Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a catheter manipulation handle with user interface controls for steering a catheter in situ while providing an augmented (e.g., motorized, powered and tunable precision steering, and perforation safeguards) control and feedback user experience. In an illustrative example, the catheter manipulation handle may provide motor assisted operation to automatically rotate and/or deflect a distal tip of the catheter to steer and guide the distal tip to a target location in the patient's vasculature system. The augmented feedback may include, for example, haptic feedback via the handle. Haptic, audible, and/or visual feedback via the handle may indicate, for example, proximity or engagement of the distal tip with sensitive tissue. In some examples, the handle's augmented operation may advantageously amplify feedback signals to enhance the user's perception of the patient's safety with respect to the safe passage of the distal tip through the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: An interactive toy in which a supercompressed sponge novelty item in an internal chamber expands or pops open a pop-open door when significant water is intoduced into the chamber. There is a water receiving device for water entry, which is connected to the interanl chamber so as to trigger a surprise expansion of the supercompressed sponge novelty items in the chamber. The supercompressed sponge novelty item, or plurality of novelty items positioned together or separately, expand to interesting size or pop open the door when the expansion becomes sufficient. The interactive toy may be in various forms, including a cookstove embodiment with expandible food novelty items including bread, rolls, cake, etc. or nonexpandible items such as a roast. Another form may be a guts-gushing monster with a belly chamber full of expandible entrail novelty items. Another form is a race car.

Abstract: The squirt book has a squirt pump mounted within it, preferably in the back cover. The covers and pages of the squirt book are equipped with recesses and are sealed against water leakage. The print text and picture illustration are waterproof. The covers and pages are preferably filled with a lightweight fill so as to provide floatation, stiffness and bulk. The recesses are aligned, at least partially, so as to permit a squirt of water to pass from the back cover through any or all pages, without hindrance. The back cover encloses a pump chamber for the squirt pump, which pump has a squirt nozzle and fill valve for automatic or manual refilling. In operation, the child takes the squirt book into the tubful of bath water and reads (or pretends to read). After turning the page to the elephant, for example, the child may squeal and squeeze the book, pretending to be an elephant spraying water from its trunk. Or a whale. Or a fire hose. Or a skunk. Baths can be fun--and educational.

Abstract: A novelty soap bar surrounds a supercompressed sponge novelty item which pops out when significant use of the soap provides a path for water entry which triggers a surprise expansion of the supercompressed sponge novelty. The supercompressed sponge novelty item, or plurality of novelty items positioned together or separately, pops out when the enclosing soap shell becomes sufficiently thin to permit moisture to enter and expand the supercompressed sponge novelty item. The supercompressed sponge novelty item is encapsulated in a slow-soluble or non-soluble soft easily-abradable encapsulent to prevent moisture from expanding the novelty item during manufacture or shelf life.