Abstract: An elastic elbow brace for the prevention and treatment of tennis elbow, the brace having an elastic outer sleeve and a concentric inner sleeve. Interposed between the concentric sleeves is a pair of longitudinally extending resilient pads arranged parallel to each other and spaced along their longitudinal edges.

Abstract: An orthopedic apparatus for rehabilitation or healing of a knee or the muscles of a leg. The apparatus has a dynamic adjustment mechanism allowing the execution of exercise of different degrees of tension without running the risk of injuring the knee by applying unnecessary or excessive amount of tension on the knee. The dynamic adjustment mechanism is designed to keep the eccentricity of the rotational axes of the leg support member and the leg nil. The orthopedic apparatus may also include a resistance or assistance mechanism for adjusting different degrees of tension during extension and flexion of the leg in order to gain either range of movement or strength. This specially designed mechanism provides a linear type resistance or assistance, which is invariable during the whole range of movement. This particular resistance, applied on the plantar foot, reproduces normal bio-mechanical stress on the lower limb.

Abstract: A back scratcher including an elongated slender stem having a handle disposed at a first end thereof and a scratching head disposed at a second end of said stem. The stem includes a substantially arcuate form, the handle and the scratching head being oriented at an obtuse angle one to another thereby. The scratching head has bristles extending laterally therefrom. The handle has an elongated handle portion extending in either direction from the first end and a plane defined by said stem whereby, when the handle is grasped with one hand portion placed against the palm of the user and a finger is positioned along the other handle portion and the stem is placed over the shoulder or around the waist, the bristles are aligned to engage the back of the user. The stem is preferably further defined by a substantially uniform radius in a side view thereof and planar in a front view thereof.

Abstract: A support for a limb of a body having a sheet of flexible material with longitudinal loops running along the sides of such sheet. The longitudinal loops can readily, but releasably and securely, be attached, with rods, to the sides of a base for the support. Optionally, the sides of the base will be higher at one end of the support than at the other end in order to improve comfort for a user. Also, optionally the distance of the tops of the sides from the bottom of the base is adjustable.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a generally dorsally directed force to the palm of a person's hand includes an upper structural support which is structured to be secured in generally overlying relationship with respect to the dorsal region of the metacarpals. The upper support has a base structured to be in contact with the hand and support for straps. A palmar compression pad is structured to be in contact with the palm of the hand with the strap or straps being placed in tension to thereby resist undesired movement of the flexor tendon and thereby reduce median nerve compression in the carpal tunnel. In a first embodiment the upper support will have a base, a pair of apertured towers secured to the base through which a strap or straps may pass and a suitable structure for fastening the strap or straps to the upper support. The strap or straps will preferably be adjustably and removably securable to regions adjacent the ends of the palmar compression pad.

Abstract: A roller massaging mechanism of a type having a pair of right and left massaging rollers mounted on an intermediate portion of a rotary shaft in a slanted fashion relative to an axis of the rotary shaft, and includes a switching member for selectively switching the position of the pair of right and left massaging rollers into one of a kneading position where the pair of massaging rollers are slanted opposite to each other and a non-kneading position where the massaging rollers are slanted parallel with each other.

Abstract: A device for exerting force between two portions of the human anatomy, such as a back or neck. The device includes an upper brace for attachment to an upper portion of the human anatomy and a lower brace for attachment to a lower portion of the human anatomy. The first and the second fluid containing cylinder, each cylinder having a lower portion and a telescopically extendable upper portion, have attachment means thereon and extend generally in a longitudinal direction of a patient. The first cylinder upper portion is attached to the upper brace, the first cylinder lower portion is attached to the lower brace. The second cylinder upper portion is attached to the upper brace and the second cylinder lower portion is attached to the lower brace. The first and second cylinders are positioned on opposite sides of the human anatomy with the fluid within the cylinders being compressive and under compression providing a constant force urging the upper brace away from the lower brace.

Abstract: An exercise device comprises a flexible belt having first and second ends; first and second ball shaped handles; and a first and second attaching mechanism attaching each of the ball shaped handles to the first and second ends, respectively. Preferably, the attaching mechanism is operative to rotatably and pivotally attach each of ball shaped handles to first and second ends, respectively. Advantageously, with the the preferred attachment mechanism, each of the handles rotates about a first axis substantially parallel to the length of the belt and the first axis pivots about a second axis parallel to the plane of the belt.

Abstract: A massaging system that includes a mechanism for positioning and holding vibrating and heating units onto the body at user selected locations. The massaging system includes a vest unit including a hook and pile covered interior surface and at least one user-adjustable, massaging and heat unit compression band attached to an exterior of the vest unit; at least one heating pad unit including a heating pad connecting jack, hook and pile fastener strips on a first exterior surface of the heating pad exterior that are companionate with the hook and pile covered interior surface of the vest unit, and a vibration unit hook and pile fastener attaching section provided on a second exterior surface that is the same hook and pile material as the hook and pile covered interior surface of the vest unit; and at least one vibration unit having a vibration unit connecting jack and hook and pile fastener strips on the exterior thereof that are companionate with the hook and pile covered interior surface of the vest unit.

