Abstract: A back belt comprising a continuous, non-baffled, pressurizable air chamber having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposing ends defining the periphery thereof; cushioning rims along the top and bottom edges of the air chamber; symmetrical contouring notches along the top and bottom edges of the air chamber and along the cushioning rims; belt means connected to the ends of the air chamber; valve means on the air chamber operable to allow presurization of the air chamber to a desired internal air pressure; and supportive wall means overlaying the air chamber to provide stability and durability to the air chamber, and connected to the belt means and to the air chamber at the ends of the air chamber; and a novel connector permanently couples the materials from which the air chamber and belt straps for the air chamber of the preferred embodiment of the invention are constructed, providing a stability to the joinder of these materials not obtainable by known sewing means, thereby enhancing the durability

Abstract: A surgical gauze sponge manager to receive a predetermined number of discarded surgical gauze sponges and to contain the bodily fluids absorbed therein, comprising a finite number of dimensionally controlled pockets to receive an equivalent number of discarded surgical gauze sponges, which pockets are in fluid communication with bodily fluid reservoirs, and which are foldable within an interconnected containment pocket, the pockets being constructed from a semi-transparent material that can be sterilized, and that retains at least semi-transparency when no more than two layers are overlayed, but becomes substantially opaque when at least four layers are overlayed.