Abstract: A patch for at least partially reducing at least one of pain, swelling, inflammation and irritation in at least one body part of a user is provided. The patch includes at least one cloth layer having the propolis composition embedded therein. The patch includes a first plastic layer disposed immediately against a first side of the at least one cloth layer, and a second plastic layer disposed immediately against a second side of the at least one cloth layer opposite the first side, such that the at least one cloth layer is sandwiched between the first and second plastic layers. The propolis composition is configured to at least partially reduce at least one of perceived pain, swelling, inflammation and irritation when the patch is applied to the at least one body part. Related methods of use and/or manufacture for such a patch are also provided.

Abstract: The Utility Electronic Precious Gemstone Type And Quality Detector (Utility Gem Tester) is a simple, portable, rugged and dependable hand held device that identifies gemstones and rates a gemstone's quality using an internal tabulation of the gemstone's wide spectral response to ultra violet irradiation. The device contains a low power UV LED and a multichannel photodiode array for a wide band spectral analysis of a gemstone's response to the impinging UV laser beam. The spectral analysis is then compared with the internal tabulation of spectral fingerprints of known gemstones and an analysis is visually displayed. The Utility Gem Tester is intended to fill the needs of amateur (gemstone) rock hunters and jewelry kiosk personnel in identifying the various marketable precious stones.

Abstract: A synergistic improvement of a precious metal assaying device with its associated electronic decoding algorithms further employing a precise feed of an electrolyte from a disposable flexing cartridge and through porous media for conveying electrolyte to create a reproducible electrochemical contact by a wetting action between a reference electrode in the assaying device and an external specimen under test where the electrolyte is passed through a novel slit diaphragm permitting efflux of electrolyte and reflux of unused electrolyte that results in a self-cleaning flush of the assaying device. The synergistic slit diaphragm permits the flow of electrolyte from the flexing cartridge in response to the positive pressure and the cleansing return of unused electrolyte on negative pressure of the cartridge, thereby solving a contamination problem which was a major shortcoming in such assaying devices.

Abstract: A DYNAMIC PRECIOUS METAL ASSAY DEVICE is described which is based on the methodology of the parent patent DYNAMIC PRECIOUS METAL ASSAY METHOD, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,999 and achieves a highly accurate gold assay with a range extended to over 24 karats. The specified device requires a manual expulsion of a small amount of electrolyte from a disposable cartridge into a miniature galvanic cell which is formed at the lower tip of the device pencil. Placing the said tip against a gold specimen under test, thereby wetting it, and then by initiating the charging cycle and interpolating algorithm in the external electronics results in a professionally accurate assay of the gold specimen under test. The superior performance of this device is attributed to the novel replaceable electrolytic cartridge and miniature galvanic cell which wets a specimen through a porous interface. This improved device is very stable, rugged and is easily maintained.

Abstract: A DYNAMIC PRECIOUS METAL ASSAY DEVICE is described which is based on the methodology of the parent patent DYNAMIC PRECIOUS METAL ASSAY METHOD, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,999 and achieves a highly accurate gold assay with a range extended to over 24 karats. The specified device requires a manual expulsion of a small amount of electrolyte from a disposable cartridge into a miniature galvanic cell which is formed at the lower tip of the device pencil. Placing the said tip against a gold specimen under test, thereby wetting it, and then by initiating the charging cycle and interpolating algorithm in the external electronics results in a professionally accurate assay of the gold specimen under test. The superior performance of this device is attributed to the novel replaceable electrolytic cartridge and miniature galvanic cell which wets a specimen through a porous interface. This improved device is very stable, rugged and is easily maintained.

Abstract: The invention relates to substitutes of real gems for the purpose of calibrating of commercial diamond testers and for verification of their correct operation. Suggested apparatus consists of a set of objects, which are made of cheap materials like brass, stainless steel, and electrically conductive rubber, and which exhibit combination of thermal and electric conductivities typical for diamonds and their popular imitations like moissanites, cubic zirconia, and others.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices which exhibit some physical properties, namely thermal conductivity and electrical resistance of diamonds and their popular imitations, and method for manufacturing and usage of such device. These physical properties of gems are usually used by commercial gem testers for the purpose of distinguishing true diamonds from the fakes. The imitations are made of inexpensive metals, like brass and stainless steel, and conductive plastics, and can replace more costly diamonds and other gems, like moissanite, white sapphire, and others for the purpose of verification of correct operation of gem testing devices.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for determining the assay of gold alloy. It utilizes a dynamic electrochemical process. The specimen gold is wetted by a described electrolyte, and a small current anodizes the surface of the specimen for a metered period of time. A potential sensing device is then applied to the charged surface, and a potential decay is observed. The potential decay information is compared with empirical data and by interpolating said potential decay with the empirical data a determination of the karat quality of the gold alloy may be determined. This same method may be used for other precious metals, employing different electrolytes, empirical standards, and potentiometers.