Abstract: An improved heating pad which minimizes or eliminates skin burns due to improper uses in one or more of several ways: by monitoring a total electric power input or output of the heating pad; by monitoring an absolute temperature of each surface of the heating pad; by monitoring a temperature difference between each surface of the heating pad, where a small temperature difference indicates that both sides of the heating pad are covered; and/or by monitoring the duty cycle of a heating element, where a large off portion of the duty cycle indicates both sides of the heating pad are covered.

Abstract: An improved heating pad which minimizes or eliminates skin burns due to improper uses in one or more of several ways: by monitoring a total electric power input or output of the heating pad; by monitoring an absolute temperature of each surface of the heating pad; by monitoring a temperature difference between each surface of the heating pad, where a small temperature difference indicates that both sides of the heating pad are covered; and/or by monitoring the duty cycle of a heating element, where a large off portion of the duty cycle indicates both sides of the heating pad are covered.

Abstract: An improved heating pad which minimizes or eliminates skin burns due to improper uses in one or more of several ways: by monitoring a total electric power input or output of the heating pad; by monitoring an absolute temperature of each surface of the heating pad; by monitoring a temperature difference between each surface of the heating pad, where a small temperature difference indicates that both sides of the heating pad are covered; and/or by monitoring the duty cycle of a heating element, where a large off portion of the duty cycle indicates both sides of the heating pad are covered.

Abstract: An improved heating pad which minimizes or eliminates skin burns due to improper uses in three ways: by monitoring an absolute temperature of each surface of the heating pad; by monitoring a temperature difference between each surface of the heating pad, where a small temperature difference indicates that both sides of the heating pad are covered; and by monitoring the duty cycle of a heating element, where a large off portion of the duty cycle indicates both sides of the heating pad are covered.

Abstract: An improved heating pad which minimizes or eliminates skin burns due to improper uses in three ways: by monitoring an absolute temperature of each surface of the heating pad; by monitoring a temperature difference between each surface of the heating pad, where a small temperature difference indicates that both sides of the heating pad are covered; and by monitoring the duty cycle of a heating element, where a large off portion of the duty cycle indicates both sides of the heating pad are covered.

Abstract: A sharps disposal container comprising a container including a cover having an opening formed therein for receiving sharps. An emitter and detector are mounted on the container with the emitter being oriented for projecting a beam toward the container. Reflectors are positioned in the container for receiving the beam from the emitter, projecting the beam across the container and from side to side at a predetermined level and for projecting the beam to the detector. An indicator or alarm is connected to the detector for providing an indication when the level of sharps in the container is sufficient to interrupt the beam. The indicator may include a counter for counting the number of sharps placed in the container.