Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a back brace including: a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, wherein each shoulder strap comprises at least a dorsal end; a waist belt configured to extend circumferentially around an object; and a pulley system. The pulley system includes: a set of thoracic pulley wheels coupled to the dorsal ends of the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap; a set of lumbar pulley wheels coupled to a center portion of the waist belt; and at least one cord looped around the set of lumbar pulley wheels and the set of thoracic pulley wheels. The thoracic pulley wheels travel proximally towards the set of lumbar pulley wheels when a free end of the cord is pulled.

Abstract: A labware inventory tracking and positioning device includes a plurality of labware carriers placed on the top surface of a deck. Each carrier has a permanent magnet therein or thereon. Below the deck, a cursor has a top part that is movable with respect to its bottom part. A permanent magnet, surrounded by a coil, is held in a compartment of the bottom part. Applying current through the coil in a first direction pushes up the cursor permanent magnet to push up the cursor top part into contact with the bottom of the deck, magnetically coupling one of the carrier magnets to the cursor magnet. Once so coupled, the carrier follows the X- and Y-direction movement of the cursor. Applying current in the opposite direction pulls the cursor permanent magnet down to decouple the cursor magnet from the carrier magnet.