Blockchain environments may mix-and-match different encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes when mining blockchain transactions. Each encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work scheme may be separate, stand-alone programs, files, or third-party services. Blockchain miners may be agnostic to a particular coin's or network's encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes, thus allowing any blockchain miner to process or mine data in multiple blockchains. GPUs, ASICs, and other specialized processing hardware components may be deterred by forcing cache misses, cache latencies, and processor stalls. Hashing, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes require less programming code, consume less storage space/usage in bytes, and execute faster. Blockchain mining schemes may further randomize byte or memory block access, further improve cryptographic security.

A system for performing minimally invasive procedures in a working space within a body lumen of a patient including a flexible catheter configured to receive a working instrument therethrough. The flexible catheter has a working space expanding system positioned at the distal portion, the working space expanding system including first and second flexible elements movable from a non-expanded insertion position to an expanded position forming an expanded region to expand the working space within the body. The first and second flexible elements are connected at a distal region by a coupling structure. A stabilizing member stabilizes the distal portion of the flexible catheter.

A system is described herein. The system includes a smart nasogastric tube and a computing device. A distal end of the smart nasogastric tube is received by an internal area of a patient and includes a tip, a non-heating light source, and a camera. The tip includes a plurality of side holes or slots used for suctioning and an offset diagonal funneled slot proximate the camera used to pass a sponge brush under direct visualization. The camera is configured to capture a high definition and color video of the internal area of the patient and transmit the video to an application of a computing device. The smart nasogastric tube also includes a central tube for suctioning, feeding or lavage with a proximal port. The application of the computing device receives the video from the camera such that a healthcare professional can view the video in real-time. The video may further be transmitted to a third-party via a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) compliant message or live video stream. The smart nasogastric tube may be presented to patients in many points of implementation, such as emergency departments, urgent care centers, a family practitioners officer, or a medical ward.

A cannulation method includes inserting an endoscope into a duodenum, bringing a distal end section of the endoscope to a position where a duodenal papilla is within a field of view of the endoscope, promoting secretion of pancreatic juice or bile by administering a drainage stimulant, determining an amount of relaxation of the duodenal papilla, and performing cannulation into a biliary duct through the duodenal papilla where the amount of relaxation is greater than a predetermined amount.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

An access system includes a proximal handle, an overtube coupled to the handle, and an endoscope port extending through handle and overtube sized for receiving an endoscope therethrough. The overtube includes anatomic wall securing system that secures a distal portion of the overtube within a hole in the anatomic wall. The overtube is provided with a shaped distal portion or a controllably shapeable distal portion that aids in directing an endoscope inserted through the port to a particular location within the peritoneal cavity. The access system includes a system for insufflating/deflating the peritoneal space separately from the body cavity accessible via a natural orifice. The access system includes a closure system to cinch closed the hole made in the anatomical wall after the access system has been removed from the hole. Methods are provided for inserting the access system through the anatomical wall to perform intra-abdominal surgery.

A feeding tube device for postpyloric feeding that comprises a bendable feeding tube having a proximal end, a central portion and, and a distal end and a delivery lumen therealong for conducting a digestible substance therethrough, an imaging unit having an image sensor mounted on a tip of the distal end to image an imaging space thereinfront, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the distal end in relation to the central portion. The distal end has at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening therealong for delivering the digestible substance therethrough, the at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening are laid out so that when the tilting mechanism tilts the distal end the at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening narrows.

A manually articulated stylet assembly for placing an endotracheal tube. The stylet assembly has a steering shaft that carries a flexible distal tip at one end and is attached to a handle at the other end. The distal tip is manipulated via sheathed cables controlled by a remote actuator in the handle. A biasing member inside the remote actuator maintains continuous tension on the cables to improve control. A video camera is carried in a recessed lens pocket in the steering shaft but spaced from the distal tip. The camera FOV captures movement of the distal tip with foreshortened perspective. A collar seat in the handle receives the collar connector of a standard endotracheal tube, providing quick disconnect when removing the stylet assembly upon placement.

A temporary tube placement system includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a camera supported by the tube at the distal end, a plurality of fiber optic filaments through which light from a light source travels from the proximal end to the distal end, a screen for displaying images from the camera, and a power source electrically attached to the camera and the light source. The enteral tube includes a tube having a distal end portion for placement within a patient and a proximal end portion and a lumen increasing in cross section from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion along at least a portion of the tube.

An apparatus includes a first shaft extending distally from a proximal end to a distal end. The first shaft is sized to fit within an esophagus of a patient. The first shaft includes a first shaft lumen extending distally to the distal end. The apparatus further includes a second shaft slidably positioned within the first shaft lumen. The second shaft is sized to fit within the shaft lumen and extend through the transverse bore. The second shaft is configured to receive a guide element and a sphincter augmentation device so that the sphincter augmentation device may be deployed through an interior of the esophagus to an exterior of the esophagus.