Abstract: A stitching method for everted wound closure can include positioning a sutured needle on a first skin flap at a first side of the wound opening, inserting the sutured needle into the epidermis at the first side of the wound opening, passing the needle down through the dermis and toward the subcutaneous fat in either a curved or an acutely angled motion such that the suture forms, respectively, either a general C-shape or laboratory flask-like shape along a first side of the wound opening, and passing the sutured needle horizontally through the juncture or interface of the dermis/subcutaneous fat and back up through the dermis and epidermis toward the second skin flap at the second side of the wound opening in a similar and corresponding fashion as the first passage thereby completing the closure of the wound in a single pass.

Abstract: The removable rubber bracelet for cast cutting is an attachment for a cast cutting saw that greatly reduces the occurrence of both abrasive and thermal injuries to patients during the cast removable process. The rubber bracelet has two parallel, arcuate, generally semicircular bands or arms extending from opposite ends of a crossbar. The bracelet has an inner core of a flexible, malleable, and at least semi-resilient material, such as copper or spring steel, for maintaining the shape of the bracelet, coated by a layer of rubber for protecting the patient's skin. The bracelet has a smaller, saw attachment band adapted for gripping a barrel of the cutting saw, and a larger guard band or arm adapted for being spaced apart from the rear edge of the saw's cutting blade in cantilever fashion to protect the patient from accidental cuts opposite the portion of the blade edge cutting the cast.

Abstract: The tool for extracting broken endodontic instrument has a cylindrical, tubular body. The body has a cap at one end and a conical nose at the opposite end. A gripper tube for gripping a broken endodontic file extends from the conical nose. The body of the tool houses a heating or soldering device equipped with a magazine of balls of solder. The gripper tube has an open tip dimensioned for slidably receiving an end of the broken file and resilient gripper prongs inside the tube allowing insertion of the end of the file but preventing the file from exiting the gripper tube. The heating device may be turned on to melt a ball of solder to solder the gripper prongs to the broken file to further secure the broken file to the gripper tube for extraction of the broken endodontic tube from the root canal.

Abstract: A system and method of clearing radioactive contamination from a surface is provided by means of a handheld device and a method of using the handheld device. The handheld device has a manual system which operates by pressing a button to spray radioactive wash on the surface. The handheld device also has an electrical system which operates by pressing a button to suction radioactive contamination from the surface. The function of this system is to clean the surface from radioactive contamination. The system of the handheld device consists of a suctioning part and a pump and functions by suctioning the radioactive contamination into a lead cylinder, from which it is easily disposed. A third component includes a gauge for detecting contamination before, during, and after the cleaning and suctioning processes of the handheld device.

Abstract: The multifunctional agricultural machine includes a vehicle body with a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted thereon. At least one sensor is mounted on a front end of the vehicle body for measuring at least one soil condition. At least one soil excavation unit is mounted on the vehicle body for digging a hole in the soil. A seed tank is in communication with the at least one soil excavation unit for delivering a selectable number of seeds thereto. The at least one soil excavation unit is configured to drop the selectable number of seeds into the hole in the soil. A water tank is in fluid communication with the at least one soil excavation unit for delivering a selectable volume of water thereto. The at least one soil excavation unit is further configured to dispense the selectable volume of water in the hole in the soil.

Abstract: A method for arthrotomy closure includes using a first sutured needle to form a first series of parallel stitches from a caudal end of the arthrotomy incision to a first point spaced from the cephalad end of the arthrotomy incision, using a second sutured needle to form a second series of parallel stitches from a cephalad end of the arthrotomy incision to the caudal end of the arthrotomy incision. The second series of stitches intersect the first series of stitches at a 45 degree angle after passing the first point. After the second series of stitches is formed, the first sutured needle is used to form a third series of stitches from the first point to the cephalad end of the arthrotomy incision. The third series of stitches are parallel to the first series of stitches and intersect the second series of stitches at a 45 degree angle.

