Abstract: A device incorporating a transparent nipple mold (1) with a sealing flange (2) attached to a valve and syringe port (3). With the device held on the breast, over the nipple areolar complex, air can be withdrawn and the inverted nipple sucked up into the mold (1). Periodic use stretches up the short lactiferous ducts.

Abstract: Ring has serpentine connecting portions between parallel plates on which a plurality of protuberances are formed on the inner surfaces of the plates. The ring promotes the circulation of blood by accupressuring a finger by means of protuberances.

Abstract: An adjustable pressure relief valve has a movable valve closure member with a spring applying a closing force. An adjuster can set the size of this closing force. Pressure responsive means applies an opening force corresponding to a fluid pressure. This pressure responsive means includes a plurality of pressure sensors which can be respectively connected to one or more sources of fluid pressure. Each of these sensors is adapted to apply an opening force to the closure member which has a respective different relationship to the pressure of the source connected thereto. The relief valve opens when the opening force matches the closing force applied by the spring. The different pressure sensors allow the valve to open in response to any one of a range of different pressures.

Abstract: A surgical drape for use in surgery upon an upper extremity, in which a patient is placed upon an operating room, or OR, table and one of the patient's arms is laid out roughly perpendicular to his or her body on a hand table placed next to one side of the OR table. The drape comprises an OR table portion, formed of fabric, large enough to entirely cover the patient and to have peripheral edges which hang down around the OR table's circumference at least two feet below the table's top surface. The drape also includes a hand table portion, formed of fabric, large enough to cover the top of the hand table and to hang down around all the sides of that table which are not adjacent to the OR table at least one foot below the hand table's top surface. The drape includes-means for joining the OR and hand table portions, so the hand table portion sticks out from a side of the OR table portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for cycling the lower back of a person through a substantial range of lordosis. The apparatus includes a substantially static structure adjacent to the back of a person and a force applying apparatus disposed between the static structure and the back of the person. The force applying apparatus includes a back engaging surface cyclically movable to increase and decrease the distance between the static structure and the back engaging surface so as to cycle the lower back through the range of lordosis. A transducer has an output responsive to the force between the back engaging surface and the lower back and the output of the transducer is utilized by the force applying apparatus to control the force applied to the back. Timing circuitry provides a force increasing period to increase the force applied to the back up to a preselected maximum and a force decreasing period to decrease the force on the back.

Abstract: A medical appliance for intermittent compressive excitation of body tissue in the region of a proximal joint provides relief of pain and/or swelling at or near the joint. Specifically, a sleeve or wrap of the involved joint, wherein the sleeve or wrap has certain directionally oriented features of relative flexibility, retains an inflatable bag near the joint, and a relatively non-stretch circumferential tie surrounds the sleeve and is, at least in part, in register with the retained flexible bag. Apparatus is provided for rapid transient inflation of the bag, followed by relaxation for a predetermined period of time prior to initiation of the next such pulsed inflation. Various forms of sleeve or wrap are described, as are also various forms of inflatable bag.

Abstract: A hand held apparatus particularly configured to derive maximum energy from a tap water supply (typically, .gtoreq.20 pounds per square inch) operating at a low flow rate (typically, .gtoreq.3.0 gallons per minute) to propel a discharge orifice along a travel path while discharging a water stream of sufficient intensity to impact a user's body to provide a pleasing massage. Preferred embodiments are characterized by a handle housing and a head housing mounted for relative movement with respect to one another for operating an internal mode selector valve. The selector valve directs the supplied tap water to either a hydromassage outlet or a shower spray outlet (e.g., continuous or pulsed spray).

Abstract: A magnetic massage wand apparatus with a motorized revolving wand including magnetic units aligned and spaced to obtain constantly alternating polarity fields at 90 degrees angles about the wand creating a general therapeutic effect of magnetism. The wand is operated by waving or holding it above or near the body tissue, so that blood circulation is effectively enhanced due to the alternating magnetic polarity occurring at a rapid and consistent rate which therapeutically effect blood vessels to increase blood flow irrespective of the orientation of any blood vessel with respect to the magnetic wand or how deep in the body the blood vessel may be.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing force feedback in continuous passive motion systems for use in treating or preventing low back pain. A mechanism adjacent to a static back support is provided to initiate continuous passive motion for the lumbar area in order to produce substantial lordotic motion for the spine. A force measuring apparatus is provided for continuously measuring the force exerted by the mechanism on an individual's lumbar area and a system controls the force exerted by the mechanism in order to build up to and then maintain a predetermined force on the lumbar area of the user. Thereafter, a predetermined time is selected to allow the lordotic position of the spine to be returned to its original state.

Abstract: A massaging rod that is generally Y-shaped with an ellipse end portion at a first end. One side of said ellipse end has a bossed tip and the opposite side has a mallet shape. The opposing end of the rod forms a fork-shape. The first tip of the fork-shaped end has a claw-shape configuration and the second tip is circular. A projected stem member having a circular end is provided at the center of the body. The periphery of the body is rounded to provide a sound massaging effect.

Abstract: A soft splint structure is wrappable around a patient's jointed limb. A plurality of interconnected elongated soft fabric sleeves are flexibly connected at their side edges to form a unitary structure. The sleeves define individual pockets which are partially filled with flowable lightweight expanded foam beads or other material which does not absorb moisture and freely passes air and moisture through the structure. The lightweight structure forms a soft splint which is wrappable around a patient's jointed limb and secured in place with a quick fastening means. The splint is quickly and easily installed and removed. When compressed, the sleeve members resist bending to keep a patient's limb in an unflexed extended position. In an extremely lightweight construction, the structure readily passes air and moisture therethrough and quickly dries in air after washing.

