Abstract: A spinal brace having a waist or abdominal portion, a dorsal lumbar insert, shoulder straps, and one or more cable tensioning systems that enables a user to tighten the waist or abdominal portion while at the same time tightening the shoulder straps to encourage extension.

Abstract: An ankle contracture boot having an L-shaped splint having an adjustably positionable abduction bar, and a soft boot that attaches to the splint. The ankle contracture boot includes structure for facilitating desired static positioning of the boot, structure for statically positioning the lower leg relative to the boot, and structure for reducing heel pressure.

Abstract: An inventory management system manages information regarding medical items dispensed to a patient in a medical facility. Inventory sensors sense removal of medical items from an inventory space to be dispensed to the patient. Software instructions associate item information with patient information that identifies the patient, determine billing codes associated with the dispensed items, generate billing information including the patient information and the billing codes, and generate an invoice directed to the patient's medical insurance provider. The instructions also verify that the billing codes are associated with medical items appropriate for treatment of the patient's condition indicated by diagnostic codes included in the billing information, and generate an alert message if the billing codes are associated with medical items that are not reimbursable or are inappropriate for treatment of the diagnosed condition.

Abstract: An apparatus tracks medical items through various transition points in a medical facility and maintains a chain of custody for each item through each transition point, indicating who is responsible for each item at any particular time. The apparatus also generates messages directed to various medical facility personnel who are responsible for the medical items at the various transition points, which messages prompt the personnel to take appropriate action with regard to the medical items depending on the particular transition point.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling negative pressure wound therapy includes a microcontroller that controls means for maintaining reduced air pressure based on a pressure signal from a pressure sensor. The means for maintaining reduced air pressure may include a vacuum pump and valve. The system includes a mobile communication device having a microprocessor, touchscreen display, data storage device, GPS module, and wireless transceiver. The microprocessor generates control signals sent to the microcontroller to control the means for maintaining reduced air pressure to provide continuous or intermittent reduced air pressure. The microprocessor monitors the pressure signal and generates a closed-system alarm, leak-detected alarm or open-system alarm. The closed-system alarm indicates an air pressure leak rate below a closed-system threshold. The leak-detected alarm indicates an air pressure leak rate above a leak-detected threshold and below an open-system threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus senses and records consumption of medical items during performance of a medical procedure. The medical items are enclosed in wrappers having RFID tags in which medical item information is encoded. The apparatus includes a shielded enclosure that attenuates radio frequency signals emanated from RFID tags disposed outside the shielded enclosure to levels that are substantially undetectable within the internal space. RFID antennas inside the shielded enclosure receive radio frequency signals emanated from RFID tags on wrappers that are removed from used items and placed inside the enclosure. An RFID reader decodes the medical item information encoded in the RFID tags. A computer processor executes a medical item inventory module including instructions for generating a post-op list of medical items consumed during the medical procedure. Item billing information and usage trend information may be derived from the post-op list.

Abstract: A cervical collar having a vertically adjustable chin support, the collar including chin support adjustably connected to a collar body having a stop guide, an adjustment member for adjusting the length of a cable trained around a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the cable guide and connected to a cable stop connecting between the collar body and the chin support and movably positionable along the stop guide on the collar body, wherein the length of the cable adjusts the position of the cable stop along the stop guide and adjusts the vertical position of the chin support relative to the collar body.

Abstract: An inventory management system manages information regarding medical items that are stored in storage containers in a storage structure before being dispensed in conjunction with patient medical treatment. The inventory management system includes inventory sensors associated with the storage containers. Each inventory sensor senses removal or addition of medical items to or from the storage containers, and generates corresponding item inventory signals. Inventory indicia devices are disposed on the storage structure, each associated with a corresponding storage container, and each providing a visual indication that a medical item is to be added or removed.

Abstract: An inventory management system provided by an inventory management service provider senses removal of medical items from inventory to be dispensed to a patient. The system processes billing information to identify the patient's medical insurance provider, to identify a medical item supplier that is the preferred biller for the patient's medical insurance provider, and to determine whether the inventory management service provider is the identified preferred biller. If the inventory management service provider is the preferred biller, the system generates an invoice from the inventory management service provider to bill the patient's medical insurance provider.

