Abstract: In a surgical retractor having a frame on which at least two retractor elements are mounted, if desired, so as to be displaceable, to enable individual adjustment of the forces exerted by the retractor elements on the surrounding tissue, it is proposed that the frame have at least one support foot which carries attachment means for fixing on a bone.

Abstract: A waterproof enclosure includes a pliable, waterproof, elongated sheath having either a closed end and an open end, or two open ends; and a resilient, waterproof, sealing element associated with each open end. A pliable, waterproof, bellows can be interposed between and contiguous with the end of each sealing element and the sheath. Each sealing element may include a first end that is of smaller diameter than a second end, a frustroconical shape, and ribs. A closed sheath end may have a rough surface to improve traction. A gas passage through the sheath can be provided that includes a port actuatable from a first state for inhibiting gas movement through the gas passage and a second state for permitting gas movement through the gas passage. The port can be manually movable from the first state to the second state, and it can include a pressure relief valve. The waterproof enclosure can include a loop integral with the exterior surface of the sheath to which an elasticized cord may be attached.

Abstract: A crocodile-type splint, including a first Jaw having a substantially trough-like structure at least approximately conforming to sections of the palmar side of a limb, a second jaw having a substantially trough-like structure at least approximately conforming to sections of the dorsal side of the limb, a first joint whereby the jaws are articulated to one another to the effect of permitting the trough-like jaws to include with one another a range of different angles, from an angle small enough for the jaws to clampingly surround the limb, to an angle large enough to at least permit the limb to be freely introduced between the two jaws.

Abstract: A pneumatic ambulatory traction device comprises modular components that can be readily stowed at a facility or in a vehicle with minimum as-stowed space requirements and that can be readily and quickly assembled into a compact traction device usable at a facility, in a vehicle, at an accident site and the like to provide pneumatic traction force to a patient's body in a manner that can be controlled and varied as may be needed. The traction device comprises an elongated tubular housing connectable to a support, which may include an operating table or bed or a stretcher in a vehicle or at an accident site. A pneumatic cylinder is disposed in the housing and a piston is received in the cylinder and includes a piston rod movable in response to cylinder pressure to apply a traction force correlated to the cylinder pressure via a flexible cable connected to the piston rod and to a patient's body.

Abstract: An ankle bandage (1) for supporting an ankle and foot while allowing a relatively unimpeded walk. The ankle bandage has a generally sock-shaped main body enclosing the ankle and instep region of a user. The main body may be opened at a front closure and is made from a flexible, resilient, heat insulating material. A pocket (8,9,10) for containing a stabilizing support body (11) is defined by a separate material sewn on the inside of main body along seams 6 and 7. The supporting body (11) comprises two rail portions (18) extending from a point above the ankle area of the user on each side of the leg, a joining portion (19) coupling the upper ends of the rail portions and a heel support formed by distal tapering portions of the lower ends (20) of the rail portions (18). During use, the tapering portions do not overlap and the heel support is located below the instep area and against the outside of the foot.

Abstract: A no-impact striding exercise machine having a lever for coupling first and second elongate members, such that rotation of the first elongate member causes the lever to pivot about an axis perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the lever, causing the second elongate member to rotate in a direction opposite the rotation of the first elongate member.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus including a base structure comprising a fixed lower body exercise platform and a pair of elongated upper body exercising units is disclosed. The units are mounted to the base structure by mounting structure that enables the units to be moved by a user against a yielding resistance in any direction with respect to a center in conjunction with the user stepping onto or off of the platform in any direction while performing an exercise thereon. The elongated upper body exercising units preferably include two telescoping exercise poles to be grasped by opposite hands of the user and capable of both oscillating and reciprocating upper body exercising motion. A variable volume air chamber is defined in an annular gap between coaxially arranged inner and outer members of the telescoping exercise poles and a restricted air passage communicates with the air chamber.

Abstract: An expandable speculum is described which may be provided in kit form. The speculum includes a handle with an integral eyepiece. A set of first elongated tubular members, each releasably connectable to the handle adjacent the eyepiece are formed of a substantially rigid material. Each includes an external surface and an internal bore formed along a longitudinal axis. A selected one of the tubular members may be selected and attached to the handle. The elongated tubular members in the set include various lengths and cross-sectional dimension at the external surfaces thereof to permit selection according to use and patient physiology. Elastic tubular sheaths are disposed axially over the external surfaces of the first elongated tubular members and are radially inflatable with respect to the first tubular members and said longitudinal axis in response to application of fluid pressure.

Abstract: An exercise device comprises a handle rod, a foot board, a base board, and an elastic member. The handle rod is composed of an upper tube and a lower tube. The foot board is fastened with the upper tube while the base board is fastened with the lower tube. The elastic member is fastened between the foot board and the base board. The elastic member is composed of two or more torsion springs arranged symmetrically between the foot board and the base board. The torsion springs have an upper arm, a lower arm and a coiled body located between the upper arm and the lower arm such that the upper arm and the lower arm form a predetermined angle, and that the upper arm is fastened with the foot board, and further that the lower arm is fastened with the base board.

