Abstract: A preformed metacarpal fracture brace is provided in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. The brace comprises a one-piece semi-rigid molded outer shell contoured to conform to an outside portion of a wrist and hand of a wearer. The outer shell may comprise a proximal section adapted to immobilize the wrist in an extension position and a distal section extending at an angle to the proximal section and adapted to immobilize at least the fourth and fifth metacarpals of the hand in a functional position at that angle. A soft inner shell may be applied to an inside portion of the outer shell. A plurality of straps connected to the outer shell may be provided to secure the brace onto the wearer.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting a surgical saw blade to a housing of a surgical instrument. The connector assembly allows a surgeon to align, insert and lock the surgical blade in the collet of the surgical instrument without any special tools, and further provides a stable and robust platform for mounting the surgical saw blade thereto. The connector assembly includes a cam lever assembly for allowing the user to apply a clamping force to the surgical saw blade with minimum actuation force.

Abstract: An ankle-foot orthosis having a structural frame formed from at least one layer of fabric impregnated with a hardened structural resin. The frame includes at least one anterior support member that extends downwardly from an upper leg engaging portion to define an anterior ankle portion which extends to a medial portion connected to a foot plate.

Abstract: A dynamic trunk positioning device comprises a frame adapted to be removably mounted to an operating table. A number of pads are provided for engaging the trunk of a patient. Each pad is independently adjustably mounted to the frame for movements along three independent directions in order to permit 3-D manipulation thereof by a surgeon either before the surgery while a patient is being positioned or during the surgery when additional corrective forces on the patient's thorax are needed, thereby providing not only for stable positioning of the patient on the operating table but also providing for active application of individual corrective forces at different locations on the patient's trunk.

Abstract: A mouthpiece assembly for use in detecting impact forces on the neck and head of a user is disclosed. The mouthpiece assembly includes sensors which determine linear and rotational impact forces on the user. The mouthpiece assembly includes a mouth guard having a channel sized to receive the upper teeth therein. A raised dome portion extends from the mouth guard and is adapted to be positioned adjacent the roof of the mouth. The sensors are located in the raised dome portion and the mouth guard or in other locations of the mouthpiece if mouthpiece sensors are required. An indicator is provided to provide a visual and/or audible indication when the magnitude of an impact exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wrist apparatus for handling a bowling ball. The apparatus comprises a hand plate to which is affixed a strap controller which clamps the back of wrist to the hand plate efficiently by tightening the strap with fixed and rotating rollers placed on each side of the hand plate, respectively; a rotating angular mechanism which includes a projection placed on both top and bottom of the hand plate to allow the user to pre-select accurate angles of disposition between the hand plate and the wrist plate; an angular control gauge with a sill to make the angular control easy for moving upward and downward; and a fixed roller of wrist strap placed on both sides of the wrist plate where the hand plate is connected to; thus, enabling the user to adjust the wrist support to a comfortable position for both hands.

Abstract: A disposable plug has a mask with an orifice aligned at the entry into the ear canal when the plug is inserted into the ear. A sealed envelope has a leading elastic tip that extends forward of the orifice into the ear canal and a trailing reservoir that extends rearward of the orifice. A super-cooled liquid salt substantially fills the envelope. The envelope is sized to contain a sufficient quantity of the liquid salt to deliver heat to the inner ear at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time period. A convex disk in the reservoir can be manually popped to concave after the tip of the envelope has been inserted into the ear canal to shrink the reservoir and expand the tip into deeper extension into and compliance with the ear canal and to activate solidification of the liquid salt to generate heat into the ear canal.

Abstract: An orthopedic splint for a patient having a limb including an upper limb, a lower limb, and a joint therebetween, and being useful for therapeutically stretching the soft tissue of the limb. The orthopedic splint includes a flexible support member having a distal end and a proximal end thereof. A first contact pad is rotatably attached to the proximal end of said flexible support member and is disposed for distributing load to the underside of the upper limb. A second support pad attached to the distal end of said flexible support member is disposed for distributing load to the underside of the lower limb; and, a third support pad is attached to a fulcrum disposed near the center of the flexible support member and being disposed for distributing load to the topside of the upper limb and in close proximity to said joint. Accordingly, the orthopedic splint provides therapeutic traction to the limb while placing the limb in a self-aligning suspension sling arrangement.

Abstract: A patient with a dislocated hip lies on a planar pad having side rails along which slides a frame having upright members on each side of the pad and a horizontal member connecting the top of the upright members. A first winch mounted on an upright member controls cables connected to a mid-portion of a leg sleeve on the patient to lift the patient's leg. A second winch mounted on the same upright member controls cables connected to a top portion of the leg sleeve to pull the patient's hip outwardly to a normal position in the hip socket.

Abstract: An ankle-foot orthosis for relief of a patient from orthopedic dysfunctions comprising, in combination, a shoe and a brace assembly. The brace assembly comprises a leg member and a pair of opposed upright members. The leg member is constructed and arranged such that portions of the inner surface of the leg member complementarily conform to portions of the rear and sides of a patient's lower leg. Each upright member of the pair of upright members is connected to the leg member and extends downwardly from the leg member to a distal end. The support brace further comprises means for resiliently connecting a portion of the support brace to the upper portion of the shoe. In use, at least a portion of the distal ends of the upright members is inserted into a portion of the heel portion of the shoe between sides of the shoe and the patient's foot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loader device, for dispensing implantation seeds from a seed magazine and, optionally, a spacer magazine.

