Abstract: An ergonomic walking stick of the present invention is particularly useful during therapeutic exercise involving walking. The ergonomic walking stick of the present invention has an ergonomically angled handle that is configured such that said angled handle section is offset from the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft and that allows for a more comfortable wrist angle through the entire walking stride. In one exemplary embodiment, the ergonomically angled handle is angled with respect to the handle support section and is further canted in relation to the plane defined by the vertical axis of the shaft and the horizontal axis of the handle support section.

Abstract: An ergonomic walking stick of the present invention is particularly useful during therapeutic exercise involving walking. The ergonomic walking stick of the present invention has an ergonomically angled handle that allows for a more comfortable wrist angle through the entire walking stride. In one exemplary embodiment, ergonomically angled handle is angled with respect to the handle support section and is further canted in relation to the plane defined by the vertical axis of the shaft and the horizontal axis of the handle support section.

Abstract: A light-weight, portable toilet seat attachment which positions the user in a natural semi-crouching position over a conventional toilet seat to relieve pressure and resulting pain in a user's back, hips or knees.

Abstract: A thermistor holder for a holder for a thermistor especially for use with infants. The thermistor holder includes a foundation strap having first and second end portions and upper and lower surfaces. An adhesive surface portion provided on the lower surface of the foundation strap for releasably securing said foundation strap to a supporting object is provided. A bridging member is carried by the foundation strap second end portion and carries an engaging strap for being releasably secured to the patient. The thermistor holder also includes a securing strap, secured at its proximal end portion to the foundation strap and releasably securable at its distal end to a portion of the engaging strap. The securing strap releasably engages at least a portion of the engaging strap, after the thermistor has been received between the securing strap and the bridging member. An insulative member is provided between the securing strap and the bridging portion to insulate the thermistor from ambient temperatures.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a medical pressure dressing. The dressing includes a frame for affixing to skin surrounding the skin treatment site and a strap for covering the frame and wound. The frame has a channel extending therethrough providing an orifice over the skin treatment site. The strap includes, or else includes means for attachment to, a plunger that is shaped for being received downwardly through the channel and against the wound when the strap is extended across the frame. The present application further discloses a process for treating a wound that includes a tissue covered by a skin treatment site. The process includes reducing the elasticity of the skin treatment site by affixing a frame having an elasticity less than the elasticity of the skin treatment site around the skin treatment site, and performing an elasticity-sensitive procedure on the wound. Examples of elasticity-sensitive procedures include pushing, cutting, puncturing, rubbing, and such.

Abstract: A medical bladder cover (10) for releasably securing a medical bladder (22) to a patient and for providing a protective covering around the medical bladder. The bladder cover (10) includes a body (12) having an elongated portion (14) for being releasably received around an appendage of a patient. A bladder engaging portion is defined by the elongated portion (14) of the body (12) for releasably engage a medical bladder (22). The body (12) of the medical bladder cover also includes a flap portion (20) secured to the elongated portion (14) of the body (12) for being folded over the medical bladder (22) as the elongated portion (14) engages the medical bladder. At least one adhesive surface portion (24) is provided on the bladder engaging portion of the elongated portion (14) of the body (12) for releasably bonding the bladder engaging portion to the medical bladder. Also provided is a mechanism for releasably securing the elongated portion (14) of the body about an appendage of the patient.

Abstract: A medical tube/wire holding device and method. The holding device (10) includes a flexible body (14) defining first and second end portions (16, 18), and defining an opening (20) therethrough disposed between the first and second end portions such that the body defines first and second engaging straps (22, 24) disposed on opposite sides of the opening (20) for engaging at least one medical tube (12) or wire. The holding device (10) also includes a mechanism for releasably securing the first end portion of the body of the device to a patient, and a mechanism for securing the first and second engaging straps about at least one medical tube or wire. The holding method includes the steps of releasably securing the first end portion (16) of the body (14) to the patient at a desired location, and positioning at least one medical tube or wire such that it traverses the body (14).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting a nasal cannula having two branches across the face of a patient for use utilizes a strap positionable across the top of the head of a patient wherein the strap includes two opposite end portions which are disposed adjacent the ears of the patient when the strap is positioned across the head. An amount of adhesive is borne by each end portion of the strap for adhesively securing the branches of the nasal cannula to the end portions of the strap so that by adhesively securing each of the two branches to a corresponding end portion of the strap and then positioning the strap across the head of a patient, the branches are suspended across the patient's head by the strap and prevented from shifting relative to the end portions by the adhesive.

Abstract: A medical device securing apparatus for releasably securing at least one medical device to a supporting object. The securing apparatus includes a foundation strap (12) and a securing mechanism for releasably securing the foundation strap to a supporting object (22). An engaging strap (26) extends outwardly from a second end portion (16) of the foundation strap (12) for being received about at least a portion of at least one medical device. Also included is a securing strap (30), secured at its proximal end (31) to the foundation strap (12), for releasably engaging at least a portion of the distal end portion (28) of the engaging strap (26), after the engaging strap has been received about at least a portion of at least one medical device.

