Abstract: Systems and methods for providing real-time media communication services to make use of a software application resident on a server that receives the media feeds of multiple sending participants, and generates a single composed media feed that includes media feeds of the sending participants and that sends the composed media feed to other computing services for manifold purposes like recording, re-broadcasting and/or re-transmission to remote computing devices of multiple real-time media communication participants. The composed media feed can include supplementary information in addition to the media feeds of live participants. This supplementary information is provided by means of API configurable programmatic code that is then executed and used as the software application resident on the server.

Abstract: As an example, an apparatus includes a hood portion and a body portion. The hood portion includes a distal opening adapted to be positioned around a periphery of a wall-mounted appliance. The hood portion includes a sidewall of a pliant material extending outwardly from a perimeter of the distal opening to terminate in a proximal opening having a perimeter that is spaced apart from and opposing the distal opening. The proximal opening is to provide access to an interior volume of the hood portion corresponding to the sidewall between the first and second openings. The body portion extends from the perimeter of the proximal opening in a longitudinal direction that is substantially transverse to a central axis of the distal opening. An outlet in fluid communication with the body portion is to enable discharge of fluids from an interior volume of the body portion.

Abstract: As an example, an apparatus includes a hood portion and a body portion. The hood portion includes a distal opening adapted to be positioned around a periphery of a wall-mounted appliance. The hood portion includes a sidewall of a pliant material extending outwardly from a perimeter of the distal opening to terminate in a proximal opening having a perimeter that is spaced apart from and opposing the distal opening. The proximal opening is to provide access to an interior volume of the hood portion corresponding to the sidewall between the first and second openings. The body portion extends from the perimeter of the proximal opening in a longitudinal direction that is substantially transverse to a central axis of the distal opening. An outlet in fluid communication with the body portion is to enable discharge of fluids from an interior volume of the body portion.

Abstract: A protective barrier for preventing the spread of disease and the exchange of fluids between partners during oral sex is disclosed. The device, system and method may include a first portion having an area approximate to the vaginal area of a user and a second portion having a cylindrical shape with an open proximate end and a closed distal end, wherein the second portion is attached to a central portion of the first portion at the proximate end and extends into the vagina of the user.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for unattended watering of plants over an extended period of time utilizing a watering system that regulates a partial vacuum to control the discharge of water to the roots of the plants. A water reservoir is provided having an encapsulated interior cavity and an exterior exposed to ambient air, and having upper and lower ends. The reservoir is located above the root level of a plant to be watered. At least one drain opening is defined in the lower end of the reservoir. The upper end of the reservoir is closed and is provided with an adjustable valve, preferably a pinch valve, and an air conduit, preferably a flexible tube, that passes through the valve and extends between the interior and the exterior of the reservoir. The valve thereby interacts with the conduit to partially obstruct air flow through it, so as to maintain a partial vacuum in the upper end of the reservoir as water drains from the lower end of the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for unattended watering of plants over an extended period of time utilizing a watering system that regulates a partial vacuum to control the discharge of water to the roots of the plants. A water reservoir is provided having an encapsulated interior cavity and an exterior exposed to ambient air, and having upper and lower ends. The reservoir is located above the root level of a plant to be watered. At least one drain opening is defined in the lower end of the reservoir. The upper end of the reservoir is closed and is provided with an adjustable valve, preferably a pinch valve, and an air conduit, preferably a flexible tube, that passes through the valve and extends between the interior and the exterior of the reservoir. The valve thereby interacts with the conduit to partially obstruct air flow through it, so as to maintain a partial vacuum in the upper end of the reservoir as water drains from the lower end of the reservoir.