Abstract: A support for a wheel at a plurality of heights above a surface includes a housing adapted to rest upon the surface, a first wheel receiving region configured to support the wheel at a first height above the surface when the housing rests upon the surface, and a second wheel receiving region configured to support the wheel at a second height above the surface when the housing rests upon the surface, the second height being different from the first height.

Abstract: A vertebral traction device for applying traction to the lower vertebral column. A method for applying traction to the lower vertebral column.

Abstract: An elevation support for elevating a human limb of a patient to a desired elevation, including a body having a longitudinal aperture therethrough and an insertion opening for receiving at least a portion of the limb, wherein the body is shaped and sized so as to permit concomitant rolling motion along a support surface when the patient exerts a rotational force on the body via the inserted limb while maintaining the limb at the desired elevation.

Abstract: A cue tip mounting system. A system for releasably securing a leather cue tip to a cue stick is provided. The system provides a tip mount for permanent mounting in the distal end of a cue stick. The tip mount has a threaded shaft extending outward along central axis for releasable threaded engagement with interior threads provided in a detachable mounting ferrule. The mounting ferrule has, at the tip end thereof, a centrally located nipple with flat distal surface for providing a centering force on a leather tip which is adhesively bonded to the tip end of the mounting ferrule. The tip is provided with a nipple accepting cup adapted to receiving the centering nipple protruding from the in the mounting ferrule. Preferably, the tip mount is provided in brass, and the ferrule in brass or aluminum, for absorbing shock.

Abstract: The invention discloses a portable bathtub massage pad, which can be placed within a bathtub or be hung in a shower room. It comprises a pump, a pad, and a control circuit. The massage effect on human bodies is achieved by the steps of sucking, pumping, and jetting water with the pump to send the pressurized water to the pad that is distributed with water ways inside and jet water on the user via the water outlets on the pad.

Abstract: A metatarsal fracture neutralizer including a pair of brace elements secured with one another in sandwiching relation about a foot containing a fractured metatarsal, and a plurality of neutralization pads secured to the brace elements in confronting relation with one another. Two of the neutralization pads engage and immobilize the fractured metatarsal and the remaining neutralization pads engage and immobilize the remaining metatarsals so as to prevent movement of the fractured metatarsal due to muscle interconnection between metatarsals, while also permitting a full range of motion at the ankle joint connected to the metatarsals in order to aid comprehensive rehabilitation of the foot.

Abstract: A splint (17) includes first and second collars (18,19) pivotally supported on a body member (20) and adjustable so as to adjust the internal dimensions of the splint (17). A plurality of spaced resilient pads (21-27) are provided on the internal surfaces of the splint (17) so as to exert pressure on a limb (11) held in the splint (17) while allowing vascular flow. The splint (17) is provided with a support (36) for supporting the extremity of a limb, such as a hand (14) or foot. The support (36) allows some movement of the limb extremity to reduce swelling by promoting vascular flow.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a frame that is adapted for placement on the floor, a pivot axis supported by the frame, a pedal bar which has first and second ends, a pedal that is secured to the pedal bar, an ellipse generator, and a track. The ellipse generator is secured to both the pivot axis and to the first end of the pedal bar such that the first end of said pedal bar moves in an elliptical path around the pivot axis. The track is secured to the frame and engages the second end of said pedal bar such that the second end moves in a linear reciprocating path as the first end of the pedal bar moves in the elliptical path around said pivot axis. Consequently, the pedal also moves in a generally elliptical path. As the pedal moves in its elliptical path, the angular orientation of the pedal, relative to a fixed, horizontal plane, such as the floor, varies in a manner that simulates a natural heel to toe flexure. The apparatus can also include a resistance member, a data input member, and a control member.

Abstract: A short leg brace which is composed of a foot mount and a calf splint pivotably attached to each other so as to allow plantar and dorsal flexions and which is provided with a compression spring between the splint and the heel portion of the mount for elastically hindering the plantar flexion.

Abstract: A portable ambulatory therapy device provides for the training or retraining of persons in developing walking skills after suffering a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity which limits their walking skills. The present device comprises a folding walkway with opposed folding hand rails along each side thereof. The hand rails are supported by a series of telescoping upright columns or posts, with the columns being pivotally secured to the walkway at their lower ends and pivotally secured to the hand rails at their upper ends. Each column includes a single locking pin which selectively locks the column in the upright position as desired, or allows the column to fold when removed. When the locking pins are removed, the walkway may be lifted at its center section to cause the two ends to fold together, along with the hand rails which fold to lie adjacent the walkway.

Abstract: A forefoot bandage that is substantially symmetric about a transverse axis and has two notches on opposite ends for positioning on the right and left foot. The notches and angled portions located along the bandage conform to the forefoot to increase comfort, strength and stability. During use, one of the notches of the bandage is placed in the sulcus between the great toe and the second toe of the user and the bandage is then wrapped about the plantar region of the foot near the toes and to support the joints of the great toe and forefoot.