Abstract: A tinted contact lens for insertion into an eye comprises a contact lens substrate and an iris-simulating pattern on the lens substrate. The iris simulating pattern comprises at least four distinctly colored colorants. A method for making a tinted contact lens for insertion into an eye comprises providing a plate having a surface, and lasing the plate to form at least one depression in the surface of the plate. The depression is of a shape constituting an iris portion pattern. A fluent colorant is introduced into the depression. The colorant is then transferred from the depression to a lens substrate in a manner so that the colorant colors the lens substrate in a colorant pattern of substantially the same shape as the iris portion pattern of the depression.

Abstract: Agents for treating pain, methods for producing the agents and methods for treating pain by administration to a patient of a therapeutically effective amount of the agent are disclosed. The agent may include a clostridial neurotoxin, a fragment or a derivative thereof, attached to a targeting component, wherein the targeting component is selected from a group consisting of compounds which selectively binds at the alpha-2B or alpha-2B/alpha-2C adrenergic receptor subtype(s) as compared to other binding sites, for example, the alpha-2A adrenergic receptor subtype.

Abstract: Metal oxyanion coated substrates are disclosed comprising a three dimensional inorganic porous substrate having a coating of metal oxyanion on at least a portion of all three dimensions thereof, produced by a unique process having particular applicability to the manufacture of metal oxysulfide, oxycarbide and oxynitride coated three dimensional substrates. Certain novel coated substrates, such as diatomite porous substrates are disclosed. The coated substrates are useful in polymers, catalysis, heat dissipation and shielding applications.

Abstract: Contact lenses for use in eyes are provided and include a lens body and a plurality of radially extending microchannels defined in the posterior face of the lens body. In one embodiment, the microchannels are sized and adapted to promote effective tear fluid exchange between an exposed surface of the eye and a surface of the eye covered by the lens body without substantially interfering with the optical zone function of the lens body.

Abstract: A battery element of a lead acid battery including a negative plate, a positive plate and a separator having a micronized metal inhibiting additive associated with the negative plate that reduces the detrimental effects of at least one cation metal impurity on the negative plate.

Abstract: A battery element of a lead acid battery including a negative plate, a positive plate and a fiber mat separator having a micronized metal inhibiting additive associated with the fiber mat that reduces the detrimental effects of at least one cation metal impurity on the negative plate.

Abstract: A filter media having a micronized ion exchange additive associated with the filter media. Further, the filter media can have the micronized additive associated with the filter media through a charged linking polymer.

Abstract: Methods for measuring retinal damage resulting from an injury include calculating the slope of retinal thickness from the injury site to the periphery of the site. A shallower slope of retinal thickness correlates with a greater degree of damage resulting from the injury. The methods may also be useful to screen pharmaceuticals for potential neuroprotective effects against retinal injuries.

Abstract: Three dimensional inorganic powder substrates, with shielded surfaces, having metal oxyanion containing coatings are disclosed. The coated substrates are produced by the process comprising reacting powder particle substrates with a metal oxyanion precursor, an anion forming precursor and an oxy precursor reactant mixture at fast reaction and elevated temperature reaction conditions to form a substrate containing a metal oxyanion coating on at least a portion of the three dimensions and shielded surfaces of the substrate. The coated substrates are useful in polymers, catalysis, heat dissipation and shielding applications.

Abstract: Methods of cast molding toric contact lenses are provided including the steps of providing a first contact lens mold section; providing a molding apparatus and an insert tool adapted to be fixed to the molding apparatus at a plurality of different rotational orientations relative to the molding apparatus; fixing, at one of a plurality of different rotational orientations relative to the molding apparatus, the insert tool in a molding apparatus and producing a second mold section in the molding apparatus with the insert tool fixed thereto, wherein the second mold section includes a contour which corresponds to a toric optical zone of a contact lens; assembling the first and second mold sections; and cast molding a toric contact lens product between the mold sections. Sets of mold sections useful for molding toric contact lenses as provided.

