Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing prepaid 800 or 900-type calling services, comprising:
receiving an 800 or 900-type call request from a caller using a prepaid account;
determining if the caller’s prepaid account is authorized for the call request;
authorizing the desired communication or other services in connection with the call request;
determining charges associated with the communication or other services provided in connection with the call request; and
adjusting a credit value of the caller’s prepaid account in accordance with the determined charges.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an 800 or 900-type call request comprises:
receiving a signal representing an 800 or 900 telephone number; and
receiving a signal representing the caller’s prepaid account.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if the caller’s prepaid account is authorized comprises:
accessing stored information corresponding to the prepaid account; and
determining if the prepaid account properly corresponds to the call request.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of authorizing communication or other services comprises:
authorizing telecommunication services for an 800 or 900 telephone call.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of authorizing communication or other services comprises:
providing an 800 or 900 service subscriber corresponding to the call request with information including at least one of a prepaid account expiration date, a product identifier, a call category, caller identification information, a product purchase date, caller service history, and a current prepaid account credit value.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining charges associated with the communication or other services provided comprises:
determining a length of time of the 800 or 900-type call.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining charges associated with the communication or other services provided comprises:
receiving information from the 800 or 900 service subscriber regarding services provided to the caller.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining charges associated with communication or other services provided comprises:
receiving information from the 800 or 900 service subscriber representing an adjustment amount of a credit value for the caller’s prepaid account.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining charges associated with the communication or other services provided comprises:
determining an amount to charge the 800 or 900 service subscriber for services provided in connection with the 800 or 900-type call request.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining charges associated with the communication or other services provided comprises:
determining an amount to charge an entity other than the caller and the 800 or 900 service subscriber.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting a credit value for the caller’s prepaid account comprises:
adjusting a credit value amount representing at least one of a total currency amount, a total length of time, a type of call, a number of calls, a number of calls or call time for a time segment that is part of a larger authorization period, and an expiration date.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting a credit value for the caller’s prepaid account comprises:
adjusting information maintained by a telecommunications service provider.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting a credit value for the caller’s prepaid account comprises:
adjusting information stored on a hand-held storage device storing information regarding the caller’s prepaid account.
14. An 800900 prepaid service device associated with a telecommunications switching network that receives an 800 or 900-type call request from a caller representing a call to be made to a called party using a caller’s prepaid account, the 800900 prepaid service device comprising:
a call detector that detects that the call request represents an 800 or 900-type call associated with prepaid call services;
a prepaid account manager that determines if the caller’s prepaid account is authorized for the call request, determines charges associated with communication or other services provided if the caller’s prepaid account is authorized, and adjusts a credit value of the caller’s prepaid account in accordance with the determined charges; and
a memory that stores information associated with the caller’s prepaid account.
15. The 800900 prepaid service device of claim 14, wherein the call detector detects a signal representing an 800 or 900 telephone number.
16. The 800900 prepaid service device of claim 14, wherein the prepaid account manager accesses information stored in the memory corresponding to the caller’s prepaid account and determines if the prepaid account properly corresponds to an 800 or 900 telephone number detected by the call detector.
17. The 800900 prepaid service device of claim 14, wherein the prepaid account manager authorizes a telecommunications switching network to provide telecommunication services for the 800 or 900 telephone call.
18. The 800900 prepaid service device of claim 14, wherein the prepaid account manager provides the called party with information including at least one of a prepaid account expiration date, a product identifier, a call category, caller identification information, a product purchase date, caller service history, and a current prepaid account credit value.
19. The 800900 prepaid service device of claim 14, wherein the prepaid account manager receives information from the called party regarding services provided to the caller and uses the information to determine charges for the call.
20. The 800900 prepaid service device of claim 14, wherein the prepaid account manager adjusts a credit value amount of the caller’s prepaid account representing at least one of a total currency amount, a total length of time, a type of call, a number of calls, a number of calls or call time for a time segment that is part of a larger authorization period, and an expiration date.
21. The 800900 prepaid service device of claim 14, wherein the memory comprises:
a first memory device that stores information regarding 800 and 900 telephone numbers associated with caller prepaid accounts; and
a second hand-held memory device storing information regarding the caller’s prepaid account.

