Abstract: A technique for monitoring the readership of a magazine. Two cards are inserted into the magazine, one toward the front and the other toward the rear. Each card carries a transmitter which is triggered when the magazine is opened to the page it is at. The transmitters emit a signal which is detected and input to a timer. The triggering of the front card actuates the timer, and triggering of the rear card stops the timer. If the time interval recorded by the time between the triggering of the two cards exceeds a predetermined time interval, this is recorded as being indicative of readership.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for use during dental procedures is disclosed. A tongue deflector (12) is coupled to an aspiration tube (24). The aspiration tube (24) is in turn coupled to a bite tube (38) which is held in place by a patient's teeth. A vacuum gap (30) provides suction sufficient to aspirate liquid and small particles of debris which collect during a dental procedure, while bite tube (38) maintains the patient's mouth in an open position and tongue deflector (12) retracts the patient's tongue away from the area in which the dental procedure is being performed. By sliding aspiration tube (24) in relation to tongue deflector (12), the level of suction can be controlled.

Abstract: A transparent housing arranged for interfolding includes a cavity accessed through open end walls and transparent side, bottom, and top wall structure. The device mounts a rigid rod within the housing for training of suturing within a body cavity, wherein the top wall of the housing includes resilient clamping structure to secure simulation skin to the top wall of the housing for assisting in suturing. Upon removal of the rigid wall, hinged inter-relationship of the side walls, top wall, and floor of the housing permits interfolding of the housing for ease of storage and transport.

Abstract: A handpiece assembly is disclosed for use with a dental laser assembly of the type having a laser and an elongated optical fiber assembly. The optical fiber assembly has a proximal end which receives radiation from the laser and a distal end which delivers the laser radiation to a target site. The handpiece assembly includes an elongated handpiece which is dimensioned to be held in a human hand. A longitudinal throughbore is formed in the handpiece and is dimensioned to slidably receive the optical fiber assembly so that the distal end of the optical fiber assembly extends outwardly from one end of the handpiece. A locking assembly removably locks the other end of the handpiece against longitudinal movement to the optical fiber assembly. Furthermore, the entire handpiece assembly is discarded after use on a single patient to prevent disease transmission by the handpiece.

Abstract: A hockey training device includes a base having a first end and a second end, a side having a bottom end and a top end, a telescoping connector, and at least one locating surface mounted on the hockey training device to support the hockey training device above a playing surface. The bottom end of the side is pivotally connected to the first end of the base and the telescoping connector is pivotally connected to the second end of the base and the top end of the side, such that the base, side and telescoping connector form a triangle.

Abstract: A strip of dental floss that is capable of receiving and retaining a substantially solid coating is coated with an ingestible binder that is capable of being stripped from the dental floss by the mechanical forces of flossing and being deposited in situ in the interproximal region of the teeth. The binder incorporates a medicament, particularly being an antibacterial agent such as chlorhexidine that is slowly released from the binder over a predetermined period of time responsive to oral fluid and oral temperature. This invention accomplishes delivery of the medicament to specific areas of the teeth where plaque build-up is likely to occur and minimizes staining of the teeth by the antibacterial agent.

Abstract: An intravenous tubing set is provided with luer connectors, an anti-siphon valve and peristaltic pump engaging means. The anti-siphon valve will permit flow through the intravenous tubing set only when a preselected positive pressure as measured from the proximal end to the distal end of the anti-siphon valve is achieved.

Abstract: A hand-holdable flossing device is provided for dispensing and supporting a selected length of dispensed dental floss for use in an operational position within an oral cavity. In general, the flossing device has a front end and a rear end, and an elongated gripping surface extending therebetween for encirclement within a user's hand. The handle portion has a hollow cavity for containing a supply of dental floss, and a passageway formed in the front end and in communication with the hollow cavity to permit passage of dental floss from the hollow cavity through the passageway. The dispensing portion has a base portion operably associated with an elongated portion which extends in an essentially linear direction and terminates in a tip portion. The base portion, elongated portion and tip portion has a continuously extending dispenser bore formed therethrough which permits dental floss to slidably pass from the passageway through the base portion and said elongated portion and exit from the tip portion.

