Abstract: An orthopedic ankle splint including an elongate body panel adapted to underlie the arch of the foot and extend upwardly from the arch to overlie the medial and lateral sides of the ankle. The posterior side edges of the panel are joined as by an elastic member and the anterior side edges of the panel are joined as by lacing. The central portion of the body panel is cut away to provide a heel opening and to provide for an upward pull on the arch of the foot toward dorsiflexion when the splint is laced to the ankle. Optionally, the splint includes a strap which is releasably anchored at one of its ends to one side of the arch area, extends beneath the arch, upwardly along the lateral side of the foot, overwrapping the superior surface of the ankle, and has its other end releasably anchored to the exterior surface of the splint at a location immediately above the medial malleolus.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for compressing a mass utilizing a plurality of interfitting anvils mounted for movement relative to one another along co-planar paths and include faces which, when the anvils are operatively moved relative to one another, exert compression on a mass positioned between the faces in at least two directions in a plane simultaneously. The faces of the apparatus can be so shaped that the cross section of the mass being compressed is urged toward a shape other than that of a regular polygon. Methods of the invention include the consolidation of a mass of compactable material enclosed within a hollow tube having deformable walls, the extraction of juice or oil from fruit or seeds and the internal fracturing of solids so as to swell materials such as solid rocket propellants.