Abstract: The present invention is a unique device for ensuring side sleeping to alleviate snoring. It is more dependable and comfortable than any previous invention for remedying snoring and mild sleep apnea. It lessens airway blockage caused by collapse of the soft throat tissues and the back of the tongue due to gravity by preventing a person from sleeping in the supine position where the worst snoring occurs. The design of the present device is fundamentally different from all prior art invented for this purpose. The present invention comprises an elongated polyurethane foam diaphragm with compressible, preferably polyethylene foam, stop blocks attached to its outer surface at opposite lateral sides, all contained in a fabric main enclosure which is wrapped around a person's body. Cushion sleeves of the same or similar material, containing polyurethane foam pads, are attached to each lateral side of the fabric main enclosure and joined together at the front of the person's body by Velcro or other positive means.

Abstract: A brace for supporting the ankle or foot of a wearer includes: (a) at least two layers, an inner one of the at least two layers being included of an elasticized, close-fitting material, an outer portion of the layers being included of a supportive, yet flexible, protective material; and (b) at least four splints attached to the outer layer portion, with a first, generally L-shaped one of the at least four splints having its longitudinal axis over the wearer's fibula, the first, fibula splint extending along an outside side of the brace; a second, generally L-shaped splint having a longitudinal axis leg portion over the wearer's tibia, the second, tibia splint extending along an inside side of the brace, the inside side of the brace being opposite the outside side of the brace; a third, Achilles tendon splint extending in a generally vertical direction at a rear of the brace over the wearer's Achilles tendon, the rear of the brace being between the inside side and the outside side of the brace; and a fourth

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of localizing a deviant region in a turbid medium. The invention also relates to devices for carrying out such methods. Said methods can possibly be used in optical mammography where a breast of a female body is examined by means of light. Said methods produce images in which any deviations, for example tumors, can be clearly recognized. This is achieved inter alia by providing markers (10) in an image (9) of the turbid medium.

Abstract: A multi lumen endotracheal tube having a balloon cuff to seal a patient's trachea during intubation. The ET tube having a main lumen for the exchange of respiratory and medicinal gases consequent to a medical procedure, a secondary lumen for inflation of the balloon cuff, and a tertiary lumen for transmission of sound waves via air medium contained therein, permitting ausculatory monitoring of a patient's breath sounds during intubation and subsequent monitoring of cardiac and respiratory activity after sealing of the ET tube. The ET tube is particularly a adapted for utilization by an anesthetist by including temperature sensor to permit remote monitoring of body core temperature and body cavity ausculation of cardiac and respiratory activity.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a measuring an analyte in a biological fluid of an animal. A harvesting device (10) is provided suitable for positioning on the surface of tissue of an animal to harvest biological fluid therefrom. The harvesting device (10) comprises an analyte sensor (50) positioned to be contacted by the harvested biological fluid and which generates a measurement signal representative of the analyte. At least one attribute sensor (40) is provided to measure an attribute associated with the biological fluid harvesting operation of the harvesting device (10) or the assay of the biological fluid, and which generates an attribute signal representative of the attribute. Adjustments are made to operational parameters of the harvesting device (10) based on the one or more attributes.

Abstract: An arm sling assembly is disclosed for supporting at least one of the arms of a patient in an angled orientation against the torso. The assembly includes a sleeveless vest dimensioned to be worn on the torso of the patient. The vest is openable at the front to facilitate donning of the assembly. Moreover, attached to the one or both of the front portions of the vest is an arm support cuff. In particular, the support cuff is stitched to the front left or right portion of the vest along vertically spaced upper and lower attachment zones and is detached from the front portion between the zones so as to define an open-sided arm passageway in which the arm is inserted and supported. An alternative embodiment is also disclosed wherein the arm cuff is adjustably and removably attached to the vest at the upper attachment zone.

Abstract: A condom applicator supports a condom in a substantially unstretched condition until just before use, and then expands the cross-section of the condom.

Abstract: Flow-regulating members are described that include a primary channel and a plurality of secondary channels. The primary channel defines a primary channel orifice in the flow-regulating member and the plurality of secondary channels define a plurality of secondary channel orifices in the flow-regulating member. The plurality of secondary channel orifices are located along a common periphery of the flow-regulating member, such that an axis passing through the primary channel orifice intersects a plane containing the common periphery at a unique point. At least two of the plurality of secondary channel orifices have different cross-sectional areas. At least one of the plurality of secondary channels intersects the primary channel. Expansion devices containing these flow-regulating members are also described, as are vapor compression systems containing expansion devices, and methods of operating vapor compression systems.

Abstract: An apparatus, and method of use thereof, for storing, transporting and deploying multiple restraint system components is provided. The inventive apparatus consists of two trays composed of flexible materials. The first tray is configured for storing wrist and ankle restraint systems, the second tray, smaller than the first tray, includes a top-mounted compartment for storing a multi-point restraint connection system. The storage compartment of second tray is secured to the tray by releasable connectors, and is at least partially disengaged to receive the various components of the multi-point restraint connection system, and releasably secured thereafter. The connection system is stored in such a manner as to partially display a portion of each system component outside of the storage compartment, with each portion oriented toward its eventual deployment area once the second tray is placed on the structure on which the EDP will be restrained.