Abstract: A surgical suction mat for collecting and evacuating surgical fluids, the mat including a foam body having a surrounding border; a series of grooves defined on a first portion of the foam body and located interior of the border and defined substantially across the foam body, the grooves uniformly increasing in depth from adjacent a first side of the border of the foam body to a location adjacent an opposite second side of the border of the foam body, the grooves each being closed at a first end proximate the first side of the foam body and open an opposite second end; a plurality of spaced apart upper surfaces in-between the grooves and being of substantially uniform elevation to permit a relatively uniform and level upper mat surface on which a user can stand; a collection channel defined on a second portion of the foam body, the channel extending substantially perpendicular across the grooves, the collection channel being closed at each end and along one side of its length and the other side of the channel

Abstract: A cervical collar having a vertically adjustable chin support, the collar including a chin support adjustably connected to a collar body, the collar body defining an elongate slot; a cable located on the collar body; a cable stop connected to a distal portion of the cable and connecting between the collar body and the chin support, the cable stop being slidingly positionable along the slot on the collar body; and a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the elongate slot. The cable cooperates with the pulley so that the direction of the cable is changed between the cable stop and a proximal portion of the cable, and movement of the distal portion of the cable adjusts the position of the cable stop along the slot and adjusts the vertical position of the chin support relative to the collar body.

Abstract: An inventory management system manages information regarding medical items dispensed in conjunction with medical treatment of a patient at a medical facility. The system includes a first computer, an inventory access control system, inventory sensors, and inventory applications in communication with the first computer. The inventory access control system receives credential information from a user seeking access to a physical inventory space in the medical facility and controls access to the space. The inventory sensors sense the removal of medical items to be dispensed to the patient, and generate item usage information indicating the identity and quantity of the items removed. The inventory applications associate the item usage information with patient information that identifies the patient to which the medical items are dispensed, thereby generating a record indicating that the items removed from the storage structure have been dispensed to the patient identified by the patient information.

Abstract: A spinal brace having a waist or abdominal portion, a dorsal lumbar insert, shoulder straps, and one or more cable tensioning systems that enables a user to tighten the waist or abdominal portion while at the same time tightening the shoulder straps to encourage extension.

Abstract: A surgical suction mat for collecting and evacuating surgical fluids, the mat including a foam body having a surrounding border; a series of grooves defined on a first portion of the foam body and located interior of the border and defined substantially across the foam body, the grooves uniformly increasing in depth from adjacent a first side of the border of the foam body to a location adjacent an opposite second side of the border of the foam body, the grooves each being closed at a first end proximate the first side of the foam body and open an opposite second end; a plurality of spaced apart upper surfaces in-between the grooves and being of substantially uniform elevation to permit a relatively uniform and level upper mat surface on which a user can stand; a collection channel defined on a second portion of the foam body, the channel extending substantially perpendicular across the grooves, the collection channel being closed at each end and along one side of its length and the other side of the channel

Abstract: An adjustable length brace includes an elongate body encircling portion having a free end having an adjustable length; and an end portion releasably attachable to the free end of the body encircling portion. The length of the brace may be adjusted by adjusting the length of the body encircling portion by adjusting the length of the free end of the body encircling portion, and connecting the end portion to the free end of the body encircling portion to adjust the length of the brace.

Abstract: A cervical collar having a vertically adjustable chin support, the collar including a chin support adjustably connected to a collar body, a cable reel for adjusting the length of a cable, a cable stop connecting between the collar body and the chin support and slidingly positionable along a slot on the collar body and a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the elongate slot. Adjustment of the length of the cable adjusts the position of the cable stop along the slot and adjusts the vertical position of the chin support relative to the collar body.

Abstract: A cervical collar having a vertically adjustable chin support, the collar including chin support adjustably connected to a collar body having a stop guide, an adjustment member for adjusting the length of a cable trained around a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the cable guide and connected to a cable stop connecting between the collar body and the chin support and movably positionable along the stop guide on the collar body, wherein the length of the cable adjusts the position of the cable stop along the stop guide and adjusts the vertical position of the chin support relative to the collar body.

Abstract: A reversible insole for use inside a supportive boot, such as used for protection and support of the lower leg or foot after injury, is disclosed. The insole provides contouring on the opposite surfaces thereof which accommodates similar contours of the human foot. By alternately positioning the insole with the one surface or the other surface upward, a single insole can provide appropriate support for either the left of right foot inside an outer boot, such as a walker boot, that may be symmetrical from medial to lateral side. Such an outerboot may thus accommodate a left or right foot in a single product.