Abstract: Sleepware for preventing a wearer from assuming a supine or semisupine position prior to or during sleep, thus increasing the volume of available airway via oropharynx. The sleepware comprises a rear portion and a pouch disposed on the rear portion so as to be located between the scapular of the wearer. The pouch has an interior cavity, an orifice to the cavity, and means for selectively closing the orifice. The pouch further includes at least one pleat to enable the pouch to expand in the dorso-ventral, medio-lateral and superior-inferior directions of the wearer. A first of the at least one pleat extends in a lengthwise direction of the sleepware, while an optional second pleat extends in a widthwise direction of the sleepware. A hollow perforated ball is removably retained within the cavity by the closing means.

Abstract: A shielding device is provided for protecting healthy tissue during radiotherapy of malignant tissue. The shielding device is composed of nontoxic, high atomic weight metal particles that are dispersed in a thermoplastic matrix material that is substantially rigid at temperatures encountered during radiotherapy, yet becomes readily moldable at temperatures that are within a comfortable range for a patient so as to enable in situ molding of the device. Because the matrix material is a nonsetting thermoplastic, the shielding device can be continuously reshaped in order to achieve a better fit for a patient and the radiation beam used. In addition, the shielding device can be readily reshaped in order to ensure an adequate thickness for radiation shielding.