Abstract: A comfort insert to be worn inside a person's footwear to alleviate friction between the person's foot and surfaces of the footwear and possibly provide some cushioning, and a method of assembling such a comfort insert. A body portion of the insert may be of crumpled thin plastic film material, and a containment element may be of fine-filament open mesh netting. A portion of an exterior surface of the insert may be provided with a nonslip or adhesive coating to assist in keeping the comfort insert in a desired location.

Abstract: An adapter is provided which allows an external driving tool to drive a driven tool such as an intraosseous needle assembly, where the external driving tool would otherwise be incompatible with the needle assembly. The adapter includes a driver connector having a bore, where the bore is to receive an external driver of the external driving tool. The adapter further includes a driver attached to the driver connector. A cross-sectional shape of the bore is different than a cross-sectional shape of the attached driver. The attached driver includes resilient legs which assist in securing the adapter to the needle assembly. The resilient legs may include protuberances to secure the adapter.

Abstract: Disclosure herein are protective bandage and methods of use and manufacture thereof. The protective bandages can include first and second flexible films and a shear-reducing element. The first flexible film may form a contact layer having a first side opposite a second side. The second flexible film may form a dome attached to and extending over a portion of the first side of the contact layer. The dome may have a height at least partially defined by a side wall and a top portion of the second flexible film. The contact layer may extend beneath the dome and the top portion being freely movable along the first side of the contact layer through a distance related to the height. The shear-reducing element is located inside the hollow dome.

Abstract: A comfort insert to be worn inside a person's footwear to alleviate friction between the person's foot and surfaces of the footwear and possibly provide some cushioning, and a method of assembling such a comfort insert. A body portion of the insert may be of crumpled thin plastic film material, and a containment element may be of fine-filament open mesh netting. A portion of an exterior surface of the insert may be provided with a nonslip or adhesive coating to assist in keeping the comfort insert in a desired location.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a possibility of a stress fracture in a patient's bone by applying a vibration of a selected frequency to a patient at a selected anatomical location and analyzing the resulting vibration detected at another anatomical location. Analysis may be based on a database. A probability of the existence of a fracture may be displayed. System software may provide usage instructions.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a possibility of a stress fracture in a patient's bone by applying a vibration of a selected frequency to a patient at a selected anatomical location and analyzing the resulting vibration detected at another anatomical location. Analysis may be based on a database. A probability of the existence of a fracture may be displayed. System software may provide usage instructions.

Abstract: A medical dressing for chest wounds, including a one-way valve that can be covered so as to protect against intrusion of airborne contaminants and to prevent passage of fluids in either direction, and including indicia visible using night vision devices but not visible in visible light to the naked eye in some embodiments. The indicia visible using night vision devices may be included in other medical apparatus, as well, so that the medical dressings or other apparatus can be used effectively during darkness, in combat situations, without being seen by enemy combatants not equipped with night vision devices.

Abstract: Devices for reduction of damage from friction and for prevention and treatment of skin breakdown by relief of friction and shear forces. A friction reducing device may include a pair of thin membranes with low coefficients of friction with respect to each other, and of which one is free to slide through a limited distance along the other. A method of making one such device includes forming a dome in a flexible film and adhesively attaching a skirt surrounding the dome to a skin contact layer. Similar friction reducing devices may be incorporated in shoes, other clothing, or sports equipment or used to protect movable rods or cables.

Abstract: An orthopedic wrist splint with an initially generally planar malleable metal core covered by a layer of synthetic foam padding material on each of its opposite sides and protected by an outer cover of fabric. In one embodiment, depending on the orientation of the splint relative to the patient, the splint provides greater or lesser firmness of support when the core is bent to conform the splint to the patient's hand, wrist, and forearm. In another embodiment, a central part of the length of the splint lacks the metal core and is flexible, so that two parts of the splint are easily used on opposite sides of an arm or ankle, with the central part comfortably bent around an elbow or a foot, and with the splint firmly supporting the limb.

Abstract: Devices for reduction of damage from friction and for prevention and treatment of skin breakdown by relief of friction and shear forces. A friction reducing device may include a pair of thin membranes with low coefficients of friction with respect to each other, and of which one is free to slide through a limited distance along the other. A method of making one such device includes forming a dome in a flexible film and adhesively attaching a skirt surrounding the dome to a skin contact layer. Similar friction reducing devices may be incorporated in shoes, other clothing, or sports equipment or used to protect movable rods or cables.

