Abstract: In an example, a urine collection device includes a covering defining a recessed receptacle and a fluid collection assembly positioned in the recessed receptacle. The fluid collection assembly includes (i) a foam sleeve including a bore, (ii) a shape retaining element positioned in the bore of the foam sleeve and defining a passage, and (iii) a tube extending through the passage defined by the shape retaining element. The shape retaining element can conform the fluid collection assembly to a curved configuration and maintain the curved configuration of the fluid collection assembly until the curved configuration is adjusted. The urine collection further includes a top sheet coupled to the covering. The top sheet and the covering define an internal chamber of the urine collection device. The top sheet is configured to draw urine into the internal chamber and toward the fluid collection assembly.

Abstract: A pessary for the prevention of preterm birth, and in particular two pathological conditions of pregnancy known as isthmico-cervical incontinence and cervical shortening, both of which are associated with increased risks for pregnancy loss and/or premature deliveries of babies. The pessary includes a sleeve supported within a ring by an annular member. The sleeve is intended to contact the cervix and maximize the length of the cervix while the annular member and ring contact the vagina. The pessary may be fabricated from a pliable medical-grade silicon, and the pessary may include one or more sensors to measure various patient parameters indicative of a premature cervical contraction.

Abstract: A recto-cystocele device to address rectocele and cystocele disorder is described. The device generally comprise a handle and a paddle that are distinguished from one another by a bend in the recto-cystocele device which forms essentially an L-shaped unit, the bend possessing a sufficient radius to avoid contact with a pelvic region of the woman and the recto-cystocele device. The device further comprises an expandable sheath located on the paddle that after being inserted in a vagina of the woman and is expanded therein is in contact with at least an upper portion of the vagina that includes a posterior fornix of the vagina and a lower portion of the vagina that does not include the posterior fornix. The handle, which does not go into the vagina, is adapted to be manually manipulated by the woman to translate directional pressure against the posterior fornix and the lower portion of the vagina via the expandable sheath when expanded.

Abstract: A thin disposable insert for adherence onto the crotch portion of a female undergarment for reducing pressure otherwise transferred from the undergarment to the external genital organs of the female is referred to as a panty guard. An anatomically correctly shaped pelvic organ support included within or adhered to the panty guard provides three dimensional support to the pelvic floor of a female. The pelvic organ support and the thin disposable insert provide a barrier between the female pelvic organs and abrasive fabrics of the undergarment. The pelvic organ support provides a porous space between tight-fitting non-breathable undergarments and the genitalia of the wearer, allowing air to flow across the wearer's skin. The panty guard with a pelvic organ support to prevent infection, lacerations, pelvic floor prolapse, and incontinence.

Abstract: A thin disposable insert for adherence onto the crotch portion of a female undergarment for reducing pressure otherwise transferred from the undergarment to the external genital organs of the female is referred to as a panty guard. An anatomically correctly shaped pelvic organ support included within or adhered to the panty guard provides three dimensional support to the pelvic floor of a female. The pelvic organ support and the thin disposable insert provide a barrier between the female pelvic organs and abrasive fabrics of the undergarment. The pelvic organ support provides a porous space between tight-fitting non-breathable undergarments and the genitalia of the wearer, allowing air to flow across the wearer's skin. The panty guard with a pelvic organ support to prevent infection, lacerations, pelvic floor prolapse, and incontinence.

Abstract: Medical devices and related methods are disclosed for delivering an implant into the body of a patient. The devices include a damping assembly having an internal chamber with a varying inner diameter, and a piston slideably disposed therein. The piston is operably connected with a catheter portion such that movement of the piston is associated with concurrent movement of the catheter for implant delivery. The varying inner diameter of the damping assembly results in a decrease in damping force during implant delivery, thus providing a substantially constant velocity of implant delivery.

Abstract: A female condom has a pouch with an open end, a closed end, and a tubular body extending longitudinally therebetween. The female condom also includes an anchor attached to and outside of the closed end of the pouch.

