Abstract: Apparatus for providing an electrical system with protection against electrical shock in the event of a ground fault. The electrical system supplies power from a central mains inlet to at least one local electrical device. The central mains inlet includes a central ground fault detector and interrupter actuatable upon detection of a first predetermined level of current imbalance to interrupt the central mains inlet. A local ground fault detector is associated with the at least one local electrical device and is actuatable upon detecting a current imbalance of a second predetermined level which is lower than the first predetermined level. Controls are effective upon actuation of the local ground fault interrupter to actuate the central ground fault detector to cause it to interrupt the central mains inlet.

Abstract: An intraocular insert for implantation in the interior of a human eye, characterized in that the insert includes a positive lens to face the anterior side of the eye, and a negative lens in alignment with and spaced behind the positive lens to face the posterior side of the eye.

Abstract: A transcutaneous iontophoretic drug applicator, which includes an array of reservoirs which are electrically insulated from one another, some of which contain the drug to be administered. The applicator further includes a partially electrically conducting layer, preferably formed of two portions, each segments corresponding to an electrode, which overlies and contacts the reservoirs, and electrodes which overly and contact the partially electrically conducting layer. An electrical power source supplies power to the electrodes and causes the drug to be pushed out of the reservoirs and into the skin. The applicator is designed to keep the local current flux below threshold irritation and burn levels regardless of variations in electrical skin resistance.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery device includes anode and cathode electrodes supported on a base member in spaced relation to each other to define a gap therebetween, a gel containing a liquid drug to be delivered covering the gap and in contact with both of the electrodes, and a liquid permeable sheet covering the gel containing the liquid to be delivered.

Abstract: An intraocular insert for implantation in the interior of a human eye, characterized in that the insert includes a converging lens to face the anterior side of the eye, and a diverging lens in alignment with and spaced behind the converging lens to face the posterior side of the eye.

Abstract: A medication administering device includes a housing introducible into a body cavity and of a material insoluble in the body cavity fluids, but formed with an opening covered by a material which is soluble in body cavity fluids. A diaphragm divides the interior of the housing into a medication chamber including the opening, and a control chamber. An electrolytic cell in the control chamber generates a gas when electrical current is passed therethrough to deliver medication from the medication chamber through the opening into the body cavity at a rate controlled by the electrical current.

Abstract: A dental flosser unit for flossing teeth includes a filament of high tensile strength terminating in thickened portions at its opposite ends. In the same described embodiments, each thickened end portion includes a ferrule enclosing and crimped to the respective filament end, and a plastic body enclosing the ferrule and the respective filament end. The filament preferably includes a plurality of threads of high tensile strength coated with a low-friction material. In another described embodiment, a plastic material is injection-molded onto each end of the filament at a temperature greater than 280.degree. C. to melt the coating and to bond directly to the threads. A further embodiment is described in which the thickened end portion is constituted of a two-part bead having complementary socket and plug formations for firmly clamping the filament.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery device includes a liquid reservoir for a liquid drug to be delivered, and a drug delivery body which includes a plurality of tubular elements extending through the body, each having an inlet end communicating with the liquid reservoir, and an outlet end engageable with the subject's skin to conduct the liquid drug directly to the subject's skin.

Abstract: A liquid material dispenser includes a housing formed with a reservoir for the liquid to be dispensed, an outlet through which the liquid is to be dispensed, and a connecting passageway between the reservoir and the outlet. A diaphgram is located in a cavity in the passageway such that one side of the diaphragm defines a pumping chamber, and the other side defines a control chamber. An electrolytic cell generates a gas to the control chamber according to the quantity of electrical current passed through the electrolyte, for driving the diaphragm through forward strokes to pump liquid to the outlet; and a slow-acting vent vents the gas from the control chamber to the atmosphere at a rate lower than that of generation of gas by the electrolytic cell, for driving the diaphragm through return strokes to refill the pumping chamber.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a liquid containing a drug includes a first diaphragm within a housing defining a first contractible-chamber on one side of the diaphragm for holding a supply of the liquid to be delivered, and a second contractible chamber on the opposite side of the diaphragm including an electrolytic cell capable of generating a gas according to the electrical current passed through the cell electrolyte. The device further includes a second diaphragm, a control valve, and a spring, for compensating the rate of delivery of the liquid for variations in ambient pressure and temperature.