Abstract: The electronic circuit bag encloses a printed circuit board under design in an arrangement that allows for easy portability and ensures that the printed circuit board remains sterile during the design phase. The electronic circuit bag has a carrying handle atop the bag. The electronic circuit bag attaches to a solid square base which provides storage and a repository for holding the printed circuit board in place.

Abstract: The hair dryer with a scent dispenser includes a housing with an air outlet at a first end thereof, and an air inlet at a second end thereof. An airflow conduit is disposed within the housing. A fan is mounted within the airflow conduit for drawing air into the airflow conduit, and a heating element is mounted within the airflow conduit for heating the air. The heated air is blown by the fan through the airflow conduit and out the air outlet. A scent container is received within the housing for storing a scented liquid. An air pump is in fluid communication with the scent container for delivering pressurized air into the scented liquid to produce scented air. The scent container is in fluid communication with the airflow conduit such that the scented air mixes with the heated air within the airflow conduit.

Abstract: The autonomous paint spraying machine is an autonomous mobile system for making paint markings on surfaces. The autonomous paint spraying machine includes a chassis having longitudinally opposed first and second edges, where the first edge has a linear contour and the second edge has an arcuate contour. A linear track is mounted on the chassis adjacent the first edge, and an arcuate track is mounted on the chassis adjacent the second edge. A paint receptacle is mounted on an upper surface of the chassis, and a plurality of driven wheels are mounted on a lower surface of the chassis. A controller is configured for controlling actuation and orientation of the plurality of driven wheels. First and second spray nozzles each receive paint from the paint receptacle. The first spray nozzle is slidably mounted on the linear track, and the second spray nozzle is slidably mounted on the arcuate track.

Abstract: The method for enhancing shallow heavy oil reservoir production is an enhanced oil recovery method for shallow heavy oil reservoirs using cyclic steam polymer injection. The method involves injecting steam into the reservoir through an injection well, shutting down the well for three months to allow the steam to soak into the reservoir, then opening the well and injecting a viscous polymer concentration of 0.7 lb/STB into the reservoir. The cycle may be repeated three times over the life of the reservoir. The heated steam reduces the viscosity of the heavy oil, and the polymer displaces the oil to the production well. The method avoids the production rate drop normally associated with steam injection. Although continuous steam injection produces a higher cumulative oil production, cyclic steam polymer injection has lower capital cost and produces a better Net Present Value (NPV).

Abstract: A contact lens system for monitoring ocular diseases includes a smart phone camera and a nanostructured contact lens. The nanostructures can cause visible color shifts from optical reflection in response to a physical surface curvature change of the contact lens. The physical surface curvature change of the contact lens can be detected by visible color shifts on a range of about 8° at normal room light. An embodiment of the contact lens can detect a change in the diffraction angle of light passing through the lens. A change in the diffraction angle can be correlated with can indicate a change in a hydration level of the ocular surface and/or K+ ion concentration change.

Abstract: A method for in-situ remediation and recovery of a tar mat TM layer of a sub-surface formation can include deasphalting oil obtained from an oil column to produce a deasphalted oil, extracting an aromatic solvent from the deasphalted oil to provide a residual deasphalted oil and an extracted solvent; and injecting the residual deasphalted oil and the extracted solvent into the tar mat TM layer of the sub-surface formation using at least one horizontal well selected from the group consisting of a single horizontal well, two parallel horizontal wells, and a plurality of horizontal wells arranged in a radial configuration.

Abstract: A device for preventing drain blockage can include a planar base and an upright vane support rotatably supported on the base. The vane support includes a plurality of curved vanes mounted in a radial configuration thereon. The base includes a plurality of raised portions on an upper surface thereof and a cylindrical flange extending downwardly from a bottom surface thereof. The flange can frictionally engage the inner walls of a drain pipe for draining water from the device. A base insert is housed within a circular recess of the base and rotatably supports the vane support. The vanes each include a lower edge in close proximity to the top surface of the base. When wind, rain, or debris strikes the curved vanes, the vane support rotates, and the lower edges of the vanes sweep away any debris accumulating on the base.

