1. A gaming device comprising:
a game operable upon a wager by a player;
a plurality of reels in the game;
a plurality of fixed positions on said reels;
a plurality of symbols, each of said symbols located at one of the positions on the reels;
a plurality of swapping indicators associated with at least three symbols; and
a processor operable to:
a) spin the reels to display a plurality of the symbols at their fixed positions on the reels,
b) provide a first award to the player for each winning combination of displayed symbols,
c) determine if the swapping indicators associated with the at least three symbols are displayed and are in a predetermined configuration to indicate the symbols to be rearranged, and, if so, rearrange each of the indicated symbols to fixed positions of the other indicated symbols, and
(d) provide a second award to the player for each winning combination of displayed symbols which includes the rearranged indicated symbols.
2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each swapping indicator includes a portion of the predetermined configuration.
3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined configuration of the swapping indicators includes matching swapping indicators.
4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined configuration of the swapping indicators includes an alignment of swapping indicators on adjacent reels.
5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined configuration of the swapping indicators includes a predetermined number of said swapping indicators.
6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of indicated symbols is predetermined.
7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the indicated symbols are on different reels.
8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the indicated symbols must be on different paylines associated with the reels.
9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to rearrange each indicated symbol in a counter-clockwise rotational fashion.
10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each indicated symbol is first rearranged to the fixed position of the indicated symbol directly adjacent to said indicated symbol.
11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to provide the second awards to the player for each winning combination of the displayed symbols after each rearrangement of the indicated symbols.
12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to rearrange at least two sets of indicated symbols.
13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein each set of indicated symbols includes a predetermined number of indicated symbols.
14. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein each set of indicated symbols includes a predetermined number of indicated symbols indicated by swapping indicators in a predetermined configuration.
15. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the rearrangement of the indicated symbols in at least one set is different from the rearrangement of the indicated symbols in the other sets.
16. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to determine whether to arrange at least one set of indicated symbols based on whether any award is associated with a combination of displayed symbols.
17. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the player is enabled to determine whether to arrange at least one set of indicated symbols based on whether any award is associated with a combination of displayed symbols.
18. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to determine any winning combination of displayed symbols after each of the at least two sets of indicated symbols is rearranged.
19. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to determine any winning combination of displayed symbols after the at least two sets of indicated symbols are rearranged.
20. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to rearrange the indicated symbols and determine any winning combination of displayed symbols for each rearrangement until the indicated symbols are rearranged to their original fixed positions on the reels before rearranging the indicated symbols of another set of the at least two sets of indicated symbols.
21. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to rearrange the indicated symbols and determine any winning combination of displayed symbols for each rearrangement until the indicated symbols are rearranged to their first fixed positions on the reels.
22. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to provide any award for each winning combination resulting from each rearrangement of the indicated symbols.
23. A gaming device comprising:
a game operable upon a wager by a player;
a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on said reels;
a plurality of swapping indicators associated with the plurality of symbols, wherein the symbols are indicated if said swapping indicators associated with at least three of said symbols are in a predetermined configuration; and
a display device adapted to display at least one set of indicated symbols on the reels, wherein each of the indicated symbols in each set are rearranged to fixed positions of the other indicated symbols in said set, and an award is provided to a player for any winning combination of displayed symbols resulting from the rearrangement.
24. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein a first award is provided to the player for each winning combination of displayed symbols resulting from spinning of said plurality of reels.
25. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein each swapping indicator includes a portion of the predetermined configuration.
26. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the predetermined configuration of the swapping indicators includes matching swapping indicators.
27. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the predetermined configuration of the swapping indicators includes an alignment of swapping indicators on adjacent reels.
28. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the predetermined configuration of the swapping indicators includes a predetermined number of said swapping indicators.
29. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the number of indicated symbols is predetermined.
30. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein at least two of the indicated symbols are on different reels.
31. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein at least two of the indicated symbols must be on different paylines associated with the reels.
32. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein each indicated symbol is rearranged in a counter-clockwise rotational fashion.
33. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein each indicated symbol is first rearranged to the fixed position of the indicated symbol directly adjacent to said indicated symbol.
34. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein each set of indicated symbols includes a predetermined number of indicated symbols.
35. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein each set of indicated symbols includes a predetermined number of indicated symbols indicated by swapping indicators in a predetermined configuration.
36. The gaming device of claim 23, which includes a determination of any winning combination of the displayed symbols which includes the rearranged symbols, wherein the determination occurs after each rearrangement of the indicated symbols to fixed positions of the other indicated symbols.
37. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the rearrangement of the indicated symbols in at least one set is different from the rearrangement of the indicated symbols in the other sets.
38. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the award provided to the player for any winning combination of displayed symbols is provided to the player after each of the sets of indicated symbols is rearranged.
39. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the award provided to the player for any winning combination of displayed symbols is provided to the player after the sets of indicated symbols are rearranged.
40. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the indicated symbols are rearranged and an award provided to the player for each winning combination of displayed symbols until the indicated symbols are rearranged to their first fixed positions on the reels.
41. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the indicated symbols of a set are rearranged and an award provided to the player for each winning combination of displayed symbols until the indicated symbols are rearranged to their original fixed positions on the reels before another set of indicated symbols is rearranged.
42. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying a plurality of reels, wherein each of a plurality of symbols is displayed at a fixed position on said plurality of reels;
(b) associating a plurality of swapping indicators with the plurality of symbols;
(c) spinning the reels to display a plurality of the symbols at the fixed positions on the reels;
(d) providing a first award to the player for each winning combination of the displayed symbols;
(e) indicating a plurality of displayed symbols if the swapping indicators associated with said displayed symbols are in a predetermined configuration to indicate the symbols to be rearranged, and rearranging each of the indicated symbols to a fixed position, wherein each of the indicated symbols is moved to fixed positions of the other indicated symbols; and
(f) providing a second award to the player for each winning combination of the displayed symbols which includes the rearranged indicated symbols.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein rearranging the indicated symbols includes moving each of the indicated symbols to a predetermined number of fixed positions which are different from its first fixed position.
44. The method of claim 42, wherein rearranging the indicated symbols includes moving each indicated symbol in a counter-clockwise rotational fashion.
45. The method of claim 42, wherein rearranging the indicated symbols includes first moving each of the indicated symbols to the fixed position of the indicated symbol directly adjacent to each of said indicated symbols.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein the fixed position of the indicated symbol adjacent to each of said indicated symbols is counter-clockwise from the fixed position of the indicated symbol.
47. The method of claim 42, wherein providing the second award to the player for each winning combination of the displayed symbols occurs after each rearrangement of the indicated symbols.
48. The method of claim 42, which includes rearranging the indicated symbols and providing the second award to the player for each winning combination of the displayed symbols after each rearrangement until each indicated symbol is moved to its first fixed position on the reels.
49. The method of claim 42, which includes at least one set of a plurality of the indicated symbols, wherein each of the indicated symbols of said set is rearranged to the fixed positions of the other indicated symbols in said set.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein each set of indicated symbols includes a predetermined number of indicated symbols.
51. The method of claim 49, wherein each set of indicated symbols includes a predetermined number of indicated symbols indicated by swapping indicators in a predetermined configuration.
52. The method of claim 49, which includes at least two sets of indicated symbols.
53. The method of claim 52, wherein rearranging the indicated symbols in at least one set is different from rearranging the indicated symbols in the other sets.
54. The method of claim 52, wherein providing the second award to the player for each winning combination of the displayed symbols occurs after each rearrangement of each set of indicated symbols.
55. The method of claim 52, wherein providing the second award to the player for each winning combination of the displayed symbols occurs after each rearrangement of the sets of indicated symbols.
56. The method of claim 52, wherein rearranging the indicated symbols of one set of indicated symbols and providing the second award to the player for each winning combination of the displayed symbols until each indicated symbol is moved to its first fixed position on the reels occurs before rearranging another set of indicated symbols.
57. The method of claim 42, wherein the steps (a) to (f) are provided to the player through a data network.
58. The method of claim 57, wherein the data network is an internet.
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 method for monitoring the use of medical gases, comprising:
receiving a plurality of wireless signals, each coming from one of a plurality of flow sensors, wherein each flow sensor is configured to measure the flow rate of gas through one of a plurality of gas outlets, wherein the gas flowing to the plurality of gas outlets is supplied by a gas delivery system fluidly coupled to at least one gas source;
determining, based on the plurality of wireless signals, the total amount of gas used at the plurality of gas outlets;
determining, based on one or more measurements of the at least one gas source, the amount of gas that has been removed from the at least one gas source;
determining whether the total amount of gas used at the plurality of gas outlets differs, by a predetermined margin, from the amount of gas that has been removed from the at least one gas source; and
if so, generating an alert communicating the existence of a potential leak in the gas delivery system.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether the total amount of gas used at the plurality of gas outlets is at least a predetermined reordering amount; and
if so, generating an alert to communicate the need to order additional gas supplies.
3. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a processor, performs a method, comprising:
receiving a plurality of wireless signals, each coming from one of a plurality of flow sensors, wherein each flow sensor is configured to measure the flow rate of gas through one of a plurality of gas outlets, wherein the gas flowing to the plurality of gas outlets is supplied by a gas delivery system fluidly coupled to at least one gas source;
determining, based on the plurality of wireless signals, the total amount of gas used at the plurality of gas outlets;
determining, based on one or more measurements of the at least one gas source, the amount of gas that has been removed from the at least one gas source;
determining whether the total amount of gas used at the plurality of gas outlets differs, by a predetermined margin, from the amount of gas that has been removed from the at least one gas source; and
if so, generating an alert communicating the existence of a potential leak in the gas delivery system.
4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, further comprising:
determining whether the total amount of gas used at the plurality of gas outlets is at least a predetermined reordering amount; and
if so, generating an alert to communicate the need to order additional gas supplies.
5. A system, comprising:
a medical facility, comprising:
a) a plurality of locations configured for patient care, each comprising at least one gas fixture, wherein each gas fixture is configured to connect to and supply medical gases to at least one medical device;
b) at least one medical gas source;
c) at least one wireless receiver;
d) a plurality of gas conduits, configured to distribute medical gases from the at least one gas source to each of the gas fixtures;
e) a plurality of wireless sensors disposed on the plurality of gas fixtures, each comprising:
i) a flow sensor configured to measure a flow of gas through the gas fixture on which it is disposed,
ii) a connection sensor configured to determine whether a medical device is properly connected to the gas fixture on which it is disposed, and
iii) a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal to the at least one wireless receiver, wherein the wireless signal includes data indicating whether a flow of gas is detected and whether a medical device is properly connected; and
f) a gas management application, configured to receive the data included in the wireless transmissions, and to selectively generate alerts communicating the existence of a potential leaks at the gas fixtures based on the received data.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein selectively generating alerts communicating the existence of potential leaks at the gas fixtures comprises:
for each gas fixture, determining whether there is a flow of gas in the conduit distributing gas to the gas fixture;
for each gas fixture, determining whether at least one medical device is properly connected to the gas fixture; and
for each gas fixture, if there is a flow of gas but no medical device is properly connected, then generating an alert communicating the existence of a potential leak at the gas fixture.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the wireless signal also indicates a flow rate of gas, and wherein the gas management application is further configured to perform the method of:
for each gas fixture, determining whether the flow rate of gas is outside a predetermined range of operating flow rates; and
if so, generating an alert communicating the existence of an abnormal flow rate at the gas fixture.
8. The system of claim 5, wherein the wireless signal also indicates a flow rate of gas, and wherein the gas management application is further configured to perform the method of:
for each gas fixture, calculating, based on the flow rate of gas, a total amount of gas used at the gas fixture over a given period.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the gas management application is further configured to perform the method of:
for each gas fixture, determining whether the calculated total amount of gas used at the gas fixture is at least an amount medically prescribed for a treatment regimen of a
patient, wherein the gas fixture is dedicated to the care of the patient; and
if so, generate an alert communicating the completion of the treatment regimen of the patient.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the gas management application is further configured to perform the method of:
for each gas fixture, if the total amount of gas used at the gas fixture is at least the amount medically prescribed for the corresponding patient, then closing a control valve for the gas fixture to prevent further administration of the gas to the patient.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the gas management application is further configured to perform the method of:
for each gas fixture, calculate a cost of the total amount of gas used at the gas fixture, wherein the gas fixture is dedicated to the care of the patient.
12. A system, comprising:
a medical facility, comprising:
a) a plurality of locations configured for patient care, each comprising at least one gas fixture, wherein each gas fixture is configured to connect to and supply medical gases to at least one medical device;
b) a medical gas storage facility, comprising a flow meter configured to measure a total gas flow rate from the storage facility;
c) at least one wireless receiver;
d) a plurality of gas conduits, configured to distribute medical gases from the at least one gas storage facility to each of the gas fixtures;
e) a plurality of wireless sensors disposed on the plurality of gas fixtures, each comprising:
i) a flow sensor configured to measure a flow of gas through the gas fixture on which it is disposed,
ii) a connection sensor configured to determine whether a medical device is properly connected to the gas fixture on which it is disposed, and
iii) a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal to the at least one wireless receiver, wherein the wireless signal includes data indicating whether a flow of gas is detected and whether a medical device is properly connected; and
f) a gas management application, configured to receive the data included in the wireless transmissions, and to selectively generate an alert communicating the existence of a potential leak in the plurality of gas conduits based on the received data.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the gas management application is further configured to perform the method of:
calculating, based on the wireless transmissions, a total gas flow at the gas fixtures;
determining whether the total gas flow at the gas fixtures differs, by a predetermined margin, from the amount of total gas flow from the storage facility.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the gas management application is further configured to perform the method of:
determining whether the total gas flow at the gas fixtures is at least a predetermined reordering amount; and
if so, generating an alert to communicate the need to order additional gas supplies.