Abstract: A laboratory attachment jig is described for use in accurately positioning an attachment relative to an implant abutment/fixture analog of a working model. This jig comprises an orientation arm having a first end and a second end, the orientation arm including a fastener for securing the orientation arm to the abutment/fixture analog of the working model. A primary support member is attached to the second end of the orientation arm, with the primary support member and the orientation arm being supported transversely in a first plane. The primary support member includes a vertical positioning sleeve and a fastener for the vertical positioning sleeve. A lateral support arm is attached to the vertical positioning sleeve of the primary support member and includes an end. A mandrel support member is attached to the end of the lateral support member for retaining the attachment. The lateral support arm includes a lateral positioning sleeve and a fastener for the lateral positioning sleeve.

Abstract: A golf simulator includes a screen for displaying a simulated golf hole. Sensors measure one or more parameters of a hit golf ball hit with a golf club by a player. These parameters may include the velocity, trajectory, and spin of a golf ball. A computer determines the distance and location of the hit golf ball from the simulated hole as a function of the measured parameters. The computer enhances a player's shot by a predetermined enhancement factor. In a preferred embodiment the calculated forward velocity of a hit ball is increased with the enhancement factor to obtain an enhanced forward velocity. The enhancement factor can be a predetermined percentage ranging between 0 and 200 percent. The enhancement factor can be automatically phased out, attenuated, or cancelled as the player approaches the simulated hole. The display screen displays the enhancement factor of a player.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an articulator for registering an upper dental cast to a lower dental cast. The articulator includes an upper member subassembly with left and right sides and a lower member subassembly with left and right sides each composed of plastic material. The articulator further has at least one hinge member engaging one of the members allowing one of said members to pivot relative to the other member and a coupling means flexibly connecting the upper member subassembly to the lower member subassembly. The articulator further includes disconnectable connection means joined to one of the members for disengaging the upper member subassembly and the lower member subassembly whereby the upper and the lower member subassemblies may be separated, and a clipping means for removably securing the upper member subassembly to the upper dental cast and the lower member subassembly to the lower dental cast such that said upper and lower dental casts can be properly and flexibly aligned.

Abstract: A dental implant is described which has greater stability in the jawbone and greatly reduces the potential for infection. The implant is made from an anatomically precise reproduction of the affected site of the jawbone, which reproduction is produced from computer generated data defining the affected site. The reproduction is used as the base for a cutting jig to fit on an exposed mandible or maxilla and the jig is used to route out a channel which will accommodate the implant. The technique allows the identification and location of sinuses, nerves, and compact bone and thus favors the placement of anchoring means in appropriate areas.

Abstract: The present invention is a portable and completely collapsible bird perch, that can be quickly disassembled into a convenient size for relocating a bird handily from one place to another, such as taking the bird to work, room to room within a house, to someone else's house, outdoors, etc, and reassembling it in a few seconds.The present invention comprises a base, a sitting perch bar rigidly connected perpendicularly to one of two or more vertical rigid support sticks, a coupling to rigidly connect the sticks together, a means in the base to rigidly connect the sticks to the base, and clips on the underside of the base to hold the sticks and perch bar when the perch is disassembled. When the bird is to be relocated to another place, the sticks and perch are removed from the clips and the sticks are connected together using the coupling to form an elongated "T" section, the end of which is connected into the base, thereby assembling the perch in a few seconds.

