Abstract: A system of multiple scoliosis treatment braces is custom fitted for a torso of a patient and organized in a sequential series, with each of the braces varying from a previous brace in the series by at least one shape characteristic. The sequential series of braces includes an initial treatment brace with an initial configuration that conforms to an initial shape of the torso, a final treatment brace with a final configuration that approximates a desired shape of the torso, and at least one intermediate treatment brace with an intermediate configuration that approximates a torso shape between the initial configuration and the final configuration. The initial configuration, the intermediate configuration and the final configuration may be determined, at least in part, by a single digital profile of the torso of the patient.

Abstract: A swirl ring component of a contact start plasma arc torch is provided. The swirl ring component includes a hollow body formed of a front portion and a rear portion along a longitudinal axis and defining an exterior surface and an interior surface. The swirl ring component also includes one or more gas passageways extending from the exterior surface to the interior surface in the front portion of the hollow body and a resilient element disposed relative to the interior surface in the rear portion of the hollow body and configured to pass at least a pilot arc current to an electrode body. The swirl ring component further includes a shoulder portion configured to retain the resilient element in the hollow body.

Abstract: An alignable coupling assembly embodiment for coupling distal and proximal prosthetic components includes a pair of parallel circular plates rotatably disposed in the circular receptacle of a support plate. The circular plates are configured such that they can be unpressed or a pressed. The unpressed condition allows rotation of the paired plates and the pressed condition prevents such rotation by way of a first friction lock. The paired circular plates further have a rectangular slot into which a longitudinal connector is slidably disposed, and which is subject to a second friction lock that prevents sliding when the connector is pulled distally. Rotational movement of the plates and sliding movement of the connector in the slot cooperate to allow its positioning at any point within an anterior-posterior/lateral medial grid centered on the longitudinal axis of the proximal prosthetic component. A distal pull on the longitudinal connector engages both first and second friction locks.

Abstract: An osseointegrated abutment support socket for a residual limb in which an osseointegrated abutment has been implanted is described. The osseointegrated abutment support socket may include a distal socket base assembly, multiple longitudinal struts and a percutaneous site protector. The distal socket base assembly may include a base plate, a collar extending proximally from the base plate and forming a receptacle for receiving a distal end of the osseointegrated abutment, and a strut support ring disposed around the collar. The struts are connected at their distal ends to the strut support ring and extend proximally upward. The percutaneous site protector contacts a distal surface of the residual limb near a percutaneous site where the distal end of the osseointegrated abutment exits the residual limb.

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic socket for a residual limb of the lower extremity or upper extremity of an individual person. The residual limb has particular dimensions and anatomical contours; the prosthetic socket has dimensions and contours that fit the dimensions and contours of the residual limb. The prosthetic socket may also fit in a manner that is biomechanically particularly appropriate for the individual. The prosthetic socket is an assembly of components from groups of components that include (a) struts arranged longitudinally with respect to the residual limb, (b) proximal brim members arranged proximally to the struts and connected thereto; and (c) distal socket members disposed at the distal base of the prosthetic socket. The socket components within these groups may be modular in that they can vary with respect to dimensions and/or contours, and yet have common connecting features that permit assembly of the components together to form the prosthetic socket.

Abstract: A liner garment for a prosthetic socket configured to accommodate a residual limb of a patient may include a main body, a gel cup and at least one support material layer. The main body may include an elastic, fluid permeable material layer extending around a full circumference of the liner garment and having a closed distal end and an open proximal end for accepting the residual limb of the patient. The gel cup is fluid impermeable and is positioned on the inner surface of the main body at its distal end. The support material layer is located on a portion of the outer surface of the main body and is made of a material that is less elastic than the fluid permeable material layer of the main body.

Abstract: The invention features methods and apparatuses for establishing operational settings of a plasma arc cutting system. A plasma power supply includes a user selectable control. The user selectable control enables selection of a single cutting persona that establishes at least a current, a gas pressure or gas flow rate, and an operational mode of the plasma arc cutting system.