Abstract: Compositions including a liquid medium, a cyclodextrin component and a preservative component which has a reduced tendency to being complexed with the cyclodextrin component. In one embodiment, the preservative component is a chlorite component. Active components, such as pharmaceutically active components or drugs, preferably are included in the compositions.

Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses, such as intraocular lenses, include cross-linked polymeric materials having a first constituent derived from a first monomeric component selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates and mixtures thereof, and a second constituent derived from a second component in an amount effective as a cross linker in the cross-linked polymeric material. The cross-linked polymeric material has branched chain alkyl groups, preferably included with at least a portion of the first monomeric component, in an amount effective to reduce the tackiness of the cross-linked polymeric material relative to a substantially identical cross-linked polymeric material without the branched chain alkyl groups.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for purifying the water in spas or hot tubs are provided. Such apparatus include an ozone generator sized and adapted to purify the water in a spa or jetted tub, the ozone generator including a chip electrode assembly adapted to produce ozone from air using an electric discharge, a housing structured to permit visual inspection of the chip electrode in the housing, a power supply assembly, and a transfer assembly cooperating with said ozone generator to pass ozone produced by the ozone generator to the water in the spa or jetted tub. The chip electrode assembly is removably secured to and separately enclosed from the power supply assembly and is adapted to be easily, manually replaceable.

Abstract: Compositions useful for improving effectiveness of alpha-2-adrenergic agonist components include carrier components, alpha-2-adrenergic agonist components, solubility enhancing components which aid in solubilizing the alpha-2-adrenergic agonist components. In one embodiment, the alpha-2-adrenergic agonist components include alpha-2-adrenergic agonists. In another embodiment, the solubility enhancing components include carboxymethylcellulose.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing tissue and/or other material from a patient, particularly a breast of a patient, is provided. The apparatus generally includes a handpiece and a tissue removal mechanism connected thereto. The tissue removal mechanism includes a cannula having an open distal tip and an outer diameter of less than about 5 mm, or less than about 2 mm. The mechanism further includes a rotatable element having a distal portion with helical threading. The distal portion of the rotatable element extends beyond the open distal tip of the cannula in order to allow tissue to prolapse between turns of the helical threading. The apparatus is designed to draw soft tissue into the cannula upon rotation of the rotatable element and without the need for supplemental sources of aspiration.

Abstract: The present invention is an advanced co-generation system for abating solid wastes, hydrocarbons and other volatile organic compounds (VOC's) produced by various processes utilizing a Stirling cycle engine, turbines or other internal combustion engines doing useful work. The turbine exhaust is directed into an abatement chamber which may include a catalyst that is designed to operate at high temperature and includes supplementary fuel and air inputs which are controlled by a computer that receives sensor inputs to achieve the requisite heat ranges necessary to convert exhaust and VOC's to non-toxic substances. The exhaust generated by the abatement chamber is directed to a Stirling cycle engine for additional heat generation and recovery. The exhaust generated from this process can also be used to perform direct or indirect heating.

Abstract: A foldable intraocular lens for implantation in the eye includes an optic made of a highly pliable material and a pair of fixation members made of a material that is flexible, but more rigid than the optic. The fixation members are integral with a cantilevered arm that extends radially outward from the optic. Each fixation member includes a proximal end at the outer end of the cantilevered arm, a distal end, and a flex portion intermediate the proximal and distal ends. The flex portions of the two fixation member extend generally away from one other adjacent their respective proximal ends on diametrically-opposed sides of the optic.

Abstract: A system for inhibiting a wheeled, personal mobility unit, such as skateboards and in-line skates, from sliding along a surface having two or more surface portions oriented at mutually different angles has at least one part having a contact surface that generally complements the two or more surface portions of the surface. The part also has a body extending from the contact surface and terminating at an exposed surface. The part may have hinges to enable the part to bend and conform to complement the surface. The part may have three dimensional features extending from the contact surface for increased adhesive contact area relative to a flat contact surface. The part is anchored to the surface by way of offset fastening members extending from the contact surface and into a substrate of the surface.