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. An apparatus for exploration or treatment of a vessel or organ, the apparatus comprising:
a flexible elongated body having a proximal end and a distal extremity, the distal extremity including an ablation end effector having irrigation ports;
at least one irrigation channel disposed within the flexible elongated body, the at least one irrigation channel being in fluid communication with the irrigation ports;
a flexible force measurement structure affixed to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate body, the flexible force measurement structure including a proximal ring and a distal ring arranged concentrically about a longitudinal axis, the flexible force measurement structure being operatively coupled with an emitter and a plurality of receivers, the plurality of receivers adapted to receive signals emitted from the emitter and, in response, the plurality of receivers adapted to output signals that vary in response to a displacement of the distal ring relative to the proximal ring due to a contact force on an exterior of the distal extremity of the flexible elongate body; and
a controller including a microprocessor operatively coupled with the plurality of receivers and adapted to receive and process the signals output therefrom, the microprocessor being configured to compute a contact force vector from the signals, the contact force vector being multi-dimensional and corresponding to the contact force on the exterior of the distal extremity of the flexible elongate body.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ablation end effector is a radiofrequency ablation electrode.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of receivers are fiber optics.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the emitter is a light source operatively coupled to the fiber optics.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the ablation end effector based on the signals output from the plurality of receivers.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the controller is configured to operate the ablation end effector when a magnitude of the multi-dimensional force is within a predetermined range of values.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a direction of the multi-dimensional force vector ranges from a purely axial force to a purely radial force.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter and at least one of the plurality of receivers are optically coupled to a single optical fiber disposed in the flexible elongate body.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of columnar members extending longitudinally between the proximal ring and the distal ring, each of the columnar members defined by a pair of laterally-oriented members coupled to a pair of longitudinally oriented members.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the pair of laterally-oriented members is coupled to the pair of longitudinally-oriented members to form a parallelogram-shaped structure, and wherein one of the longitudinal members is coupled to the proximal ring and the other longitudinal member is coupled to the distal ring.
11. An apparatus for exploration or treatment of a vessel or organ, the apparatus comprising:
a flexible elongated body having a proximal end and a distal extremity, the distal extremity including an ablation end effector having irrigation ports;
at least one irrigation channel disposed within the flexible elongated body, the at least one irrigation channel being in fluid communication with the irrigation ports;
a force measurement structure affixed to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate body, the force measurement structure including a proximal ring and a distal ring separated by a flexible structure, the proximal and distal rings being arranged concentrically about a longitudinal axis, the force measurement structure being operatively coupled with an emitter and a plurality of receivers, the plurality of receivers adapted to receive signals emitted from the emitter and, in response, the plurality of receivers adapted to output signals that vary in response to a displacement of the distal ring relative to the proximal ring due to a contact force on an exterior of the distal extremity of the flexible elongate body; and
a controller including a microprocessor operatively coupled with the plurality of receivers and adapted to receive and process the signals output therefrom, the microprocessor being configured to compute a contact force vector from the signals, the contact force vector being multi-dimensional and corresponding to the contact force on the exterior of the distal extremity of the flexible elongate body.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the ablation end effector based on the signals output from the plurality of receivers.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to operate the ablation end effector when a magnitude of the multi-dimensional force is within a predetermined range of values.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the proximal ring is continuous and the distal ring is continuous.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the proximal ring, the distal ring and the flexible structure are integrally formed.

1. An elongated cylindrical needle guard (1) for attaching and protecting a medical needle to which a tube is connected, which comprises:
a cylindrical body consisting of a front portion(2), a body(3) and a rear portion(4);
an aperture (5) at the bottom of the body (3);
at least two or more projecting portions (7a, 7b, 7c) on the top wall of the cylindrical body from the front portion(2) to the rear portion(4);
a slit (9) at the bottom of the rear portion(4) along a longitudinal direction of said needle guard; and
a groove (22) for fixing the tube on the top of the rear portion(4); and
projecting portions (23a, 23b) facing to each other at the back of said groove (22).
2. A needle guard according to claim 1, wherein
a cutout portion (22a) in said projecting portion (7c) is formed in upwardly-widened tapered shape.
3. A capped needle guard (71), wherein
a cap (18) is detachably attached to the front portion(2) of said needle guard (1) according to claim 1 or 2.
4. A capped needle guard (81), wherein
a cap (28) is integrally molded via a rim (28a) with the front portion(2) of said needle guard (1) according to claim 1.
5. A guarded winged needle assembly (1A, 21A, 31A), wherein
said needle guard (1) according to claim 1 or said capped needle guard (71, 81) according to claim 2 or claim 3 is attached to a winged needle assembly (10).
6. A guarded winged needle assembly (1A), comprising:
a winged needle assembly (10), in which a needle pin (12) is attached to the front portion of a support (13), to which a pair of wings (14) is attached on both sides of the support, to which a needle cap (16) is attached on the front outside surface of the support, and to which a tube (15) is connected on the rear outside surface of the support; and
a needle guard (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2 which is slidably mounted on said winged needle assembly (10); wherein
in a situation that said winged needle assembly (10) is attached and retracted to said needle guard (1) through an aperture (5) and a slit (9),
the outside surface of the needle cap (16) is attached to the inside surface of the front portion(2);
said winged needle assembly(10) is fixed to said needle guard(1);
the needle pin (12) is shielded in the needle cap (16);
the needle pin (12) of said winged needle assembly (10) is exposed by uncapping the needle cap (16);
the needle pin (12) of said winged needle assembly (10) is retracted into said needle guard(1) by sliding said winged needle assembly toward the rear portion(4) of said needle guard (1); and
the tube (15) is fixed into a groove (22) through projecting portions (23a, 23b) facing to each other by backwardly pulling it and lifting it up; there by
said winged needle assembly (10) being kept not to slide toward the front portion(2) of said needle guard (1) and the needle pin (12) of said winged needle assembly (10) being kept not to be exposed from said needle guard (1).
