Abstract: An external breast prosthesis includes an elastomeric skin in the form of a human breast surrounding an inner material such as a silicone gel or hydrogel. The inner material may be of a defined shape or may be amorphous and conform to the shape of the elastomeric skin. The elastomeric skin can be formed from a front skin and a rear skin, and the skins can be made of a soft styrenic elastomer having attributes similar to a gel. The elastomeric skin can be substantially soft to the touch and have an elastic memory that tends to maintain the skin in a pliable yet pre-defined shape.

Abstract: Custom Grip for writing instruments and other hand held tools and devices are made of thermoplastic materials which exhibit plasticity at temperatures in the range of 50-70 degrees Celsius. Therefore the users mold the grips to their hands by heating the grips and then holding them in firm grip.

Abstract: An external breast prosthesis includes an elastomeric skin in the form of a human breast surrounding an inner material such as a silicone gel or hydrogel. The inner material may be of a defined shape or may be amorphous and conform to the shape of the elastomeric skin. The elastomeric skin can be formed from a front skin and a rear skin, and the skins can be made of a soft styrenic elastomer having attributes similar to a gel. The elastomeric skin can be substantially soft to the touch and have an elastic memory that tends to maintain the skin in a pliable yet pre-defined shape.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomers may be manufactured by mixing together plasticizing oil, a triblock copolymer and one or more additives, e.g., an antioxidant, an antimicrobial agent, and/or other additives, to form a mixture which is melted then cooled into the thermoplastic elastomer. During cooling the thermoplastic elastomer may be molded or otherwise formed into any number of articles including, but not limited to, prosthetic liners, prosthetic sleeves, external breast prostheses, breast enhancement bladders, wound dressing sheets, wound dressing pads, socks, gloves, malleolus pads, metatarsal pads, shoe insoles, urinary catheters, vascular catheters and balloons for medical catheters both vascular as well as urinary.

Abstract: A prosthetic socket is made by wrapping water-soaked plaster bandages around a residual limb or around a prosthetic liner within which is disposed a residual limb, and positioning a vacuum wick in overlying relation to the plaster bandages. The residual limb, prosthetic liner, plaster bandages, and vacuum wick means are then inserted into a vacuum bladder. The vacuum bladder is sealed and a predetermined vacuum is applied internally to the bladder until the plaster hardens into a negative cast. The residual limb is manipulated through the vacuum bladder to modify the geometry of the plaster before the plaster hardens. The negative cast is removed from the residual limb and a positive cast is produced by pouring plaster into the negative cast. A thermoplastic sheet is thermoformed over the positive cast or a carbon-epoxy matrix is laminated over the positive cast. This eliminates reduction and modification of a hard positive cast.

Abstract: A method of making a durable, low friction elastomer that may remain in prolonged contact with human skin or other tissue without causing discomfort. The method includes the steps of mixing together a plasticizing oil, a polymer, and an additive. The mixture is melted so that the additives become soluble in the molten mixture. The molten mixture is molded into the shape of a useful item. When the molded item cools, the mixture becomes an elastomer and the additives begin to precipitate from the elastomer, migrating under a diffusion process to the surface of the molded item where they form a beneficial, friction reducing dry powder. The method also produces micro-craters on the surface of the elastomer that further reduce friction when liquid fluid is collected within the micro-craters.

Abstract: A composition for skin contact applications and for treating wounds having antimicrobial agents dispersed in a thermoplastic elastomer. The antimicrobial agents migrate to the surface of the thermoplastic elastomer to keep the wound and the skin free of infection.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis for below knee amputations includes a socket, a foam-covered pylon, and a prosthetic foot. A prosthetic knee is added for above knee amputations. A plastic sleeve is formed, heated, and stretched until it has a size sufficient to ensleeve the endoprothesis. The plastic sleeve is maintained at that enlarged size and cooled so that the resulting sleeve is substantially inelastic, yet easily deformable and adapted to receive the endoprosthesis. The plastic sleeve is heated in areas where it does not conform exactly to the endoprosthesis until it shrinks and conforms exactly to the endoprosthesis, including the contour of the foam-covered pylon. The plastic sleeve then reveals all of the structural details of the prosthetic foam but does not apply compressive force to the foam. Lines of demarcation therefore do not form at the locations where the foam meets the prosthetic socket, the prosthetic knee, or the prosthetic foot.

