Abstract: A toilet flushable diaper for use by infants and incontinent adults. The diaper has a liquid impervious back sheet comprised of a soluble film center layer covered on both sides with flocking or nonwoven material. An absorbent member is carried on the inner surface of the back sheet comprises a liquid pervious cover which encapsulates an inner body for absorbing urine and other body fluids. The diaper is formed with a weakened tear sheet which enables manual tearing of it into several pieces, allowing the pieces to dissolve when absorbing water as they are flushed down a toilet.

Abstract: A toilet flushable diaper for use by infants and incontinent adults. The diaper has a liquid impervious back sheet comprised of a soluble film center layer covered on both sides with flocking or nonwoven material. An absorbent member is carried on the inner surface of the back sheet comprises a liquid pervious cover which encapsulates an inner body for absorbing urine and other body fluids. The diaper is formed with a weakened tear sheet which enables manual tearing of it into several pieces, allowing the pieces to dissolve when absorbing water as they are flushed down a toilet.

Abstract: A method and device for generating, displaying and manipulating three-dimensional images for medical applications is provided. The method creates a three-dimensional images from MRI or other similar medical imaging equipment. The medical imaging system allows a user to view the three-dimensional model at arbitrary angles, vary the light or color of different elements, and to remove confusing elements or to select particular organs for close viewing. Selection or removal of organs is accomplished using fuzzy connectivity methods to select the organ based on morphological parameters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus in which a pump is used with a sanative protector of the type having a flexible envelope which wraps around and seals a cast, bandage or dressing on an arm, leg or other appendage of a person responsive to vacuum established in an interface region beneath the envelope. The pump comprises a bulb having a wall which encloses a pumping chamber. The wall is formed of a material and wall thickness which provides elasticity sufficient to enable inward deformation from a distended shape toward a collapsed shape, and further having an elastic memory which causes the wall to produce an elastic pressure sufficient to urge the wall outwardly from the collapsed shape toward the distended shape.

Abstract: A flushable diaper for use on the body of an infant or adult. An envelope has inner and outer walls which are secured together at their outer periphery to form an inner cavity. The outer wall is comprised of a hydrophobic outer layer together with a hydrophilic inner layer. The inner wall is comprised of a hydrophobic outer layer together with a hydrophilic inner layer. The inner and outer walls are separated by an interior cavity which contains one or more containers. The container is comprised of either a single layer or a laminated wall which forms a chamber that encloses a charge of water. The laminated wall is comprised a hydrophobic inner laminate and a hydrophilic outer laminate. When manually ruptured, the containers release water into the double walled envelope, which causes disintegration of the hydrophilic inner layers of the double walls, along with the hydrophobic outer layers.

Abstract: A vacuum fitted ski boot which includes an air pump for automatically pumping air from an interior cavity within the boot for holding the requisite vacuum to maintain a close-fitting contact between the user's foot and the boot. An ankle cuff is mounted for relative angular movement with respect to a boot shell. A vacuum pump is mounted on the boot and is operated responsive to angular movement of the ankle cuff when there is flexing motion between the user's lower leg and foot during skiing. In different embodiments the pump can be mounted on the anterior, posterior, medial or lateral sides of the boot. In another embodiment the pump is comprised of an envelope which is fitted between the boot sole and the instep of the user's foot. The envelope has wall portions which define an interior cavity, and the wall portions are caused to undergo movement toward and away from each other responsive to pronation and supination movement of the foot during skiing to pump air out from the interior cavity of the boot.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a method of forming a waterproof seal about the cast or dressing on a patient. An air- and water-impervious flexible membrane is placed over the cast or dressing to a position where the membrane's edge margins overlie the patient's skin along the perimeter of the cast or dressing. A vacuum is created between the membrane and skin by evacuating air through a suction tube or valve. The vacuum creates a close, snug fit of the membrane over the entirety of the cast or dressing and over a relatively large surface area of skin to provide a waterproof seal.

Abstract: A ski boot which creates a vacuum between the boot and user's foot, ankle and lower calf. The boot includes a rigid shell formed in sections which permit articulation, and padded liners are mounted within the shell. A flexible sheath secured to the shell forms an hermetical seal about the calf of the user. Means is provided for maintaining a partial vacuum within the boot. The partial vacuum causes both contraction of the boot shell and expansion of the foot to establish a close fit of the foot within the boot. The boot provides lateral stiffness while permitting forward flexing, and the close fit permits the user to achieve precise control during skiing.

Abstract: Convertible ski boot and binding equipment is provided for alternate use in different modes of skiing, such as Alpine, tour skiing, or ski mountaineering. For Alpine skiing an outer shell is detachably mounted about an inner ski boot with the toe of the boot latched in a toe binding which includes a toe plate which is adapted to pivot on the ski for quick release. The heel of the shell is releasably held on the ski by a spring-loaded plunger which is mounted in a heel support molded in the shell. For tour skiing the shell and tongue are detached with the heel of the boot free to move from the ski and with the toe latched in the toe plate which in turn is rigidly locked on the ski.