7. A guarded winged needle assembly (21A, 31A), comprising:
a winged needle assembly (10), in which a needle pin (12) is attached to a front portion of a support (13), to which a pair of wings (14) is attached to both sides of the support, and to which a tube (15) is connected to the rear outside surface of the support; and
a capped needle guard (71,81) according to claim 3 or claim 4 which is slidably mounted on said winged needle assembly; wherein
in a situation that said winged needle assembly (10) is attached and retracted to said capped needle guard (71, 81) through an aperture (5) and a slit (9);
the front outside surface of the support (13) is attached to the inside surface of the front portion (2) of said capped needle guard (71, 81);
said winged needle assembly (10) is fixed to said capped needle guard (71, 81);
the needle pin (12) is shielded in said capped needle guard (71, 81);
the needle pin (12) is exposed by uncapping said capped needle guard (71, 81);
the needle pin (12) of said winged needle assembly (10) is retracted into said capped needle guard(71,81) by sliding said winged needle assembly(10) toward the rear portion (4) of said capped needle guard (71, 81); and
the tube (15) is fixed into a groove (22) through projecting portions (23a, 23b) facing to each other by backwardly pulling it and lifting it up; there by
said winged needle assembly (10) being kept not to slide toward the front portion (2) of said capped needle guard (71, 81) and the needle pin (12) being kept not to be exposed from said capped needle guard (71, 81).
8. An elongated cylindrical needle guard (1) for attaching and protecting a medical needle to which a tube is connected, comprising:
a cylindrical body consisting of a front portion(2), a body(3) and a rear portion(4);
an aperture (5) at the bottom of the body (3);
a pair of stoppers (58) on both sides of the body (3);
thick portions (58b) on each of the stoppers (58); and
locking portions (58c) on the back of each of the thick portions (58b) for locking wings (14) of a winged needle assembly (10).
9. A needle guard (1) according to claim 8, further comprising a pair of second stoppers (68) on both sides of a rear portion (4).
10 A needle guard (1) according to claim 8 or claim 9, further comprising a groove (22) for fixing the tube on the top wall of the rear portion (4).
11. A needle guard (1) according to claim 10, further comprising:
a cutout portion (22a) at the back of the groove (22); and
a narrow portion (22b) between the groove (22) and the cutout portion (22a).
12. A needle guard (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising:
projecting portions (7a, 7b) on the top wall from the front portion (2) to the body (3);
a slit (9) at the bottom of the rear portion (4) along a longitudinal direction of said needle guard.
13. A capped needle guard (71), wherein
a cap (18) is detachably attached at the front portion (2) of said needle guard (1) according to any on of claims 8 to 12.
14. A capped needle guard (81), wherein
a cap (28) is integrally molded via a rim (28a) with the front portion (2) of said needle guard (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 12.
15. A guarded winged needle assembly (1A, 21A, 31A), where in
said needle guard (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 12 or said capped needle guard (71, 81) according to claim 13 or claim 14 is mounted on the winged needle assembly (10).
16. A guarded winged needle assembly (1A), comprising:
a winged needle assembly (10), in which a needle pin (12) is attached to the front portion of a support (13), to which a pair of wings (14) is attached on both sides of the support, to which a needle cap (16) is attached the front outside surface of the support, and to which a tube (15) is connected on the rear outside surface of the support; and
a needle guard (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 12 which is slidably mounted on said winged needle assembly (10); wherein
in a situation that said winged needle assembly (10) is attached and retracted to said needle guard (1) through an aperture (5) and a slit (9),
the outside surface of the needle cap (16) is attached to the inside surface of the front portion (2);
said winged needle assembly (10) is fixed to said needle guard(1);
the needle pin (12) is shielded in the needle cap (16);
the needle pin (12) of said winged needle assembly (10) is exposed by uncapping the needle cap (16);
the needle pin (12) of said winged needle assembly (10)is retracted into said needle guard(1) by sliding said winged needle assembly(10) toward the rear portion (4) of said needle guard (1); and
locking portions (58c) are locked to tips of the wings (14); there by
said winged needle assembly (10) being kept not to slide toward the front portion (2) of said needle guard (1) and the needle pin (12) of said winged needle assembly (10) being kept not to be exposed from said needle guard (1).