Abstract: The lovemaking apparatus includes a table having a slidable platform pivotally mounted in a U-shaped opening defined in an end of the table and a wheelchair having a chair assembly that is pivotally mounted on a wheelchair frame. The wheelchair may be rolled to the platform end of the table so that the seat and leg rest portion of the chair assembly is below the free end of the platform, linear actuators may be actuated to pivot the platform at an angle using switches mounted at the platform end of the table, and the platform may be slid downward towards the seat of the chair assembly of the wheelchair. Linear actuators mounted on the wheelchair frame may be actuated to tilt the back of the chair assembly rearward and raise the seat of the chair assembly upward to position partners for sexual relations.

Abstract: The internal nasal splint is used in pairs, one on each side of the septum, to support the septum, maintain patent airways on each side of the septum, and reduce or mitigate the incidence of hematomas and post-surgical adhesions following such nasal surgeries as septoplasty, removal of nasal polyps, correction of nasal fractures, etc. The two splints are symmetrical, and each includes an arcuate septal support splint portion defining a delivery lumen or tube having a plurality of medially spaced delivery ports or orifices, and a lateral flared splint portion defining an airway passage extending between the opening of the nostril and the internal nasal valve, the two splint portions being joined by an isthmus or bridge. A suture access pad is provided on each internal nasal splint to facilitate suturing the splints to the septum when placing the splints in the corresponding naris or nostril during the surgery.

Abstract: The finger-mounted mechanical counter is a numerical counter that may be worn on the finger of a user. First, second and third wheels each have a set of indicia formed thereon, each set of indicia being a circumferentially arrayed set of integers, such as a continuous range from 0 to 9. The first, second and third wheels are rotatably mounted within a housing having corresponding first, second and third slots formed therein for display of the corresponding indicia. The housing defines a central passage which is adapted for receiving the finger of the user. After a full rotation of the first wheel, the second wheel is rotated by a single increment, and after full rotation of the second wheel, the third wheel is rotated by a single increment, allowing for consecutive counting from single digits to double digits to triple digits.

Abstract: The heat sink with slotted pin fins includes a thermally conductive base and a plurality of pin fins, which may be substantially cylindrical. Each pin fin has axially opposed upper and lower ends, the lower ends being attached to the base. Each of the pin fins is formed of a thermally conductive material and extends from the base. Each of the pin fins has a slot formed therein extending both diametrically and axially through the pin fin, such that a surrounding fluid medium can flow through the slot formed through pin fin, thus reducing the drag force on the surrounding fluid medium as it impinges upon and flows through the pin fins, increasing the rate of thermal transfer.

Abstract: The method and kit for detecting technetium-99m radioisotopes provide color-change solutions for visual detection of technetium-99m radioisotope-based tracers. A first color-change solution is formed from a mixture of thymol blue sodium salt solution and bromocresol purple solution. A first sample to be tested is determined to be a substance containing technetium-99m radioisotopes when the first sample to be tested turns yellow in color following spraying with the first color-change solution. A second color-change solution is formed from a mixture of bromocresol green solution and neutral red solution. A second sample to be tested is determined to be a substance containing technetium-99m radioisotopes when the second sample to be tested turns purple in color following spraying with the second color-change solution. The method and kit provide a rapid test for distinguishing a spill of radioactive TC-99m tracer from a saline spill in a nuclear medicine facility.

Abstract: The surgical wire twisting tool includes a hollow housing, a plunger, a rotating member, a jaw actuating rod and a hollow cylindrical guide. A portion of the plunger is received within a second end of the hollow housing, and the rotating member is received within the hollow housing, such that a portion of the rotating member projects through a first end of the hollow housing. A pair of jaws are mounted on one end of the jaw actuating rod. The hollow cylindrical guide is received within the hollow housing, such that the other end of the jaw actuating rod projects through a second end of the rotating member and into the hollow cylindrical guide. The plunger slides through a second end of the hollow cylindrical guide to drive movement of the jaw actuating rod. The pair of jaws may be rotated with respect to the hollow housing, and also locked.