Maker

Robert Greenberg got tired of hearing from senior engineers that it wasn't possible to build his product idea: a bionic eye that gives sight to the blind. "A lot of the folks straight out of school didn't know any better, so I hired them instead," quipped Greenberg, chief executive of Second Sight Medical Products Inc., a Sylmar biotech company. "They didn't know how hard it was going to be, that it was impossible. And so they tried. " Greenberg can laugh now that he once thought developing the device would take a year and $1 million.

Altria Group Inc., the largest U.S. tobacco company, said Thursday it will introduce an electronic cigarette this year amid a continuing slump in sales of its top-selling Marlboro brand. Some of Altria's competitors -- including Lorillard Inc., with its blue eCigs brand, as well as smaller rivals such as NJOY -- have been quicker to seize on the rising popularity of e-cigarettes. E- cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat liquid nicotine in a disposable cartridge and produce a vapor that's inhaled.

Heavy-equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. reported a 45% drop in first-quarter profit and cut its full-year outlook amid a slowdown in its mining business. The Peoria, Ill., company said mining companies continue to reduce their spending and new equipment orders remain weak after a surge last year. But Caterpillar said its sales in China increased in the quarter ended March 31, and that it's becoming more optimistic about the U.S. housing sector. "What's happening in our business and in the economy overall is a mixed picture," said Doug Oberhelman, Caterpillar's chairman and chief executive.

Most people have probably encountered Avery Dennison Corp. products without even knowing it. The Pasadena company makes self-adhesive labels used on a wide variety of consumer goods: beer and wine bottles, shampoo and personal care items, pharmaceuticals and food. It also makes labels and tags attached to clothing. You know those annoying plastic fasteners that connect price tags to shirts, dresses and other clothing? Yep, they make those too. "We're everywhere you look, and you don't think about us a whole lot," said Dean A. Scarborough, the company's chief executive.

Toy maker Hasbro Inc. reported modest revenue growth in the first quarter, backed by solid sales of Furby, My Little Pony and Transformers games. The Pawtucket, R.I., company also said Monday that an online contest to create a new token for its iconic Monopoly game was "tremendously successful. " Fans voted to eliminate one of the eight game tokens that players use and create a new one. A cat token beat out a toy robot and a guitar to replace the iron, which had been a staple of the board game since the 1930s.

The names have changed, but the steady production from the Ducks' fourth line hasn't. The Ducks' fourth line has 16 goals through 40 games, an undeniable difference-maker, along with home-ice sharpness, strong goaltending and contributions such as veteran free-agent pickup Radek Dvorak's two goals Monday. After missing the playoffs last season, the Ducks can clinch their sixth trip to the postseason in the last eight years with one point against visiting Colorado on Wednesday night.

Although the recession drove many businesses into bankruptcy, times have been particularly hard for the state's dairy farmers. Almost 400 California dairies have closed in the last five years - 105 in 2012 alone - plagued by soaring prices for feed and an antiquated regulatory system that keeps their prices artificially low, at least in the farmers' view. The right solution for the long term would be to scrap the current approach in favor of a market-based one, but there's little political will to take such a disruptive step.

In college, Christopher J. Reed discovered meditation and healing herbs, including ginger, which became his favorite. So when he went into business for himself, Reed chose to launch a brand of ginger-based drinks. He said he spent hours at UCLA's library researching century-old recipes that would extol the root's health benefits, such as muscle recovery and nausea relief. Some 90 recipes and a messy Venice kitchen later, Reed crafted his first non-alcoholic Original Ginger Brew in 1987.

“Take 500 milligrams of this medicine every twelve hours in combination with amoxicillin and lansoprazole for 14 days. Don't forget it should be taken with food, and I will see you in three weeks.” Ever get a complicated prescription from a doctor? There are apps out there to help you remember to take your medicine. The latest is  Mango Health's iPhone app, designed to make managing medications and nutritional supplements easier, safer and maybe even exciting by using games.

Fantasy owners may build their teams around superstars like Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw, but success often lies in the performance of an unknown commodity. From a minor leaguer about to show off his tools at the next level, to a career backup who finally gets everyday playing time, players ignored on draft day often wind up in pivotal roles. Times staff writer Tim Hubbard takes a weekly look at players, teams and trends that are constantly evolving over baseball's regular season: TIME TO STEAL Matt Harvey SP | New York Mets The 24-year-old right-hander has the ability to anchor a staff for years.