Abstract: An alignable coupling assembly embodiment for coupling distal and proximal prosthetic components includes a pair of parallel circular plates rotatably disposed in the circular receptacle of a support plate. The circular plates are configured such that they can be unpressed or a pressed. The unpressed condition allows rotation of the paired plates and the pressed condition prevents such rotation by way of a first friction lock. The paired circular plates further have a rectangular slot into which a longitudinal connector is slidably disposed, and which is subject to a second friction lock that prevents sliding when the connector is pulled distally. Rotational movement of the plates and sliding movement of the connector in the slot cooperate to allow its positioning at any point within an anterior-posterior/lateral medial grid centered on the longitudinal axis of the proximal prosthetic component. A distal pull on the longitudinal connector engages both first and second friction locks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic socket for a residual limb of the lower extremity or upper extremity of an individual person. The residual limb has particular dimensions and anatomical contours; the prosthetic socket has dimensions and contours that fit the dimensions and contours of the residual limb. The prosthetic socket may also fit in a manner that is biomechanically particularly appropriate for the individual. The prosthetic socket is an assembly of components from groups of components that include (a) struts arranged longitudinally with respect to the residual limb, (b) proximal brim members arranged proximally to the struts and connected thereto; and (c) distal socket members disposed at the distal base of the prosthetic socket. The socket components within these groups may be modular in that they can vary with respect to dimensions and/or contours, and yet have common connecting features that permit assembly of the components together to form the prosthetic socket.

Abstract: A moisture management liner device for a prosthetic socket may include an elongate, cup-shaped, elastomeric member and multiple fluid transport strips. The elastomeric member may include a first material and may extend from an open proximal end to a substantially closed distal end. The substantially closed distal end may include a fluid exit aperture to allow fluid to pass out of the liner device. The fluid transport strips may include a second material and may be disposed at spaced-apart intervals around a circumference of an internal surface of the elastomeric member, over at least a distal portion of the elastomeric member. The fluid transport strips may be configured to facilitate passage of fluid out of the liner device through the fluid exit aperture.

Abstract: A cushion for a distal cup of a prosthetic socket has a total volume that includes a solid thermoplastic composition volume and a void volume. A ratio of the solid composition relative volume to the total volume yields a relative thermoplastic elastomer fill volume that is correlated with an elastic modulus of the cushion. The relative thermoplastic elastomer fill volume can vary regionally within the cushion in a customized manner, and accordingly, so can the elastic modulus and the durometer. Varying the elastic modulus or durometer regionally within a cushion, such as by 3D printing the cushion, provides therapeutic and prophylactic benefits in the application of the cushion to articles that interface with the body, such as a cushion disposed in the distal portion of a prosthetic socket for a residual limb of an amputee.

Abstract: A photodetector has a photoactive layer of semiconducting inorganic nanoparticles positioned between a hole transport electron blocking layer of a first metal oxide and an electron transport hole blocking layer of a second metal oxide. The nanoparticles are responsive to electromagnetic radiation in at least the infrared region of the spectrum. The first metal oxide can be NiO, and the second metal oxide can be ZnO or TiO2. The metal oxide layers render the photodetector stable in air, even in the absence of an encapsulating coating around the photodetector. The photodetector has a P-I-N structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the technology include a prosthetic socket suspension device having a distal cup portion and a liner garment portion, these two portions being bonded together. In various embodiments, a distal cup may be disposed within a liner, a liner may be disposed within a distal cup, and a distal cup may be disposed between distally bifurcated internal and an external layers of a liner. Distal cup are sized and shaped to accommodate a distal portion of a residual limb of a patient. Distal cup embodiments may be formed from either a thermoplastic or thermoset plastic composition. Thermoplastic cup embodiments may be thermally reformed around the distal portion of the limb so as to create a highly conformal fit. Embodiments of the technology further include methods fabricating the prosthetic suspension device, and methods of thermally reforming the suspension device so as to fit a distal aspect of the residual limb of a patient.

