Abstract: A medical bandaging product that includes a flexible medical material including an elongate fabric, a reactive system, and microspheres. In certain aspects, a component of the reactive system is homogeneously impregnated into or coated throughout the flexible medical material without being encapsulated in the microspheres such that the reactive system remains stable and non-activated in the absence of an activating agent, and hardens upon activation by exposure to the activating agent to form a rigid, self-supporting structure. In this aspect, the microspheres are homogeneously impregnated into or coated throughout the flexible medical material, the microspheres encapsulate an activating agent and are configured to release the activating agent to form the rigid, self-supporting structure.

Abstract: An undergarment for use with a cast tape to form a hip spica cast, such as a pantaloon-type hip spica cast. The cast includes at least one layer of a 3D spacer synthetic padding material formed into a fabric of monofilament yarns and fabricated into an anatomically correct undergarment structure for being positioned around a torso and residing directly against the skin of a hip spica cast patient.

Abstract: A method of constructing a total contact cast, that includes the steps of wrapping a lower leg with foam from above the malleoli to mid-calf, covering the foot and lower leg with stockinette; covering the foot and ankle with cast padding, and applying cast tape to the leg over the previously-applied foam and allowing the cast tape to harden. A foam pad and lateral and medial malleolar pads are applied to the leg section of the cast and a foot and ankle positioning device is applied to the leg, and cast tape is applied over the lower leg and foot and allowing the cast tape to harden. A walking support is applied to the foot. A foot and ankle positioner for a total contact cast is also disclosed.

Abstract: A water resistant article for positioning on an appendage to be treated comprises a knitted body constructed from synthetic yarns is provided, wherein each of the synthetic yarns comprise a bundle of substantially parallel fine monofilaments.

Abstract: An orthopedic padding including an elongate spacer fabric having spaced faces interconnected and separated by an intermediate spacer area, the spaced faces having a knitted construction different from a knitted construction of the intermediate spacer area, and the elongate fabric constructed at least in part of hydrophobic monofilament yarn knitted in an open construction for breathability.

Abstract: An adjustable orthostatic intolerance garment formed of a knitted spandex powernet construction in order to provide compression when on the leg, and including legs and a torso portion that extends upwardly into the abdominal area below the pectoral muscles; and a respective pair of elongate panels that are retained in place by attaching elements, and that are introduced into or removed from the garment to increase or reduce compression on the wearer's body as desired.

Abstract: A medical bandaging product including a sealable enclosure and a resin-impregnated substrate including a knitted fabric layer having upper and lower surfaces with interconnected knitted fabric yarns knitted such that at least one yarn extends across a gap from the upper surface to the lower surface along a width of the substrate in a back-and-forth pattern forming a single, integrated three-dimensional structure, wherein the at least one yarn extends between non-adjacent needle positions in a back-and-forth pattern in successive courses to provide a continuous pattern on both the upper and lower major surfaces of the substrate, wherein needle bed gap spacing is between 7.1 mm and 8 mm and a total thickness of the substrate is between 4.75 mm and 4.90 mm.

Abstract: A therapeutic medical garment having a variable pressure profile along its length, and including a knitted tubular body and a knitted anti-slip portion formed proximate one end of the tubular body with an inner surface adapted for residing against a wearer's skin. The knitted anti-slip portion includes at least first, second and third yarns simultaneously knitted to form a repeat having a raised surface texture on the inner surface of the anti-slip portion. One of the first, second and third yarns is a low-friction yarn, and two of the first, second and third yarns are high-friction yarns knitted to reside on and form the raised surface texture on the inner face of the anti-slip portion. A fabric construction and a method of forming a fabric construction are also disclosed.

Abstract: A therapeutic medical garment having a variable pressure profile along its length and includes a knitted tubular body and a knitted anti-slip portion formed proximate one end of the tubular body with an inner surface adapted for residing against a wearer's skin. The knitted anti-slip portion includes at least first and second high friction yarns simultaneously knitted to form a repeat having a raised surface texture on the inner surface of the anti-slip portion. One of the first and second high friction yarns is a low-elasticity yarn, and at least one of the first and second high-friction yarns is knitted to reside on and form the raised surface texture on the inner face of the anti-slip portion.

Abstract: A low density fabric substrate for a medical bandaging product. The substrate has a plurality of longitudinally-extending voids formed in the fabric for permitting water penetration through the fabric thickness from one of the major faces to the other major faces. A reactive system is impregnated into or coated onto the substrate and remains stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardens upon exposure to sufficient moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure. A soft, flexible protective material covers at least one of the major faces of the substrate along its length to provide a cushioning barrier between the substrate and the skin of a patient when the material is in use.

