Abstract: A prosthesis comprising an elastomeric locking liner sized and configured to surround a limb of a patient about a knee joint, the liner having an inner surface for facing the limb of the patient and an outer surface defining an anterior region and a posterior region which are demarcated by an imaginary plane extending midway between the front most portion and rear most portion of the limb along the length of the limb, wherein the anterior region has an anterior material secured thereto and the posterior region has a posterior material secured thereto and the anterior and posterior materials having equal transverse elongation, and the anterior material having a longitudinal elongation greater than the longitudinal elongation of said posterior material, whereby when said prosthesis is donned onto a limb of a patient over the knee and the limb is flexed about the knee, buckling of the prosthesis about the knee is substantially reduced or eliminated and wherein the distal end of the liner includes an insert membe

Abstract: A method of making an external breast prosthesis by forming an elastomeric skin in the form of a human breast surrounding an inner material such as a silicone gel or hydrogel. The elastomeric skin can be formed from a front skin and a rear skin, and the skins can be made of a soft styrenic elastomer having attributes similar to a gel. At least the front skin is formed by mixing together a polymer, a plasticizing oil and at least one non-volatile additive to form a mixture, heating the mixture, forming the mixture into a front elastomeric skin, and cooling the mixture thereby allowing the non-volatile additive to precipitate to the outer surface of the outer skin to form a cratered outer surface that is substantially soft to the touch and that tends to maintain the skin in a pliable yet pre-defined shape.

Abstract: A prosthesis comprising an elastomeric locking liner sized and configured to surround a limb of a patient about a knee joint, the liner having an inner surface for facing the limb of the patient and an outer surface defining an anterior region and a posterior region which are demarcated by an imaginary plane extending midway between the front most portion and rear most portion of the limb along the length of the limb, wherein the anterior region has an anterior material secured thereto and the posterior region has a posterior material secured thereto and the anterior and posterior materials having equal transverse elongation, and the anterior material having a longitudinal elongation greater than the longitudinal elongation of said posterior material, whereby when said prosthesis is donned onto a limb of a patient over the knee and the limb is flexed about the knee, buckling of the prosthesis about the knee is substantially reduced or eliminated and wherein the distal end of the liner includes an insert membe

Abstract: A prosthesis comprising an elastomeric liner sized and configured to surround a limb of a patient about a knee joint, the liner having an inner surface for facing the limb of the patient and an outer surface defining an anterior region and a posterior region which are demarcated by an imaginary plane extending midway between the front most portion and rear most portion of the limb along the length of the limb, wherein the anterior region has an anterior material secured thereto and the posterior region has a posterior material secured thereto and the anterior and posterior materials having equal transverse elongation, and the anterior material having a longitudinal elongation greater than the longitudinal elongation of said posterior material, whereby when said prosthesis is donned onto a limb of a patient over the knee and the limb is flexed about the knee, buckling of the prosthesis about the knee is substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An air expulsion pump for a prosthetic socket adapted to be worn on a residual limb of an amputee. The pump includes an elastomeric housing which fits snugly in a well defined in the lower end of the socket. The pump is easy to install by simply sliding it into the well. The pump has an upper surface commensurate with the inside surface of the socket in that both surface have the same radius of curvature. The pump includes an elastomeric spring member and two check valves that together with the elastomeric housing exert a continuous vacuum within the prosthetic socket. When donned by the user, the pump provides continuous total contact between the socket and the residual limb of the user as the user ambulates.

Abstract: A prosthesis suspension assembly comprising: a prosthetic socket having an open proximal end and a closed distal end and an interior surface complementally configured to a residual limb of an amputee, an interface or liner for receiving the residual limb and fittingly received in the socket, a distal outer surface of the liner comprises a porous or continuously cavitated, compressible material such as fabric and a proximal outer surface comprising an elastomeric material, a suspension sleeve which seals against the proximal outer surface of the liner and a proximal outer surface of the socket, and a locking pin connected to a distal end of the liner and lockingly retained in a hole in the distal end of the socket and including an air passage therethrough with a one-way valve therein for permitting the exit of air from an interstitial volume occupied buy said compressible material to atmosphere upon ambulation.

Abstract: An external lightweight breast prosthesis comprising an elastomeric polyurethane skin filled with copolymer gel filler comprising a mixture of mineral oil, thermoplastic copolymer and glass microspheres and initially configured to approximate the shape of a natural breast wherein the breast prosthesis can be reconfigured to be customized to the individual wearer by subjecting the prosthesis to heating, reshaping, and followed by cooling until the prosthesis retains its new shape.

Abstract: A prosthetic elastomeric liner, which can be used without lanyards or straps, in which, upon ambulation, perspiration is voided simultaneously with the reestablishment of a vacuum-aided seal without a vacuum pump. The liner's distal tip comprises a buttress anchored sweat port containing a one way valve continuous with a channel passing through the buttress and liner from its inner surface to its outer surface. The sweat port is connected, optionally integrally, to a prosthetic pin which is inserted into a prosthetic limb.

