Abstract: An apparatus for use with hearing aid tubes includes a wax guard configured as a sleeve. The sleeve has an open end, a closed end, and a chamber extending between the open and closed ends. The sleeve further has vents from the chamber to the exterior of the sleeve. An inner wall structure extends from the closed end of the sleeve toward the open end and partitions the chamber into vented compartments. Each vented compartment is configured to receive a hearing aid tube inwardly through the open end.

Abstract: A multi-chip module (MCM) assembly has three stacked integrated circuit (IC) layers. The first IC layer is electrically flip-chip connected to a substrate. The back of the second IC layer may be glued to the back of the first IC layer, and the second and third IC layers are electrically flip-chip connected to each other. In one embodiment, the third IC layer is electrically connected to the substrate through a vertical interconnect element for high circuit density. In another, the second IC layer is electrically connected to the substrate using wire bonding for greater post-fabrication customization flexibility. In still another embodiment, the MCM assembly comprises two stacked IC layers where the second IC layer is electrically flip-chip connected to the first IC layer and the second layer is electrically connected to the substrate through a vertical interconnect element.

Abstract: A jaw retention device operative for use by a dental patient to urge the patient's lower jaw into an open position thereby relieving stress on the jaw muscles during dental procedures. The device includes a hand held object connected by an elongated flexible member to a mouth piece. The mouth piece is preferably constructed of a plastic material having sufficient flexibility to permit the mouth piece to bend and release from the lower teeth when the flexible member is subjected to a selected threshold tension.

Abstract: A skate pole device can be used alone or in pairs by a roller skater in order to advance or retard movement along a skate surface. The skate pole has an elongated shaft with a handle portion on one end and a foot portion on the other end. First and second pads are mounted in the foot portion. The first pad is constructed of a type adapted to frictionally grip the skate surface so that the skater may exert a thrusting motion with the skate pole, and this material may be a stiff, yet resilient, rubber-like substance such as a soft thermoplastic. The second pad is constructed of a different type of material, such as a hard thermoplastic, that is adapted to act as a brake pad against the skate surface so that the skater may apply a drag force. A pair of such skate poles may be used and, if desired, interconnecting elements are provided to releasably secure two such skate poles alongside one another.