Abstract: A modular prosthetic socket for a residual limb of a lower extremity of a patient may include an adjustable height ischial seat for facilitating the distribution of body weight away from the distal end of the residual limb and channeling the weight preferentially through the ischial tuberosity. In one aspect, the modular prosthetic socket may include a base plate, multiple longitudinal struts, and an ischial seat pad adjustably coupled with the proximal end of a medial strut, such that the ischial seat pad is vertically adjustable relative to the medial strut to adjust a total length of the medial strut measured from a proximal end of the ischial seat pad to the distal end of the medial strut. The ischial seat pad is configured to engage an ischium of the patient when the prosthetic socket is worn by the patient.

Abstract: A method is described for fabricating a sequential series of orthopedic devices custom designed to change a configuration of a body part of a patient from a pretreatment configuration to a treated configuration. The method involves receiving digital data representing the body part of the patient in the pretreatment configuration. The method continues by generating, using the digital data, a sequential series of digital 3D body part models, including at least an initial body part model representing the pretreatment configuration of the body part, a final body part model representing the treated configuration of the body part, and at least one intermediate body part model representing the body part in an intermediate configuration between the pretreatment and treated configurations. The method further involves fabricating the sequential series of orthopedic devices from the sequential series of digital 3D body part models.

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic socket for a residual limb of the lower extremity or upper extremity of an individual person. The residual limb has particular dimensions and anatomical contours; the prosthetic socket has dimensions and contours that fit the dimensions and contours of the residual limb. The prosthetic socket may also fit in a manner that is biomechanically particularly appropriate for the individual. The prosthetic socket is an assembly of components from groups of components that include (a) struts arranged longitudinally with respect to the residual limb, (b) proximal brim members arranged proximally to the struts and connected thereto; and (c) distal socket members disposed at the distal base of the prosthetic socket. The socket components within these groups may be modular in that they can vary with respect to dimensions and/or contours, and yet have common connecting features that permit assembly of the components together to form the prosthetic socket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic socket for a residual limb of the lower extremity or upper extremity of an individual person. The residual limb has particular dimensions and anatomical contours; the prosthetic socket has dimensions and contours that fit the dimensions and contours of the residual limb. The prosthetic socket may also fit in a manner that is biomechanically particularly appropriate for the individual. The prosthetic socket is an assembly of components from groups of components that include (a) struts arranged longitudinally with respect to the residual limb, (b) proximal brim members arranged proximally to the struts and connected thereto; and (c) distal socket members disposed at the distal base of the prosthetic socket. The socket components within these groups may be modular in that they can vary with respect to dimensions and/or contours, and yet have common connecting features that permit assembly of the components together to form the prosthetic socket.

Abstract: A method and system converts OTC positions into contracts clearable at a futures clearing house. Each OTC position has a maturity date. The method comprises: a) defining a plurality of tenors. The plurality of tenors is fewer in number than the OTC maturity dates of the OTC positions. The method also comprises: b) defining a contract, which is clearable at the clearing house, corresponding to each tenor defined in step a); c) mapping each OTC position, as it is executed, into one or more of the contracts, based on the maturity date of the OTC position; and d) between business days, re-mapping each contract mapped at step c) to account for the move of calendar day. The invention finds particular application as a method and system to convert OTC Foreign Exchange (FX) positions into futures contracts clearable at a futures clearing house. The OTC FX positions may include OTC FX spot positions and OTC FX forwards positions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the provided technology relate to methods, devices, and systems that drive a transfer of the digital profile of residual limb contours to a thermoplastic article such as a prosthetic socket strut. A method of reforming a thermoplastic article to assume a desired shape, such as a contour that replicates or is complementary to the contour of a body portion, may include heating a thermoplastic article to render the article malleable. The method may further include placing the thermoplastic article against a molding surface having a desired shape that replicates the portion of the body part. Next, the thermoplastic article may be pressed against the molding surface with a compliant molding press to reform at least a portion of the article into the desired shape. The reformed thermoplastic article may then be removed from the molding surface, the article retaining the desired shape after removal.