Abstract: Postural corrective device including a flexible back support system incorporated into a body suit that trains self-corrective habits through proprioceptive feedback, offering gentle reminders to create awareness of what the wearer's body is doing.

Abstract: A strap attachment apparatus for a treatment table including a spanning belt formed of flexible material secured across opposite sides of said table with a pair of anchors connected at opposite ends of the spanning belt for attachment to the table. The anchors include body strap retainers that support at least one body strap. The body strap is movable on the retainers to adjust the position of the straps to fit a person on the treatment table while the anchors remain fixed to the table.

Abstract: A foot drop countering assembly includes a band that is configured to extend around a person's leg below and adjacent to a knee of the leg. A tether has a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to the band. An engagement member is attached to the second end of the tether. The engagement member is configured to engage a person's foot to pull the foot upwardly towards the knee.

Abstract: Devices, kits and methods described herein may be for treatment to skin, including but not limited to wound healing, the treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of scars or keloids. An applicator and/or tensioning device may be used to apply a dressing to a subject. The applicator and/or tensioning device applies and/or maintains a strain in an elastic dressing, wherein at least some of the strain is out-of-plane or at a non-orthogonal, non-parallel and non-aligned orientation to other strains in the dressing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthodontics and temporomandibular joint balancing appliance, particularly to an orthodontics and temporomandibular joint balancing appliance, which eliminates asymmetric imbalance of a temporomandibular joint caused by pressure applied to upper incisor teeth and lower incisor teeth, thereby cushioning every teeth occlusion and blocking nervous system compression, so as to minimize teeth damage and improve wearing comfortness.

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.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus, comprising a patient support having one or more pads for supporting a patient's torso and hip in a generally horizontal orientation. At least one, elongated leg support extends from the patient support. The leg support is movable through a generally horizontal plane. A portion of the leg support is declinable and inclinable from the horizontal plane. A traction device is connected to the leg support. The traction device is attachable to a patient's leg and operable to exert a traction force on the patient's leg along an axis generally parallel to the leg support. The traction device is connected to the leg support by a slide assembly and the traction device can be secured stationary relative to the leg support or the traction device can slide relative to the leg support.

Abstract: A palmar thumb and thumb saddle joint splint comprises a first splint part for receiving the thumb and means for fastening the first splint part to the hand. The first splint part formed as a shell part that is open at the top and is intrinsically stiff but deformable, in which shell part the thumb is laid; the first splint plant being connected firmly to a side-of-the-hand part that is intrinsically stiff but deformable and, when the splint is put in place, embraces the side of the splinted hand; and the fastening means comprising first and second fixing strips which are intrinsically stiff but deformable, wherein the first fixing strip runs from the side-of-the-hand part over the back of the hand to the first splint part, and the second fixing strip, starting from the side of the hand part, is led through between thumb and index finger to the first splint part.

Abstract: Mouth guards of varying designs. The mouth guard is generally moldable and has non-planar biting surfaces. In other embodiments, the mouth guard has base members or flanges that have means for retaining medicaments and the like. Other versions have thermochromic elements selected to allow color changes at desired temperatures.

Abstract: A device for the treatment of the body of a wearer comprising an orthopedic brace combined with at least one electrically active zone to stimulate the body of the wearer of the brace.

Abstract: The invention relates to a patella gripper for a patella, comprising a retaining element (3; 53) and a contact finger apparatus (4; 54), wherein the contact finger apparatus (4; 54) is arranged on the lower face of the retaining element (3; 53), wherein the contact finger apparatus (4; 54) comprises at least two contact finger units (4.1, 4.2; 54.1), which are arranged on opposite sides of the retaining element (3; 53), and wherein the contact finger apparatus (4; 54) is designed in such a way that the patella can be moved in the cranial-caudal direction and in the medial-lateral direction by means of the contact finger units (4.1, 4.2; 54.1). The invention further relates to a device (20; 60) having such a patella gripper (1; 51).