Abstract: A pessary having a substantially flat, circular, flexible head substantially rigid across its diameter, compressible through operation of an attached manipulation apparatus. The pessary may include a lock to hold the head in a desired shape and an irrigation channel to permit cleansing of the vagina and pessary.

Abstract: An adjustable and re-usable lower leg orthosis apparatus (10) including a calf unit (11) and a foot unit (12) adjustably connected to one another by a connector brace unit (13) to accommodate patients having different leg and calf configurations.

Abstract: An improved, lightweight and removable leg walker is provided for stabilizing and rapidly healing lower leg injuries of a patient. The injured limb is disposed in a removable inner ankle bootie whose interior is partially covered with inflatable support bladders. While the foot is secured within the booties, it is then inserted into and additionally supported by a removable soft goods-type support. The soft goods-type support is securely attached to a walker frame by a combination of strap fasteners with Velcro attachments. Inflatable bladders are located along the inner surfaces of two strut bases and raised heel strip. A tongue portion of the soft goods-type support also includes an inflatable bladder which provides additional support to the injured limb. These inflatable bladders encourage proper circulation from the lower leg to the heart. The walker frame comprises a pair of strut bases and struts in order to prevent inversion and eversion of the ankle.

Abstract: An orthopedic support including a layer of cushioning material is attached to the bottom surface of the arch portion of an article of footwear so that virtually all of the support for a wearer's foot is provided by the arch portion.

Abstract: An improved prophylactic/contraceptive device is provided for preventing conception and for protecting the vaginal cavity and passage against venereal infection. In particular, the device is preferably composed of a flexible pouch-like member having cap-like portion end fittable over the entrance to the cervix. In addition, detachable tie means and the like are preferably included for anchoring the opposite open end of the pouch-like member to the body and thereby preventing dislocation of the device because of thrusting movement within the vaginal passage.

Abstract: The padded boot means of this invention includes a padded boot having a first base portion, and having rearward and forward ends, and upper and lower surfaces. A secondary base portion is secured to the lower surface of the first base portion and is secured to the forward and rearward ends thereof to create a pocket there between. A supporting element such as the foot rest of a wheel chair, or a pad element, is adapted to be inserted into the pocket to support the patient's foot. The boot has lateral side portions which overlap on the upper portion of the patient's foot. Attachement means are provided for securing the side portions together. Similarly, the boot has a pair of heel flaps which extend from the rearward end of the boot, with the heel flaps being adapted to extend around a patient's heel. Attachment means serve to secure the heel flaps together. The boot has an outer surface comprised of a canvas-like material, and an inner surface comprised of a fleece-like material.

Abstract: A slipper or article of footwear for use subsequent to surgical procedures on the foot in which immobilization is not required. The slipper includes a sole constructed of a semi-rigid material but with sufficient flexibility that a person can still walk in a normal manner. The slipper includes forward flaps which extend upwardly and over the mid-tarsal area with the toes exposed with a rear counter attached to the sole with the area covering the heel and the flaps covering the forefoot being of one-piece construction and provided with a downwardly curved juncture area with straps with hook and loop connections being crossed and connected to the flaps and opposite portions of the counter.

Abstract: A motion limiter (2) for use with a short leg walker (4) includes a threaded shaft (20) passing freely through a hole (42) in a sliding block or guide (36) that is pivotally attached preferably to an upper part (6) of the walker. The lower end (28) of the shaft is preferably pivotally mounted in a recess (34) in the lower portion (10) of the walker and the remainder of the shaft is free to slide within the hole in the sliding block within a recess (26) in the upper part of the walker. The position of stop members (64, 68), threaded to the shaft above and below the block, determine the amount or fraction of the shaft permitted to pass through the hole in the sliding block. As the stop members are positioned along the shaft relatively far apart from one another, a greater length of the threaded shaft is permitted to pass through the sliding block, thereby increasing the range of motion of the walker. Conversely, as the stop members are moved relatively closer together, the range of motion decreases.

