Abstract: An orthopedic brace for treatment of idiopathic scoliosis or curvature of the spine. A brace with an anterior panel and spaced right and left posterior panels, with substantially rigid iliac crest members at each side joining the anterior panel to the respective posterior panels. Adjustable straps are provided for interconnecting the spaced posterior panels, and a flexible pelvic band is carried at the lower ends of the panels for positioning about the pelvis of the wearer. The various additional components may be added to the basic lumbar brace as desired, including a thoracic sling, an anterior sternal upright, a chest band, and a neck band.

Abstract: An adaptive game utilizes a microprocessor for generating a random audible or visual stimulus which must be responded to by a plurality of players. The response generally requires the players to estimate a time interval, a number of events, a tone frequency or the like. The microprocessor then correlates play with one or more players by determining the appropriateness of a player's response, assigning a score to the response and keeping score. In addition, the microprocessor senses the level of skill of the players by observing the score of the highest scoring player and adjusting the level of difficulty in accordance with the value of the highest score.

Abstract: A battery operated portable hydromassage appliance including control circuitry which senses the voltage level of the battery. When the battery voltage is below a predetermined level, the control circuitry automatically shuts the unit off so that the battery may be recharged before irreversible damage to the battery occurs. Also included is a low frequency oscillator which in combination with the low battery detector applies a pulsing input to the motor to turn the pump motor on and off and accordingly create a pulsing effect at the hydromassage appliance output.

Abstract: There is provided an improved patient operated traction apparatus characterized by an articulated frame having a head portion which is pivotally mounted relative to the elongated side rails of a foot portion. The side members of the head portion are pivoted intermediate their ends, thereby providing a projection extending beyond the pivot point and useful as a lever arm for actuating the head portion relative to the foot portion whereby the respective distal extremities are moved in a direction away from each other for applying tension to the patient. Suitable straps are provided at the opposite ends of the apparatus for attachment to the body of the patient.

Abstract: A cleaning device comprises a fluid passage extending through the sheath of a forward view type endoscope and having one end located in the operation section of the endoscope and the other end located in the distal end section of the endoscope; a pump for supplying a fluid through the fluid passage from the operation section; a nozzle disposed in the distal end portion and communicating at its proximal end with said other end of the fluid passage; a reciprocating device for projecting the distal end portion of the nozzle from the distal end of the distal end section and retracting the nozzle into the distal end section; and a nozzle opening which is directed to an observation window provided on the distal end when the nozzle is projected from the distal end and which is closed by the distal end section when the nozzle is retracted in the distal end section.

Abstract: A universal splint for use in immobilizing a body extremity or extremities that consists of a backboard with strap fasteners for securing it across a person's back. The backboard includes an elongate track formed thereacross wherein at least one locking pivot is arranged to travel that is arranged through one end of a first or pivot board. The opposite pivot board end connects through an upper double hinge arrangement to an upper arm board that connects, in turn, through a lower double hinge arrangement to a second or forearm pivot board, which forearm pivot board connects to a forearm board. The upper arm and forearm boards include strap fasteners for attachment to a persons injured extremity. The double hinge and pivot arrangements provide freedom of movement of individual board so as to be capable of being adjusted to a person's injured extremity for splinting that extremity in place, which double hinge and pivot arrangements are individually lockable.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for preventing clouding of an observing window, utilizing heat rays of a light source. A converter is provided near the observing window for changing light into heat and the light is guided to said converter from light transmitting optic bundles. Then, a part of the light is changed into heat by this converter and the observing window is warmed by the heat in order to prevent the clouding.

Abstract: An endoscope having a plurality of observation optical systems comprises an elongated sheath, a distal end section connected to one end of the sheath, an operation section connected to the other end of the sheath, a plurality of optical fiber bundles extending through the sheath, an ocular section provided at the operation section, an observation optical system selecting section provided between the operation section and the ocular section and including a rotary member which holds the proximal ends of the optical fiber bundles and which is rotated to selectively connected one of the bundles optically to the ocular section, and identification mark elements in the fields of view of the optical fiber bundles. Each mark element lies in the field of view of the ocular section while the corresponding optical fiber bundle is optically connected to the ocular section, thus identifying the observation optical system used.

Abstract: A film takeup device for an endoscope comprises a takeup mechanism provided in an endoscope operation section; an operating wire section for transmitting the action of the takeup mechanism to a rolled film received in a distal end portion of an endoscope sheath, thereby feeding the rolled film one frame after another; and a wire length-adjusting unit disposed in the operating wire section and wherein, when the rolled film is attached to and removed from the distal end portion of the endoscope sheath, a connector for connecting the rolled film with the operating wire section is drawn out of the distal end portion of the endoscope sheath due to the wire length-adjusting unit being extended long, thereby enabling the rolled film to be easily and reliably connected to the operating wire section and removed therefrom.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cryosurgical instrument with a probe for cooling limited zones of biological tissues, of which the thermally well-conducting tip has a hollow interior cross-section, into which a supply conduit connects with a constricted exit gap, through which a gas for cooling of the tip by means of the Joule-Thomson effect can be supplied by flow through the exit gap and can be led away therefrom through a coaxial discharge conduit open eventually to the atmosphere, the instrument also being provided with a device for control of the temperature of the probe tip.

