A method of treating a spinal disk according to the present invention can include inserting an alloplastic bulking agent into the spinal disk to treat the defect. The alloplastic bulking agent has a plurality of microparticles and a suspending agent comprising hyaluronic acid. The bulking agent results in at least one of sealing the defect, increasing a pressure of the disk, increasing a height of the disk, improving stability of the disk and improving structural integrity of the disk.

Described are oxygen control systems that utilize compressed air or oxygen. The oxygen control systems may include a control device having a first inlet that enables the flow of a supply gas from a high pressure gas source at an input pressure into the control device. The control device also includes a second inlet that enables a flow of atmospheric air into the control device and an outlet in fluid communication with the first inlet and the second inlet. The control device also includes a pressure regulator that is operable in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the pressure regulator reduces input pressure of the gas to a first outlet pressure at the outlet, and, in the second mode, the pressure regulator reduces the input pressure of the gas to a second outlet pressure at the outlet that is greater than the first outlet pressure.

Disclosed is a headgear-type device for hazardous air quality warning and air quality improvement, wherein the device can collect biometric information of a worker, wired and wireless communications, and information about the quality of outside air around the worker so as to warn the worker of a hazard or improve air quality at the site. The headgear-type device for hazardous air quality warning and air quality improvement according to the present invention may comprise: a headgear-type biometric sensor which comes into close contact with the head of the worker so as to sense biometric information of the worker and thus allow measurements of the worker's physical conditions; a terminal which is wiredly or wirelessly connected to the headgear-type biometric sensor so as to transmit and receive the biometric information; and a server which receives the biometric information from the terminal, calculates, on the basis thereof, whether the biometric information is in a normal condition range, according to a program, and when the biometric information is not in the normal condition range, issues a warning to the worker by transmitting a warning state to the terminal.

A device for enhancing efficiency of an air mask (204) wearable by a user to cover the mouth and nose of the user includes an elongated chamber (202) fluidly couplable at a proximal end thereof to an air opening (205, 205′) of the mask (204). A filter element (206) formed of flexible material is wrapped around a sidewall of the chamber either internally or externally and has a surface area that is at least twice as large as that of the mask for filtering air flowing through the chamber in either direction, and a one-way valve (227, 228) is mounted in association with the opening for allowing filtered air inhaled by the user to pass from the chamber to the mask or for allowing an air exhaled by the user to pass from the mask to the chamber.

A sensing element includes a substrate including an electrically non-conductive surface, at least one high surface energy region, and an electrode pair structure disposed on the electrically non-conductive surface. The electrode pair structure includes at least one pair of electrodes having a gap therebetween. At least one of the electrodes is at least partially within the at least one high surface energy region. The sensing element is configured to sense fluid-soluble particulate matter.

A sensing element includes a substrate including an electrically non-conductive surface, at least one high surface energy region, and an electrode pair structure disposed on the electrically non-conductive surface. The electrode pair structure includes at least one pair of electrodes having a gap therebetween. At least one of the electrodes is at least partially within the at least one high surface energy region. The sensing element is configured to sense fluid-soluble particulate matter.

Provided is a powered air blower unit for delivering air flow to a user with constant air flow or varying speeds of air flow. The air blower unit may also include a filter for purifying the air.

This invention is a smart face mask with a transparent portion which covers a person's mouth, at least one impellor-driven air filter, and at least one passive air filter, wherein the air filters are in fluid communication with the space between the transparent portion and the person's mouth. Air can be drawn into the mask through the impellor-driven air filter primarily by the impellor, but air flows into or out of the mask through the passive air filter due to the person's respiration.

This invention is a smart face mask with a transparent portion which covers a person's mouth, at least one impellor-driven air filter, and at least one passive air filter, wherein the air filters are in fluid communication with the space between the transparent portion and the person's mouth. Air can be drawn into the mask through the impellor-driven air filter primarily by the impellor, but air flows into or out of the mask through the passive air filter due to the person's respiration.

An air delivery system for delivering a pathogen-free airflow can include an air intake manifold, a sterilizer unit with a tank and at least one ultraviolet (UV) unit, a cooling unit with at least one cooling manifold and at least one heat exchange unit, and a user output. The air intake manifold, the tank, the at least one cooling manifold, and a user output can be in fluid communication in that general order. The at least one ultraviolet (UV) unit can be mounted within the tank, with the at least one UV unit configured to generate ultraviolet light to promote killing of pathogens. The at least one heat exchange unit is configured to cool the outbound air flow to a temperature suitable for breathing by a user and to heat an incoming air flow in the air intake manifold.