Abstract: A walking adapter connectable onto the ground-engaging surface or sole of a surgical sandal. The adapter comprises a rigid, configured support having a generally flat upper surface with adhesive means thereon for attachment transversely onto to the central portion of the sandal sole and a contoured lower surface which downwardly extends to its mid-portion. The mid-portion, relatively narrow and extending along the length of the adapter, is generally parallel to and spaced furthest from the upper surface and having ground-engaging surface texture. Various cross-section configurations and rib patterns are provided and the invention may also be releasably attachable for proper fore and aft adjustment and made lockably rotatable to modify the pivotal axis of the sandal during walking.

Abstract: A cushioned heel inset for an orthopedic, postoperative shoe. The shoe has a lightweight, rigid orthopedic sole with a skid proof outer sole and a cushioned inner sole, the heel of the rigid sole having a recess for inset of a cushioning pad which interfaces the inner sole.

Abstract: A controlled motion ankle fracture walker includes a foot supporting rocker to which the foot of a patient is releasably secured, and a leg support wrapped around the patient's lower leg above the ankle joint. The foot support includes a rigid shell with a curved bottom forming a rocker for rolling contact with the ground to provide a rocking heel to toe motion of the patient's foot during weight bearing. Rigid lateral and medial uprights are rigidly affixed alongside the leg support, and adjustable double action ankle joints pivotly interconnect the bottoms of the uprights with the rigid support arms on the lateral and medial sides of the foot supporting shell. The ankle joints permit adjustable range of motion of the uprights in dorsiflexion or plantar flexion.

Abstract: A shoe for rehabilitation purposes, particularly for wear in connection with foot injuries and/or after foot surgery is designed such that patients with foot injuries or after foot surgery can remove rigid supports like plaster casts, orthotics, or the like, in a short time, enabling them to walk again as soon as possible without fear of additional damage or subsequent injuries. To this end, a shoe is provided with an outsole 6 with a front part 8 that extends from the shoe tip 7, which it upwardly embraces, to approximately the toe base joint. The front part 8 consists of an unprofiled material with a low coefficient of friction and is followed by a profiled outsole part 10 comprised of an abrasion-resistant flexible material. The separation line 11 between the two profiled sections 8, 10 extends diagonally rearward from the medial side of the shoe in front of the big toe ball area to the lateral side of the shoe in front of the small toe ball area.

Abstract: A joint for an orthotic device comprises a pair of pivotally connected members and means for limiting the angle through which the members may pivot, the limit means being adjustable so that the angle through which the members are permitted to move may be adjusted to a predetermined desired value, the joint has been found to be particularly suitable in a hip guidance orthosis.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a shoe, particularly for post-surgery or post-trauma use, intended to be worn by a patient whose ball of the foot is suffering from an injury or from any sort of damage which may be painful, this shoe comprising an upper (1) which is integral with a block sole (2) of which the posterior part is constituted of a heel (3) which is substantially thicker at the front than at the back.In the invention, the block sole (2) comprises a thin anterior part (4) which extends the top part of the heel forward with the same inclination as the latter and which presents larger crosswise and lengthwise dimensions than those of the foot (P). This thin anterior part (4) is practically indeformable lengthwise and crosswise, but can flex in its height in an area (A) situated essentially at the point of the Lisfranc division of the foot, without coming into contact with the ground.

Abstract: An ambulatory brace of the type designed to fit in at least partially enclosing relation about the lower leg and foot of a patient so as to maintain this area substantially immobilized. The subject brace is specifically designed to eliminate all force or pressure being applied to the heel area of the foot so as to allow consolidation or healing of the calcaneum region by maintaining this region substantially free of weight or force being exerted thereon. A support assembly is incorporated into the brace so as to transfer or direct axial load on the brace directly to the tarso-metatarsal region of the foot.

Abstract: A foot splint to be worn following surgery on the metatarsophalangeal area of the foot includes the sole having an upper foot supporting surface and a lower ground-engaging surface, and a leather upper which surrounds and embraces the foot and secures the sole in place. The foot supporting surface of the sole includes a recess or depression underlying a selected one of the metatarsal joints of the foot for floating the selected metatarsophalangeal joint or area. Other areas of the sole are formed with convex portions to place more pressure on the portions of the foot they support, thereby relieving pressure from the area where the surgery took place. In a preferred embodiment the ground-engaging surface of the sole includes an upwardly inclined area substantially underlying the ball and anterior portion of the foot and a substantially flat walking surface underneath the arch and posterior portion of the foot.