Abstract: A self-retaining suture having particular application for treating obstructive sleep apnea and use thereof. The suture includes rising an elongated suture body having a periphery and first and second tissue-penetrating ends each with a bi-curve needle, and a plurality of first retainers on a first segment and oriented to the first end, and a plurality of second retainers a second segment and oriented to the second end, and a retainer-free transition segment disposed between the pluralities of first and second retainers.

Abstract: A belt-like hip-girdling pelvic sling device for maintaining a desired amount of tension surrounding a person's hips and pelvis to securely support and stabilize a fractured pelvis, including a force-controlled buckle that automatically latches to control the tension and that includes a releasable latching mechanism. The latching mechanism maintains engagement of the buckle with a strap at the required position of the strap with respect to the buckle. The latching mechanism includes a movable member of the buckle that is moved to and latched in a position in which the buckle engages the strap, once a desired amount of tension is reached, limiting and maintaining the required tension.

Abstract: A foot ailment support and cushion apparatus configured for supporting an ankle and a plantar on a foot. The apparatus comprises an ankle strap and a plantar strap assembly. The ankle strap comprises a generally curvilinear band having an inner surface, an outer surface, two longitudinal ends, a minor edge, a major edge, a notch and an attaching means disposed on one of the two longitudinal ends, where the inner surface is opposingly disposed from the outer surface, the minor edge connects to the major edge at the two longitudinal ends of the band and the notch is disposed along a portion of the major edge. The plantar strap assembly includes two attachment ends and an elastic strap.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods are presented for protecting a limb, e.g., an arm, of a patient during a medical procedure. The medical devices and methods utilize a plurality of longitudinal sealed fluid pockets to thermally insulate and cushion an extremity of a limb. The plurality of longitudinal sealed fluid pockets is incorporated in a protective body that is shaped to wrap around the extremity when the medical device is deployed. The protective body has at least one access opening to provide access through the protective body to one or more corresponding portions of the extremity. Access panels may be formed into the protective body to allow portions of the extremity to be covered or uncovered and used with left or right limbs. Other devices and methods are presented.

Abstract: A method for promoting contraception by placing a contraceptive device within a uterus without blocking fallopian tubes may involve advancing a distal end of a delivery device through a cervix, advancing the contraceptive device comprising an elongate shape memory member out of the distal end of the delivery device and into the uterus, and limiting inferior migration of the contraceptive device within the uterus. Inferior migration may be limited by allowing the contraceptive device to assume a shape, when subjected to pressure that tends to cause a downward migration of the device within the uterus, in which an expandable middle portion of the device is expanded to contact the inner wall of the uterus and thus limit the downward migration of the device.

Abstract: A method for promoting contraception by placing a contraceptive device within a uterus without blocking fallopian tubes may involve advancing a distal end of a delivery device through a cervix, advancing the contraceptive device comprising an elongate shape memory member out of the distal end of the delivery device and into the uterus, and limiting inferior migration of the contraceptive device within the uterus. Inferior migration may be limited by allowing the contraceptive device to assume a shape, when subjected to pressure that tends to cause a downward migration of the device within the uterus, in which an expandable middle portion of the device is expanded to contact the inner wall of the uterus and thus limit the downward migration of the device.

Abstract: A dressing, comprising an inner layer and an outer layer; wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are aligned with trimming at one side of edge. The inner layer comprises hydrogel and meltblown nonwoven, and the outer layer comprises polyurethane film and pressure sensitive adhesive film. The dressing increases watertight closure. It could be applied in circular wound covering.

Abstract: A compression kit including an inner layer, comprising a foam material, and an outer layer, comprising a separate elastic compression bandage is disclosed. An article comprising foam with two major surfaces, one of which has been coated with a hydrophilic agent to be applied against the skin is disclosed. A method of manufacturing the foam article with the skin-facing hydrophilic surface is disclosed. A method of applying the compression kit to a patient's leg or other body part is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for providing continuous passive motion of a subject's leg through hip extension and flexion. The system may have an actuator, a leg support member, a retention surface, and a base. The leg support member may be a support frame with a proximal member and a distal member. The subject places his/her leg on the leg support and the actuator provides a moment of force to the subject's upper leg to move the upper leg through the desired range of motion. The system may be controlled allowing the device to operate at different speeds and for different ranges of motion.