Author: claimsbot

1. A system to monitor andor manage the logistics and transportation of equipment andor inventory, the system comprising a web server tier, an application server tier and a database tier that employ real time tracking, vendor consolidation and reporting capabilities in a single secure web interface.
2. A method of monitoring andor managing the logistics and transportation of equipment andor inventory from origin to destination and final placement by using the system of claim 1.

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 device comprising:
wireless power receive circuitry to generate power from a received wireless power signal;
a first wireless power transceiver configured to communicate, via a control channel, with a second wireless power transceiver included in a wireless power transmission unit;
a processing module coupled to the wireless power receive circuitry and the first wireless power transceiver, the processing module configured to:
identify a control channel protocol usable by the second wireless power transceiver; and
control the first wireless power transceiver to use the control channel protocol.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
the processing module further configured to select the control channel protocol from among a plurality of control channel protocols usable by the first wireless power transceiver.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
the processing module further configured to select the control channel protocol based on a beacon signal.
4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
the processing module further configured to select the control channel protocol based on a setup communication received using a default control channel protocol.
5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
the processing module further configured to select the control channel protocol based on scanning a frequency spectrum.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
the processing module further configured to select the control channel protocol based on trial and error using known control channel protocols.
7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
the first wireless transceiver configured to transmit, via the control channel, control data indicating power transmission parameters to be used by the wireless power transmission unit.
8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a battery coupled to an output of the wireless power receive circuit.
9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a battery coupled to an output of the wireless power receive circuit.
10. A wireless charging system including a wireless power receiving unit, the wireless power receiving unit comprising:
a first wireless power transceiver to receive and transmit data related to wireless transmission parameters over a control channel;
wireless power receive circuitry to generate power from a received wireless power signal;
a first processing module coupled to the first wireless power transceiver and the wireless power receive circuitry; and
the first wireless power transceiver configurable, under control of the first processing module, to communicate with a second wireless power transceiver using multiple different control channel protocols.
11. The wireless charging system of claim 10, further comprising a wireless power transmission unit, the wireless power transmission unit comprising:
a second wireless power transceiver;
power transmission circuitry; and
a second processing module coupled to the second wireless power transceiver and the power transmission circuitry, the processing module configured to control power transmissions based on communications received via the second wireless power transceiver.
12. The wireless charging system of claim 11, the first processing module further configured to:
identify a control channel protocol usable by the second wireless power transceiver; and
control the first wireless power transceiver to use the control channel protocol.
13. The wireless charging system of claim 12, the first processing module further configured to select the control channel protocol based on at least one of the following:
a setup communication received using a default control channel protocol;
a beacon signal;
scanning a frequency spectrum;
trial and error using known control channel protocols; and
information obtained from an RFID tag.
14. The wireless charging system of claim 10, further comprising:
the first wireless power transceiver configured to transmit, via the control channel, control data indicating power transmission parameters to be used by a wireless power transmission unit.
15. The wireless charging system of claim 10, further comprising:
the first wireless power transceiver configurable to communicate with a plurality of other wireless power transceivers using a plurality of different control channel protocols.
16. The wireless charging system of claim 10, wherein the wireless power receiving unit further comprising:
a battery coupled to an output of the wireless power receive circuitry.
17. The wireless charging system of claim 10, wherein:
the second processing module is configured to control power transmission based on battery charging parameters associated with the wireless power receiving unit.
18. A wireless charging device comprising:
an RFID circuit;
a first wireless power transceiver to receive and transmit data related to wireless transmission parameters over a control channel;
wireless power receive circuitry to generate power from a received wireless power signal;
a processing module coupled to the first wireless power transceiver and the wireless power receive circuitry; and
the first wireless power transceiver configurable, under control of the first processing module, to communicate with a second wireless power transceiver using multiple different control channel protocols.
19. The wireless charging device of claim 18, wherein the first processing module further configured to:
identify a control channel protocol usable by the second wireless power transceiver; and
control the first wireless power transceiver to use the control channel protocol.
20. The wireless charging device of claim 18, wherein the processing module configures the first wireless power transceiver to communicate with a plurality of other wireless power transceivers using a plurality of different control channel protocols.

