Abstract: A unitary ankle supporting and heel cushioning device being an ankle strap attached to a heel cushioning portion which can be worn with or without a shoe. The device allows a portion of the foot to be exposed which allows for activities to be performed which require the grip of a bare foot. The heel cushioning portion may also include a heel plug to provide additional heel cushioning.

Abstract: Hydrogel materials suitable for use in bandages and the like have been made from modified copolymers of poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride). The modifying groups are three to seven carbon amines, amides or alcohols having a terminal vinyl group which may crosslink to other such modifiers or to intermediary difunctional coagents. A method for REDOX initiated crosslinking and continuous casting of the hydrogel, on a support material suitable for employment in a bandage, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An encapsulated gel breast prosthesis and method of manufacturing therefor is provided wherein a nipple/areola member and gelled breast body are disposed within an inner skin and outer skin which define the exterior shape of the breast prosthesis. The nipple/areola member has a shape, color and hardness simulating the natural shape, color and hardness of a human breast. The encapsulated gel breast prosthesis is fabricated by forming an outer skin and an inner skin. The outer skin is shaped to simulate the natural contour of a woman's breast and includes a region corresponding to the nipple and areola of the breast. A nipple/areola member having a shape, color and hardness, which simulates the natural shape, color and hardness of a woman's nipple and areola is disposed between the outer and inner skins which are then sealed together along their peripheries. This forms a capsule with the nipple/areola member enclosed therein.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cushion for absorbing energy to dampen vibration, distribute pressure and absorb shock. The cushion has a deformable polyurethane bladder which defines a chamber adapted to contain a fluid, such as air. A piece of viscoelastic material, such as a highly plasticized PVC gel, may be located inside the bladder so that when air is introduced into the chamber, the cushion is capable of absorbing energy to dampen low amplitude vibration, distribute pressure and absorb high amplitude shock. The cushion has a valve in fluid communication with the chamber for selectively varying the amount of air so that the shock absorbing capability of the cushion may be varied.Various embodiments incorporating the cushion are disclosed, including a removable bicycle saddle pad, a bicycle saddle, a wheelchair seat pad and a cyclist's glove.

Abstract: An electrically conductive shoe insole is disclosed for cushioning a user's foot and for transferring electrical charges from the wearer's foot to a conductive shoe. The shoe insole includes a cushioned layer, which contains an electrically conductive material, and a fabric, which is bonded to the top surface of the cushioned layer by a nonconductive adhesive. The fabric contains a noncorrosive electrically conductive fiber interwoven therein. The adhesive is applied such that the electrically conductive fibers in the fabric contact the cushioned layer. This allows transfer of electrical charges from the fabric to the cushioned layer.

Abstract: An electrically conductive shoe insole is disclosed for cushioning a user's foot and for transferring electrical charges from the wearer's foot to a conductive shoe. The shoe insole includes a cushioned layer, which contains an electrically conductive material, and a fabric, which is bonded to the top surface of the cushioned layer by a nonconductive adhesive. The fabric contains a noncorrosive electrically conductive fiber interwoven therein. The adhesive is applied such that the electrically conductive fibers in the fabric contact the cushioned layer. This allows transfer of electrical charges from the fabric to the cushioned layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cushion for absorbing energy to dampen vibration, distribute pressure and absorb shock. The cushion has a deformable polyurethane bladder which defines a chamber adapted to contain a fluid, such as air. A piece of viscoelastic material, such as a highly plasticized PVC gel, may be located inside the bladder so that when air is introduced into the chamber, the cushion is capable of absorbing energy to dampen low amplitude vibration, distribute pressure and absorb high amplitude shock. The cushion has a valve in fluid communication with the chamber for selectively varying the amount of air so that the shock absorbing capability of the cushion may be varied.Various embodiments incorporating the cushion are disclosed, including a removable bicycle saddle pad, a bicycle saddle, a wheelchair seat pad and a cyclist's glove.

Abstract: An insole (10) for athletic shoes and the like. A first layer (12) of the insole is suitable for disposition toward a user's foot. A second molded layer (14) is comprised of a visco-elastic material. The visco-elastic material typically comprises a plasticizer, and, in minor portion, a resin material, and has the ability to flow, upon exertion of a force thereon, with sufficient elasticity to resume its original shape upon removal of the force. The second layer comprises a lower surface comprising recesses which make up less than 20% of the exterior surface in the absence of deforming forces. The recessed areas function to receive adjacent material of the second layer upon application of pressure representative of the presssure applied by the human foot. A third optional layer (16) of a foamed plastic material may be interposed between the first and second layers.

Abstract: A knee pad for use on a supporting surface, and not attached to a person's knee, to provide support and cushioning to a person's knee. The pad has a lower region having a bottom for contacting the supporting surface, and a contoured upper region for contacting the front portion of the person's knee. The bottom has a frictional surface to resist sliding with respect to the supporting surface. Various properties of the upper region, relating to its contours and fitting with respect to the knee, are disclosed, particularly a concavity in the top of the pad. The concavity may be vacant. The top of the concavity may adjoin the top of the pad. The concavity may have a secondary inner concavity perimeter. The pad may have a plurality of outer perimeters, defining decreasing areas within the perimeters, from bottom to top of the pad.

Abstract: A hot or cold compress a layer of substituted urea/urethane hydrogel material bonded to a porous substrate. The hydrogel material is made up of a high molecular weight polyol, a toluene diisocyanate prepolymer and water. Generally, the water and polyol each comprises between about 40 to 50% by weight of the hydrogel, with the diisocyanate prepolymer making up the remaining 12-16% by weight. The hot or cold compresses of the present invention are formed by preparing the hydrogel material and then placing a porous substrate in contact with the hydrogel prior to the time that gel formation is complete. In this manner, the hydrogel becomes integrally bonded to the porous substrate. Other materials such as terrycloth can be bonded to the porous substrate prior to bonding the substrate to the hydrogel. Articles useful in therapy can then be formed by attaching the edges of the cloth/porous substrate to form the desired object.

Abstract: A lightweight preformed stable gel composition formed by admixing a gel mixture of silicon gels and catalyst with glass microspheres, pouring the mixture into a mold and reacting the mixture. The resulting composition is a preformed stable silicon gel with glass microspheres dispersed throughout.

Abstract: High absorption body powder compositions are provided that contain a mixture of a water absorbent graft copolymer and an organic or inorganic adjuvant sorbent such as talc.

Abstract: Wound dressings having a water absorbent graft copolymer and water mixture are provided for direct application to the wound. The dressings may also be packaged in porous bags which may be directly applied to the wound. Additional components in the wound dressing may include local anesthetics, hormonal compounds, enzymes, antibacterial agents, antifungal agents or silicone compounds.

Abstract: An artificial breast form to be worn externally on the body of a woman, not implanted in the body, constructed from preformed, self-contained, stable gel structure of breast compatible size and shape and covered with a porous elastic fabric cover which does not normally constrain the gel.