Abstract: A self-adhesive bandage for prevention and treatment of skin breakdown by relief of friction and shear forces. The bandage includes a pair of thin film membranes, one of which is a portion of a dome and is free to move a limited distance with respect to the other. The dome is located on a skin contact layer that can be adhered to one's skin. A method of making such a bandage includes forming a dome in a flexible film and adhesively attaching a skirt surrounding the dome to a skin contact layer. Similar friction reducing devices may be incorporated in shoes, other clothing, or sports equipment.

Abstract: An orthopedic wrist splint with an initially generally planar malleable metal core covered by a layer of synthetic foam padding material on each of its opposite sides and protected by an outer cover of fabric. In one embodiment, depending on the orientation of the splint relative to the patient, the splint provides greater or lesser firmness of support when the core is bent to conform the splint to the patient's hand, wrist, and forearm. In another embodiment, a central part of the length of the splint lacks the metal core and is flexible, so that two parts of the splint are easily used on opposite sides of an arm or ankle, with the central part comfortably bent around an elbow or a foot, and with the splint firmly supporting the limb.

Abstract: An orthopedic wrist splint with an initially generally planar malleable metal core covered by a layer of synthetic foam padding material on each of its opposite sides and protected by an outer cover of fabric. In one embodiment, depending on the orientation of the splint relative to the patient, the splint provides greater or lesser firmness of support when the core is bent to conform the splint to the patient's hand, wrist, and forearm. In another embodiment, a central part of the length of the splint lacks the metal core and is flexible, so that two parts of the splint are easily used on opposite sides of an arm or ankle, with the central part comfortably bent around an elbow or a foot, and with the splint firmly supporting the limb.

Abstract: A wrist splint with an initially generally planar malleable metal core covered by a layer of synthetic foam padding material on each of its opposite sides and protected by an outer cover of fabric. Depending on the orientation of the splint relative to the patient, the splint provides greater or lesser firmness of support when the core is bent to conform the splint to the patient's hand, wrist, and forearm.

Abstract: A wrist splint with an initially generally planar malleable metal core covered by a layer of synthetic foam padding material on each of its opposite sides and protected by an outer cover of fabric. Depending on the orientation of the splint relative to the patient, the splint provides greater or lesser firmness of support when the core is bent to conform the splint to the patient's hand, wrist, and forearm.

Abstract: A self-adhesive bandage for prevention and treatment of skin breakdown by relief of friction and shear forces. The bandage includes a pair of thin film membranes, one of which is a portion of a dome and is free to move a limited distance with respect to the other. The dome is located on a skin contact layer that can be adhered to one's skin. A method of making such a bandage includes forming a dome in a flexible film and adhesively attaching a skirt surrounding the dome to a skin contact layer.

Abstract: A self-adhesive bandage for prevention and treatment of skin breakdown by relief of friction and shear forces. The bandage includes a pair of thin film membranes, one of which is a portion of a dome and is free to move a limited distance with respect to the other. The dome is located on a skin contact layer that can be adhered to one's skin. A method of making such a bandage includes forming a dome in a flexible film and adhesively attaching a skirt surrounding the dome to a skin contact layer. Similar friction reducing devices may be incorporated in shoes, other clothing, or sports equipment.

Abstract: An orthopedic wrist splint with an initially generally planar malleable metal core covered by a layer of synthetic foam padding material on each of its opposite sides and protected by an outer cover of fabric. In one embodiment, depending on the orientation of the splint relative to the patient, the splint provides greater or lesser firmness of support when the core is bent to conform the splint to the patient's hand, wrist, and forearm. In another embodiment, a central part of the length of the splint lacks the metal core and is flexible, so that two parts of the splint are easily used on opposite sides of an arm or ankle, with the central part comfortably bent around an elbow or a foot, and with the splint firmly supporting the limb.

Abstract: A tissue-protective device (16, 18, 20, 60, 66, 76, 86, 96, 110, 130) and a method for protecting tissue against abrasion by attaching a pair of mutually overlying membranous layers (26, 28, 122, 124) to an area of a tissue surface such as a person's skin with only the peripheries of the layers interconnected with each other, so that the layers can easily slip along each other. An absorbent pad (88, 98) may be placed between one of the layers and the tissue, and may be impregnated with medication to be delivered to the tissue being protected. A quantity of a lubricant can be contained between the layers. The device is thin, to avoid causing pressure when it is used in restricted spaces, as within one's shoe. The device can also be implanted internally as where tendons move along an implanted plate.

Abstract: A skin-protective device and a method for protecting skin against abrasion by attaching a pair of mutually overlying membranous layers to an area of a person's skin with only the peripheries of the layers interconnected with each other, so that the layers can slip along each other. An absorbent pad may be placed between one of the layers and the skin, and a quantity of a lubricant can be contained between the layers. The device is thin, to avoid causing pressure when it is used in restricted spaces, as within one's shoe.