17. A guarded winged needle assembly (21A, 31A), comprising:
a winged needle assembly (10), in which a needle pin (12) is attached to the front portion of a support (13), to which a pair of wings (14) is attached on both sides of the support, and to which a tube (15) is connected to the rear outside surface of the support; and
a capped needle guard (71,81) according to claim 13 or claim 14 which is slidably mounted on said winged needle assembly (10); wherein
in a situation that said winged needle assembly (10) is attached and retracted to said capped needle guard (71, 81) through an aperture (5) and a slit (9),
the front outside surface of the support (13) is attached to the inside surface of the front portion (2) of said capped needle guard (71, 81);
said winged needle assembly (10) is fixed to said capped needle guard (71, 81);
the needle pin (12) is shielded in said capped needle guard (71, 81);
the needle pin (12) is exposed by uncapping said capped needle guard (71, 81);
the needle pin (12) of said winged needle assembly (10) is retracted into said capped needle guard (71,81) by sliding said winged needle assembly (10) toward the rear portion (4) of said capped needle guard (71, 81); and
locking portions (58c) are locked to tips of the wings (14); there by
said winged needle assembly (10) being kept not to slide toward the front portion (2) of said capped needle guard (71, 81) and the needle pin (12) of said winged needle assembly (10) being kept not to be exposed from said capped needle guard (71, 81).
18. A guarded winged needle assembly (1A, 21A, 31A) according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein
the pair of wings (14) are crosswardly locked between the stoppers (58) and the second stoppers (68) by folding the wings (14) upwards.
19. A guarded winged needle assembly (1A, 21A, 31A) according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein
the tube (15) are fixed in the groove (22) from the cutout portion (22a) to the narrow portion (22b) by backwardly pulling the tube and lifting it up.
20. A protection guard (91) for the needle guard (1) according to claim 1 or claim 8, comprising
a front attachment portion (91f) and a rear portion attachment portion (91b) on both sides of plate (91a), respectively, wherein
said front attachment portion (91f) and said rear portion attachment portion (91b)are attached to the front portion (2) and the rear portion(4) of said needle guard (1), respectively; there by
the aperture (5) at the body (3) of said needle guard (1) being covered to cover the needle and the support of said winged needle assembly.
21. A protection guard (92) for a needle guard (1) according to claim 1 or claim 8, comprising
a front attachment portion (92f) on a plate (92a); and
said front attachment portion (92f) is attached to the front portion (2) of said needle guard (1), wherein
a portion of the aperture (5) at the body (3) of said needle guard (1) is covered by the plate (92a) so that at least the needle is not exposed.

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 of floor control in a Push-to-Talk communications system comprising:
transmitting, from a mobile station, a floor control message via a floor control channel, said floor control message having a plurality of media type designators.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
requesting, via said floor control message, floor control for at least one media type, said at least one media type specified by populating one of said media type designators corresponding to said at least one media type.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
receiving, by said mobile station, a second floor control message granting a floor to said mobile station, for said at least one media type.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting, from a mobile station, a floor control message via a floor control channel, further comprises:
transmitting said floor control message via a Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) channel.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein after the step of receiving, by said mobile station, a second floor control message granting said floor to said mobile station, for said at least one media type, the method further comprises:
transmitting said at least one media type using Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP).
6. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting said at least one media type using Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) further comprises:
transmitting one of audio and video.
7. A method of floor control in a Push-to-Talk communications system comprising:
transmitting, from a mobile station, a floor control message via a floor control channel, said floor control message having a plurality of media type designator fields;
requesting, via said floor control message, floor control for a combination of media types, said combination of media types specified by populating said media type designator fields, each populated designator field corresponding to a media type of said combination of media types.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
receiving, by said mobile station, a second floor control message granting a floor to said mobile station for at least one media type wherein said at least one media type is selected from said combination of media types.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting, from a mobile station, a floor control message via a floor control channel, further comprises:
transmitting said floor control message via a Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) channel.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein after the step of receiving, by said mobile station, a second floor control message granting said floor to said mobile station, the method further comprises:
transmitting said at least one media type using Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP).
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
receiving, by said mobile station, a second floor control message granting a floor to said mobile station for said combination of media types; and
transmitting at least one media type, from said combination of media types, using Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP).
12. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting said at least one media type using Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) further comprises:
transmitting one of audio and video.
13. A mobile station comprising:
at least one transceiver; and
at least one processor configured to construct a floor control message having a plurality of media type designators.
14. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to populate at least one of said media type designators of said plurality of media type designators.
15. The mobile station of claim 14, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to decode and interpret a floor control message received by said at least one transceiver, wherein said floor control message comprises a plurality of media type designators.
16. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein said floor control message is a Real-time Control Protocol (RTCP) message.
17. The mobile station of claim 16, wherein said at least one transceiver is one of GSM, GSMEDGE, UMTS, CDMA2000, 802.11, 802.16, and Bluetooth.