Abstract: Disclosed herein are protective apparatuses for minimizing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases between individuals in close proximity to one another. Said apparatuses may comprise a receiving component comprising a first aperture comprising a series of flanges; as well as a substantially transparent shield component. Protective apparatuses of the present disclosure may be used to protect dentists and other healthcare workers from transmission of infectious agents and likewise may be used to protect patients in the same manner. Also disclosed herein are systems comprising such protective apparatuses installed to a substantially cylindrical suctioning device such as a vacuum hose or operatively attached to an articulating mechanical arm. Also disclosed herein are methods of using such protective apparatuses and systems to mitigate the risk of transmission of infectious diseases between, without limitation, patients and healthcare workers treating such patients.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are protective apparatuses, and associated systems, for minimizing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and/or other infectious diseases between individuals in close proximity to one another including, for example, transmission through droplets projecting from the mouth or nasal region of an infected individual. Said apparatuses may comprise a substantially transparent shield component and a handle component comprising a connecting aspect. The protective apparatuses may comprise light emitting diodes and associated control means. The protective apparatuses of the present disclosure may further comprise a camera communicatively connected to a display screen.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are protective apparatuses for minimizing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases between individuals in close proximity to one another. Said apparatuses may comprise a receiving component comprising a first aperture comprising a series of flanges; as well as a substantially transparent shield component. Protective apparatuses of the present disclosure may be used to protect dentists and other healthcare workers from transmission of infectious agents through aerosols and through transmission of droplets and other bodily fluids that may contain infectious agents and likewise may be used to protect patients in the same manner. Also disclosed herein are systems comprising such protective apparatuses installed to a substantially cylindrical suctioning device such as a vacuum hose or operatively attached to an articulating mechanical arm.

Abstract: A protective apparatus is provided for minimizing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and/or other infectious diseases between individuals in close proximity to one another, such as by transmission through droplets projecting from the mouth or nasal region of an infected individual. The protective apparatus may include a shield component that can be transparent, a handle component with a connecting aspect, light emitting diodes, and a control console for controlling functions of the protective apparatus. The protective apparatus may include a camera communicatively connected to a display screen that can display images captured by the camera.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for minimizing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and/or other infectious diseases between individuals in close proximity to one another. Said systems may comprise a substantially transparent shield component, a chamber component, and a suctioning component. The systems of the present disclosure are intended to remove any SARS-CoV-2 virus and/or other infectious agents that may be travelling within aerosols.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are mechanical collars comprising a first connecting component and a second connecting component adjoined to one another. The second connecting component may comprise two substantially circular passages, wherein the inner diameter of the first substantially circular passage is larger than the outer diameter of the second substantially circular passage. Also disclosed herein are systems for mitigating the risk of transmission of infectious disease, such as in a healthcare provider's office, comprising mechanical collars as described herein, protective apparatuses, and a mechanical arm such as, without limitation, an articulating mechanical arm. Also disclosed herein are associated methods of mitigating risk of transmission of infectious disease utilizing the mechanical collars and related systems described herein.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a myoelectric prosthesis allowing at least partial decoupling of the movement of the at least one electrode from the electrode housing case and from the prosthesis socket through the mounting of the at least one electrode using at least one biasing element. This allows the at least one electrode to be forced into contact with the patient in the target area using a moveable pressure application structure reducing/eliminating socket motion artifacts because the pressure is transferred toward the target area but the at least one electrode is not otherwise constrained to minimise or avoid the at least one electrode being dragged across the target area through the mounting to the prosthesis socket which causes socket motion artifacts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are protective apparatuses for minimizing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases between individuals in close proximity to one another. Said apparatuses may comprise a receiving component comprising a first aperture comprising a series of flanges; as well as a substantially transparent shield component. Protective apparatuses of the present disclosure may be used to protect dentists and other healthcare workers from transmission of infectious agents through aerosols and through transmission of droplets and other bodily fluids that may contain infectious agents and likewise may be used to protect patients in the same manner. Also disclosed herein are systems comprising such protective apparatuses installed to a substantially cylindrical suctioning device such as a vacuum hose or operatively attached to an articulating mechanical arm.

Abstract: A valve has a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a cavity therebetween which receives a valve seat. The valve seat defines a slot which receives a gate. The valve seat is sealingly engaged with the housing, the gate sealingly engages the valve seat and is movable within the slot between an open and a closed position using an actuator. An opening in the housing provides access to the cavity. The valve seat may be removed from the housing through the opening by attaching the valve seat to the gate, thereby attaching the valve seat to the actuator, and withdrawing the gate from the housing using the actuator.

Abstract: A valve has a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a cavity therebetween which receives a valve seat. The valve seat defines a slot which receives a gate. The valve seat is sealingly engaged with the housing, the gate sealingly engages the valve seat and is movable within the slot between an open and a closed position using an actuator. An opening in the housing provides access to the cavity. The valve seat may be removed from the housing through the opening by attaching the valve seat to the gate, thereby attaching the valve seat to the actuator, and withdrawing the gate from the housing using the actuator.

Abstract: A valve has a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a cavity therebetween which receives a valve seat. The valve seat defines a slot which receives a gate. The valve seat is sealingly engaged with the housing, the gate sealingly engages the valve seat and is movable within the slot between an open and a closed position using an actuator. An opening in the housing provides access to the cavity. The valve seat may be removed from the housing through the opening by attaching the valve seat to the gate, thereby attaching the valve seat to the actuator, and withdrawing the gate from the housing using the actuator.

Abstract: System and method for managing devices comprising a memory store having memory locations, wherein each memory location stores one or more attributes associated with one or more devices. Device manager arranged to execute commands to take an action on the one or more attributes stored in the memory locations, and to receive from the one or more devices values of the corresponding one or more attributes. Synchronizer configured to maintain synchronization between the attributes stored in the memory store and the attributes associated with the devices.

Abstract: A valve has a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a cavity therebetween which receives a valve seat. The valve seat defines a slot which receives a body rotatably mounted with in the valve seat. The valve seat is sealingly engaged with the housing, the body rotatably mounted with in the valve seat sealingly engages the valve seat and is rotatably movable between an open and a closed position using an actuator. An opening in the housing provides access to the cavity. The valve seat may be removed from the housing through the opening by attaching the valve seat to the body rotatably mounted with in the valve seat, thereby attaching the valve seat to the actuator, and withdrawing the body rotatably mounted with in the valve seat from the housing using the actuator.

Abstract: A mold for molding an object having a section of increased thickness includes a mold cavity comprising a first zone and a second zone and a means for providing a different thermal conductivity at the first and second zone of the mold cavity.

Abstract: A utensil dispenser including a reservoir that stores utensils and front and rear pedestals in contact with a next utensil. The pedestals contain a plurality of utensils within the reservoir. A gravity feed ramp moves the next utensil to an access port of the utensil dispenser. The utensil dispenser includes an actuator operably connected to a drive pin or other drive mechanism. The actuator is configured to halt a dispensing utensil at a ready position based upon contact between the dispensing utensil and the actuator. In the ready position, a handle portion of the dispensing utensil is accessible via the access port. The drive mechanism is configured to contact the next utensil. The actuator is configured to move the drive mechanism to move the next utensil to clear the front pedestal to release the next utensil from the reservoir onto the gravity feed ramp when the dispensing utensil is dispensed.