Abstract: The invention is of a device which attaches to a standard bed frame in a manner which provides a foot hold for use during sit ups. The device is configured such that it extends outwardly from the side of the bed during use, but the user may swing it around to extend under the bed (and out of sight) when not in use. Applicant's invention permits its practitioner, with optimum convenience and minimal space usage, to engage in a regular, device-assisted exercise regimen.

Abstract: The wrist band with retaining lanyard of this invention is a wrist band and a retaining lanyard specifically attached to the inside of the wrist band. The wrist band is generally an elongated tubular band having an opening for insertion of a hand therethrough. Most commonly, the wrist band will be made with some type of elastic/cotton blended material that will easily stretch over the hand and fit snugly on the wrist. The wrist band also functions as a sweat band for the wrist. The lanyard has a first end, central length and a second end. In one embodiment, a first loop on the first end of the lanyard is circumferentially attached on the inside of the wrist band at a central location. This provision allows the first loop to close about the wrist if tension is applied to the lanyard concurrently with the wrist band being closed. This provides a cushion to the wrist and security from the lanyard slipping off the wrist.

Abstract: An angioplasty guidewire includes a proximal shaft and an intermediate section extending from the shaft to a distal joint and having a stiffener and a flexible member. The stiffener and the flexible member are disposed in coaxial slidable relationship and operable, as the stiffener and flexible member undergo relative axial shifting, to cooperatively impart a variable stiffening force on the intermediate section. A flexible distal tip mounts to the end of the intermediate section and projects axially therefrom.

Abstract: Pain associated with unicompartmental osteoarthritis is relieved, and external varus or valgus movement about the knee is counteracted, by a soft brace in which a single cable pulled downwardly around the front of the femoral area adjacent the knee in one directon, and downwardly around the front of the tibial area adjacent the knee in the opposite direction, exerts a lateral force on the thigh and calf in one direction, and against the knee in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A low temperature synthetic splint/orthotic material having affixed thereto a layer of gel-like viscoelastic padding having a compressibility such that upon normal application of the padded splinting material to a body part exhibiting such as bony prominences, that the padding compresses but does not bottom out under normal usage whereby the bony prominence is supported over its extent along with the rest of the body part. In preferred embodiments a cover of fabric, foam or polymeric film is bonded over the viscoelastic padding to isolate body tissue from possible discomfort associated with some properties of the padding material.

Abstract: An stent delivery device comprises a tubular shaft body, a foldable and inflatable balloon attached to the distal end portion of the shaft body, and a stent fitted over the folded balloon. The shaft body has a lumen for inflating the balloon which communicates with the inside of the balloon. The balloon has an inflatable portion which is inflated into the shape of an approximately uniform-diameter cylinder by a fluid injected through the lumen. The stent delivery device further has a distal side stopper which is secured close to the distal end of the inflatable portion of the balloon and prevents the shift of the stent toward the distal side, and a proximal side stopper which is secured close to the proximal end of the inflatable portion of the balloon and prevents the shift of the stent toward the proximal side.

Abstract: This invention describes an exercise machine which is operated in a manner similar to paddling a Kayak or other water craft with a double blade paddle. The device incorporates a "T" bar shaped handle assembly centrally positioned in front of a seated operator and connected at its base with an articulating joint to a torque resisting mechanism. The articulating joint allows the operator to manipulates the handle bar in a pattern similar to that of paddling a Kayak as this configuration allows the handle bar to pivot and be positioned from side to side with a similar freedom of movement experienced with a Kayak type double blade paddle. Only the rotational component of the handle bar movement induced by paddle stroke motions are transmitted through the articulating joint and resisted by the torque resistance mechanism.

Abstract: A bandage that has a securing portion made of any adhesive material connected to a domed portion that is made of any rigid material that is pleated in the middle that provides shielding to protected areas from physical trauma that also flexes and allows air to flow to and from the protected area.

Abstract: Physiotherapy apparatus for the treatment of articular stiffness including a table for a patient having a static board, a moving board which is displaceable towards and away from the static board and a device for applying a traction force between parts of the patient's body. The moving board is mounted such that it can also rotate about a horizontal axis between a horizontal position and an inclined position, and about a vertical axis between two extreme positions which are symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of the table. The device for applying a traction force includes a traction cord and a system of pulleys with which the cord is associated in order to apply the traction to a joint of the patient in a desired direction. The apparatus is highly versatile, permitting treatment of cervical and lumbar vertebrae, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee and ankle.

Abstract: A rope pull exercising device in which the rope follows a tortuous path around a figure eight braking bar of the type used conventionally in rock climbing. The rope threads through one of the rings of the figure eight bar at least once and around the connecting region that joins through the rings. Mounting structure secures the second ring to a stationary object such as, for example, a door frame.

