All The Claims

1-6. (canceled)
7. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a movable handle movable between a first position and a second position for transitioning an end effector assembly between a first state and a second state, the movable handle further movable from the second position to a third position to permit return of the movable handle to the first position; and
a latch assembly, including:
a latch arm having a first end coupled to the movable handle and a second end including at least one engagement member; and
a latch block defining a guide track therein, the guide track configured to receive the at least one engagement member therein, the latch block including:
an engagement portion configured to engage the at least one engagement member upon movement of the movable handle to the second position to latch the movable handle in the second position; and
a plurality of flanges, each flange movable relative to the latch block between a neutral position, wherein the flange is generally co-planar with a surface of the latch block, and a loaded position, wherein the flange extends from the surface of the latch block, at least one of the plurality of flanges configured to move from the neutral position towards the loaded position upon movement of the movable handle from the first position towards the second position and to return to the neutral position once the movable handle has achieved the second position to guide the at least one engagement member into engagement with the engagement portion and to inhibit the movable handle from returning to the first position, at least one of the plurality of flanges configured to move from the neutral position towards the loaded position upon movement of the movable handle from the second position towards the third position and to return to the neutral position once the movable handle has achieved the third position to inhibit the at least one engagement member from re-engaging the engagement portion and to permit the movable handle to return to the first position.
8. The surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the movable handle is coupled to a drive assembly, the movable handle movable from the first position to the second position to translate the drive assembly relative to the end effector assembly to transition the end effector assembly between the first and second states.
9. The surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween.
10. The surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein each flange is coupled to the latch block via a living hinge, each living hinge configured to bias the respective flange towards the neutral position.
11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the at least one engagement member:
is translated along a first flange of the plurality of flanges upon movement of the movable handle from the first position towards the second position to urge the first flange from the neutral position towards the loaded position; and
is positioned beyond the first flange once the movable handle has achieved the second position, allowing the first flange to return to the neutral position to inhibit backtracking of the at least one engagement member.
12. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the at least one engagement member:
is translated along a second flange of the plurality of flanges upon movement of the movable handle from the second position towards the third position to urge the second flange from the neutral position towards the loaded position; and
is positioned beyond the second flange once the movable handle has achieved the third position, allowing the second flange to return to the neutral position to inhibit backtracking of the at least one engagement member.
13-18. (canceled)
19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing;
a handle configured to move proximally and distally relative to the housing to effect movement of an end effector assembly between open and closed positions;
a latch block disposed within the housing and defining a guide track; and
a latch arm coupled to the handle and configured to translate along the guide track upon movement of the handle, the latch block including:
at least one movable flange configured to move from a neutral position to a loaded position to permit translation of the latch arm along the guide track in a first direction and to return to the neutral position to prevent translation of the latch arm along the guide track in a second direction; and
an engagement portion configured to engage the latch arm to prevent distal movement of the handle.
20. The surgical instrument according to claim 19, wherein proximal movement of the handle when the latch arm is engaged by the engagement portion allows subsequent distal movement of the handle.
21. The surgical instrument according to claim 19, wherein the at least one movable flange is generally co-planar with a surface of the latch block when in the neutral position.
22. The surgical instrument according to claim 19, wherein the at least one movable flange extends from a surface of the latch block when in the loaded position.
23. The surgical instrument according to claim 19, wherein the at least one movable flange is biased to the neutral position via a living hinge coupling the at least one movable flange to the latch block.
24. The surgical instrument according to claim 19, wherein the latch block includes a chute disposed distal to the at least one movable flange and configured to receive the latch arm therein.
25. The surgical instrument according to claim 19, wherein the latch arm is configured to translate along the at least one movable flange upon movement of the handle to urge the at least one movable flange from the neutral position toward the loaded position.
