Abstract: A support pillow providing head and neck support to a user laying upon it. The device employs a support pillow insert surrounded by a pillow casing having planar top and bottom surfaces and a sidewall extending between them. An insert engage able in the casing provides substantially planar support surfaces with a centrally located passage providing a relief for positioning one's head on the pillow. Proper support and spine alignment is provided by a shoulder portion of the pillow for the neck which may be formed of different material than the pillow, or varied in with or compressive force using inserts.

Abstract: A lockable walker and a lock for use with a walker the lock including a constricted, U-shaped clasping region, a projection and an abutment shoulder, with the constricted, U-shaped clasping region snap fitting over the front leg or rear leg of a walker and slidably movable along the front leg or rear leg of the walker, so that when the walker is folded up and the lock is moved upward toward a leg extension that forms an offset hinge or pivot connecting the front and rear legs of the walker, a projection member of the lock is inserted into an opening formed by the leg extension and walker legs to thereby locked the walker in a storage position so that the walker legs cannot spontaneously unfold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assay of multiple analytes. The method uses a sensing element comprising a substrate upon which is arranged a multiplicity of recognition elements, such that each element is laid out in a predetermined pattern. Each pattern is unique in that it can give rise to a characteristic diffraction pattern in the assay. The patterns may or may not be interpenetrating on the substrate surface. The method of detecting multiple analytes includes contacting the medium of analytes with the patterned substrate, illuminating the substrate by a light source, and detecting any resultant diffraction image. The pattern of diffraction and the intensity of the diffracted signal provides information about the existence of specific analytes and their quantification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting analytes in a medium, and more particularly the present invention relates to an assay based on light diffraction which appears or changes upon the binding of analytes to their specific receptors laid out in patterns on a substrate, which has high sensitivity due to the appropriate choice of such patterns. The present invention is based on the principle that the pattern of recognition elements, which gives rise to the diffraction of the incident light in a diffraction-based assay, can be chosen in such a way so as to facilitate detection, and to enhance the signal to be detected compared to known gratings such as parallel straight lines. In one aspect the substrate itself has a surface topography designed to enhance the diffraction pattern signals. In another aspect the substrate is a diffractive optic element having the analyte-specific receptors affixed to the optic element.

Abstract: A composite nanoparticle comprising a nanoparticle confined within a cross-linked collapsed polyelectrolyte polymer wherein the nanoparticle comprises a charged organic ion.

Abstract: A lockable walker and a lock for use with a walker the lock including a constricted, U-shaped clasping region, a projection and an abutment shoulder, with the constricted, U-shaped clasping region snap fitting over the front leg or rear leg of a walker and slidably movable along the front leg or rear leg of the walker, so that when the walker is folded up and the lock is moved upward toward a leg extension that forms an offset hinge or pivot connecting the front and rear legs of the walker, a projection member of the lock is inserted into an opening formed by the leg extension and walker legs to thereby locked the walker in a storage position so that the walker legs cannot spontaneously unfold.

Abstract: A method for producing a composite nanoparticle, including the steps of: changing the conformation of a dissolved polyelectrolyte polymer from a first extended conformation to a more compact conformation by changing a solution condition so that at least a portion of the polyelectrolyte polymer is associated with a precursor moiety to form a composite precursor moiety with a mean diameter in the range between about 1 nm and about 100 nm; and cross-linking the polyelectrolyte polymer of the composite precursor moiety to form a composite nanoparticle.

Abstract: A method for producing a composite nanoparticle, including the steps of, collapsing at least a portion of a polyelectrolyte polymer in solution about one or more precursor moieties to form a composite precursor moiety having a mean diameter in the range between about 1 nm and about 100 nm, wherein the polyelectrolyte polymer has an extended conformation in a first solution state and a more compact conformation in a second solution state; and cross-linking the polyelectrolyte polymer of the composite precursor moiety to form a composite nanoparticle wherein the precursory moiety is a charged organic ion.

Abstract: A method for producing a composite nanoparticle, including the steps of, collapsing at least a portion of a polyelectrolyte polymer in solution about one or more precursor moieties to form a composite precursor moiety having a mean diameter in the range between about 1 nm and about 100 nm, wherein the polyelectrolyte polymer has an extended conformation in a first solution state and a more compact conformation in a second solution state; and cross-linking the polyelectrolyte polymer of the composite precursor moiety to form a composite nanoparticle wherein the precursory moiety is a charged organic ion.