Abstract: A new exercise apparatus utilizing elastic straps for providing resistance to muscles of the body. The inventive device includes a body harness that is adapted for extending across a back and a pair of shoulders of a user. The body harness has a T-shaped portion to help hold the body harness in place. The T-shaped portion is adapted for extending downwardly from the body harness along the back of the user. The T-shaped portion having a pair of horizontal torso straps which are adapted for adjustable extension around the torso of a user. A set of arm bands has a pair of upper arm bands and a pair of wrist bands. The upper arm bands and the wrist bands are connected by a plurality of resiliently elastic arm resistance straps. The pair of upper arm bands is coupled to the body harness. Each of the upper arm bands is adapted for adjustably wrapping around an upper arm towards a shoulder of the user. The pair of wrist bands are adapted for extension around wrists of the user.

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 massage chair drive mechanism having a main body, a kneading shaft rotatably mounted transversely to the main body and having a gear affixed thereto, a spiral gear engaging the gear of the kneading shaft and rotatably mounted within the main body and having a face gear connected thereto, a beating shaft rotatably mounted transversely to the main body and having a gear affixed thereto, a worm gear rotatably mounted within the main body and engaged with the gear of the beating shaft and having a face gear at one end thereof, a main shaft rotatably mounted within the spiral gear and the worm gear and having opposite ends extending outwardly of the main body, a clutch positioned between the face gears of the respective worm gear and spiral gear and first and second moving rods positioned within the main body and moveable so as to engage portions of the clutch. The clutch includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member with a compression spring connected thereto and extending therebetween.

Abstract: A universal adjustable arm sling consisting of a sling pad with an adjustable attachment strap. An adjustable support strap extends from the attachment strap over the shoulder of the user and diagonally across the back and around the opposite side of the user's body. The adjustable support strap is engageable with the adjustable attachment strap of the sling for support strap length adjustment for the sling pad.

Abstract: The ingrown nail correcting device is to correct ingrown toenails by using a plate-like member made from a shape memorizing alloy or shape memorizing resin material. A plate-like member (10) formed from a shape memorizing alloy or shape memorizing resin material is preliminarily made to memorize a specified shape at a specified temperature. The plate-like member (10) is bent in accordance with the bent portions of an ingrown nail (12) of a big toe (11) at room temperature, and adhesively bonded to the surface of the ingrown nail (12) with the aid of an adhesive agent. The atmospheric temperature is elevated to the specified temperature, whereby the ingrown nail (12) is corrected by the restoring force of the plate-like member (10) directed toward the arrows..quadrature.

Abstract: A muscle exerciser for exercising abdominal and lower back muscles. The exerciser comprising a rigid body (1) consisting of a leg support (2) and a loop support (3). The resilient loop of material (6) is releasably attached to the loop support (3). The exerciser can be used with the leg support (2) behind the upper thighs of a user and the loop of material (6) behind the neck to exercise abdominal muscle groups, or can be used with the leg support beneath the feet, and the loop being gripped above the thighs to exercise the lower back muscle groups.

Abstract: A hand and wrist stabilization device for disposition on the hand and wrist of a user to reduce relative movement of internal hand elements, specifically, the metacarpophalangeal, carpometacarpal and wrist joints, during impact resulting from striking and punching activities, includes a flexible glove-like body, a metacarpophalangeal joint force dispersion pad attached to the body, an ulnar wrist stabilization strap, a radial wrist stabilization strap, a wrist compression strap attached to the body portion and a metacarpophalangeal joint stabilization member attached to the body all acting together to disperse forces on the hand and wrist joints while stabilizing such joints against internal movement caused by impact transmitted thereto during striking and punching activities.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing exercises including a case for transporting the exercise device and for use in performing the exercises. The case can be a simulated briefcase, so that the exercise device can be carried around like ordinary luggage, or be another type of container. Included are elastic cables which can be moved from stowed positions in the case to exercising positions in which portions of the cables extend outwardly from the case. The portions of the cables remaining in the case are restrained against stretching thereby allowing essentially only the portions of the cables extending outwardly from the case to be stretched. In performing exercises, the outwardly extending portions of the cables are pulled against the case, thereby setting up isometric forces which resist the pulling action and enable the desired strength training. It is possible to exercise all of the major muscle groups and to replicate the exercises performed on popular stationary exercise apparatus.

Abstract: An adjustable inversion supporter includes a supporting base, a pair of supporters spacedly mounted on top of the supporting base, and a pair of shoulder seats which are connected to the two supporters respectively for supporting the two shoulders of an inverse user. Each of the shoulder seats consists of a kidney-bean shaped supporting pad for enabling the respective shoulder of the inverse user to rest and be supported thereon, and an adjustable connector affixed to the supporting pad for connecting the supporting pad with the respective supporter, wherein the two supporting pads are capable of adjusting a distance therebetween by turning each of the supporting pads about the respective supporter so as to match the user's shoulder shape and width.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure eye patch in which an inner membrane is positioned over the patient's eye and fixed thereto by means of adhesive on its inner side with an outer membrane which is superimposed over the inner membrane, thus forming a cavity that is interposed between the outer membrane and the inner membrane. There is an elongated longitudinal slit in the outer membrane which allows the outer membrane to be opened to allow access to the cavity. Cushioning material such as sterile gauze may be inserted into the cavity through this opening. Alternatively, a cooling or heating material may also be emplaced in the cavity. Instead of the elongated slit there may be a partial peripheral opening between the front and rear membranes to allow access to the cavity.