26. A latch assembly for latching a handle of a surgical instrument, comprising:
a latch block defining a guide track; and
a latch arm coupled to the handle of the surgical instrument and configured to translate along the guide track upon movement of the handle, the latch block including:
at least one movable flange configured to move from a neutral position to a loaded position to permit translation of the latch arm along the guide track in a first direction and to return to the neutral position to prevent translation of the latch arm along the guide track in a second direction; and
an engagement portion configured to engage the latch arm to prevent movement of the handle.
27. The latch assembly according to claim 26, wherein the at least one movable flange is generally co-planar with a surface of the latch block when in the neutral position.
28. The latch assembly according to claim 26, wherein the at least one movable flange extends from a surface of the latch block when in the loaded position.
29. The latch assembly according to claim 26, wherein the latch arm is configured to move the at least one movable flange from the neutral position to the loaded position upon translation of the latch arm along the at least one movable flange.
30. The latch assembly according to claim 26, wherein the latch arm includes a pair of opposing pegs configured to translate along the guide track upon movement of the handle.

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 operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system for enhancing user goal achievement, said computing system having at least one input device including an audio input device, a storage system, a GPS receiver, a processing subsystem including a food monitoring subsystem and an exercise monitoring subsystem, and an output subsystem, wherein said processing subsystem is operatively coupled to said at least one input device, said storage system, said GPS receiver and said output subsystem, said method of operating said mobile weight and exercise management computing system comprising:
storing, in said storage system, health information about a user including a weight loss-related goal;
receiving, by said food monitoring subsystem, via said at least one input device, data from said user identifying a first food expected to be consumed by said user;
determining, by said food monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food;
associating, by said processing subsystem, a digital value indicative of a health-related color code rating for said first food, where the color code rating is one of a set of colors assigned to foods grouped into a corresponding set of hierarchical health-related food categories, wherein foods having a high nutrient-related rating are grouped in a healthy food category and foods having a nutrient-related rating lower than said high nutrient-related rating are grouped in a less healthy food category, such that said first food can be distinguished by color from a less healthy food in a lower category and from a more healthy food in a higher category;
determining, by said processing system, whether said first food expected to be consumed by the user has an associated color code for a category lower than said healthy food category,
identifying, by said processing subsystem, at least one other food associated with a color code that is in a healthier color code category than said first food, if it is determined that said first food has an associated color code indicative of a category lower than the healthy food category;
receiving, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, data from said user identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user;
determining, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be burned as a result of performing said first exercise; and
communicating to said user, via said output subsystem, 1) at least one of the calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food or the calories expected to be burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise; 2) said first food expected to be consumed by said user together with at least one color code identifying the associated health-related rating of said first food; and 3) if it was determined that the color code of said first food indicated a category lower than the healthy food category, at least one other food that is in a healthier food category than said first food.
2. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, wherein the health related color code rating assigned to foods takes into account said health information about a user.
3. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, further including:
associating, by said processing subsystem, a digital value indicative of a health-related color code rating for said first exercise, where the color code rating is one of a set of colors assigned to exercises grouped into a corresponding set of hierarchical health-related exercise categories, wherein exercises having a high exercise-related rating are grouped in a healthy exercise category and exercises having an exercise-related rating lower than said high exercise-related rating are grouped in a less healthy exercise category, such that said first exercise can be distinguished by color from a less healthy exercise in a lower category and from a more healthy exercise in a higher category;
determining, by said processing system, whether said first exercise expected to be performed by the user has an associated color code for a category lower than said healthy exercise category,
identifying, by said processing subsystem, at least one other exercise associated with a color code that is in a healthier color code category than said first exercise, if it is determined that said first exercise has an associated color code indicative of a category lower than the healthy exercise category; and
communicating to said user, via said output subsystem, if it is determined that said first exercise has an associated color code indicative of a category lower than the healthy exercise category, said at least one other exercise with the color code that is in a healthier color code category than said first exercise.
4. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 3, wherein said health related color code rate assigned to exercises takes into account said health information about said user and wherein said step of identifying, by said processing subsystem, at least one other exercise, utilizes information regarding at least one of a user’s goals or a user’s health issues.
5. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, further including:
inputting by said user, via said at least one input device, a first set of foods constituting a meal;
associating each food that has been input as part of a meal with a digital color code;
determining, by said processing subsystem, whether any of the foods expected to be consumed by the user as part of said meal has an associated color code for a category lower than said healthy food category,
communicating to said user, via said output subsystem, at least one healthier alternative food, if it is determined that a food expected to be consumed as part of said meal has an associated color code indicative of a color code category lower than the healthy food category.
6. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, wherein the step of associating includes:
associating a first color code with said first food identified by said user in said healthy food category, if said first food identified is determined to be one of a small number of top foods having a superior nutrient-related rating; and
associating a different color code if said first food has a nutrient-related rating higher than other foods with a good nutrient-related rating but lower than the superior nutrient-related rating of said top foods.
7. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, further including the step of determining if a weight loss-related goal has been met by said user based at least in part on expected calories consumed andor calories burned, wherein said mobile weight and exercise management computing system includes a processing subsystem having a reward generating subsystem, and wherein said method further includes automatically selecting, by said reward generating subsystem, digital entertainment content to be downloaded to said mobile computing device based on cumulative input data relating to expected calories consumed andor calories burned.
8. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system for enhancing user goal achievement, said computing system having at least one input device including an audio input device, a storage system, a GPS receiver, a processing subsystem including a food monitoring subsystem and an exercise monitoring subsystem, and an output subsystem, wherein said processing subsystem is operatively coupled to said at least one input device, said storage system, said GPS receiver and said output subsystem, said method of operating said mobile weight and exercise management computing system comprising:
storing, in said storage system, health information about a user including the user’s starting weight and the user’s target weight loss-related goal;
generating, by said processing subsystem, a set of timespans including a first timespan covering a first period of time and a second timespan covering a second period of time subsequent to said first period of time, and a corresponding set of intermediate weight loss-related goals, including a first intermediate weight loss-related goal and a second weight loss-related goal, for monitoring progress of the user towards achieving said user’s target weight loss-related goal;
storing, in a first set of storage locations in said storage system, first timespan food and exercise data including said first intermediate weight loss-related goal for said first timespan;
storing, in a second set of storage locations in said storage system, second timespan food and exercise data including said second intermediate weight loss-related goal for said second timespan;
receiving, by said food monitoring subsystem, data identifying a first food expected to be consumed by said user during said first timespan;
determining, by said food monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be consumed by said user and storing data reflecting said calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food in said first set of storage locations;
receiving, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, data identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user during said first timespan;
determining, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be burned by said user, and storing data reflecting said calories expected to be burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise in said first set of storage locations;
receiving, by said processing subsystem, the user’s current weight at the end of the first timespan; and
determining, by said processing subsystem, if the user has met at least one of said first intermediate weight loss-related goal, said second intermediate weight loss-related goal, or said user’s target weight loss-related goal.
9. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including storing in said first set of storage locations data indicative of the user’s performance with respect to achievement of said first intermediate weight loss-related goal using food and exercise data stored in said first set of storage locations, accessing, by said processing subsystem, from said first set of storage locations, data indicative of the user’s performance with respect to achievement of said first intermediate weight loss-related goal, and changing said first intermediate weight loss-related goal depending on said achievement.
10. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including providing feedback to said user, via said output subsystem, relating to the user’s progress towards achieving at least one of said first weight loss-related goal, said second weight loss-related goal, or said third weight loss-related goal.
11. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including maintaining a daily record relating to calories burned during said first timespan.
12. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including maintaining a daily record of calories consumed by said user during said first timespan.
13. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including associating a digital value indicative of a first color code associated with a health-related rating of said first food and a second color code associated with a health-related rating of said first food, wherein said first color code and said second color code respectively relate to the amount of first and second nutrients contained in said first food expected to be consumed by said user.
14. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, wherein the calories expected to be burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise is determined in part based upon device location data generated by said GPS receiver.
15. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, wherein said audio input device includes a microphone and said data identifying said first exercise expected to be performed by said user is generated in part based upon an analysis of speech input provided by said microphone.
16. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, wherein said processing subsystem includes a behavioral subsystem, said method including: generating at least one question relating to at least one of the user’s diet, eating behavior, or health; receiving input from said user in response to said at least one question; and generating recommendations in response to the user’s input.
17. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, wherein said processing subsystem includes a reward generating subsystem, and wherein said method further includes automatically selecting, by said rewards generating subsystem, digital entertainment content to be downloaded to said mobile computing device based on whether at least one of said first intermediate weight loss-related goal, said second intermediate weight loss-related goal or said target weight loss-related goal has been met by said user.
18. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system for enhancing user goal achievement, said computing system having at least one input device including an audio input device, a storage system, a GPS receiver, a processing subsystem including a food monitoring subsystem and an exercise monitoring subsystem, and an output subsystem, wherein said processing subsystem is operatively coupled to said at least one input device, said storage system, said GPS receiver and said output subsystem, said method of operating said mobile weight and exercise management computing system comprising:
storing, in said storage system, health information about a user including a first weight loss-related goal for a first timespan covering a relatively short period of time and a second weight loss-related goal for a second timespan covering a relatively longer period of time than said first timespan;
receiving, by said food monitoring subsystem, data identifying a first food consumed by said user during said first timespan in response to said user identifying said first food;
determining, by said food monitoring subsystem, the calories consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food;
receiving, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, data identifying a first exercise performed by said user during said first timespan in response to said user specifying said first exercise;
determining, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, the calories burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise;
determining, by said processing subsystem, the amount of calories the user may still consume during the time remaining in the first timespan and still meet said first weight loss-related goal, based upon the cumulative calories consumed by the user during said first timespan and the cumulative calories burned by the user during said first timespan; and
communicating to said user, by said output subsystem, said amount of calories said user may still consume during the time remaining in the first timespan and still meet said first weight loss-related goal.
19. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, wherein said first weight loss-related goal is a daily goal for calories for the current day, and said communicating step includes displaying to the user the amount of calories that a user may consume at dinner and still meet said first weight loss-related goal, based upon the calories consumed at breakfast and lunch minus the calories burned as a result of exercise by the user during the current day.
20. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including accessing an ideal weight database to determine an ideal weight for said user; and determining if at least one of said first weight loss-related goal or said second weight loss-related goal has been met, including the step of assessing the progress made by the user towards reaching said ideal weight over multiple timespans.
21. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including providing feedback, via said output subsystem, to the user relating to progress towards achieving each of said first weight loss-related goal and said second weight loss-related goal.
22. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including maintaining in said storage system a daily record of calories burned during said first timespan.
23. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including maintaining in said storage system a daily record of calories consumed by said user during said first timespan.
24. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including associating a digital value indicative of a first color code associated with a health-related rating of said first food and a second color code associated with a health-related rating of said first food, wherein said first color code and said second color code each respectively relate to the amount of first and second nutrients contained in said first food.
25. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including determining calories burned by said user in part based upon device location data generated by said GPS receiver.
26. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, wherein said audio input device includes a microphone and said data identifying said first exercise exercise performed by said user is generated in part based upon an analysis of speech input provided by said microphone.
27. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, wherein processing subsystem includes a behavioral subsystem, said method including: generating at least one question relating to at least one of the user’s diet, eating behavior, or health; receiving input from said user in response to said at least one question; and generating recommendations in response to the user’s input.
28. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including the step of determining if a food or exercise-related goal has been met by said user based at least in part on calories consumed andor calories burned, wherein said processing subsystem includes a reward generating subsystem, and wherein said method further includes automatically selecting, by said rewards generating subsystem, digital entertainment content to be downloaded to said mobile computing device based on cumulative input data relating to calories consumed andor calories burned.
29. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system for enhancing user goal achievement, said computing system having at least one input device including an audio input device, a storage system, a GPS receiver, a processing subsystem including a food monitoring subsystem and an exercise monitoring subsystem, and an output subsystem, wherein said processing subsystem is operatively coupled to said at least one input device, said storage system, said GPS receiver and said output subsystem, said method of operating said mobile weight and exercise management computing system comprising:
storing, in said storage system, health information about a user including a weight loss-related goal;
receiving, by said exercise monitoring subsystem via said at least one input device, data from said user identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user;
determining, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be burned as a result of performing said first exercise;
associating, by said processing subsystem, a digital value indicative of a health-related color code rating for said first exercise, where the color code rating is one of a set of colors assigned to exercises grouped into a corresponding set of hierarchical health-related exercise categories, wherein exercises having a high exercise-related rating are grouped in a healthy exercise category and exercises having an exercise-related rating lower than said high exercise-related rating are grouped in a less healthy exercise category, such that said first exercise can be distinguished by color from a less healthy exercise in a lower category and from a more healthy exercise in a higher category;
determining, by said processing system, whether said first exercise expected to be performed by the user has an associated color code for a category lower than said healthy exercise category,
identifying, by said processing subsystem, at least one other exercise associated with a color code that is in a healthier color code category than said first exercise, if it is determined that said first exercise has an associated color code indicative of a category lower than the healthy exercise category;
receiving, by said food monitoring subsystem, data from said user identifying, via said at least one input device, a first food expected to be consumed by said user;
determining, by said food monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food; and
communicating to said user, via said output subsystem, 1) at least one of the calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food or the calories expected to be burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise; 2) said first exercise expected to be performed by said user together with at least one color code identifying the associated exercise-related rating of said first exercise; and 3) if it was determined that the color code of said first exercise indicated a category lower than the healthy exercise category, at least one other exercise that is in a healthier exercise category than said first exercise.

1. A method for addressing a glitch during an implantation of ions into a workpiece, the method comprising:
providing an ion beam;
determining an ion beam glitch duration threshold, wherein the ion beam glitch duration threshold is based, at least in part, on one or more of a number of translations of the workpiece through an ion beam, a velocity of the translation, and a size of the ion beam;
translating the workpiece through the ion beam along at least a slow scan path, therein implanting ions into the workpiece;
iteratively determining a current of the ion beam at a plurality of predetermined intervals during the translation of the workpiece;
setting a counter to zero when the determined current of the ion beam is greater than a predetermined value;
storing a position of the workpiece when the counter is zero and the determined current of the ion beam is less than the predetermined value, therein defining an onset of a glitch;
incrementing the counter for each iteration that the determined current of the ion beam is less than the predetermined value and the position of the workpiece is stored;
suppressing the ion beam if the counter exceeds the ion beam glitch duration threshold; and
repositioning the workpiece at the stored position, restarting the ion beam, and again translating the workpiece through the ion beam along at least the slow scan path, therein implanting a portion of the workpiece associated with the glitch.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising recalculating the ion beam glitch duration threshold after suppressing the ion beam, wherein the recalculation is based, at least in part, on one fewer translations of the workpiece through the ion beam along the slow scan path.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising halting the ion implantation when the ion beam glitch duration is less than the predetermined minimum.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein predetermined value of the current of the ion beam is approximately 10% of a normal operational ion implantation current.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the ion beam comprises scanning a pencil beam along a fast scan path, wherein the fast scan path is generally perpendicular to the slow scan path.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein iteratively determining the current of the ion beam comprises measuring the current of the ion beam when the ion beam does not intersect the workpiece along a fast scan path.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the current of the ion beam comprises measuring the current of the ion beam via a Faraday cup.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the current of the ion beam comprises measuring one or more properties associated with a source of the ion beam.