Abstract: An orthopedic shoe (88,116) and postoperative shoe (10) are disclosed. The postoperative shoe (10) maintains the foot of the wearer supported on a planar inner sole (12) without flexure of the foot while permitting the shoe (10) to roll, imitating the natural motion of the foot during walking. This permits the wearer to walk in a normal manner while controlling the flexure of the foot to permit the foot to recover from surgery or prevent aggravation of a medical condition. Straps (66,68 and 72-78) are provided to adjustably position the foot on the inner sole (12) so that the metatarsal point (20) of the foot is positioned forward of the fulcrum (16). When the wearer is standing, the weight is distributed between the heel (18) and metatarsal point (20) so that the planar portion (46) of the shoe (10) contacts the walking surface. When weight shifts toward the metatarsal point (20) as in walking, the shoe (10) rolls on the curved portion (48).

Abstract: An apparatus and operating system to be used by a paraplegic or other crippled person has a patient-supporting walker of stable construction, braces extending entirely along the user's legs, a body-supported pneumatic system for alternately moving the legs in a pre-determined manner, and user-operated control means for operating the system.

Abstract: A shoe, more especially for patients having undergone a surgical operation on the fore-foot.It comprises an upper (1) open at the front, this upper being formed from two quarters (2) for wrapping round the rear part of the patient's foot and an inner sole (3) resting on a thick sole (4), substantially higher at the front than at the back.

Abstract: A sole incorporable into plaster cast bandages for the foot, comprising a body 1 of rigid material corresponding substantially to a human foot size and shape. Under the lower surface of the sole are provided three transverse bearing surfaces 2 protruding from the lower surface by at least the current thickness of a walking plaster cast. The plastered bands which form the bandage are put into position around the foot under the sole by passing on either side of and between the downwardly protruding bearing surfaces. A rear lug 4 is provided, having a length substantially equal to the projection of the transverse bands and extending obliquely and toward the outside from the outer lateral edge of the rear portion of the sole heel.

Abstract: A wrap-around protective device for the human toes when the foot is encased in an orthopedic cast comprising; a main part called a wrap, positioned against the outer surface of said cast in a horizontal plane, from one ankle bone foreward, arcing around the toes, and backward to the ankle bone on the other side of said casted foot, located fore and aft by two cross-pieces fastened to said wrap called bows, being of an arcuate shape to fit the contour of the underside of said cast that fit tightly against the front and rear surfaces of the rubber protrusion beneath said cast while the entire unit is removably held firm to said cast by means of laces that are fastened to said toe protector and tied together at the top surface of the part of the cast covering said foot.

Abstract: An orthotic device that includes a boot for immobilizing the ankle and foot against relative movement and holds them in a neutral position of maximal joint congruency while providing a sole having a platform for causing the foot to describe a heel to toe rocking movement such that the leg of the user is flexed at the knee and a pivotting motion is induced at the hip joint during walking.

Abstract: A walking iron for attachment to the lower extremity of a foot or leg cast which bottom supports the limb and enables mobility of an injured person. The walking iron has a fixed, cast-engaging member adjustably connected to a ground-engaging member in such a manner that pivotal and longitudinal movement may be effected therebetween, thereby enabling lateral as well as fore and aft movement of one member respective to the other to be achieved. This expedient provides for center of gravity adjustment between the two members so that the walking iron can be specially fitted to each individual cast in the most optimum manner for each patient.

Abstract: A removable shoe to be worn over a cast that extends over the foot of a person, which shoe provides protection to the cast and by use of a heel wedge preferably inserted in the shoe, and with an area below the main face of the wedge to accommodate the bottom of the cast, provides an improved walking action for the user.

