Abstract: A shoulder orthosis is provided having an arm support and an optional arm spacer connected to the arm support. The arm support includes an arm retainer and a supportive strapping system. One optional arm spacer includes a pair of individual pillows which are attachably combinable with one another at a first face of the first individual pillow and a face of the second individual pillow to form one combined pillow having a first shape. The individual pillows are alternately attachably combinable with one another at a second face of the first individual pillow and the face of the second individual pillow to form another combined pillow having a second shape different from the first shape.

Abstract: A gas blender with auxiliary mixed gas outlet for mixing a primary gas, generally air, and a secondary gas, generally oxygen, to obtain a mixed gas having several controlled characteristics. The gas blender may be incorporated into a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device. The gas blender controls the mixing to produce the mixed gas having a predetermined mixture setpoint, generally an oxygen percentage, and a predetermined control setpoint, generally a pressure setpoint or flow rate setpoint. The gas blender provides an auxiliary mixed gas source for use by an auxiliary piece of equipment such as a nebulizer or resuscitation bag. The gas blender includes a primary gas inlet passageway, a secondary gas inlet passageway, a gas mixing apparatus, a mixed gas distribution passageway with an auxiliary mixed gas outlet, a gas sensor, a delivery sensor, a mixed gas delivery control valve, a mixed gas controlled passageway, and a controller.

Abstract: A patient's obstructive sleep apnea is treated by identifying a patient with sleep apnea attributable at least in part to movement of a base of a tongue of the patient toward a pharyngeal wall of the patient. The tongue is stiffened by an implant sized to be placed within the tongue. A distal portion of the implant is sized to extend within the tongue from a first end near a mandibular-geniohyoid interface to a second end near a base of the tongue. A proximal portion is attached to the first end and adapted to be secured to a jaw bone of the patient following a period of healing after placement of the implant in the tongue.

Abstract: An automated tissue retention system generally comprises an oral appliance retractably coupled to a covering which is secured to an anterior portion of the tongue. Once placed within a subject's mouth, the appliance may be maintained in a closed configuration while the subject's mouth remains closed. However, as the subject sleeps and the tongue becomes hypotonic, the subject's mouth typically opens during a sleep disordered event. The appliance may be actuated by the separation between the mandible and maxilla to have greater tension and thus retract or pull anteriorly the covering adhered to the tongue. As the covering pulls the tongue anteriorly or maintains a position of the tongue, the base of the tongue may be inhibited or prevented from collapsing posteriorly against the phryngeal tissue walls and thereby allow the subject to breathe normally.

Abstract: A modular splint system having a base for securing to the limb, with various intervening components for joint positioning, with outriggers for mounting various tensioning devices and secured to the base with reclosable fasteners for precise alignment of forces.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ankle orthosis comprising a U-shaped support stirrup made of a flexible material, the sides of which stirrup converge beneath the foot in a web projecting as a tab toward the metatarsus, extend past the bones, and are held together at their end regions by a fastening strap wrapping around the leg. The tab has a convexity, which presses against the cuboid bone of the foot due to a preloading of the tab.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or actuator assembly through a custom-fitted dental appliance are disclosed herein. The customized fitting is done by the user. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded intra-orally on a tooth or oral tissue. The electronic and actuator assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating actuator element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a knee stabilizing brace which is usable regardless of a damaged portion of a ligament of a knee joint.

Abstract: The present invention is thus directed to methods and apparatus for decreasing pressure in a first portion of a vessel of the cardiac structure of a patient by implanting a shunt communicating with an area outside said first portion, whereby a volume of blood sufficient to reduce pressure in said first portion is released. Preferably, the first portion comprises the left ventricle and the pressure reduced is the end diastolic pressure, which is accomplished by having the shunt communicate with the left ventricle so a small volume of blood is released from the left ventricle to reduce the end diastolic pressure.

Abstract: A dynamic hand splint includes as elements thereof: a forearm support section and a hand support section that are configured to be releasably attached to a forearm; and one or more finger tensioners that are releasably attached to the hand support section and that are configured to be releasably attached to a respective finger such that, when the finger is flexed from an extended position toward a flexed position, the finger is urged by the finger tensioner toward an extended position. A method includes: attaching a forearm support section and a hand support section to a forearm; attaching finger tensioners to the hand support section; and attaching each of the finger tensioners to a respective finger such that, when the finger is flexed from an extended position toward a flexed position, the finger is urged by the finger tensioner toward an extended position.

Abstract: A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient which includes the steps of implanting a device into tissue adjacent an airway, the device having a bioerodable material wound around a resiliently deformable body to temporarily maintain the deformable body in a stretched, deformed state, and permitting the bioerodable material of the device to bioerode to apply a force to maintain airway patency. The invention also provides devices for practicing the method.