Abstract: An electric hair removal device includes a holder to be hand-held by the user, and a pair of tweezer arms projecting from one end of the holder for gripping a hair to be removed from the skin in which the hair is growing. An electric power supply is actuated by a control device to automatically apply electric current to the hair while gripped by the tweezer arms and tensioned by the spring until the hair is plucked from the skin at which time the current automatically terminates. In one described embodiment, the control device is a tension sensor, and in another described embodiment it is a displacement detector.

Abstract: A liquid pumping device, particularly useful as nebulizer, includes a receptacle for receiving a quantity of a liquid to be pumped, a hollow conical tube having a small-diameter end located to be immersed in the liquid to be pumped, and a larger-diameter end located above the liquid to be pumped, and a drive for rotating the hollow conical tube about its longitudinal axis to pump by centrifugal force liquid therethrough from its small-diameter end to its larger-diameter end. When the device is used as a nebulizer the hollow conical tube includes a plurality of holes at vertically spaced locations, and a plurality of annular discs secured to the outer surface of the conical tube each underlying one or more of the holes.

Abstract: An electrolytic dispensing device includes a first contractible chamber for receiving a liquid to be dispensed, and a second contractible chamber for receiving a gas to control the rate of dispensing of the liquid from the first chamber. An electrolytic cell generates a gas which is fed to the second chamber to dispense liquid from the first chamber in accordance with the electrical current conducted through the electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell includes a partition of an ion-permeable, but gas-impermeable, material separating its two electrodes. The partition is effective to permit gas generated at one electrode to be fed to the second chamber, and to block from the second chamber gas generated at the other electrode, and thereby to prevent the formation of a hazardous mixture of gases.

Abstract: A dental flossing device includes a housing manually grippable by a user, a pair of spaced arms projecting from one end of the housing for engaging the opposite ends of a length of dental floss to be tautly secured along a dental floss axis between the arms, and a drive for displacing the length of dental floss when secured between the arms. The drive displaces at least one end of the length of dental floss, when secured between the arms, through a unidirectional, curved closed-loop planar path defined by the two axes substantially perpendicular to each other and to the dental floss axis. In one described embodiment, only one end of the length of dental floss is displaced in the above-defined unidirectional, curved, closed-loop path; and in a second described embodiment, each of the two ends of the length of dental floss is displaced in the above-defined unidirectional, curved, closed-loop path.

Abstract: A power-operated tweezers device for plucking hairs includes a reciprocatable member coupled to a motor, tweezers, a lost-motion coupling between the reciprocatable member and the tweezers effective to move the tweezers to an extended position only during a first part of the forward stroke of the reciprocatable member, and to a retracted position only during a first part of the return stroke of the reciprocatable member; and means effective to move the tweezer jaws to their closed positions during a last part of the forward stroke of the reciprocatable member, and to their open positions during a last part of the return stroke of the reciprocatable member.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery device includes an electrode, a porous insulating layer on one side of the electrode and impregnated with a liquid containing the drug to be delivered, a reservoir for the liquid on the other side of the electrode, and a displaceable diaphragm controlling the feeding of the liquid from the reservoir to the porous insulating layer via a passageway through the electrode.

Abstract: A method and device for plucking hair by engaging the hair with a hair-plucker body to clamp the hair thereto, moving the hair-plucker body and the hair clamp thereto in the plucking direction with respect to the skin, and successively interrupting the movement of the hair-plucker body and the hair clamp thereto such that the hair-plucker body applies a series of short tugs to the hair until it is plucked from the skin.

Abstract: A liquid material dispenser includes a rigid housing having a flexible partition defining first and second compartments on opposite sides of the partition, and an electrolytic cell in the first compartment capable of generating a gas when energized by a source of electric current in order to expand the first compartment and thereby to contract the second compartment. The second compartment contains the liquid material which is dispensed via a discharge opening in accordance with the rate of generation of the gas.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a liquid, particularly a medicament, at a predetermined rate, includes a container including a displaceable partition to define a first expansible-contractible chamber on one side for receiving the liquid to be dispensed, and a second expansible-contractible chamber on the opposite side for receiving an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell has electrodes and an electrolyte capable of generating, upon the energization of the electrodes, a gas under pressure to thereby displace the displaceable partition and to force the liquid out from the first chamber in accordance with the rate of energization of the electrodes. The displaceable partition includes a piston assembly having a pair of pistons spaced apart by a connecting stem, the container being formed with a vent opening in the space between the pistons to prevent accidental mixing of the gas with the liquid to be dispensed.