Abstract: An automated medicine dispensing system comprising a housing unit; a dispensing unit attached to the housing, the dispensing unit comprising a pump to alter a pressure in the dispensing unit, and a nozzle operatively connected to the pump via a first tube; and a base positioned below the dispensing unit, the base comprising a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle operatively connected to a sensor to detect a quantity of medicine in each receptacle, and a dispensing outlet adjacent to at least one receptacle to dispense the medicine outside the housing unit. The base may be movable below the dispensing unit to select a desired medication. The dispensing unit may be movable over the base to select the desired medication.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for unattended watering of plants over an extended period of time utilizing a watering system that regulates a partial vacuum to control the discharge of water to the roots of the plants. A water reservoir is provided having an encapsulated interior cavity and an exterior exposed to ambient air, and having upper and lower ends. The reservoir is located above the root level of a plant to be watered. At least one drain opening is defined in the lower end of the reservoir. The upper end of the reservoir is closed and is provided with an adjustable valve, preferably a pinch valve, and an air conduit, preferably a flexible tube, that passes through the valve and extends between the interior and the exterior of the reservoir. The valve thereby interacts with the conduit to partially obstruct air flow through it, so as to maintain a partial vacuum in the upper end of the reservoir as water drains from the lower end of the reservoir.

Abstract: A reinforcing ring loading and confining apparatus is provide for a hole punching and sheet material reinforcing device and includes a reinforcer loader receptacle that accommodates a plurality of annular reinforcing rings. The reinforcer loader has a body portion with a floor and a cylindrical reinforcer guide, open at the top and bottom, projecting up from the floor. A removable bottom panel is mounted to the body portion beneath the floor in alignment with the cylindrical guide. The reinforcer loader is inserted into the reinforcer loader receptacle support so that the loaded stack of reinforcing rings are positioned upon the removable bottom panel directly beneath the punching ram. The punching ram is forced downwardly through the stack of reinforcing rings and has an enlarged punching tip that passes through the central apertures in the reinforcing rings. When retracted, the punching tip lifts the stack of reinforcing rings back upwardly, thereby transferring them onto the punching ram shank.

Abstract: A hole puncher and reinforcer for punching holes in sheets of material and for concurrently applying reinforcement to the sheets of material about the holes punched employs a removable cartridge containing a punch rod upon which a supply of reinforcement rings is mounted. The cartridge fits into a tubular socket located on the stanchion of the puncher and reinforcer frame. The reinforcing rings are mounted on the lower end of a cylindrical punch rod and a pressure plate attached to the punch rod forcefully presses each reinforcing ring in turn against a sheet of material as the cutting edge of the punch rod concurrently punches a hole in the sheet of material. When the supply of reinforcing rings is depleted, the entire cartridge is removed by rotating the punch lever arm away from alignment with the punch rod. A hook on the underside of the punch lever arm engages a lug on the cartridge, and lifts the cartridge out of the socket stanchion to facilitate removal and replacement of the cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for unattended watering of plants over an extended period of time utilizing a watering system that regulates a partial vacuum to control the discharge of water to the roots of the plants. A water reservoir is provided having an encapsulated interior cavity and an exterior exposed to ambient air, and having upper and lower ends. The reservoir is located above the root level of a plant to be watered. At least one drain opening is defined in the lower end of the reservoir. The upper end of the reservoir is closed and is provided with an adjustable valve, preferably a pinch valve, and an air conduit, preferably a flexible tube, that passes through the valve and extends between the interior and the exterior of the reservoir. The valve thereby interacts with the conduit to partially obstruct air flow through it, so as to maintain a partial vacuum in the upper end of the reservoir as water drains from the lower end of the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for unattended watering of plants over an extended period of time utilizing a watering system that regulates a partial vacuum to control the discharge of water to the roots of the plants. A water reservoir is provided having an encapsulated interior cavity and an exterior exposed to ambient air, and having upper and lower ends. The reservoir is located above the root level of a plant to be watered. At least one drain opening is defined in the lower end of the reservoir. The upper end of the reservoir is closed and is provided with an adjustable valve, preferably a pinch valve, and an air conduit, preferably a flexible tube, that passes through the valve and extends between the interior and the exterior of the reservoir. The valve thereby interacts with the conduit to partially obstruct air flow through it, so as to maintain a partial vacuum in the upper end of the reservoir as water drains from the lower end of the reservoir.

Abstract: An article of bedding, such as a sleeping bag, is constructed so as to allow a user to selectively and alternatively control the insulating properties of the covering structure over the user's feet. Specifically, the lower portion of a main cover layer of a blanket or main sleeping bag cover is provided with an overlying top covering layer. Also, a slit is defined transversely across the lower portion of the main covering layer between about one foot and about three feet from the foot extremities of the blanketing layers. The user selectively inserts his or her feet either beneath both covering layers, or through the slit in the main covering layer. When the user's feet are inserted through the slit, they are covered only by the top covering layer below the slit. Preferably, the foot extremities of the top covering layer and the main covering layer are provided with an open-mesh ventilating panel therebetween.

