Abstract: A temperature therapy pad for use with a person including a thermal unit for making the pad either hot or cold and a therapeutic slot extending from one side of the pad which substantially divides the pad into sections. An elastic member may extend across the slot. The therapy pad can include a strap or an adhesive for attaching the therapy pad to a user's body. The thermal unit can be an electric heating coil and include a controller. The thermal unit may also be a material which has a high specific heat capacity or a material which heats when exposed to oxygen. The thermal unit may also be in the form of two separate chemical substances which change temperature when mixed. Another embodiment is for a temperature therapy pad including a substance which presents a heating or cooling sensation to a user's skin.

Abstract: The invention includes a thermometer with a backlight and a method for lighting the backlight. The thermometer has temperature sensing tip, a processor taking temperature readings and determining a sensed temperature reading of the living being from the temperature sensing tip. The thermometer also includes a display and a backlight for lighting the display. The backlight is activated upon a command from the processor and the processor determines whether a decrease in the temperature readings exceeds or is equal to a predetermined threshold in order to activate the backlight. The method embodiment can includes the steps of using the processor to monitor a temperature change indicated by a temperature sensing element. The processor then detects a temperature decrease and activates a first color light emitting element to backlight a display if the temperature decrease exceeds or equals a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A temperature therapy pad for use with a person including a thermal unit for making the pad either hot or cold and a therapeutic slot extending from one side of the pad which substantially divides the pad into sections. An elastic member may extend across the slot. The therapy pad can include a strap or an adhesive for attaching the therapy pad to a user's body. The thermal unit can be an electric heating coil and include a controller. The thermal unit may also be a material which has a high specific heat capacity or a material which heats when exposed to oxygen. The thermal unit may also be in the form of two separate chemical substances which change temperature when mixed. Another embodiment is for a temperature therapy pad including a substance which presents a heating or cooling sensation to a user's skin.

Abstract: The invention is a bi-fluid actuator for precise bi-directional movement and positioning of a mechanical object or load. The bi-fluid actuator includes a pneumatic fluid container defining opposed first and second pneumatic fluid chambers, and having a first mechanical object secured between the chambers; a hydraulic fluid container defining opposed first and second hydraulic fluid chambers, and having a second mechanical object secured between the first and second hydraulic chambers; a pneumatic fluid controller; and, a hydraulic fluid controller. Directing pneumatic fluid into either the first or second pneumatic chambers, while controlling flow of hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic chambers, controls movement and positioning of the mechanical objects which may be secured to a load.

Abstract: The invention is a bi-fluid actuator for precise bi-directional movement and positioning of a mechanical object or load. The bi-fluid actuator includes a pneumatic fluid container defining opposed first and second pneumatic fluid chambers, and having a first mechanical object secured between the chambers; a hydraulic fluid container defining opposed first and second hydraulic fluid chambers, and having a second mechanical object secured between the first and second hydraulic chambers; a pneumatic fluid controller; and, a hydraulic fluid controller. Directing pneumatic fluid into either the first or second pneumatic chambers, while controlling flow of hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic chambers, controls movement and positioning of the mechanical objects which may be secured to a load.