Abstract: Devices for facilitating transdermal passage of materials are provided. In a preferred embodiment, a device for delivering a substance to skin of a subject is provided. A substance storage unit is adapted to store the substance. An analysis unit is adapted to receive a portion on a body fluid of the subject, to analyze the portion, and to generate a signal responsive to the analysis of the portion, One or more electrodes are adapted to be placed at respective sites on the skin. A substance delivery unit is adapted to receive the signal, and, responsive thereto, to drive at least some of the one or more electrodes to apply to respective ones of the sites on the skin a current capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate delivery of the substance from the storage unit through the skin at the respective ones of the sites.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for injection of a substance (28) through the stratum corneum of skin (26) is provided. The apparatus includes a reservoir (42), containing the substance. The reservoir preferably has at least one outlet. A pressure generator (22) applies a pressure to eject the substance through the at least one outlet. One or more electrodes (32, 34) in a vicinity of the outlet are placed on the skin. Energy is conveyed through the electrodes to the skin, to facilitate passage of the substance through the stratum corneum.

Abstract: A device for ablating the stratum corneum epidermidis of a subject, including a plurality of electrodes, which are applied to the subject's skin at respective points. A power source applies electrical energy between two or more of the plurality of electrodes, in order to cause ablation of the stratum corneum primarily in an area intermediate the respective points.

Abstract: A device for facilitating transdermal passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject is provided. The device preferably includes afcn electrode and a control unit. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is adapted to drive the electrode to apply to the skin a current capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate transdermal passage of the substance. The control unit detects generation of at least one spark responsive to application of the current, and modifies a parameter of the current responsive to detecting the generation of the at least one spark.

Abstract: Devices for facilitating transdermal passage of materials are provided. In a preferred embodiment, a device for delivering a substance to skin of a subject is provided. A substance storage unit is adapted to store the substance. An analysis unit is adapted to receive a portion of a body fluid of the subject, to analyze the portion, and to generate a signal responsive to the analysis of the portion. One or more electrodes are adapted to be placed at respective sites on the skin. A substance delivery unit is adapted to receive the signal, and, responsive thereto, to drive at least some of the one or more electrodes to apply to respective ones of the sites on the skin a current capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate delivery of the substance from the storage unit through the skin at the respective ones of the sites.

Abstract: A device for ablating the stratum corneum epidermidis of a subject, including a plurality of electrodes, which are applied to the subject's skin at respective points. A power source applies electrical energy between two or more of the plurality of electrodes, in order to cause ablation of the stratum corneum primarily in an area intermediate the respective points.

Abstract: A device for facilitating transdermal passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject is provided. The device preferably includes afcn electrode and a control unit. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is adapted to drive the electrode to apply to the skin a current capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate transdermal passage of the substance. The control unit detects generation of at least one spark responsive to application of the current, and modifies a parameter of the current responsive to detecting the generation of the at least one spark.

Abstract: Devices for facilitating transdermal passage of materials are provided. In a preferred embodiment, a device for delivering a substance to skin of a subject is provided. A substance storage unit is adapted to store the substance. An analysis unit is adapted to receive a portion of a body fluid of the subject, to analyze the portion, and to generate a signal responsive to the analysis of the portion, One or more electrodes are adapted to be placed at respective sites on the skin. A substance delivery unit is adapted to receive the signal, and, responsive thereto, to drive at least some of the one or more electrodes to apply to respective ones of the sites on the skin a current capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate delivery of the substance from the storage unit through the skin at the respective ones of the sites.

Abstract: An inhaler device for administration of a dry powder to a patient includes a package containing a dose of the dry powder and a magnetic field generator, which produces a magnetic field in a vicinity of the package. The magnetic field causes motion of particles of the powder so as to deaggregate the powder in the package, whereby the powder is inhaled by the patient. Preferably, the package includes walls made of a flexible material, which vibrate under the influence of the magnetic field so as to impart the motion to the particles.

Abstract: A device for ablating the stratum corneum epidermidis of a subject, including a plurality of electrodes, which are applied to the subject's skin at respective points. A power source applies electrical energy between two or more of the plurality of electrodes, in order to cause ablation of the stratum corneum primarily in an area intermediate the respective points.

Abstract: A device for delivery of a powder to the skin of a subject includes a pad, made of an insulating material and having an upper side and a lower side, which lower side is placed against the skin after application of the powder thereto. An electrical power source applies an electrical potential to the pad, causing the powder to adhere by electrostatic force to the lower side of the pad, and then alters the potential so that the powder is released from the pad and contacts the skin against which the pad is placed.

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 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 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: An improved electronic ballast inverter for a gas discharge lamp includes an oscillator having at least two switching transistors for operating the gas discharge lamp at a high frequency during steady-state operation, a triggering circuit for initiating the operation of the oscillator, and an electrical circuit connected to the oscillator for gradually increasing the base current of at least one of the switching transistors immediately after start-up in order to delay the gas breakdown and thereby to produce preheating of the gas discharge lamp during startup.

Abstract: An ultrasonic nebulizer includes a supply container for the liquid to be nebulized, and an electrolytic cell having electrodes for generating a gas according to the amount of electricity conducted through the electrodes. The generated gas is effective to control the pressure in, or volume of, the supply container, and thereby the feed of the liquid therefrom to the ultrasonic nebulizer nozzle.

Abstract: A channel electron multiplier is described having a tubular wall coated w a secondary-electron emitting material and including an electric field for accelerating the electrons, the electric field comprising a plurality of low-resistive conductive rings each alternating with a high-resistive insulating ring. The thickness of the low-resistive rings is many times larger than that of the high-resistive rings, being in the order of tens of microns for the low-resistive rings and at least one order of magnitude lower for the high-resistive rings; and the diameter of the channel tubular walls is also many times larger than the thickness of the high-resistive rings. Both single-channel and multiple-channel electron multipliers are described. A very important advantage, particularly in making multiple-channel multipliers, is the simplicity of the procedure that may be used in constructing such multipliers. Other operational advantages are described.

Abstract: A gamma-ray camera is described including a collimator receiving and collimating the gamma rays, a converter matrix converting the gamma rays to electrons, an electron-image multiplier receiving the electrons and producing a multiplied electron output, and means for reading out the output of the electron-image multiplier.A converter matrix is described for converting gamma-rays to electrons comprising a metal plate emitting electrons upon being impinged by gamma-photons, the metal plate having a face formed with a plurality of spaced parallel surfaces which extend substantially parallel to the direction of the gamma-rays. Also described is a converter matrix of scintillation crystals, one face of each crystal including a photo-sensitive coating, the opposite face of each crystal being clear, the remaining faces of each crystal being coated with a light-reflecting coating.