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical apparatus for thermal or electromagnetic treatment of tissue, which comprises:
an elongated thermal probe member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis, the probe member having a guidable region adjacent the distal end, the guidable region having an undulating groove defined in an outer surface thereof and being dimensioned to facilitate bending of the guidable region in at least one radial direction of movement relative to the longitudinal axis, the thermal probe being adapted for connection to a thermal energy source to provide thermal energy to tissue.
2. The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the guidable region includes a plurality of undulating grooves, adjacent undulating grooves being longitudinally spaced with respect to each other.
3. The surgical apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the undulating grooves each define a sinusoidal configuration.
4. The surgical apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the guidable region includes a longitudinally extending backbone, the backbone being devoid of the undulating grooves and being dimensioned to resist bending of the guidable region in a radial direction of movement.
5. The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one undulating groove is arranged about an undulating axis extending in oblique relation to the longitudinal axis.
6. The surgical apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the probe member defines an internal lumen, the undulating grooves extending to communicate with the internal lumen.
7. The surgical apparatus according to claim 2 including a cannula to facilitate introduction of the thermal probe into the intervertebral disc, the cannula defining a lumen to receive the thermal probe, the thermal probe being advanceable within the lumen.
8. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the cannula includes an arcuate end portion, the arcuate end portion dimensioned to arrange the guidable region of the thermal probe t a desired orientation within the annulus fibrosis.
9. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the cannula defines a penetrating distal end dimensioned to penetrate the intervertebral disc.
10. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the cannula includes an index marker adjacent a proximal end thereof to indicate a direction of the arcuate end portion.
11. The apparatus according to claim 4, further including impedance measuring means associated with the cannula to monitor the impedance of tissue adjacent a distal end of the cannula to provide an indication relating to tissue condition or type.
12. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the impedance measuring means includes a stylet positionable within a lumen of the cannula.
13. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the thermal transmitting element is a resistive heating element.
14. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the thermal transmitting element is a radio-frequency electrode.
15. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the thermal transmitting element is a microwave antenna.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the thermal transmitting element is a laser transmitting member.
17. The apparatus according to claim 1 including temperature sensing means for sensing temperature of tissue during application of thermal energy.
18. A surgical apparatus for thermal or electromagnetic treatment of tissue, which comprises:
an elongated probe member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis, the probe member including an internal lumen and having a guidable region adjacent the distal end, the guidable region having a plurality of annular groove portions defined in an outer wall thereof in communication with the internal lumen and being dimensioned to facilitate bending of the guidable region in a plurality of radial directions of movement relative to the longitudinal axis, the thermal probe being adapted for connection to a thermal energy source to provide thermal energy to tissue.
19. A method for relieving pain associated with an intervertebral disc having a disc nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus fibrosis surrounding the nucleus pulposus, comprising:
providing an elongated thermal probe member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis, and having a flexible guidable region adjacent the distal end, the guidable region having a plurality of spaced undulating grooves defined in an outer surface thereof;
introducing the flexible guidable region of the thermal probe into the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral whereby the flexible guidable region bends adjacent the undulating grooves to follow a generally arcuate path through the annulus fibrosis without entering the nucleus pulposus; and
supplying thermal or electromagnetic energy from an energy source to heat or induce an electromagnetic field adjacent the annulus fibrosis sufficiently to relieve pain associated with the intervertebral disc.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the step of introducing includes positioning a thermal transmitting element of the probe adjacent at least one of a posterior section, lateral section and posterior-lateral section of the annulus fibrosis.
21. The method according to claim 20, including the step of accessing the annulus fibrosis from a posterior-lateral section of the intervertebral disc.
22. The method according to claim 21 further including the step of positioning a cannula adjacent the intervertebral disc and passing the thermal probe through a lumen of the cannula into the outer annulus fibrosis.
23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the cannula includes an arcuate portion adjacent a distal end thereof and wherein, during the step of introducing the thermal probe, the arcuate cannula portion guides the flexible probe portion along the path through the annulus fibrosis.
24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the step of positioning includes at least partially introducing the distal end of the cannula into the annulus fibrosis.
25. The method according to claim 24 further including the step of angulating the arcuate portion to a desired orientation within the annulus fibrosis.
26. The method according to claim 20 including the step of monitoring impedance of tissue to detect variations in tissue-type to thereby facilitate positioning of the thermal transmitting element in the annular fibrosis.

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 photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:
a substrate; and
a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the pixels includes:
a photoelectric conversion element arranged on the substrate,
a transistor arranged on the substrate for transferring a signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element, and
a plurality of transistors arranged on the substrate for reading out the signal charge transferred, wherein
the plurality of pixels include first and second photoelectric conversion elements adjacent to each other,
a first semiconductor region having a first conductivity type, such that the signal charge is a minority carrier, is arranged between the first and second photoelectric conversion elements, and

a second semiconductor region having the first conductivity type and having a width larger than that of the first semiconductor region is arranged in a region in which the plurality of transistors for reading out the signal charge transferred are arranged.
2-5. (canceled)