Abstract: A dynamic prosthetic foot having multiple load points and an anterior/posterior pair of upper sections includes a sole and an upper member. A heel end of the upper member has a gradual ninety degree bend formed in so that it is normal to the sole. An elongate longitudinally-extending slot divides the heel end of the upper member into a lateral, anterior pylon support and a medial, posterior pylon support and further divides the upper member into a lateral upper section and a medial upper section. The lateral, anterior pylon support is thicker than the medial, posterior pylon support and the lateral upper member section is thicker than the medial upper section so that forces applied to the lateral, anterior and medial, posterior pylons are transferred to a greater extent to the medial, posterior pylon. In a second embodiment, elongate pylons supplant the pylon supports.

Abstract: A dynamic prosthetic foot having multiple load points and multiple upper sections includes a sole and an upper member that overlies the sole. A heel end of the upper member has a gradual ninety degree bend formed in so that it is normal to the sole. An elongate longitudinally-extending slot divides the heel end of the upper member into a lateral pylon support and a medial pylon support and further divides the upper member into a lateral upper section and a medial upper section. The lateral pylon support is thicker than the medial pylon support and the lateral upper member section is thicker than the medial upper member section. Forces applied to the lateral and medial pylon supports are transferred to a greater extent to the medial pylon support. This closely mimics the way forces are handled by a natural foot. In a second embodiment, elongate lateral and medial pylons replace the lateral and medial pylon supports, respectively.

Abstract: A dynamic prosthetic foot having multiple load points includes a sole and an upper member that overlies the sole. A heel end of the upper member has a gradual ninety degree bend formed in so that it is normal to the sole. A longitudinally-extending slot divides the heel end of the upper member into a lateral pylon support and a medial pylon support. The lateral pylon support is thicker than the medial pylon support so that forces applied to the lateral and medial pylons are transferred to a greater extent to the medial pylon support. Vertical bounce during heel strike is eliminated, as is the flat spot. The foot further provides medial lateral stiffness, medial lateral stability, torsional flex and anysotropic stiffness. In a second embodiment, an elongate lateral and medial pylon replace the lateral and medial pylon supports, respectively.

Abstract: A dynamic prosthetic foot has a heel of elasticity made of a lateral heel and a medial heel that are formed separately from one another. A lateral ankle diverges upwardly from a sole along a transverse parting line and includes a horizontal and a vertical part that collectively form a lateral ankle part. The horizontal part is supported by a return bend formed in the lateral heel. The medial heel includes a return bend formed integrally with the sole but includes no medial ankle upper part. Each of the two heel parts independently absorbs impacts generated during ambulation and therefore provides differentiated heel elasticity. The lateral heel transfers loads to the medial heel because the lateral ankle upper part is supported by the lateral heel and the return bend that forms the medial heel is unsupported.

Abstract: A dynamic prosthetic foot provides medial and lateral stabilization. An ankle part diverges upwardly from a sole along a transverse parting line and includes a vertical part. A longitudinally extending slot divides the ankle part into a lateral and a medial ankle part and a pylon is connected to each of those parts. A plurality of parallel, equidistantly spaced, longitudinally extending slots are formed in the toe section and the heel section of the sole, respectively, to create a plurality of substantially independent toe and heel sections of narrow width. This enables the substantially independent toe and heel sections to respond independently to uneven terrain so that the user of the prosthetic foot is less likely to fall when ambulating over uneven terrain.

