Abstract: Intramuscular stimulation (IMS) pain relief therapy is facilitated by a hand-held tool which, once positioned against a patient's skin, can be controlled to automatically advance a needle to penetrate the patient's flesh, reciprocate the needle within the patient's flesh a predetermined number of times through a predetermined stroke, and retract the needle. A tubular guide member is provided at its distal end with a skin contact member forming a constricted orifice closely matching the diameter of the needle. The orifice allows substantially free passage of the needle therethrough and at the same time prevents bowing of the needle as it is advanced--a primary source of patient pain. Automation and control of the needle penetration, reciprocation and retraction sequence reduces the amount of manual and mental effort required on the part of the treating physician, thereby allowing physicians to perform IMS procedures more consistently, effectively and efficiently.

Abstract: A method for the selective separation of a particular compound from a mixture of compounds, by enzymatically converting a weakly adsorbable compound to a strongly adsorbable compound, and binding the converted compound to a material of appropriate chemical properties is described. Also described are methods for removing contaminants from wastewater streams, and from intermediate chemical process streams.

Abstract: A massage device having a substantially planar support of foamed plastic and a plurality of massaging elements in the form of halves of balls distributed uniformly about the support is disclosed. The massaging elements may be substantially the size and firmness of tennis balls and are secured to the support in closely-spaced parallel rows by sleeves in which the massaging elements are arranged end-to-end. The sleeves are gathered between adjacent massaging elements and are secured to the support between adjacent massaging elements.