Abstract: A protective headgear system includes a cover including a substantially transparent facial shield, a sheet sealingly coupled to the facial shield around the cover's perimeter, the sheet including a substantially anterior portion including a first sheet material configured to act as a substantial barrier to the passage of air, and including a substantially posterior portion including a second sheet material configured to filter contaminants from air, and one or more seams between the first sheet material and the second sheet material, a flow restrictor configured to significantly create a flow barrier between the cover and the neck of a user for providing an interior volume, an air mover configured to draw some of the external air into the interior volume, a filter coupled to the cover, and one or more flow directors configured to direct internal air, including at least some exhaled air, toward the second sheet material.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone plate, suitable for internally fixating and stabilizing fractured bones, includes: an elongated structure, capable of contraction in a longitudinal direction and having at least two ends, the structure having at least two fixation points adapted to be fixated to a fractured bone with the fixation points on opposing sides of a fracture. An elastic, polymer cable is longitudinally stretched and coupled in tension to the elongated structure, capable of causing the structure to contract in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone bridge, suitable for internally fixating and stabilizing fractured bones. The bone bridge includes: first and second bone plates for attachment to bone fragments by bone screws or the like on opposite sides of a bone fracture, a pair elongate parallel hollow legs on which the plates are mounted and the second plate is slidably engaged and is moveable with respect to the first plate, and an elastic cable or microcable attached to the first plate and extending down through the legs and around said second plate. The elastic cable is configured to provide a controlled tensile force between the plates when they are pulled into a longitudinally spaced apart position with the bone bridge then applying a correspondingly compressive force onto the bone fracture when the plates are secured to bone fragments on opposite sides of a bone fracture.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone plate, suitable for internally fixating and stabilizing fractured bones, includes: an elongated structure, capable of contraction in a longitudinal direction and having at least two ends, the structure having at least two fixation points adapted to be fixated to a fractured bone with the fixation points on opposing sides of a fracture. An elastic, polymer cable is longitudinally stretched and coupled in tension to the elongated structure, capable of causing the structure to contract in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An Intra-Medullary implant includes: an elongated rigid body having a first end and a second end, adapted to be inserted longitudinally into a bony canal, the body having a generally axial passage through at least a portion of said body; at least one movable slide, movably received in said passage and adapted to be transfixed by engagement with a transverse member penetrated through the bone, said slide also adapted to receive tension from an elongated tensile member disposed longitudinally within said passage; and an anchor, adapted for fixation to the body near its first end and to said tensile member, to hold the elongated tensile member under tension between the anchor and the movable slide.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone plate, suitable for internally fixating and stabilizing fractured bones, includes: an elongated structure, capable of contraction in a longitudinal direction and having at least two ends, the structure having at least two fixation points adapted to be fixated to a fractured bone with the fixation points on opposing sides of a fracture. An elastic, polymer cable is longitudinally stretched and coupled in tension to the elongated structure, capable of causing the structure to contract in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone plate, suitable for internally fixating and stabilizing fractured bones, includes: an elongated structure, capable of contraction in a longitudinal direction and having at least two ends, the structure having at least two fixation points adapted to be fixated to a fractured bone with the fixation points on opposing sides of a fracture. An elastic, polymer cable is longitudinally stretched and coupled in tension to the elongated structure, capable of causing the structure to contract in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone bridge, suitable for internally fixating and stabilizing fractured bones. The bone bridge includes: first and second bone plates for attachment to bone fragments by bone screws or the like on opposite sides of a bone fracture, a pair elongate parallel hollow legs on which the plates are mounted and the second plate is slidably engaged and is moveable with respect to the first plate, and an elastic cable or microcable attached to the first plate and extending down through the legs and around said second plate. The elastic cable is configured to provide a controlled tensile force between the plates when they are pulled into a longitudinally spaced apart position with the bone bridge then applying a correspondingly compressive force onto the bone fracture when the plates are secured to bone fragments on opposite sides of a bone fracture.

Abstract: A method of applying an active compressive force continuously across a fracture by wrapping fractured bone segments in an energy-inducing surgical cable having a predetermined elastic property that stretches about 30 to 100% of its original length. The cable is wrapped around the bone segments, applying an energy-inducing continuous compressive force to the bone segments by elongating while maintaining the bone segments in compression as the bone segments mend.

Abstract: An absorbent dressing which does not stick to the wound to thereby minimize secondary lesions which are caused by shearing stresses and the like. The dressing includes an absorbent pad and a thin support film with an adhesive layer therein to maintain the dressing in place on a patient. A backer sheet supports the film and a release liner covers the adhesive layer. The support film is, preferrably, transparent or translucent which permits visual inspection of the pad.

Abstract: A retracting system especially for use with operating room equipment and adapted to permit a vinyl tube to be removed from a storage spool to a desired length. The spool system is then locked into position so that the tubing is not retracted. By pulling slightly on the tubing, the apparatus retracts the tubing onto the storage spool for future utilization.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a femoral hip prosthetic implant, and a process, that incorporates an interior channel in the implant, which channel permits the implant, after it is properly positioned in a canal at the proximal end of a prepared femur, to be left in that position. Cement is then injected through that channel and discharged through medial ports in the implant to flood and up-well in the space between the implant and the femoral canal, thereby bonding and sealing the implant to the proximal portion of the femur while the implant remains seated in the desired position within the femur. Preferably a collar is provided at the distal portion of the stem to firmly seat and center the stem within the femoral canal. Also, preferably a spacer is provided at the mid-portion of the stem to center the stem within the femoral canal and to prevent cement from passing down the femoral canal beyond the proximal end of the stem.