Author: claimsbot

1. An illuminating apparatus comprising:
a light source, and
an optical member that controls light distribution of light emitted from the light source in a forward direction,
wherein a plurality of prisms extending in one direction are provided on at least one among two principal surfaces of the optical member in regions on both sides when divided at a virtual plane that includes a reference axis of the optical member,
the plurality of prisms include reflecting prisms that reflect light from a light source that is disposed virtually so as to include an optical axis on the virtual plane that includes the reference axis and emit the light from the optical member, and
the light source is disposed such that its optical axis is shifted relative to the reference axis to a region on one side when divided at the virtual plane that includes the reference axis.
2. The illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of prisms disposed near the virtual plane that includes the reference axis are configured as refracting prisms that refract the light from the light source that is disposed virtually so as to include an optical axis on the virtual plane that includes the reference axis and emit the light from the optical member.
3. The illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a boundary between the reflecting prisms and the refracting prisms provided on a side on which the light source is disposed among the regions on both sides when divided at the virtual plane that includes the reference axis is located more toward the reference axis than the optical axis of the light source.
4. The illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed more toward the optical member than a focal point of the plurality of reflecting prisms.
5. The illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of prisms are divided into a plurality of small regions at at least one virtual plane parallel to the virtual plane that includes the reference axis, and one or more prisms disposed in each of the plurality of small regions are configured to have each different focal length than the focal length of the one or more prisms disposed in adjacent small regions.
6. The illuminating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein one or more of the reflecting prisms disposed in each of the plurality of small regions included on a side on which the light source is disposed among the regions on both sides when divided at the virtual plane that includes the reference axis are configured such that the focal length thereof decreases as the small regions are distanced from the reference axis.
7. The illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of prisms is provided on a principal surface of the optical member that faces the light source, and each of the reflecting prisms includes a first surface that faces the reference axis and a second surface that reflects at least a portion of light that enters from the first surface to the side of the principal surface of the optical member on which the plurality of prisms are not provided.

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 managing a database system comprising:
at the database system having one or more nodes comprising one or more processors and memory, the memory of the one or more nodes storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;
receiving an N number of requests from one or more nodes of the database system;
combining the N number of requests before initiating operations to attend to the N number of requests;
reducing the number of operations to attend to the N number of requests; and
executing the reduced number of operations to attend to the N number of requests.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the database system includes a search engine.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the search engine includes a decentralized swarm system that utilizes one or more swarm algorithms.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein
the N number of requests include N number of add requests to add to a value in a row stored in the database system;
the combining the N number of requests before initiating operations to attend to the N number of requests includes combining the N number of add requests to the value in the row stored in the database system; and
the executing the reduced number of operations includes executing the operation of adding to the value in the row stored in the database system for the N number of add requests in less than N transactions.
5. A method of using one or more combinators in managing a database system comprising:
at the database system having one or more nodes comprising one or more processors and memory, the memory of the one or more nodes storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more programs includes a set combinator;
receiving a set of values corresponding to an N number of processes from one or more nodes of the database system;
combining the N number of processes before initiating set operations to set the values into a table stored in a database storage of the database system;
reducing the number of set operations to set the values of the N number of processes; and
executing the reduced number of set operations.
6. A method of operating a search engine comprising:
at search engine that utilizes a swarm database system, wherein the search engine includes one or more processors and memory, storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, and the one or more programs including one or more combinators;
receiving an N number of service tasks;
combining the N number of service tasks before initiating operations to attend to the N number of service tasks;
reducing the number of operations to attend to the N number of service tasks; and
executing the reduced number of operations to attend to the N number of service tasks.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving an N number of service tasks include receiving a search query from a search engine user.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein service tasks includes ranking data items by a ranking combinator, wherein the ranking combinator ranks a plurality of data items and maintains the top N number of the plurality of data items.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein service tasks include maintaining one or more log files by one or more combinators, the one or more log files including collecting data on number of webpage hits and generating summary information of webpages.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein maintaining one or more log files by one or more combinators include one or more append combinators, wherein the one or more append combinators append lines of text to an existing set of lines of text,
11. The method of claim 9, wherein maintaining one or more log files by one or more combinators include one or more comb_add combinators, wherein the one or more comb-add combinators is configured to count a number of items and combine the count to existing data.
12. The method of claim 6, wherein service tasks include detecting email spam using one or more spam combinators, wherein the one or more spam combinators compute a set of signatures based on email headers and content, and check whether the same signatures are present in a large number of emails to a large number of people.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising utilizing a logcount combinator, wherein the logcount combinator counts how many of the large number of people have received the same signature, and determines the signature to be spam when a predetermined large count value is met.
14. The method of claim 6, wherein the N number of service tasks include crawling URLs in a webpage by one or more logcount combinators, wherein the logcount combinators count unique items of a plurality of categories of items.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of categories of items include a subset of a group consisting of levels of geographic locations, GeoIP addresses, class C IP networks of referring domains, anchortext of incoming links, advertisements, shopping web pages, and facets.