Abstract: A chair intended for therapeutic use has integral seat, back and leg support zones mounted for rocking movement between limiting positions defined by the surface on which the chair stands. The back support zone is formed with a hump positioned to project the lumbar region of the user upwardly relatively to the rest of his spinal column. The back zone terminates in a head portion that is adapted to position the head of the user correspondingly to the pattern of his projected lumbar position. The distance from the seat zone center of the seat portion to the end of the head portion is approximately 900 mm and to the center of the lumbar support zone approximately 600 mm. The leg and back zones are inclined to each other at about 150.degree..

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for use in the correction of spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, by posterior surgical procedures. It has been a problem to achieve secure hooking attachment to either laminae or transverse processes due to transverse and angular displacements of the individual vertebrae; and it has been a problem to provide adequate rotational forces for correction of rotational deformities. The present invention solves these problems by the use of a carrier (88) and a hook (90) that is attached to the carrier (88) by a spherical surface (102) of an attaching portion (100), and by the use of an angular pull carrier (182) that increases the rotational correcting force of a hook (90). The principle uses of the invention include orthesis and prosthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved laryngoscope with a mounting for the incandescent lamp which permits its easy removal for replacement purposes. In one embodiment the lamp can be removed upwardly from the handle of the laryngoscope and in other embodiments it can be removed downwardly with a battery housing located in the handle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic fiber transmission line which transmits light a distance from its source and is terminated, at its light delivery end, by a second fiber optic fiber of a larger diameter than the first fiber. An interlocking connector keeps the first and second fiber in positive contact in an efficient light energy transmission relationship. A plurality of second fibers form a set of tips for use in causing light convergence or divergence at the transmission line output.

Abstract: An endoscope which comprises a distal end portion (14) containing an observation optical system, a flexible tube (10), and a freely bendable section (12). In the endoscope a plurality of supersonic transducers (20) are spatially arranged on the peripheral wall of the distal end portion, and a bend angle control device (100) is further provided which controls the angle through which the freely bendable section is to be bent in accordance with output data from the plural supersonic transducers in order to direct the distal end portion to the substantial center of the cross section of, for example, the large intestine. The distal end portion is automatically directed to the substantial center of the large intestine in order to prevent the distal end portion from forcefully pressing the inner wall of the large intestine.

Abstract: This invention relates to an appliance for correction of spinal curvatures, performed in course of treatment by means of surgical struts.The appliance has a form of a double-arm lever making possible to extend the effective length of the strut placed in the patient's body, whereby one arm of said lever is ended with a holder for clamping the hook of the strut, the other arm being provided with a screw adjusting the spacing of the arms and the displacement of the hook along the strut. This arm is cut longitudinally, one part whereof being provided with a tapped hole wherein said adjusting screw operates, whereas the other part is provided with a port and with a pivot whereon the link mechanism and the pointer of a dynamometer are mounted. The side surface of said arm carries a scale whereover the tip of said pointer travels indicating the value of the force being applied to the operator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a knee brace comprised of upper and lower sections adapted to be hinged at the knee joint of the wearer, the lower section including a rigid brace bar about the front of the tibia and a device for drawing the tibia into a desired position, with the upper section including a drift control device. The knee brace is particularly suitable for use by those with torn or otherwise injured posterior cruciates.

Abstract: The chiropractic table of the present invention includes a base frame, an intermediate frame above the base frame, and a table frame above the intermediate frame. A plurality of independently movable support pieces are mounted to the table frame and extend above the table frame to provide a support surface for the patient. The table may be tilted about a horizontal axis from a horizontal position to a near vertical position. It may also be elevated or lowered when in its horizontal position. One or more of the support pieces include a cock and drop feature which permits the chiropractor to elevate the piece to a predetermined height. The chiropractor then places downward pressure on the patient at a point directly above the support piece which has been elevated. A system of cams and cam followers holds the elevated piece in its upper position until the pressure reaches a predetermined magnitude, at which time the support piece is released and drops to its original position.

Abstract: This invention relates to endoscopes of the kind incorporating a device for measuring the distance between the subject and the objective or objective lens of the optical system of the endoscope.According to the invention the measuring device comprises means for passing two thin and visible light rays along the longitudinal direction of the endoscope, and reflector means for deflecting these light rays at the distal end of the endoscope next to the objective lens of the optical system. The reflector means are spaced apart from each other to form measuring rays the first one of said rays being deflected by deflector means into a fixed and approximately parallel position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the objective lens and the second one of said rays being deflected by a rotatable reflector in a plane of the fixed deflection ray with a variable angle.

Abstract: A suction control device for an endoscope comprises a communication chamber communicating with a channel of an endoscope; an air chamber provided in the communication chamber and opening to the atmosphere; a communication hole connecting both chambers; a slider slidably disposed in the communication chamber and urged normally to such position as not to close the communication hole; a lid converting the slider; and a suction pipe communicating with the air chamber.