Abstract: A tool for use by an incident commander for organizing, deploying and managing resource units assigned by the commander in a incident control operation. A carrying case including a variety of graphic displays and movable tags identifying regional resources. A first graphic contains the tags of potentially available resources for that operation. A second graphic to which the tags are moved upon the resources represented by the tags being assigned to that operation. A third graphic to which the tags are moved to identify tasks assigned to the specific units.Additional graphic displays provide expansion of the incident organization determined by the size and severity of the incident. Graphic displays are segregated by area responsibility such as medical, finance, etc. A command graphic enables the expansion of the chain of command. In all cases, individuals having supervisory or management responsibility are identified and positioned within the chain of command.

Abstract: An appliance (20) for use in conjunction with the obturation of prepared root canals employing a rigid carrier member (23) coated with a thermoplastic material (29) comprises an instrument (40) having a barrel (41), a movable plunger (43), and an orifice (48), and a quantity of the thermoplastic material (29) within the barrel. The orifice has a diameter greater than the distal end (30) of the rigid member, the member being insertable through the orifice and into the thermoplastic material whereby upon extrusion of a quantity of the thermoplastic material from the barrel, the rigid member is provided carrying a coating of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: The game for lovers includes two open-topped containers, with or without closeable top lids and central storage spaces, and a number of game pieces of sufficiently small size so that a number of the pieces can fit into each space. The total number of pieces in the game is more than enough to fill one of the spaces, but insufficient to fill both spaces. The game pieces are stored in the spaces throughout the game. The game may also include a rules guide. The game pieces can all be of the same or different size, shape and appearance, preferably the latter. Most preferably, they are in the form of different simulated jewels of various sizes, shapes and appearances. In one embodiment, the rules guide, containers and/or pieces bear the legend "lovers". The game is played by initially distributing an equal number of game pieces to each player for storage in the container spaces. Whenever a lover performs a loving act, he or she gives the other lover a game piece which is stored in the recipient's container space.

Abstract: An endodontic file comprising a handle and an elongate cutting portion, a distal end remote from the handle and formed to have a first file portion which is adjacent the distal end and has the physical form of a k file, and a second file portion, which is located between the first portion and the handle and has the physical form of a Hedstrom file.

Abstract: A gel tray for holding a medicament to be applied to the teeth and gums of a patient includes a handle and an opposing buckle. In one embodiment, the buckle includes a tongue portion and a retainer strip surrounding the tongue portion so as to define a narrow space between the tongue portion and the retainer strip, the narrow strip having a width less than the thickness of the handle. The handle has a tongue reception groove extending transverse to its length at a position such that the tongue reception groove is engaged by the tongue when the tray is folded. In another embodiment, slotted tabs are interfitted when the tray is folded. The tray may therefore be securely maintained in the folded state. The tray can be combined with or preloaded with a treatment agent such as a gel comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of at least one agent for treating teeth or gums dispersed in a gel medium consisting essentially of water and an amount of a water dispersible gelling agent sufficient to form a gel.

Abstract: A dental polishing applicator for use with a rotary dental handpiece and method of using the same which is characterized by a collet portion and a removably mounted, disposable single use tip portion. The cylindrical collet is adapted to be removably mounted to conventional dental handpieces and includes an opposing end adapted to removably receive a shaft portion of the applicator tip portion. Preferably the tip portion comprises a relatively very small cylindrical shaft provided with a conical polishing end which is designed to permit access to the more difficult to reach areas of tooth anatomy.

Abstract: A dental model and articulation system are disclosed. The dental model comprises cast mold material formed around an elongate pin or rod. A longitudinal, tapered pin or rod is embedded in the model during pouring of the casting material. The pin or rod extends longitudinally through the base of the model beneath the teeth impressions of the model. The longitudinal axis of the pin or rod lies in general parallel alignment with the line of teeth in the model. The pin or rod can be removed from the model, and the model can be cut into several sections or dies. These sections or dies can then be reassembled back on the pin or rod in the precise, true relationship that existed in the model prior to the model being cut into sections. The extending ends of the pins or rods can be removably attached to a flexible member such that models of the upper teeth and lower teeth of a person's jaws can be moved in lateral or protrusive movement and back to centric occlusion.