Abstract: An orthopedic walker is disclosed that improves comfort and shock absorption during use by incorporating a flexure zone that deflects to ease the forces caused by the heel strike portion of a patient's gait. The flexure zone is created by cutting around the heel on the bottom of the sole to allow for the heel portion to flex. The exterior shell of the walker is may be made of a formable resilient material that when combined with an attached tongue structure reduces a volume of encapsulation of the lower limb. The shell encloses a padding on the inner side that may take the form of air/bladders and/or foam, and tabs on each side selectively engage receiving tabs on the inside lateral and medial side of the base upright portions. A separate tongue structure is used to enclose the foot and is made adjustable using various methods such as slits and novel connectors.

Abstract: A welded orthopedic back brace is disclosed. In an embodiment, at least one belt member is coupled to a spinal support element. The materials of the belt member are thermally fused to form a unitary segment. In another embodiment, an anterior portion of a posterior pad of the spinal support element includes thermally fused materials to provide a user with an added degree of comfort.

Abstract: A welded orthopedic back brace is disclosed. In an embodiment, at least one belt member is coupled to a spinal support element. The materials of the belt member are thermally fused to form a unitary segment. In another embodiment, an anterior portion of a posterior pad of the spinal support element includes thermally fused materials to provide a user with an added degree of comfort.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure describe an orthopedic brace for a portion of a user's upper extremity distal to the elbow. The orthopedic brace includes a body configured to surround said portion of the user's upper extremity. The body includes a first region configured to stabilize said portion of the user's upper extremity. The orthopedic brace includes a second region coupled to the first region. The second region has sufficient elasticity to enable the body to adjust circumferentially to fit said portion of the user's upper extremity.

Abstract: A flexible support including a body configured to provide anatomical support to a user's appendage, and an insert extending along at least a portion of an edge of the flexible support to reduce irritation and fitment discomfort to the user's appendage from the edge.

Abstract: An orthopedic walking boot, comprising a base to support a user's foot, the base having a section configured to support the user's posterior portion of the heel; a support assembly extending from the base to support the user's lower leg; and a heel cushion arranged with said section of the base to engage the user's posterior portion of the heel, the heel portion having a free edge configured to flex.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring the shape of a foot by means of comparing the shape of the foot with the shape of the reference foot. This is done by fitting a reference shoe to the foot, locating the area wherein the foot and the reference shoe do not coincide, selecting appropriate filler units for the located area and attaching the filler unit to a corresponding area of a shoe last and reforming the shape of the reference shoe by fitting the reference shoe to the shoe last. This is repeated until the reference shoe and the foot fit together.

Abstract: A bulk bag discharger is disclosed having an inner product tube for receiving the discharge spout on the bottom of the bulk bag, the tube being housed within an outer chamber that traps and retains foreign material and contaminants that could otherwise fall into the clean product zone. The result is discharge of product from within the bulk bag with minimal contamination from the outer bag.

Abstract: A bag discharge constriction apparatus and method are disclosed in which the extent to which an opening in a bag is constricted is adjustably varied to control the discharge of material from the bag. The apparatus has a first control bar and a second control bar, each defining at least one angular relationship in a corresponding plane. Also disclosed is a means for moving at least one control bar in its associated plane toward and away from the other control bar. The control bars are disposed in opposing configuration such that the combination of the angular relationships forms a predetermined confined shape between the control bars. It is into this predetermined confined shape that the neck of the bag to be constricted is placed and the bars are then moved toward or away from each other to constrict or open the neck of the bag.