Abstract: Portable hand-held battery powered massagers and systems that allows for automated rental of the massager are disclosed. The system allow for the massagers to be freely rented anywhere within a vicinity without physical security and includes mobile devices and remote computing operating systems that communicate with each other and the massager. Activation of the massager is initiated automatically upon rental via independent control over the transmission of the power source to the electric motor that drives the massager tip. Built in GPS tracks, locates, and deters theft of massagers. Expiration of the rental time deactivates the massager and renders it inoperable.

Abstract: A portal trace detection apparatus is provided for detecting minute particles of interest, such as traces of narcotics, explosives and other contraband. The apparatus includes a portal through which a human suspect will pass. A detection apparatus is disposed at least partly in the ceiling of the portal, and hence above the human subject in the portal. Particles of interest will be entrained in the human thermal plume that exists in the boundary adjacent the suspect, and will flow upwardly from the suspect to the detection apparatus in the ceiling of the portal. The ceiling is coated with an anti-static material so that particles are more likely to flow towards the detector and less likely to be affixed electrostatically to the ceiling.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for identifying trace amounts of substances of interest in an air flow. The apparatus includes an inlet for receiving the air flow and an outlet for exhausting major portions of the air flow. The outlet is offset from the inlet. A porous impactor is disposed in alignment with the inlet and is impacted by particles entrained in the air flow. The porous impactor is heated sufficiently to vaporize particles impinging thereon. A detector communicates with the porous impactor and is operative for identifying substances of interest in the vaporized particles.

Abstract: A cargo inspection apparatus for the inspection of an analyte carried by a medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having an inlet allowing for entry of the medium and an outlet allowing for exit of the medium, and an adsorber disposed within the housing in fluid communication with the medium flow from the inlet to the outlet, the adsorber includes a substrate having disposed thereon a nanoparticle film. The nanoparticle film has nanoparticles having an average particle size of equal to or less than about 500 nanometers.

Abstract: A portal trace detection apparatus is provided for detecting minute particles of interest, such as traces of narcotics, explosives and other contraband. The apparatus includes a portal through which a human suspect will pass. A detection apparatus is disposed at least partly in the ceiling of the portal, and hence above the human subject in the portal. Particles of interest will be entrained in the human thermal plume that exists in the boundary adjacent the suspect, and will flow upwardly from the suspect to the detection apparatus in the ceiling of the portal. The ceiling is coated with an anti-static material so that particles are more likely to flow towards the detector and less likely to be affixed electrostatically to the ceiling.

Abstract: A security checkpoint includes a personal scanning portal, a parcel scanning portal and a controller for ensuring substantially simultaneous scanning of a person and the parcel associated with the person. The controller also adjusts the level of scrutiny at each portal based on scanned data received at the other portal and based on information in a database relating to the specific person at the security checkpoint.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for hip replacement stability includes a connector which is adapted to be connected between at least one of an acetabular cup, or a component of an acetabular cup, or the adjacent bone, and at least one of a replacement femur or a femur. The connector is flexible and allows for uninhibited movement between an acetabular cup and replacement femur up to a limit in order to prevent dislocation. The connector is in one embodiment comprised of a net. The method of the invention for preventing dislocation between an acetabular cup and replacement femur includes the steps of securing the connector to at least one of an acetabular cup, or a component thereof, or bone located adjacent to an acetabular cup, and securing the connector to at least one of a replacement femur or a femur.

Abstract: An alignment system 20 is used for alignment structure for surgical procedures. The alignment system and method can be used in a preferred embodiment to align an acetabular cup implant for purposes of a hip replacement procedure. The alignment system and method can be used for other alignment procedures whether or not an implant is utilized.

Abstract: A method of producing a high angular resolution collimator implemented in an inspection system for detecting the presence of selected crystalline materials, such as explosives or drugs. The system includes an x-ray source and an array of energy dispersive detectors to sense radiation scattered by the objects being inspected. The collimator includes a bundle of optical fibers bonded together to form a stack of plates having a plurality of microcapillaries therein to pass an x-ray beam therethrough. The method includes the steps of stacking the plates, aligning the plates in registration, and etching an inner core without disrupting registration.