1. A device for use in delivering therapeutic treatment energy to a plurality of nerve locations via a corresponding plurality of probes, each probe including an uninsulated tip portion having a temperature sensor, the device comprising:
a plurality of electrode outputs;
a user interface for selecting a user-settable temperature associated with any of the electrode outputs;
a feedback circuit coupled to the plurality of electrode outputs and the user interface, the feedback circuit comprising:
at least one set temperature input to receive a user-settable temperature from the user interface; and
a plurality of temperature report inputs to receive temperature information from a corresponding plurality of temperature sensors,

wherein the feedback circuit regulates energy delivery to each of the plurality of electrode outputs, so as to simultaneously maintain the user-settable temperature associated with each of the electrode outputs.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the feedback circuit comprises a comparison circuit that compares the user-settable temperature to the temperature information from at least one of the temperature sensors.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the feedback circuit comprises a plurality of comparison circuits that compare the user-settable temperature to the temperature information from a corresponding plurality of temperature sensors.
4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising an energy source operably coupled to the plurality of electrode outputs via the feedback circuit.
5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the energy source is a source of RF energy.
6. A device according to claim 4 further comprising an input for receiving RF energy from an external source.
7. A device according to claim 1, the device further comprising a two-dimensional graphics panel capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs.
8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the graphics panel is capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs versus time.
9. A device for use in delivering therapeutic treatment energy from an energy source to a plurality of nerve locations via a corresponding plurality of probes, each probe including an uninsulated tip portion having a temperature sensor, the device comprising:
a plurality of electrode outputs;
a user interface for selecting a user-settable temperature associated with any of the electrode outputs;
a corresponding plurality of feedback circuits coupled to the plurality of electrode outputs, the energy source, and the user interface, each feedback circuit comprising:
a set temperature input to receive the user-settable temperature from the user interface; and
a temperature report input to receive temperature information from an associated temperature sensor,

