Abstract: A multiple-compartment ascorbic acid delivery unit is provided. The first compartment is impermeable to oxygen and ultraviolet light and contains a solid vitamin-containing composition comprising ascorbic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters. The second compartment is liquid impermeable and contains a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system. The first compartment is entirely enclosed within said second compartment or vice versa. An opening is formed in the inner compartment in order to combine the contents of the two compartments to form an ascorbic acid carrier composition prior to delivery to the patient.

Abstract: A multifunctional multi-compartment applicator for the stable storage of solid ascorbic acid and topical application of ascorbic acid in solution to the skin, the applicator having an absorbent end and an abrasive end.

Abstract: A back support brace for supporting the back of a wearer of the brace for preventing injuries and reinforcing proper lifting mechanics during lifting activities comprises a back panel, a left side panel and a right side panel wherein the left and right side panels are secured at opposite ends of the back panel and are wrappable around the waist of a wearer and adjustably securable thereto. Aligned pairs of belt loops are provided on an inner surface of the brace and are adapted to receive a belt for holding up the pants of the wearer of the brace therethrough so as to prevent the brace from being advanced out of a preset position during lifting activities. A lower edge of the brace includes cutout portions generally positioned above the thighs of the wearer such that the lower edge is contoured to conform to the shape of the wearer throughout lifting activities. Elastic insets extend over the cutout portions to increase tension across the back panel.

Abstract: An ultrasound therapy system with automatic dose control includes an ultrasound transducer, an ultrasound generator controllable in frequency and power output connected to the transducer, a system controller interfaced to the generator, input switches interfaced to the controller to enable the input of selected ultrasound treatment parameters, and a display interfaced to the controller. The controller is programmed to calculate an ultrasound treatment dosage in terms of frequency, ultrasound intensity, and treatment time from the entered treatment parameters. Once treatment is started, the controller tracks the accumulated dosage applied to the tissue. The clinician can vary the intensity or treatment time, and the controller will recalculate the other factor for the remaining portion of the unapplied treatment dosage.

Abstract: A back support brace for supporting the back of a wearer of the brace for preventing injuries and reinforcing proper lifting mechanics during lifting activities comprises a back panel, a left side panel and a right side panel wherein the left and right side panels are secured at opposite ends of the back panel and are wrappable around the waist of a wearer and adjustably securable thereto. Aligned pairs of belt loops are provided on an inner surface of the brace and are adapted to receive a belt for holding up the pants of the wearer of the brace therethrough so as to prevent the brace from being advanced out of a preset position during lifting activities. A lower edge of the brace includes cutout portions generally positioned above the thighs of the wearer such that the lower edge is contoured to conform to the shape of the wearer throughout lifting activities. Elastic insets extend over the cutout portions to increase tension across the back panel.

Abstract: A hand-held physiological stimulation and treatment signal applicator. The applicator includes a housing having a portion in which electrical controls are mounted for facilitated manipulation thereof by the user's hand embracing the housing portion in the use of the apparatus. Different types of physiological treatment signals may be provided separately or in combination from the associated power sources and controlled by the housing mounted controls. The applicator head provided for facial engagement with the patient's tissue is swivelly mounted to the end of the applicator housing for facilitated adjustment of the head to insure desired facial engagement between the head and patient's tissue. Structure is provided for providing positive grasping of the applicator housing adjacent the applicator head while preventing interference between the user's fingers and the patient's tissue adjacent the head.

Abstract: A therapeutic laser radiation applicator including a laser energy radiator, a fresnel lens, and structure for mounting the fresnel lens in preselected association with the laser radiator for refracting a portion of the laser radiation to a preselected beam configuration adapted to provide a therapeutic tissue irradiation pattern. The support is preferably flexible to accommodate the applicator to the surface configuration of the tissue to be treated. The fresnel lens elements are preferably formed of a flexible material and, in the illustrated embodiment are formed integrally in a sheet of light-transmissive synthetic resin. The fresnel lens structure may comprise one or more fresnel lens elements in series light-diffracting relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique is disclosed for promoting or altering the growth, repair or regenerative process of living tissues and cells with an induced magnetic field. The apparatus includes at least one coil of a specific structural arrangement coupled to a current generator for producing a magnetic field and mounted on a flexible contour-conforming composition for application to living tissue. The generator provides current to the coil to produce a continuous or pulsating magnetic field within the region to be treated. A "polaroid" filter formed also of a flexible contour is disposed between the coil and the region to be treated to control flux density. Additional filter(s) can be placed adjacent each other to further control the orientation and density of the flux impinging upon the area to be treated. The number of filters and their arrangement are selected to provide beneficial effects in the area of the tissue to be treated.

Abstract: An electrotherapeutic method of providing electrical stimulation to human or animal tissue. A stimulating pulse train, having a primary frequency of 500 Hz to 100,000 Hz, is coupled to two electrodes attached to the portion of tissue to be stimulated. The train of pulses of the primary frequency are gated on and off so that they are applied and discontinued in predetermined intervals. For neural stimulation, the gating is performed at 0.1 Hz to 200 Hz. For muscle stimulation, the current is provided for predetermined intervals of 0.001 to 100 seconds and is discontinued in alternate intervals for 0.001 to 100 seconds. The stimulating pulse train may be amplitude modulated so that its amplitude rises at the beginning of each on-time period and falls at the end of each on-time period, the rise and fall time varying between 0.5% and 50% of the total on-time of the stimulating current.

Abstract: An electrical inhibitor system is disclosed for suppressing the application of transcutaneous nerve stimulator (TNS) signals during the T-wave portion of a heartbeat. The system includes a sensing circuit which is coupled to detect the R-S waveform produced by the heart during its normal beating pattern. Upon detection of the R-S portion of the waveform, an electrical signal is produced and coupled to timing circuitry to produce a timing signal having a duration in excess of the normal period of the T-wave portion of the heartbeat. The timing signal is to inhibit the output of a transcutaneous nerve stimulator during the T-wave portion of the heartbeat. When the inhibiting circuit and transcutaneous nerve stimulator are coupled to a patient, the system provides an inhibiting signal beginning during the R-S portion of the waveform and extending through the T-wave portion of the hearbeat to prevent application of the output from the transcutaneous nerve stimulator during the vulnerable period of the heart.