Abstract: An apparatus for exercising the upper and/or the lower joint of an ankle has a frame which can be placed on the floor or can be mounted on or in a bed and supports an adjustable first support of the lower leg of a patient. The first support movably carries a second support for the foot, and the second support can be moved relative to the first support by two discrete prime movers defining pivot axes one of which can be caused to coincide with the axis of the upper joint and the other of which can be caused to coincide with the axis of the lower joint of the ankle between the lower leg on the first support and the foot on the second support. The operation of each prime mover can be programmed, one of these prime movers can be mounted directly on the first support, and the other prime mover can be mounted on a yoke which is carried by the first support.

Abstract: Apparatus for the exercising of an afflicted elbow and/or shoulder joint, especially for postoperative exercising of such joints, has a carriage which is placed adjacent to the back, chest or side of a patient's torso and is secured to the body of the patient by a strap or pad engaging the non-afflicted shoulder as well as by a lower component including one or more shells or a seat in the hip region. The arm support is attached to the carriage by two motion generating and transmitting units one of which is adjustably secured to the carriage and defines a horizontal pivot axis and the other of which is carried by one unit and defines a vertical pivot axis for the support. The two axes intersect each other in the afflicted shoulder joint. An additional motion generating and transmitting unit can be provided to pivot two articulately connected portions of the arm support in the region of the elbow.

Abstract: A swab of absorbent material, especially for medicinal purposes, which is in the form of a strip which is wound so as to form a plurality of layers with at least the outer edges of the outermost layer of the wound strip being thrust into the center thereof. The lateral edges are folded so as to form an annular pad consisting of a plurality of layers of the material at the respective ends of the swab. To provide for a double layer swab, the strip of material is folded about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strip of material so as to bring the two ends of the strip into substantial alignment with the strip then being wound from the substantially aligned ends toward the fold so that the fold is disposed on the outermost surface of the swab.