Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods of optical particle counters which account and adjust for the refractive index of the carrier fluid being analyzed. The provided systems are robust and may be implemented in a variety of optical particle counters including obscured light, reflected light, emitted light and scattered light particle counters. The described systems may be useful with any fluid, including gases or liquids. In some cases, the system can account for the differences in refractive index between two liquids, for example, ultrapure water and an acid, such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, acetic, phosphoric, chromic phosphoric, and the like. By accounting for the refractive index of the carrier fluid, the described systems and methods are also more sensitive and able to more accurately detect and characterize smaller particles, including nanoscale sized particles.

Abstract: A flexible foot abduction apparatus allowing movement in a horizontal and vertical plane with an elongated member made of a shape memory material. The elongated bar is shaped such that it has both vertical and horizontal aspects to allow a user to more easily manipulate the apparatus in one or both planes. The elongated member has an original shape which can be selectively forced into a second shape by a user and then return to the original shape.

Abstract: A flexible foot abduction apparatus allowing movement in a horizontal and vertical plane with an elongated member made of a shape memory material. The elongated bar is shaped such that it has both vertical and horizontal aspects to allow a user to more easily manipulate the apparatus in one or both planes. The elongated member has an original shape which can be selectively forced into a second shape by a user and then return to the original shape.

Abstract: A system for connecting parts of a device used to treat club foot. An elongated member is attachable one or more mounting plates. The angle between the elongated member and the mounting plates can be varied by changing a channel of the mounting plates.

Abstract: An AFO for use in the Ponseti method which is bar-less and provides for readily interchangeable structures for providing differing articulation resistance. In one embodiment, the readily interchangeable structure is a flexible member achieving connection between and the majority of the separation between the shoe and the calf engaging structure. In another embodiment, an articulated arm with two rigid segments joined at a spring loaded hinge, with interchangeable spring canisters is used.

Abstract: An AFO for use in the Ponseti method which is bar-less and provides for readily interchangeable structures for providing differing articulation resistance. In one embodiment, the readily interchangeable structure is a flexible member achieving connection between and the majority of the separation between the shoe and the calf engaging structure. In another embodiment, an articulated arm with two rigid segments joined at a spring loaded hinge, with interchangeable spring canisters is used.

Abstract: A model for practicing surgical procedures which involve the cutting of skin and or tendons. A covering representing skin is stretched around a frame. A band can be added which represents tendons or ligaments. An elongated rod assists in maintaining the position of the covering and the band. Once the covering and band is cut, a new covering and new band can be placed on the frame.

Abstract: An improved foot abduction apparatus allowing movement in a horizontal and vertical plane. The embodiments allow a user to more easily manipulate the apparatus in one or both planes through the use of strategically placed pivot points. The device utilizes at least one rigid member attached to coupling devices which contain at least one pivot point. The specialized coupling devices may be selectively attached to shoe receiving member or plates which are well known in the art. Additionally the shoe receiving members are able to receive an improved shoe containing a sole member contained with a silicone boot.

Abstract: An improved foot abduction apparatus allowing movement in a horizontal and vertical plane. The embodiments allow a user to more easily manipulate the apparatus in one or both planes through the use of strategically placed pivot points. The device utilizes at least one rigid member attached to coupling devices which contain at least one pivot point. The specialized coupling devices may be selectively attached to shoe receiving member or plates which are well known in the art. Additionally the shoe receiving members are able to receive an improved shoe containing a sole member contained with a silicone boot.

Abstract: A system and method for comfortably restraining a child's feet undergoing the Ponseti method for treatment of clubfeet, using a foot and ankle abduction orthosis, where the improvement includes a shoe with a single piece sole and quick release slot with an adjustable hinged heel support member, as well as having a soft pliable area around the feet and ankle support with lateral support bands to limit foot plantar flexion.

Abstract: An improved foot abduction brace device in which the shoe are connected by an abduction bar which is a single bar that can be bent by the treating heal care professional to hold the shoes in the desired angles of abduction and dorsiflexion. The abduction bar is bent near the heel portion of the shoe and is made of a material that allows the bar to retain the selected position once bent. However, the bar is sufficiently strong so that the child cannot bend the bar and therefore change the selected angles.

Abstract: A system and method for comfortably restraining a child's feet undergoing the Ponseti method for treatment of club feet, using a foot and ankle abduction orthosis, where the improvement includes a shoe with an integral sole and attachment mechanism, as well as having a soft pliable area around the feet and ankle support.

Abstract: A bubble-forming wand that includes a handle, a loop, and apparatus for attaching the loop to the handle. The loop is flexible and severed so as to from a pair of ends. In a first embodiment, the apparatus includes a tee-fitting. The pair of ends of the loop receive a lateral portion of the tee fitting, respectively, while a proximal end of the handle receives an axial portion of the tee-fitting. In a second embodiment, the apparatus includes a straight-fitting. The pair of ends of the loop receive the straight-fitting, respectively, while the proximal end of the handle is split, wraps around the straight-fitting, enters back into itself, and in so doing, captures the straight-fitting.

Abstract: A toothbrush and dispenser for toothpaste is provided. The toothbrush and dispenser includes an elongated one-piece handle and a plurality of substantially parallel bristles disposed along a side of the elongated one-piece handle proximate a first end orthogonal to a predominant axis of the elongated one-piece handle. The toothbrush and dispenser also includes a toothpaste reservoir disposed within the handle predominantly at a second end of the handle and a toothpaste discharge orifice disposed to discharge the toothpaste from the side of the first end of the elongated one-piece handle among the plurality of bristles. First and second substantially parallel toothpaste passageways are provided which communicates the toothpaste from the reservoir to the discharge orifice.

Abstract: A collapsible machine for exercising the whole body of an exerciser in a wheelchair having wheels that includes a base, a frame, a drive train, lower pivoting apparatus, and upper pivoting apparatus. The base is placed on a generally horizontal surface, the frame is pivotally mounted to the base. The drive train is rotatively mounted to the frame, the lower pivoting apparatus pivotally mounts the frame to the base. The upper pivoting apparatus pivotally mounts portions of the frame to each other.

Abstract: A resonant optical cavity having a laser medium therein is positioned within a specific environment, such as a process and/or harsh environment, and a sensing region, also within the resonant optical cavity, receives light whereby particles at the sensing region affect, as by scattering, light at the sensing region. The affected light is optically collected within the specific environment and optically coupled to a processor outside the specific environment where an output is provided that is indicative of particles detected at the sensing region, including small particles having a size at least as small as about 0.05 to 10 microns. With a solid state laser medium utilized within the resonant optical cavity, the solid state laser medium is pumped by an actuator, such as a semiconductor diode laser, providing a light output that is optically coupled to the solid state laser medium.

Abstract: A razor body for use with a canister which contains aerosol shaving cream. The razor body may is also combined with the canister such that the razor body and canister form a razor system. The canister includes a body with a head formed on a distal head thereof and a neck formed between the head and the body. A shoulder is defined between the neck and the body. The razor body includes an elongated tubular body portion having walls which define an axially elongated cavity therein. A razor support is positioned on one end of the tubular body and a stabilizing structure is positioned on an end opposite the razor support. A plunger is positioned in the elongated cavity. A plunger includes a shaft with a plunger grip at one end of the shaft and a nozzle assembly positioned on the shaft opposite the plunger grip. The nozzle assembly includes a dispensing port which extends through an elongated slot in the wall of the razor body.