidder to collect the items sold by the sellers.
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 system comprising (A) a needle having a lumen, a length, and a tip, (B) an optional stylet having a length and a tip, the stylet adapted to be inserted into the lumen of the needle, (C) a piezo-electric transducer means, (D) means for keying or pulsing an ultrasound signal from the transducer means, (E) means for detecting reflected ultrasonic signals from structures; and (F) means to convert the reflected ultrasonic signals into a digital signal; and (G) means to display the digital signal; the transducer means located either at the tip of the needle or at the tip of the stylet.
2. The system of claim 1 further including sweep means adapted to sweep the transducer means.
3. The system of claim 1 further including a horizontal hinged member having a first end and a second end supporting the transducer means, a stationary vertical member hinged to the first end of the horizontal hinged member and a reciprocating vertical member hinged to the second end of the horizontal member, a linear motor coupled to the reciprocating vertical member, wherein the transducer means is supported on the horizontal hinged member.
4. The system of claim 1 further including a horizontal hinged rigid stage having a first end and a second end supporting a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer, a vertical member hinged to the first end and a vertical member hinged to the second end, a linear motor coupled to one or both of the vertical members and adapted to cause the rigid stage to reciprocate and thereby sweep the transducer.
5. The system of claim 1 further including means to sweep the direction of the ultrasound from the transducer without physically moving the transducer so as to generate a two dimensional image from the reflected ultrasound.
6. The system of claim 1 including stylet (B) and the transducer is at the tip of the stylet, the stylet being of sufficient length that when the stylet is inserted into the lumen of the needle, the transducer means is aligned with the tip of the needle.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the transducer means comprises one piezo-electric crystal.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the transducer means comprises at least two piezo-electric transducers in an array.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for pulsing the transducer comprises a signal generator electrically connected to the transducer.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the means to convert the reflected ultrasonic signals comprises an analog to digital converter signal processor and microprocessor means for measuring arrival times of reflected echo signals from tissue deep to the needle and displaying the echo signal as a function of time.
11. The system of claim 1 adapted to provide a needle’s eye view of anatomy distal to the needle, the anatomy comprising one or more of veins, ligaments, dura, and loose areolar connective tissue.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the means (G) for displaying the signal comprises a computer programmed to display a representation or simulation of an oscilloscope.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the needle is a Touhy-type needle.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the piezo-electric transducer means comprises an array of transducers and the means for keying or pulsing an ultrasound signal from the transducer means comprises a controller programmed to activate the transducers in a phased fashion to sweep a beam radially from the point of the needle so as to generate a two dimensional (2D) image of tissues distal to the needle.
15. The system of claim 1 further including means to generate an audible signal indicating the distance between the tip of the needle and tissues distal to the tip.
16. The system of claim 1 further including means to generate an audible signal indicating the distance between the tip of the needle and tissues distal to the tip, wherein the number of sounds increases as the tip gets closer to tissue structure.
17. The system of claim 1 further including means to see-saw the transducer and means to process ultrasound signals from the transducer to provide two dimensional imaging.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein the means to see-saw the transducer comprises a see-sawing stage upon which the transducer is mounted, a reciprocating vertical strut bonded to one side of the stage, and means to reciprocate the strut in a proximal-distal direction.
19. The system of claim 17 wherein the means to see-saw the transducer comprises a see-sawing stage upon which the transducer is mounted, a reciprocating vertical strut bonded to one side of the stage, and a MEMS motor to reciprocate the strut in a proximal-distal direction.
20. The system of claim 17 wherein the means to see-saw the transducer comprises a see-sawing stage upon which the transducer is mounted, a reciprocating vertical strut bonded to one side of the stage, a stationary vertical strut bonded to the opposite side of the stage, and a MEMS motor to drive the reciprocating strut in a proximal-distal direction.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein a channel is provided in the stationary vertical strut through which wires are threaded.
22. The system of claim 17 wherein the means to see-saw the transducer comprises a see-sawing stage upon which the transducer is mounted, a reciprocating vertical strut bonded to one side of the stage, and a stationary vertical strut bonded to the opposite side of the stage, the stationary vertical strut and the reciprocating vertical strut each having a generally D-shaped cross-section, the stationary strut and reciprocating strut aligned with flat sides facing each other and curved portions facing away from each other, with the curved portions optionally fluted so as to allow passageways for fluid.
23. A method of placing a regional anesthetic needle comprising providing piezo-electric transducer means located at or near the tip of the needle, keying or pulsing an ultrasound signal from the transducer means, detecting reflected ultrasonic signals from structures distal to the tip of the needle; converting the reflected ultrasonic signals into a digital signal representing anatomical information forward to the needle; displaying the digital signal, and guiding the needle to a desired location while preventing the needle from touching an undesired location.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the needle is a Touhy needle and contact with the dura is prevented by gauging the depth of the needle relative to the dura using the graphical display of ultrasound signals.
25. The method of claim 23 wherein the piezo-electric transducer means is located on a stylet which is placed in the needle.
26. The method of claim 23 wherein an array of transducers at or near the tip of the needle are provided, pulsing the transducers in a phased array fashion to sweep a beam radially from the tip of the needle so as to generate a two dimensional (2D) image of tissues distal to the tip.
27. The method of claim 23 wherein means to generate an audible signal indicating the distance between the tip of the needle and the tissues distal to the tip is provided, and wherein the operator uses the audible signal to assist in placing the needle.
28. The method of claim 23 further including mechanically sweeping the transducer and generating a 2D image of the anatomy distal to the needle.
29. The method of claim 23 further including controlling the direction of the transducer by providing an electronically controlled lens or shutter distal to the transducer to reciprocate the direction.