Abstract: An adjustable post-surgical shoe having two sole portions which are slidably connected by a pin and tube means and which has a separate means for securing the sole portions in adjusted positions.

Abstract: An orthopedic shoe with a domical forefoot protective guard to provide a safety zone for the distal portion of the foot. The shoe includes a generally rigid sole, to which the protective guard is attached and which extends about and overlies the dorsum of the toes. Spacer means may be utilized to provide additional forward clearances as may be required in certain deformity corrective surgical procedures.

Abstract: A boot, for use with a surgical plaster of Paris leg cast, comprising a shoe and an upper. The shoe is of rigid sheet material with a pair of wells of similar depth located in the sole and heel portions. The upper is flexible to receive the foot of the cast and the lower periphery of the upper is inturned and fixed at least to the outer periphery of the shoe. In one embodiment the inturned lower periphery of the upper forms a bottom with apertures to receive the wells of the shoe.

Abstract: A toe covering for use with a surgical cast comprising an open ended semi-sock body of knitted textile material, adapted to receive the forward portion of a human foot extending beyond the cast and portions of flexible gripping material spaced around the interior of the body near the open end thereof and fixed to said body. The portions of flexible material are detachably secured to a tape carrying flexible material. The tape is adhesively attached to the periphery of the cast.

Abstract: A toe protector and foot support for an orthopedic cast is provided incorporating a flat elongated tongue for supporting the foot and for facilitating the laying-up of a cast, with a forward portion having an arcuate rim affixed rigidly to the tongue, which rim encircles and protects the toes by extending to the forward part of the foot. A simplified protector and support is provided for interchangeable use with either right or left feet.

Abstract: A walking device for use by a person having an injured foot or ankle comprises a standard reaching from the ground to approximately the waist of the wearer and an elongated knee and shin support extending at right angles to the standard. A strap on the standard encircles the thigh and a strap on the knee and shin support encircles the calf. The upper end of the standard passes beneath a belt which loosely encircles the waist. For ease in sitting, the lower portion, or support piece, of the standard is made so as to be collapsible. In one embodiment, it is hinged to the upper portion, or thigh piece. In a second embodiment, the support piece and the thigh piece are in telescopic relationship. In each embodiment there are releasable locking means for holding the support piece against collapse while walking.

Abstract: A premolded walking cast available in a group of sizes, impervious to moisture, and adaptable to variability in swelling for use with fractures or sprains of the lower leg which is lightweight, easy and quick to apply and remove, which eliminates or reduces the need for crutches and which incorporates a removable walker portion.

Abstract: A cradle assembly including a rigid base supporting at opposite ends thereof a handle including a grasp element attached thereto and a stirrup assembly dimensioned and configured to be disposed in surrounding relation to thecasted limb. A support element is integrally attached in exposed outwardly extending relationship relative to the stirrup assembly wherein relative dispositions between the support element and the stirrup assembly causes a supporting engagement between the cradle assembly and the casted limb for manipulation or orientation of the casted limb by the user thereof through manipulation of the cradle assembly. Connecting straps may serve to attach the cradle assembly to the casted limb so that it may be mounted on and moved with the casted limb if desired.

Abstract: A foot or leg cast comprising a cast boot with a flexible overshoe, the latter being removable from the former at will and being preferably constructed of rubber with reinforced edges, inclined side walls and a rolled sole which includes a flat line diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the foot.

Abstract: A device to assist ambulation. The device includes an arcuate edge whose center of curvature is located substantially at a point of load transfer from the body to the frame of the device. That point moves in the ambulation direction as a consequence of rolling contact of the arcuate edge with the ground. The arc is not necessarily a circular arc. In one embodiment, the load transfer point is at the knee, and the device can increase the stride of a normal leg or can act as a prosthetic substitution for a missing lower part of a leg. In another embodiment, the load transfer point can be at the armpit, and the device becomes a support in the nature of a crutch that renders crippled ambulation surprisingly smooth and stable. In fact, the device is so stable that the user can at least partially be sling-supported by it. In another embodiment, the load transfer point is at the hand, and the device can be used as a cane.