Abstract: A multi-phase orthopedic system including a moisture-impervious sleeve, a moldable splint including a covered resin-impregnated substrate, an elongate removable wrap for retaining the splint on the limb, and a removable cast for application to the limb during a subsequent treatment phase including a cast body having an interior side and exterior side, and a flap carried by the body and movable between an open position, and a closed position overlying a part of the cast body to be applied to a treatment area of the limb, the flap adapted to cover and retain between the cast body and the flap the splint worn by the patient during the initial treatment phase in the same position as the location of the splint during the initial treatment phase. A method of immobilizing a limb in multiple treatment phases utilizing the multi-phase orthopedic system.

Abstract: A moisture-resistant multi-phase orthopedic system and method including a single layer, three-dimensional knitted fabric having an open structure for providing enhanced moisture transfer from the skin outwardly into the atmosphere and a flap carried by the body and movable between an open position and a closed position overlying a part of the cast body to be applied to a treatment area of the limb. The flap is adapted to cover and retain between the cast body and the flap the splint worn by the patient during the initial treatment phase in the same position as the location of the splint during the initial treatment phase.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy bandage including a three-dimensional knitted fabric formed of fibers that are moisture resistant and that define an exudates transport layer for transporting wound exudates away from a wound. The bandage may further include a non-adherent material adapted for preventing the exudates transport layer from adhering to the wound during therapy.

Abstract: A medical bandaging product including a sealable enclosure and a resin-impregnated substrate including a knitted fabric layer having upper and lower surfaces with interconnected knitted fabric yarns knitted such that at least one yarn extends across a gap from the upper surface to the lower surface along a width of the substrate in a back-and-forth pattern forming a single, integrated three-dimensional structure, wherein the at least one yarn extends between non-adjacent needle positions in a back-and-forth pattern in successive courses to provide a continuous pattern on both the upper and lower major surfaces of the substrate, wherein needle bed gap spacing is between 7.1 mm and 8 mm and a total thickness of the substrate is between 4.75 mm and 4.90 mm.

Abstract: A device for assisting in opening and closing a zipper is provided. The device includes a body having first and second diverging guide channels having mutually oriented guide angles for receiving the respective zipper tracks for sliding, non-interlocking movement of the zipper tracks through the guide channels in advance of the zipper slider for reducing the closure angle of the zipper tracks in advance of the zipper slider to correspond to the guide angle of the guide channels, and a handle carried by the body for permitting manual pulling movement of the body along at least a portion of the length of the zipper and generally positioned in a coextensive orientation in relation to a pull tab of the zipper slider such that an operator can simultaneously grasp the pull tab of the zipper slider and the handle while sliding the zipper slider in the closing direction.

Abstract: A medical bandaging product, including a non-woven, fibrous, flexible medical material adapted for being applied and conformed to a body part to be supported, and a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto the medical material. The system remains stable when maintained in a non-activated condition in the absence of an activating agent, such as water, and hardens upon activation by exposure to the activating agent to form a rigid, self supporting structure. An enclosure is provided within which the medical material is maintained against exposure to the activating agent until use. The product may be in pre-cut shapes or in roll-form for cutting off a desired length for a given use.

Abstract: A moisture-resistant multi-phase orthopedic system and method including a single layer, three-dimensional knitted fabric having an open structure for providing enhanced moisture transfer from the skin outwardly into the atmosphere and a flap carried by the body and movable between an open position and a closed position overlying a part of the cast body to be applied to a treatment area of the limb. The flap is adapted to cover and retain between the cast body and the flap the splint worn by the patient during the initial treatment phase in the same position as the location of the splint during the initial treatment phase.

Abstract: An orthopedic padding including an elongate spacer fabric having spaced faces interconnected and separated by an intermediate spacer area, the spaced faces having a knitted construction different from a knitted construction of the intermediate spacer area, and the elongate fabric constructed at least in part of hydrophobic monofilament yarn knitted in an open construction for breathability.

Abstract: A multi-phase orthopedic system including a moisture-impervious sleeve, a moldable splint including a covered resin-impregnated substrate, an elongate removable wrap for retaining the splint on the limb, and a removable cast for application to the limb during a subsequent treatment phase including a cast body having an interior side and exterior side, and a flap carried by the body and movable between an open position, and a closed position overlying a part of the cast body to be applied to a treatment area of the limb, the flap adapted to cover and retain between the cast body and the flap the splint worn by the patient during the initial treatment phase in the same position as the location of the splint during the initial treatment phase. A method of immobilizing a limb in multiple treatment phases utilizing the multi-phase orthopedic system.

Abstract: A device for assisting in opening and closing a zipper including a body having first and second diverging guide channels for receiving respective zipper tracks for sliding movement along the diverging guide channels and for progressively interconnecting the tracks at a predetermined mutually oriented angle of closure, a connector carried by the body for connecting the body to the zipper slider, and a pull for permitting manual pulling movement of the body.