Abstract: A medical tube holding device (10) for holding at least one medical tube (13) at a desired position proximate the body of a patient. The tube holding device (10) includes a tube engaging assembly (14) for releasably engaging and maintaining the position of at least one medical tube (13). The tube engaging assembly (14) has first and second strap engaging portions (18, 20) for engaging a securing strap (12). The securing strap (12) has a first end portion (24) secured to the first strap engaging portion (18) of the tube engaging assembly (14) and has a second end portion (25) secured to the second strap engaging portion (20) of the tube engaging assembly (14), and defines a cap-like configuration for being received over a convexed body portion to facilitated engagement of the securing strap (12) with a selected portion of the body of a patient as the securing strap (12) and the tube engaging assembly (14) cooperatively encircle the body of the patient.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube holding device for securing the position of an endotracheal tube. The tube holding device (10) includes first and second tube engaging apparatus (14, 16), each of which includes a foundation strap (24) having an outer bonding surface (30) proximate its distal end portion (26). Each of the tube engaging apparatus (14, 16) also includes a tube engaging strap (36) for releasably engaging and securing the position of the endotracheal tube (12). The tube engaging straps (36) each define a proximal end (38) secured to the operatively associated foundation strap (24) and an inner surface (42) coated with an adhesive for releasably engaging the outer bonding surface (30) of the operatively associated foundation strap (24).

Abstract: A universal blood-pressure cuff cover (10) for protecting the blood-pressure cuff of a sphygmomanometer. The protective cover (10) includes a top band (32) for being releasably received about the appendage of a patient and around the blood-pressure cuff (22) secured about such appendage. The top band (32) is fabricated of a flexible material and defines opposite edge portions (38 and 40) for being positioned on opposite sides of the blood-pressure cuff (22), and the opposite edge portions (38 and 40) are provided with draw members (46) for drawing together the flexible material of the top band (32) proximate the edge portions (38 and 40) and for biasing such edge portions toward the appendage of the patient.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube holder for being received about a patient for maintaining the position of a tracheostomy tube and an associated tube holding method. The tracheostomy tube holder (10) includes first and second tube engaging assemblies (14, 16) for engaging the tracheostomy tube (11). Each of the tube engaging assemblies (14, 16) has a first foundation strap (24) defining an outer bonding surface (30) proximate its distal end portion, and carries a tube engaging strap (36) for engaging the tracheostomy tube (11), with the tube engaging strap (36) having a distal end portion for being positioned on the first bonding surface (30). Each of the tube engaging assemblies (14, 16) further includes a locking strap (36) having a proximal end secured to the foundation strap (24) and defining an inner adhesive surface (44) for releasably engaging both the distal end portion of the tube engaging strap (36) and the outer bonding surface (30) of the foundation strap (24) .

Abstract: A medical tube/wire holding device and method. The holding device (10) includes a flexible body (14) defining first and second end portions (16, 18), and defining an opening (20) therethrough disposed between the first and second end portions such that the body defines first and second engaging straps (22, 24) disposed on opposite sides of the opening (20) for engaging at least one medical tube (12) or wire. The holding device (10) also includes a mechanism for releasably securing the first end portion of the body of the device to a patient, and a mechanism for securing the first and second engaging straps about at least one medical tube or wire. The holding method includes the steps of releasably securing the first end portion (16) of the body (14) to the patient at a desired location, and positioning at least one medical tube or wire such that it traverses the body (14).

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube holder for being received about a patient for maintaining the position of a tracheostomy tube and an associated tube holding method. The tracheostomy tube holder (10) includes first and second tube engaging assemblies (14, 16) for engaging the tracheostomy tube (11). Each of the tube engaging assemblies (14, 16) has a first foundation strap (24) defining an outer bonding surface (30) proximate its distal end portion, and carries a tube engaging strap (36) for engaging the tracheostomy tube (11), with the tube engaging strap (36) having a distal end portion for being positioned on the first bonding surface (30). Each of the tube engaging assemblies (14, 16) further includes a locking strap (36) having a proximal end secured to the foundation strap (24) and defining an inner adhesive surface (44) for releasably engaging both the distal end portion of the tube engaging strap (36) and the outer bonding surface (30) of the foundation strap (24).

Abstract: An endotracheal tube holding device for securing the position of an endotracheal tube. The tube holding device (10) includes first and second tube engaging apparatus (14, 16), each of which includes a foundation strap (24) having an outer bonding surface (30) proximate its distal end portion (26). Each of the tube engaging apparatus (14, 16) also includes a tube engaging strap (36) for releasably engaging and securing the position of the endotracheal tube (12). The tube engaging straps (36) each define a proximal end (38) secured to the operatively associated foundation strap (24) and an inner surface (42) coated with an adhesive for releasably engaging the outer bonding surface (30) of the operatively associated foundation strap (24).

Abstract: A protective cover (16) for covering a blood-pressure cuff (10) comprises a flexible sheet defining an elongated bottom band (24), an elongated top band (30), and an intermediate portion (38) interconnecting the bottom and top bands. The bottom and top bands have widths which are substantially greater than a width of the blood-pressure cuff. A length of the bottom band is greater than a distance about an appendage (14) about which the blood-pressure cuff is to be wrapped and a length of the top band is greater than a distance about an outer surface of the blood-pressure cuff when it is wrapped about the appendage. The sheet is two-ply, having an exterior layer (18) of soft absorbent material and an interior layer (20) of more liquid impervious material. The bottom band is wrapped about the appendage, the blood-pressure cuff is wrapped about the bottom portion, and the top band is pivoted relative to the bottom band at the intermediate portion over the blood-pressure cuff and wrapped thereabout.