Abstract: A custom-fitting prosthetics liner is made without mixing silicone and without making a mold. A thermoformable liner is made by preparing a negative cast from a patient's residual limb, preparing a positive cast from the negative cast, and placing a thermoformable tubular liner over the positive cast. The positive cast and liner are heated in an oven for a predetermined time and temperature. Having acquired a new geometry, the cast and liner are removed from the oven and allowed to cool to room temperature. The liner is then removed from the cast. Alternatively the liner is heated, placed over the positive cast, cooled and removed. The interior surface of the liner conforms to the shape of the cast. The liner is elastic so that it returns to its new geometry when stretched and released. It therefore holds on to a residual limb even when the residual limb shrinks.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis for below knee amputations includes a socket, a foam-covered pylon, and a prosthetic foot. A prosthetic knee is added for above knee amputations. A plastic sleeve is formed, heated, and stretched until it has a size sufficient to ensleeve the endoprothesis. The plastic sleeve is maintained at that enlarged size and cooled so that the resulting sleeve is substantially inelastic, yet easily deformable and adapted to receive the endoprosthesis. The plastic sleeve is heated in areas where it does not conform exactly to the endoprosthesis until it shrinks and conforms exactly to the endoprosthesis, including the contour of the foam-covered pylon. The plastic sleeve then reveals all of the structural details of the prosthetic foam but does not apply compressive force to the foam. Lines of demarcation therefore do not form at the locations where the foam meets the prosthetic socket, the prosthetic knee, or the prosthetic foot.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis for below knee amputations includes a socket, a foam-covered pylon, and a prosthetic foot. A prosthetic knee is added for above knee amputations. A plastic sleeve is formed, heated, and stretched until it has a size sufficient to ensleeve the endoprothesis. The plastic sleeve is maintained at that enlarged size and cooled so that the resulting sleeve is substantially inelastic and is adapted to receive the endoprosthesis. The plastic sleeve is heated in areas where it does not conform exactly to the endoprosthesis until it shrinks and conforms exactly to the endoprosthesis, including the contour of the foam-covered pylon. The plastic sleeve then reveals all of the structural details of the prosthetic foam but does not apply compressive force to the foam. Lines of demarcation therefore do not form at the locations where the foam meets the prosthetic socket, the prosthetic knee, or the prosthetic foot.

Abstract: A dynamic prosthetic foot having multiple load points includes a sole only. A longitudinally-extending slot divides the heel end of the sole into a lateral heel member and a medial heel member. A heel end of the lateral heel member is formed by a return bend that terminates in an upwardly turned straight pylon support that is normal to the sole. The medial pylon support has the same construction but has less thickness and strength and therefore more flexibility than the lateral pylon support. In a second embodiment, an elongate pylon supplants each pylon support. The split heel structure provides a prosthetic foot having enhanced heel elasticity.

Abstract: A dynamic prosthetic foot having multiple load points and an anterior/posterior pair of upper sections includes a sole and an upper member. A heel end of the upper member has a gradual ninety degree bend formed in so that it is normal to the sole. An elongate longitudinally-extending slot divides the heel end of the upper member into a lateral, anterior pylon support and a medial, posterior pylon support and further divides the upper member into a lateral upper section and a medial upper section. The lateral, anterior pylon support is thicker than the medial, posterior pylon support and the lateral upper member section is thicker than the medial upper section so that forces applied to the lateral, anterior and medial, posterior pylons are transferred to a greater extent to the medial, posterior pylon. In a second embodiment, elongate pylons supplant the pylon supports.

Abstract: A dynamic prosthetic foot having multiple load points includes a sole having a toe end and a heel end. A longitudinally—extending slot divides the heel end of the sole into a lateral heel member and a medial heel member which respectively include a lateral, posterior pylon support and a medial, anterior pylon support. A heel end of the lateral heel member has a gradual ninety degree bend formed in so that it forms the lateral, posterior pylon support which is disposed normal to the sole. The medial heel member includes a return bend and a gradual ninety degree bend that positions the medial, anterior pylon support in anterior relation to the lateral, posterior pylon support. A heel extension is formed integrally with the lateral side only of the sole and diverges from the lateral, posterior pylon support along a transverse parting line.

Abstract: A dynamic prosthetic foot has a split upper ankle and exhibits differentiated heel elasticity. The ankle diverges upwardly from a sole along a transverse parting line and includes a horizontal and a vertical part. The horizontal part is supported by a horizontal leading end of a central support that forms one of four parts that collectively form the heel of the prosthetic foot. A downwardly turned return bend is formed in the trailing end of the central support and a central extension extends in trailing relation to a free end of the central support. A lateral heel extension and a medial heel extension are formed integrally with the sole and flank the central extension. Each of the four heel parts absorb impacts generated during ambulation and therefore provide differentiated heel elasticity.