Abstract: A reinforcement ring applicator for sequentially applying a plurality of reinforcement rings about prepunched holes in a sheet of paper employs a removable and replaceable cartridge containing a stack of reinforcement rings releaseably attached to the lower end of a plunger. The cartridge is equipped with a pressure pad or plate for exerting downward pressure on the stack of reinforcement rings, a collar secured to the top of the pressure pad and releaseably coupled to the plunger, and a central core. The lower extremity of the cartridge core has a plurality of outwardly directed toes that support the stack of reinforcing rings from beneath. The upper portion of the core has a plurality of barbs inclined downwardly and outwardly. With each downward stamping action of the plunger, the core is forced incrementally upwardly, thus releasing the lowermost reinforcement ring which is applied by pressure sensitive adhesive to a sheet of paper about a prepunched hole therein.

Abstract: Methods for generating F(ab?)2 fragments from antibodies using thermolysin as well as F(ab?)2 fragments and compositions comprising F(ab?)2 fragments generated by the method are described.

Abstract: A reinforcing ring applicator is provided to receive cartridges of reinforcer rings for applying flat, adhesive-coated annular reinforcement rings onto sheets of material about perforations which have been formed in the sheets of material. The reinforcer ring cartridge is a disposable item comprised of an annular backing member releaseably attachable to the reinforcing ring applicator. A reinforcing ring mounting post is frictionally engaged in a central aperture in the annular backing member. The reinforcer mounting post has a cylindrical, corrugated exterior surface and a lower tip formed with a plurality of separate, downwardly and radially inwardly directed, resilient deflectable fingers projecting therefrom. A plurality of flat, annular reinforcing rings are stacked one atop another and are releaseably and frictionally engaged with the mounting post by the corrugations thereof.

Abstract: An external counterpulsation apparatus including a plurality of inflatable devices including a proximal inflatable device and a distal inflatable device and a source of compressed fluid in communication with the inflatable devices. A fluid distribution assembly distributes compressed fluid to the inflatable devices. A first sensor provides a systolic waveform and a controller is in communication with the fluid distribution assembly and controls inflation and deflation of the inflatable devices based on an approximation of an aortic valve closure. The controller adjusting the inflation of the inflatable devices to inflate the distal inflatable device when a pulse generated by inflation of the distal inflatable device arrives at the root of the aorta at approximately 25 to 50 percent of a pulse amplitude from end diastole to peak systole in a descending portion of the systolic waveform. Methods are also provided for the treatment of heart failure.

Abstract: An external counterpulsation apparatus includes a treatment table and a fluid distribution assembly operable to apply pressure to patient limbs. A first microprocessor controller disposed in the housing unit processes patient treatment data and controls application of pressure through the fluid distribution assembly. A second microprocessor controller external to the housing unit communicates with the first microprocessor controller and outputs data to a human operator. A variable frequency drive device cooperates with the first microprocessor to vary generation of a compressed fluid and distribute the compressed fluid at a flow rate corresponding to the patient treatment data. The fluid distribution assembly includes a plurality of inflatable devices interconnected with a plurality of valves, which deliver a variable flow rate of compressed fluid to the plurality of inflatable devices.

Abstract: A unitary external counterpulsation apparatus includes a curvilinear bed supported by a frame housing and fluid distribution assembly and control module. The bed includes a concave upper portion, a convex lower portion, and a saddle point therebetween. The fluid distribution assembly interconnects a plurality of inflatable devices adapted to be received about the lower extremities of a patient and a compressed fluid source. The control module controls distribution of compressed fluid from the source to the inflatable devices. Variable flow-rate valves optimize distribution of the compressed fluid.

Abstract: An all-in-one external counterpulsation apparatus and method for minimizing end diastolic pressure that includes an internally housed fluid distribution assembly interconnecting a plurality of inflatable devices adapted to be received about the lower extremities of a patient and an internally housed compressed fluid source to be distributed by the fluid distribution assembly to the inflatable devices. The apparatus includes a curvilinear table with apertures adapted to provide communication between the inflatable devices and the fluid source.