9. A method for addressing an ion implantation anomaly, the method comprising:
providing a predetermined glitch duration threshold;
providing an ion beam;
translating a workpiece through the ion beam;
iteratively measuring a current of the ion beam concurrent with the translation;
storing a position of the workpiece when the measured current of the ion beam is less than a predetermined ion beam anomaly current, therein defining an onset of a glitch; and
halting the ion implantation and repairing the ion implantation associated with the glitch only when the measured current of the ion beam is lower than the predetermined ion beam anomaly current for a time greater than the predetermined glitch duration threshold.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising repositioning the workpiece after the ion implantation is halted, wherein the workpiece is at the stored position when the repair of the ion implantation is started.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein translating the workpiece through the ion beam comprises reciprocating the workpiece along a fast scan path and translating the workpiece along a slow scan path, wherein the slow scan path is generally perpendicular to the fast scan path.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein iteratively measuring the current of the ion beam comprises measuring the current at an inflection position associated with a reversal of direction of the workpiece along the fast scan path.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein translating the workpiece through the ion beam comprises reciprocating the ion beam along a fast scan path and translating the workpiece along a slow scan path, wherein the slow scan path is generally perpendicular to the fast scan path.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein iteratively measuring the current of the ion beam comprises measuring the current at an inflection position associated with a reversal of direction of the ion beam along the fast scan path.
15. The method of claim 9, further comprising decreasing the predetermined glitch duration threshold by a predetermined amount each time the ion implantation is halted and repaired.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined amount is associated with a time taken to translate the workpiece along a slow scan path during the ion implantation.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the ion implantation is not repaired once the predetermined glitch duration threshold is less than a predetermined minimum.
18. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined ion beam anomaly current is approximately 10% of a normal operational ion implantation current.
19. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined glitch duration threshold is based, at least in part, on one or more of a number of translations of the workpiece along a slow scan path through the ion beam, a velocity of the translation along the slow scan path, and a size of the ion beam.

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 accessing a subterranean zone from a surface, comprising:
forming an entry well from a surface; and
forming two or more exterior drainage wells from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the exterior drainage wells each extending at least outward from the entry well for a first distance and then at least downward for a second distance, and at least two of the exterior drainage wells operable to drain fluid from the subterranean zone.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising
forming a cavity in at least one of the exterior drainage wells, wherein the cavity intersects a portion of the subterranean zone and is operable to drain fluid from the subterranean zone.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the exterior drainage wells intersect a plurality of subterranean zones.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising
drilling a central drainage well extending downwardly from the entry well in a substantially vertical orientation to the subterranean zone, the central drainage well operable to drain the subterranean zone.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising forming a cavity in the central drainage well, wherein the cavity intersects a portion of the subterranean zone and is operable to drain fluid from the subterranean zone.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a plurality of drainage systems each comprising an entry well and two or more associated exterior drainage wells, the drainage systems located in proximity to one another such that they nest adjacent one another.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
positioning a pump inlet in one or more of the exterior drainage wells; and
pumping fluid produced from the subterranean zone from the pump inlet to the surface.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the exterior drainage wells each extend at least outwardly and downwardly from the entry well for the first distance.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein extending at least outward from the entry well for a first distance comprises extending outward and downward from the entry well for a first distance.
11. A method for accessing a plurality of subterranean zones from a surface, comprising:
forming an entry well from the surface; and
forming two or more exterior drainage wells from the entry well through the plurality of subterranean zones, wherein at least one exterior drainage well is operable to drain fluid from at least two of the plurality of subterranean zones.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a cavity proximate an intersection of one or more of the exterior drainage wells and one or more of the subterranean zones.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising drilling a central drainage well extending downwardly from the entry well in a substantially vertical orientation through the subterranean zones, the central drainage well operable to drain one or more of the subterranean zones.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the central drainage well comprises a larger diameter than the exterior drainage wells.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising forming a cavity in the central drainage well.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of one exterior drainage well extends downward.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein each exterior drainage well is operable to drain fluid from the plurality of subterranean zones.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a plurality of drainage systems each comprising an entry well and two or more associated exterior drainage wells, the drainage systems located in proximity to one another such that they nest adjacent one another.
20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
positioning a pump inlet in one or more of the exterior drainage wells; and
pumping fluid produced from the plurality of subterranean zones from the pump inlet to the surface.