Abstract: A back support device employs a torso covering sheet (18) having a plurality of resilient stiffening rods (20), a torso harness consisting a shoulder straps (10), an abdominal strap (12), a breast strap (22), and leg straps (14). The torso harness encompasses the entire back and buttocks of the wearer and its base attaches to the upper leg or thigh. The resilient stiffening rods (20) are placed in sleeves (16) sewn on the long axis of the torso covering sheet (18). When the user bends over the resilient stiffening rods (20) transfer load away from the lower back, and onto the large muscles of the upper leg, thereby relieving stress on the user's back.

Abstract: A rebound-type exercise device is provided which allows an individual to perform a sit and bounce exercises. The exercise device includes a support frame which supports a seat assembly by means of four springs. The support frame includes a pair of laterally spaced apart side support frames which are interconnected by a head tube. Each side support frame includes a generally horizontal ground-engaging base tube, a rearwardly disposed, generally vertical strong tube extending upwardly from the base tube, and a generally L-shaped arm which interconnects a front portion of the base tube with the upper end of the strong tube.

Abstract: A wound dressing is disclosed in which a thin layer of a hydrocolloid-containing adhesive material is covered on one side by a flexible, transparent or semi-transparent backing film and, on the other side, by one or more removable release sheets. Linear depressions are provided along the film-backed side of the adhesive layer and are clearly visible through the backing film to serve as guide lines, flex lines, and/or hinge lines in the use of the dressing. A foldable sacral dressing embodying such features is specifically disclosed.

Abstract: An equine speculum has an extension (17b) to the upper jaw piece (17a) to which the speculum-controlling handle (28a) is joined by a pivot (30), there being a slot (44) in the handle to permit relative motion of a pivot (29) that joins the handle to the lower jaw piece (18). An extension (46) below the lower jaw piece provides additional teeth (47) to permit latching the speculum in various open positions.

Abstract: A buoyant body shaped substantially as a short, flexible, columnar buoyant body, constructed from polyethylene expanded foam material having a coloring substance added to produce a colored buoyant body to enhance their use, and to facilitate color coordination with an exerciser's swimwear. The buoyant body includes a port for receiving a hand, or foot, appropriately for the particular device to be used. The port is provided centrally positioned on the buoyant body, and defines a cavity, sized for receiving the exerciser's hand or foot in a relaxed and extended manner, and thus facilitates a non-gripping securement and grip-free manipulation of the buoyant body to produce resistance in a water exercising environment. For a hand manipulated buoyant body, the defined cavity is a rectangular shaped, tapered through-hole that dimensionally conforms to the tapered shape of a hand from finger tips to beyond the knuckles and part of the palm without including the thumb.

Abstract: The halo ring comprises a generally elliptical ring interrupted at one end and having a circular cross-section. Split ring clamps are provided along the ring, each clamp having a set screw for temporarily adjusting the ring in a selected longitudinal along and angular position about the halo ring. Attachment clamps in the form of split rings are also provided the halo ring body for securing the halo ring to a support structure. By threading pins through the pin clamps into the individual's skull and employing lock nuts, the pin clamps can be finally secured to the halo ring body.

Abstract: An aerobic stepper having exercise related items and equipment stored therein. The stepper is made of an upper and lower locking section which, when locked together, can be carried as a unit by an external molded handle. The lower section has several compartments configured in shape and size to hold a water bottle, dumbbells and a folded towel. The upper section may store a folded workout mat which is retained by two straps having hook and loop end fasteners. The sections and internal compartment may be made by the plastic injection molding process or the blow molding process.

Abstract: An exerciser includes a pivot shaft disposed in a base. A lever has one end rotatably secured to the pivot shaft for allowing the lever to be rotated about the pivot shaft. The lever has a pivot axle disposed to the other end. A foot support is rotatably secured to the pivot axle for allowing the foot support to be rotated about the pivot axle. The foot support includes a block secured to the pivot axle and a cover rotatably supported on the block by a number of balls such that the cover is rotatable about the block.

Abstract: A jump cup for supporting an end of a jump pole used in equestrian activities includes a curved plate forming an upwardly facing concave surface. A lateral support pin and a mounting pin are fixed to the plate and project from a rear side thereof. The mounting pin includes an axle portion that can be inserted into a hole of a conventional jump standard, the axle portion defining an axis about which the plate can pivot downwardly once the lateral support pin has passed across a front surface of the standard, whereby the standard is straddled by the lateral support pin and a portion of the mounting pin. The jump cup is formed of fixedly interconnected parts and can be installed or removed with one hand of a user.

Abstract: An exercising system is provided to enable a user to obtain twice the exercise per unit time offered by a conventional jump rope. At the same time, the system of the invention provides the user with a construction as near to that of the conventional jump rope as possible. To this end, a pair of opposed mutually independent elongated tubular handles are mounted to a pair of hoop members over which the user jumps between their ends. The system is adjustable so as to accommodate a range of sizes of users and graduated indicia are provided on the hoop members to enable a user to achieve a desired size. Also, as with a conventional jump rope, the exercising system is width adjustable to the extent desired by the user.

Abstract: An exerciser includes one handle having an inner thread formed in one end and includes another handle having a bolt extended from one end for engaging with the inner thread of the one handle and for allowing the two handles to be rotated relative to the other. A spring is engaged on the bolt and biased between the handles for applying a biasing force against the handles and for resisting the rotation between the handles. A cap or one or more weights may be attached to the other end of each of the handles for exercising the arms of the user.