Abstract: An oral orthosis includes a holder in the shape of a mouthpiece, including a curved arcuate trough-like upper section which receives a formable material. The formable material does not occupy the entire trough but rather includes voids between the formable material and the inner surfaces of trough of the holder to allow expansion of the formable material into the voids during the molding process when tooth pressure is placed on the formable material. This design results in elimination of the excess formable material which otherwise would require removal by trimming. Additionally, the formable material is placed in the trough in a configuration which includes indexing indentations along the centerline of the material, such that, during the molding process, the mouthpiece containing the formable material is easily centered along the edges of the user's teeth to provide a precise fitting.

Abstract: An absorbable and expandable closure member used to occlude or exclude a body lumen or cavity, such as a blood vessel, fallopian tube, duct, aneurysmal sac, etc., comprising a closure member comprising one of more sheets of a biomaterial that are rolled, stacked, or folded to form a multilayer construct of a generally cylindrical configuration for deployment through a delivery system, either as a singularly or part of a multiplicity of closure members. The biomaterial is derived from a source material, such as small intestinal submucosa or another remodelable material (e.g., an extracellular matrix) having properties for stimulating ingrowth of adjacent tissue into the biomaterial deployed within the bodily lumen. The closure member is deployed to the bodily lumen from a delivery sheath, cartridge, and/or over a inner guiding member, such as a wire guide or catheter.

Abstract: A compactable vaginal pessary for managing pelvic organ prolapse is provided. The compactable pessary easily expands once inside a patient's vagina, remaining firmly anchored in the vaginal cavity during movement, thereby effectively countering the effects of any prolapsing organ. In a first embodiment, the vaginal pessary employs an expandable and collapsible frame member, while in a second embodiment; the frame member is an open, substantially cone-shaped, collapsible frame member that is biased to an open position. In a third embodiment, the compactable vaginal pessary is a yieldably extensible, self-retracting pessary. The vaginal pessary of the present invention may be easily inserted and removed by a patient on a daily basis, or as needed, thereby facilitating good hygiene and thus reducing or eliminating common pessary related complications.

Abstract: A spine immobilizer with removable straps for efficiently providing removable straps upon a spine immobilizer for cleaning, maintenance, replacement, or inspection purposes. The spine immobilizer generally includes an immobilizer panel comprised of a semi-rigid structure, wherein the immobilizer panel has a central support, first wings laterally extending from a first end of the central support, and second wings laterally extending from a second end of the central support, a plurality of connectors extending from a back side of the immobilization panel along the first wings and the second wings, and a plurality of strap assemblies removably connected to the plurality of connectors. The plurality of strap assemblies are adapted to removably connect to a correlating strap assembly via a buckle-connector structure and join the first wings and join the second wings of the immobilization panel about a patient.

Abstract: An earplug is provided and includes a tip for use in forward and lateral sealing, which is formed to define a rearward recessed cavity, and a stem. The stem includes a user graspable elongate portion configured with a stiffness in a first direction that is greater than a stiffness in a second direction, which is transverse to the first direction, and a member, disposed at a forward end of the elongate portion and configured to be insertable into the cavity, the member including a surface to be adhered to an interior facing surface of the cavity and on which a channel is defined to allow for outflow from the cavity, and the member being formed with a shape to complement that of the cavity to axially and circumferentially align the tip and the stem.

Abstract: The present invention comprises antimicrobial articles for use with a percutaneous device, comprising a matrix which may contact the percutaneous device in a three-dimensional mode and release antimicrobial agents (e.g., silver ions) to the percutaneous device access site. In addition, the antimicrobial article of the present invention may donate moisture to a dry dermal site (e.g., a dry wound bed) and/or absorb liquid or exudates of a dermal site. The present invention also comprises methods for treating and/or preventing an infection using the antimicrobial articles of the present invention.

Abstract: A foot stabilizing device which can be extended from between a box springs and a mattress of a user's bed to support the user's foot in an elevated position while trimming toenails or donning a sock or shoe, for example and without limitation includes a generally elongated device neck and a device platform carried by and oriented at an angle with respect to the device neck.

Abstract: A traction splint device for providing aid to a person suffering from a broken or fractured lower extremity. The device generally includes a collapsible shaft adapted to be positioned alongside a leg of a patient, a first support connected to a first end of the shaft, and a second support connected to a second end of the shaft. The first support is adapted to be positioned forwardly of a lower end of the leg and includes a center brace having a notch. A plurality of stabilizing straps traverse the shaft and are adapted to constrain the leg. At least one of the straps is adapted to wrap around the notch of the center brace to secure a lower end of the leg and at least one of the straps is adapted to extend through an opening of the second support to secure an upper end of the leg.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of radiation therapy and radiation surgery. In particular, the invention relates to devices and methods for stereotactic medical procedures and it provides for repeated accurate positioning (fixation) of a patient, or a part of a patient, for carrying out medical procedures which are done at different times such as fractionated radiation therapy. Specifically, a patient fixation device for fixating a head of a patient relatively a treatment unit as a preparation for treatment or during treatment of the head is provided. The patient fixation device being is adapted to be attached to a stereotactic frame structure connected to the treatment unit.