wherein the feedback circuits regulate energy delivery from the energy source to each of the plurality of electrode outputs, so as to simultaneously maintain the user-settable temperature associated with each of the electrode outputs.
10. A device according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of feedback circuits comprises a comparison circuit that compares the user-settable temperature to the temperature information from the associated temperature sensor.
11. A device according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of feedback circuits comprises a comparison circuit that continuously compares the user-settable temperature to the temperature information from the associated temperature sensor.
12. A device according to claim 9, further comprising an energy source operably coupled to the plurality of electrode outputs via the corresponding plurality of feedback circuits.
13. A device according to claim 9 wherein the energy source is a source of RF energy.
14. A device according to claim 12 further comprising an input for receiving RF energy from an external source.
15. A device according to claim 9, the device further comprising a two-dimensional graphics panel capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs.
16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the graphics panel is capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs versus time.
17. A method of performing nerve modification procedures on a plurality of nerves using radio frequency energy, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of probes, each probe comprising an insulated portion and an uninsulated electrode tip portion, and a temperature sensor in the electrode tip portion;
monitoring the temperature at each of the plurality of electrode tip portions, using the corresponding plurality of temperature sensors; and
individually regulating the energy output to each of the plurality of probes so as to simultaneously maintain a predetermined temperature at each of the plurality of electrode tip portions.
18. A method of performing nerve modification procedures on a plurality of nerves according to claim 17, the method further comprising wherein the predetermined temperature is an individual user-settable temperature for each of the electrode tip portions.
19. A method of performing nerve modification procedures on a plurality of nerves according to claim 17, wherein individually regulating the energy output to each of the plurality of probes is performed by a corresponding plurality of feedback circuits.
20. A method of performing nerve modification procedures on a plurality of nerves according to claim 19, further comprising:
providing a user-settable temperature for each of the plurality of probes to the corresponding plurality of feedback circuits; and
providing temperature information to the plurality of feedback circuits from the corresponding plurality of temperature sensors.
21. A device for use in delivering therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations via a corresponding plurality of probes, each probe including an uninsulated tip portion having a temperature sensor, the device comprising:
an RF input for receiving radio frequency energy;
a plurality of electrode outputs operably coupled to the RF input, wherein each of the electrode outputs is separately and individually connectable through an electrical conductor to at least one of the plurality of probes;
a user interface for selecting a user-settable temperature associated with any of the electrode outputs; and
feedback control circuitry to individually regulate energy delivery from the RF input to each of the plurality of electrode outputs, so as to simultaneously maintain the user-settable temperature associated with each of the electrode outputs.
22. A device for use in delivering a therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations according to claim 21, wherein each electrode output is adapted to couple to a corresponding one of the plurality of probes.
23. A device for use in delivering a therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations according to claim 22, wherein each electrode output is adapted to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensor in a probe coupled to the electrode output.
24. A device for use in delivering a therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations according to claim 21, the device further comprising a two-dimensional graphics panel capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs.
25. A device for use in delivering a therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations according to claim 24, wherein the graphics panel is capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs versus time.
26. A system for use in delivering therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations, the system comprising:
a radio frequency energy source having an RF output;
a plurality of separate probes which are not connected to one another, each having an insulated portion and an uninsulated tip portion, the uninsulated tip portion having a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor arranged in the probe so as to provide information regarding temperature of the uninsulated tip portion;
a plurality of electrode outputs coupled to the RF output, wherein each of the electrode outputs is adapted to receive temperature information from and provide radio frequency energy to one of the probes; and
feedback control circuitry to individually regulate energy delivery from the radio frequency energy source to each of the plurality of probes, so as to simultaneously maintain the temperature reported by the temperature sensor of each of the probes.
27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of temperature displays corresponding to the temperature information received at each of the electrode outputs.
28. The system of claim 26, further comprising a user interface for selecting a user-settable temperature individually associated with any of the electrode outputs.
29. The system of claim 26, wherein the feedback control circuitry comprises a plurality of feedback control circuits each corresponding to one of the plurality of electrode outputs.
30. The system of claim 26, further comprising a reference electrode to provide a path for return current from the plurality of probes.

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 for applying a sterile sheath to a medical probe, comprising:
a probe holder comprising an exterior surface having at least one mechanical coupling, and an interior surface capable of supporting said medical probe; and
a sheath shell configured and arranged to mechanically couple to said mechanical coupling on said probe holder, said sheath shell further being coupled to said sterile sheath.
2. The system of claim 1, said interior surface of said probe holder defining an interior volume of said probe holder and being configured and arranged to mechanically support at least a portion of said medical probe.
3. The system of claim 2, said interior volume and said interior surface of said probe holder having an open channel formed therein to allow lateral insertion of said medical probe into said interior volume of the probe holder.
4. The system of claim 1, said probe holder including a first mechanical fastener on said exterior surface, and said sheath shell having a corresponding second mechanical fastener, said first and second mechanical fasteners shaped and sized in a complementary configuration allowing mechanical coupling between said probe holder and said sheath shell.
5. The system of claim 1, said sheath shell formed of a semi-flexible sheet material.
6. The system of claim 5, said sheath shell comprising a multi-sided geometry.
7. The system of claim 6, said multi-sided geometry comprising a multi-folded sheet that can be stored substantially flat prior to deployment and that can be opened and folded along a plurality of pre-formed fold lines to create a plurality of side walls of said sheath shell when deployed.
8. The system of claim 6, said multi-sided geometry comprising a tri-folded geometry.
9. The system of claim 4, said sheath shell further comprising a sterility barrier proximal to said second mechanical fastener.
10. The system of claim 1, said sheath comprising a sterile elongated plastic membrane with a closed end for containing an imaging tip of said medical probe, and an open end couplable to said sheath shell through which said medical probe is introduced into said sheath.
11. A method for applying a sterile sheath to a medical probe, comprising:
securing said medical probe in a probe holder apparatus;
unfolding a folded sheath shell attached to an open end of said sterile sheath;
securing said sheath shell to said probe holder by wrapping said sheath shell about an exterior surface of said probe holder at one end of said sheath shell;
pulling said medical probe from the outside of said sterile sheath at a closed end of said sterile sheath, said closed end of said sheath containing a tip of said medical probe and being opposed to said open end of the sterile sheath;
extending said sheath to its full length with said medical probe therein;
disconnecting said sheath from said sheath shell once the sheath is extended; and
disposing of said sheath shell once said medical probe is enclosed in said sterile sheath.