Abstract: An osteosynthesis plate system is particularly well adapted to securely fuse adjacent cervical vertebrae. The plates are for mounting upon the anterior or posterior surfaces of the vertebrae. Plates for mounting on the anterior vertebral surfaces have a concave bone contacting surface and a bone screw locking mechanism integral with each screw hole. Moreover, the bone contacting surface of the plate has a plurality of bone penetrating protrusions to more securely affix the plate to bone. Plates for mounting on the posterior vertebral surfaces also have bone penetrating protections on their bone contacting surfaces. Such plates are formed so as to have a curved bone contacting surface that is concave in the transverse axis of the plate and convex in the longitudinal axis of the plate. The screw holes of such plates are constructed so as to guide a bone screw along a desired angle to improve the anchoring of the screws in bone.

Abstract: An air massage device which allows for a uniform massage treatment upon a human body. This is accomplished by having a person lie upon an air-mat divided into three distinct sections, with each section corresponding to either the upper, middle or lower region of the human body. Within the upper and middle sections are a plurality of air-bags which can be inflated and deflated independently of each other. In order to massage one of the regions of the human body lying upon the mat, the air-bags within one of the mat sections are inflated and deflated in such a sequence that an inflation/deflation frequency of all the air-bags contained within that section of the air-mat will be equal over any set period of time. In this manner, a uniform massage is assured as each air-bag within the section will inflate and deflate an equal number of times.

Abstract: A pulse action facial massager apparatus including a headset assembly for mounting to a user's head. A pair of flexible extension fingers extending from opposite sides of the headset assembly each of which is operably coupled to a vibrating device each generating an independent vibrating action. A tip portion of each extension finger is manually movable for selected contact at independent portions of the user's head. Hence, the respective vibrating device transmits the vibrating action thereof along the extension finger to the respective tip portion. Each vibrating device includes a motor that is controlled by an electronic controller mounted on the headset assembly. The controller permits user-variation of the repetition rate and duty cycle of the motors. This permits the user to vary the vibrational patterns produced by the present invention. In an automatic mode, duty cycle is automatically varied by a sawtooth waveform to produce a dynamically changing pattern of massage intensity.

Abstract: A touch activated foot massage device including a housing that has a front portion, back end and side walls. The housing has a top with a plurality of ball chambers and a bottom. Included is a U-shaped cover with an upper portion that has a pair of sleeves that are in communication with the side walls of the housing. A plurality of balls are provided. Each ball has a rigid interior with a crank pin within. Included is a plurality of crank shafts. Each crank shaft has a coupling end, a rotation end and a crank. The crank extends into each rubber ball and is in communication with the crank pin of the ball. Each crank shaft is supported within the housing by a pair of projections. Lastly, a motor is positioned within the front portion of the housing. The motor has a shaft rod with a gear. The gear has a tooth belt that extends around the pulley of each crank shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in surgical hip replacement procedures for ensuring that the replacement hip joint components are properly sized. A flexible measuring cable is attached to the superior eminence of the exposed acetabulum and extended inferiorly to be aligned with a specific point on the femur. A marking indicator carried by the flexible cable is positioned to provide a reference distance between the fixed points on the acetabulum and the femur. Trial femoral implants can be selected to have proper neck length by extending the flexible cable attached at one end to the acetabulum toward the marked position of the femur so that the marked position is aligned with the indicator fixed to the cable. The cable may again be extended between the fixed point on the superior eminence of the acetabulum and the marked point of the femur and greater or lesser length femoral neck components may be selected until the correct length is achieved.

Abstract: An inflatable support is made of a vapour permeable material capable of sustaining an inflated state for significant periods without replenishment so as to provide good pressure distribution whilst allowing breathing to prevent sweating.

Abstract: An anterior spinal fixation device which provides an anterior lumbar and cervical fusion fixation system which has numerous advantages over existing anterior, posterior and lateral implant systems. Anterior (access from the patient's stomach region) lumbar surgery allows the surgeon to remove the entire intervertebral disc, which is not possible during posterior or lateral surgery. Many interbody fusion operations require removal of disc material, insertion of new graft material and fusion of the adjoining vertebrae. This pate and screw fixation invention provides the ability to perform this function. The novelty of this invention includes overall design allowing for multiple fusions, a bicortical fixation system which is achieved by inserting four screws at a 45 degree angle into two cortical surfaces. It also provides structural integrity by placing more friction on the screws which allows for increased pull out strength.

Abstract: A therapeutic wrist device is provided having a body made of foam or other soft material. At least one cavity is provided in the body for housing an electrical vibrating device. Electrical heating elements are also incorporated in the body. A control unit is provided for controlling the vibrating devices and heating elements. The wrist device may be used with a computer keyboard and one mode of operation elevates the side of the keyboard closest to the user so that the keyboard slopes away from the user.

Abstract: A treatment and stimulation device provided as a compact, portable unit having an applicator capable of horizontal and vertical movements for manipulation of the skin and underlying tissue under electronic circuit control. In a preferred embodiment, the applicator is provided with reversible rotation directed against the skin to provide horizontal movement having uneven angles of deflection, and vertical up/down movement is supplied by a solenoid. By virtue of the electronic control, these movements are continuously variable, and can be integrated and finely controlled, to produce any desired physical stimulation effect on the skin and tissue, for medical or cosmetic purposes. The different kinds of receptors in the skin and tissue can be selectively activated, since they are frequency dependent and direction-force dependent.