Abstract: A container is made of an elastomer such as silicone with a leak resistant seal and pressure shield. The seal includes the elastomer and is configured to open and close the elastomeric container. The seal includes bottom and top press-fit elements, a bottom pressure shield is disposed between the bottom press-fit element and an inner volume of the container, and a top pressure shield is disposed between the top press-fit element and the inner volume. Top and bottom enclosures of the container define a center horizontal plane where the top and bottom enclosures meet. In cross section, a thickness of the top pressure shield continuously increases along an entire top pressure shield inner surface, and, in cross section, a thickness of the bottom pressure shield continuously decreases along an entire bottom pressure shield inner surface beneath the center horizontal plane.

Abstract: A container made of an elastomer such as silicone with a leak resistant seal and pressure shield. The seal incorporates press-fit elements sufficient to provide a strong seal that resists leakage of liquids from inside the container. The pressure shield increases leak resistance, is formed by material disposed on an inside of the container, and works by deflecting pressure away from the two leak resistant seal portions. The pressure shield includes a bottom pressure shield having an average thickness of at least 0.15 cm, and a top pressure shield having an average thickness of at least 0.15 cm.

Abstract: A container made of an elastomer such as silicone with an integrated leak resistant seal and pressure shield. The seal incorporates press-fit elements with sizes and shapes sufficient to provide a strong seal that resists leakage of liquids from inside the container. The seal is integrated into the container and requires no external clips or clasps. The pressure shield increases leak resistance by at least 300% and is formed by adding material to the inside of the container and not to the engaging portions of the seal and works by deflecting pressure away from the two leak resistant seal portions. Additional features are provided to facilitate opening such as extended flaps for pulling the sides open, and asymmetric cavities for press-fit elements to reduce the initial opening force. The container itself may be of asymmetrical shape, such as trapezoidal, to provide a wide opening along with a strong seal.

Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises crowd-sourced computer-implemented methods and systems of collecting and transforming portable device data. One embodiment of the invention may be implemented as a system including an electronic device including a sensor configured to collect data, the device configured to begin collection of data based on a command from a user of the electronic device; and a server configured to issue a command to the electronic device to turn on the sensor and transmit data collected by the sensor to the server without any input by the user of the electronic device when a condition is met.

Abstract: Embodiments include a container with a leak resistant seal. The leak resistant seal provides access to the inside of the container when the leak resistant seal is open. The leak resistant seal includes first and second seal portions that are configured to be coupled together to close the container. A gap is arranged between ends of the first seal portion and the second seal portion, which provides an abutment that each of the ends of the first and second seal portions contact when the first seal portion is coupled to the second seal portion.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system comprising a tub, a cover, a wick, and a diffuser cap. The tub defines a cavity. The tub is constructed to hold a liquid in the cavity. The tub comprises a top ring. The cover is constructed to be coupled to the top ring of the tub. The cover defines an aperture. The wick is constructed to convey a liquid via diffusion. The diffuser cap comprises a central stem. The central stem is constructed to engage with the wick. The diffuser cap is constructed to vent vapor conveyed to the diffuser cap via the wick.

Abstract: A container includes an outside portion forming an external surface of the container, an inside portion forming an internal surface of the container, and a container seal arranged on the internal surface and configured to open and close the container for providing access to the inside portion. The container seal includes a male seal portion arranged on the internal surface of a first side of the container, a female seal portion arranged on the internal surface of a second side of the container, a gap between a first end of the male seal portion on the first side of the container and a second end of the female seal portion on the second side of the container, and at least one gap seal that is disposed within the gap, between the male seal portion and the female seal portion.

Abstract: An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

Abstract: A method for assessing the state of hair by releasably engaging a first end (5) of hair fibres (3) with a holder (1) so that an opposite, second end (4) of said hair fibres (3) hangs free and applying sufficient force to the first end (5) of the hair fibres (3) such that the hair fibres (3) at the second end (4) are pulled across the holder (1), wherein the force is in an upwards direction and applied by action of an encapsulated gas having a density of less than that of air (7).

Abstract: An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

Abstract: A method of producing nanoscale materials comprising the steps of entraining liquid droplets containing at least one nanoparticle precursor within a gaseous stream, and passing said gaseous stream containing said liquid droplets through a non-thermal equilibrium plasma whereby said plasma interacts with said at least one nanoparticle precursor to produce nanoparticles within said droplets without substantial evaporation of the droplets and conveying the thus produced nanoparticles within said gaseous stream downstream of said plasma.

Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises crowd-sourced computer-implemented methods and systems of collecting and transforming portable device data. One embodiment of the invention may be implemented as a system including an electronic device including a sensor configured to collect data, the device configured to begin collection of data based on a command from a user of the electronic device; and a server configured to issue a command to the electronic device to turn on the sensor and transmit data collected by the sensor to the server without any input by the user of the electronic device when a condition is met.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for demonstrating the cleansing efficacy of a personal care product or a component thereof, the method comprising: (i) selecting a first portion of a porous article capable of allowing a gas to pass through its pores, wherein the porous article is connected to a source of said gas and immersed in a liquid while the source releases said gas which flows out of said pores to generate gas bubbles; (ii) treating the first portion of the porous article with contaminants; (iii) treating the first portion of the porous article with the personal care product or the component thereof, wherein a second portion of the porous article is selected in step (i); the second portion is also treated with contaminants in step (ii); and the second portion is treated with a comparative or placebo product in step (iii); and wherein following step (iii) the method comprises a step (iv) of assessing a change of the treated first portion relative to untreated article and/or relative to the treated second portion,

Abstract: A container includes an outside portion forming an external surface of the container, an inside portion forming an internal surface of the container, and a container seal arranged on the internal surface and configured to open and close the container for providing access to the inside portion. The container seal includes a male seal portion arranged on the internal surface of a first side of the container, a female seal portion arranged on the internal surface of a second side of the container, a gap between a first end of the male seal portion on the first side of the container and a second end of the female seal portion on the second side of the container, and at least one gap seal that is disposed within the gap, between the male seal portion and the female seal portion.

Abstract: A system for analyzing data received from at least one mobile electronic device comprises a mobile electronic device and a server. The mobile electronic device includes a sensor configured to collect video, audio and/or imagery data, and the mobile electronic device is configured to initiate collection of data based on a command from a user of the mobile electronic device. The server includes a receiver configured to receive the video, audio and/or imagery data collected by the sensor of the mobile electronic device and a processing system. The processing system of the server includes a processor and is configured to, when a condition is met in accordance with a rule established on the server, issue a command to turn on the sensor of the mobile electronic device and enable the mobile electronic device to transmit the video, audio and/or imagery data collected by the sensor to the server, without any input by the user of the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises crowd-sourced computer-implemented methods and systems of collecting and transforming portable device data. One embodiment of the invention may be implemented as a system including an electronic device including a sensor configured to collect data, the device configured to begin collection of data based on a command from a user of the electronic device; and a server configured to issue a command to the electronic device to turn on the sensor and transmit data collected by the sensor to the server without any input by the user of the electronic device when a condition is met.

Abstract: Embodiments include a container with a leak resistant seal. The leak resistant seal provides access to the inside of the container when the leak resistant seal is open. The leak resistant seal includes first and second seal portions that are configured to be coupled together to close the container. A gap is arranged between ends of the first seal portion and the second seal portion, which provides an abutment that each of the ends of the first and second seal portions contact when the first seal portion is coupled to the second seal portion.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method of manufacturing a container with a leak resistant seal. The method includes forming an elastomer or a plastic or any combination thereof into a container inside out by forming an outside portion of the container on an internal surface of the container before inverting the container and forming an inside portion of the container on an external surface of the container before inverting the container. In embodiments, the method includes forming or coupling a leak resistant seal on the external surface of the container before inverting the container. The leak resistant seal provides access to the inside portion of the container when the leak resistant seal is open after inverting the container and holds at least liquid internal to the container when applying an external force to the container without use of an external structure to keep the leak resistant seal closed after inverting the container.

Abstract: Various implant holding systems are provided herein that include an outer tube, an inner tube, and a holder. The implant holding systems can be designed to hold various implants, such as bone anchors used in spinal operations. For example, one embodiment of an implant holding system can have an outer tube, an inner tube that can be disposed within the outer tube, and an implant holder that can be disposed within the inner tube. An individual bone anchor that has various configurations and sizes can be disposed within the holder, and the holder can engage the bone anchor to assist in maintaining an orientation of the bone anchor relative to the holder.

Abstract: Access port cutters and related systems and methods can be used to cut an access port to a desired length based on particular patient and/or surgical procedure needs at a point of use. More particularly, an access port cutter can include a base with an opening that can receive an access port therein such that a desired length of the access port can extend from the opening. An actuation mechanism can translate a blade linearly along at least a portion of the base such that the blade can traverse the opening and cut across the access port. In some embodiments, the actuation mechanism can include a handle that can pivot relative to the base to drive the blade. One or more safety features can reduce the risk of inadvertent actuation of the blade and/or prevent debris from contaminating a surgical site or falling onto a patient.