Abstract: A method for producing a composite nanoparticle, including the steps of: changing the conformation of a dissolved polyelectrolyte polymer from a first extended conformation to a more compact conformation by changing a solution condition so that at least a portion of the polyelectrolyte polymer is associated with a precursor moiety to form a composite precursor moiety with a mean diameter in the range between about 1 nm and about 100 nm; and cross-linking the polyelectrolyte polymer of the composite precursor moiety to form a composite nanoparticle.

Abstract: A composite nanoparticle comprising a nanoparticle confined within a cross-linked collapsed polyelectrolyte polymer wherein the nanoparticle comprises a charged organic ion.

Abstract: In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material. In various embodiments, the methods comprise (a) providing a polymeric solution comprising a polymeric material; (b) collapsing at least a portion of the polymeric material about one or more precursor moieties; (c) cross-linking the polymeric material; (d) modifying at least a portion of said precursor moieties to form one or more nanoparticles and thereby forming a composite nanoparticle.

Abstract: In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material, said method including (a) providing a polymeric solution comprising a polymeric material; (b) collapsing at least a portion of the polymeric material about one or more precursor moieties; (c) cross-linking the polymeric material; (d) modifying at least a portion of said precursor moieties to form one or more nanoparticles and thereby forming a composite nanoparticle. In various embodiments, a non-confined nanoparticle can be produced by complete pyrolysis of the confined nanoparticle, and a carbon-coated nanoparticle by incomplete pyrolysis of the confined nanoparticle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting analytes in a medium, and more particularly the present invention relates to an assay based on light diffraction which appears or changes upon the binding of analytes to their specific receptors laid out in patterns on a substrate, which has high sensitivity due to the appropriate choice of such patterns. The present invention is based on the principle that the pattern of recognition elements, which gives rise to the diffraction of the incident light in a diffraction-based assay, can be chosen in such a way so as to facilitate detection, and to enhance the signal to be detected compared to known gratings such as parallel straight lines. In one aspect the substrate itself has a surface topography designed to enhance the diffraction pattern signals. In another aspect the substrate is a diffractive optic element having the analyte-specific receptors affixed to the optic element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting analytes in a medium, and more particularly the present invention relates to an assay based on light diffraction which appears or changes upon the binding of analytes to their specific receptors laid out in patterns on a substrate, which has high sensitivity due to the appropriate choice of such patterns. The present invention is based on the principle that the pattern of recognition elements, which gives rise to the diffraction of the incident light in a diffraction-based assay, can be chosen in such a way so as to facilitate detection, and to enhance the signal to be detected compared to known gratings such as parallel straight lines. In one aspect the substrate itself has a surface topography designed to enhance the diffraction pattern signals. In another aspect the substrate is a diffractive optic element having the analyte-specific receptors affixed to the optic element.

Abstract: In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material. In various embodiments, the methods comprise (a) providing a polymeric solution comprising a polymeric material; (b) collapsing at least a portion of the polymeric material about one or more precursor moieties; (c) cross-linking the polymeric material; (d) modifying at least a portion of said precursor moieties to form one or more nanoparticles and thereby forming a composite nanoparticle.

Abstract: In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material. In various embodiments, the methods comprise (a) providing a polymeric solution comprising a polymeric material; (b) collapsing at least a portion of the polymeric material about one or more precursor moieties; (c) cross-linking the polymeric material; (d) modifying at least a portion of said precursor moieties to form one or more nanoparticles and thereby forming a composite nanoparticle.

Abstract: In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material. In various embodiments, the methods comprise (a) providing a polymeric solution comprising a polymeric material; (b) collapsing at least a portion of the polymeric material about one or more precursor moieties; (c) cross-linking the polymeric material; (d) modifying at least a portion of said precursor moieties to form one or more nanoparticles and thereby forming a composite nanoparticle.

Abstract: In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material, said method including (a) providing a polymeric solution comprising a polymeric material; (b) collapsing at least a portion of the polymeric material about one or more precursor moieties; (c) cross-linking the polymeric material; (d) modifying at least a portion of said precursor moieties to form one or more nanoparticles and thereby forming a composite nanoparticle. In various embodiments, a non-confined nanoparticle can be produced by complete pyrolysis of the confined nanoparticle, and a carbon-coated nanoparticle by incomplete pyrolysis of the confined nanoparticle.