Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods which include one or more patches or strips affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The one or more patches or strips may allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches or strips. The one or more patches or strips may be shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomiam glands contained within the underlying region of skin.

The invention provides methods and compositions for sequential dosing of capsaicin to treat knee joint pain in a patient, such as knee joint pain due to osteoarthritis, while minimizing transient burning sensation experienced by patients due to capsaicin administration.

A system that selectively controls temperature within a device such as a neck/head wrap is disclosed. The system can include a pump system having a reservoir that holds a liquid, an element that regulates temperature of the liquid within the reservoir; a pump that draws the liquid from the reservoir; and a distribution manifold attached to the pump hose that receives and distributes the liquid to at least two devices (e.g., cervical collars). The system is also equipped to be selectively monitored, for example, via a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. Moreover, the one or more strips may be configured to emit energy to the underlying region of skin and where the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomiam glands contained within the underlying region of skin.

Selectively controllable apparatus for insertion into an ear canal, and related methods of use and operation for behavioral control. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a body configured for insertion into an ear canal. In one variant, the body includes one or more thermal mechanisms which enable selective increase or decrease of temperature of at least portions of the ear canal so as to implement behavioral control of the user, such as to mitigate cravings for food, alcohol, narcotics, or other potentially deleterious substances. In one variant, a mild nausea or pre-nausea condition is created within the user according to a time-temperature profile so as to induce the aforementioned behavioral modification.

A system and method for stopping nosebleeds quickly and in a sanitary manner. The system comprises a layered bag, a cotton swab, and a disposable container. Within the layered bag is a cushion submerged in water. A water-reactive substance, namely urea, is stored within the cushion, designed to rapidly cool the layered bag after the cushion is ruptured. A method for using the device comprises the steps of attaching the layered bag to the nose bridge of the user and inserting the cotton swab into the nostril. Next, the user activates the urea by squeezing the cushion until the cushion ruptures, thereby dispersing the urea into the water. After the nosebleed stops, the user detaches the layered bag from the face and removes the contaminated cotton swab from the nostril. Next, the user inserts the contaminated cotton swab into the disposable container and then discards the disposable container.