Abstract: A prosthesis comprising an elastomeric locking liner sized and configured to surround a limb of a patient about a knee joint, the liner having an inner surface for facing the limb of the patient and an outer surface defining an anterior region and a posterior region which are demarcated by an imaginary plane extending midway between the front most portion and rear most portion of the limb along the length of the limb, wherein the anterior region has an anterior material secured thereto and the posterior region has a posterior material secured thereto and the anterior and posterior materials having equal transverse elongation, and the anterior material having a longitudinal elongation greater than the longitudinal elongation of said posterior material, whereby when said prosthesis is donned onto a limb of a patient over the knee and the limb is flexed about the knee, buckling of the prosthesis about the knee is substantially reduced or eliminated and wherein the distal end of the liner includes an insert membe

Abstract: A prosthesis comprising an elastomeric locking liner sized and configured to surround a limb of a patient about a knee joint, the liner having an inner surface for facing the limb of the patient and an outer surface defining an anterior region and a posterior region which are demarcated by an imaginary plane extending midway between the front most portion and rear most portion of the limb along the length of the limb, wherein the anterior region has an anterior material secured thereto and the posterior region has a posterior material secured thereto and the anterior and posterior materials having equal transverse elongation, and the anterior material having a longitudinal elongation greater than the longitudinal elongation of said posterior material, whereby when said prosthesis is donned onto a limb of a patient over the knee and the limb is flexed about the knee, buckling of the prosthesis about the knee is substantially reduced or eliminated and wherein the distal end of the liner includes an insert membe

Abstract: Disclosed is a prosthetic elastomeric liner, which can be used without lanyards or straps, in which, upon ambulation, perspiration is voided simultaneously with the reestablishment of a vacuum-aided seal without a vacuum pump. The liner's distal tip comprises a buttress anchored sweat port containing a one way valve continuous with a channel passing through the buttress and liner from its inner surface to its outer surface. The sweat port is connected, optionally integrally, to a prosthetic pin which is inserted into a prosthetic limb.

Abstract: A prosthesis comprising an elastomeric liner sized and configured to surround a limb of a patient about a knee joint, the liner having an inner surface for facing the limb of the patient and an outer surface defining an anterior region and a posterior region which are demarcated by an imaginary plane extending midway between the front most portion and rear most portion of the limb along the length of the limb, wherein the anterior region has an anterior material secured thereto and the posterior region has a posterior material secured thereto and the anterior and posterior materials having equal transverse elongation, and the anterior material having a longitudinal elongation greater than the longitudinal elongation of said posterior material, whereby when said prosthesis is donned onto a limb of a patient over the knee and the limb is flexed about the knee, buckling of the prosthesis about the knee is substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An air expulsion pump for a prosthetic socket adapted to be worn on a residual limb of an amputee. The pump includes an elastomeric housing which fits snugly in a well defined in the lower end of the socket. The pump is easy to install by simply sliding it into the well. The pump has an upper surface commensurate with the inside surface of the socket in that both surface have the same radius of curvature. The pump includes an elastomeric spring member and two check valves that together with the elastomeric housing exert a continuous vacuum within the prosthetic socket. When donned by the user, the pump provides continuous total contact between the socket and the residual limb of the user as the user ambulates.

Abstract: An external breast prosthesis includes an elastomeric skin in the form of a human breast surrounding an inner material such as a silicone gel or hydrogel. The inner material may be of a defined shape or may be amorphous and conform to the shape of the elastomeric skin. The elastomeric skin can be formed from a front skin and a rear skin, and the skins can be made of a soft styrenic elastomer having attributes similar to a gel. The elastomeric skin can be substantially soft to the touch and have an elastic memory that tends to maintain the skin in a pliable yet pre-defined shape.

Abstract: A face-seal interface for a respiratory mask utilizing an elastomer containing precipitated particles on its surface to provide a more comfortable long-term engagement with the skin of a wearer. A particle filled bladder forming the face-seal interface keeps a set shape and improves user comfort.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomers may be manufactured by mixing together plasticizing oil, a triblock copolymer and one or more additives, e.g., an antioxidant, an antimicrobial agent, and/or other additives, to form a mixture which is melted then cooled into the thermoplastic elastomer. During cooling the thermoplastic elastomer may be molded or otherwise formed into any number of articles including, but not limited to, prosthetic liners, prosthetic sleeves, external breast prostheses, breast enhancement bladders, wound dressing sheets, wound dressing pads, socks, gloves, malleolus pads, metatarsal pads, shoe insoles, urinary catheters, vascular catheters and balloons for medical catheters both vascular as well as urinary.

Abstract: A shaving gel applicator includes many different embodiments that include an annular brush, a disc-shaped brush, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart disc-shaped brushes, a pair of straight brushes, a single straight brush, and more. Some of the brushes are mounted for rotary motion and some for reciprocation in a linear motion. Heat is applied to the brushes to heat shaving gel deposited on the brushes. The shaving gel is dispensed from a cartridge that is releasably engaged to the applicator. A detector detects the type of cartridge in use and adjusts the amount of heat to be applied and the brush rotation or reciprocation speed that optimizes the performance of the shaving gel in that cartridge. In alternative embodiments, the gel is heated in a gel pack before it is dispensed onto the brushes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prosthesis suspension assembly, the assembly comprising: a prosthetic liner comprising a distal outer surface comprising a porous or continuously cavitated, compressible material and a proximal surface comprising an elastomeric material; and a suspension sleeve which seals against the proximal surface.

Abstract: An external breast prosthesis includes an elastomeric skin in the form of a human breast surrounding an inner material such as a silicone gel or hydrogel. The inner material may be of a defined shape or may be amorphous and conform to the shape of the elastomeric skin. The elastomeric skin can be formed from a front skin and a rear skin, and the skins can be made of a soft styrenic elastomer having attributes similar to a gel. The elastomeric skin can be substantially soft to the touch and have an elastic memory that tends to maintain the skin in a pliable yet pre-defined shape.

Abstract: An external breast prosthesis includes an elastomeric skin in the form of a human breast surrounding an inner material such as a silicone gel or hydrogel. The inner material may be of a defined shape or may be amorphous and conform to the shape of the elastomeric skin. The elastomeric skin can be formed from a front skin and a rear skin, and the skins can be made of a soft styrenic elastomer having attributes similar to a gel. The elastomeric skin can be substantially soft to the touch and have an elastic memory that tends to maintain the skin in a pliable yet pre-defined shape.