Abstract: An improved, lightweight and removable leg walker is provided for stabilizing and rapidly healing lower leg injuries of a patient. The injured limb is disposed in a removable inner ankle bootie whose interior is partially covered with inflatable support bladders. While the foot is secured within the booties, it is then inserted into and additionally supported by a removable soft goods-type support. The soft goods-type support is securely attached to a walker frame by a combination of strap fasteners with Velcro attachments. Inflatable bladders are located along the inner surfaces of two strut bases and raised heel strip. A tongue portion of the soft goods-type support also includes an inflatable bladder which provides additional support to the injured limb. These inflatable bladders encourage proper circulation from the lower leg to the heart. The walker frame comprises a pair of strut bases and struts in order to prevent inversion and eversion of the ankle.

Abstract: The back support is constructed from a back brace of elastic material which carries a gel pad and an air bladder. The brace supports the pad against lower back of the user in firm engagement. The air bladder is juxtaposed and generally co-extensive with the pattern containing the gel-like material. The air bladder has three individually inflatable chambers, including left, right, and overall areas, so that the user may adjust the pressure exerted on the pad and hence the support of the lower back. The gel pad may also contain an adjustable heating element to electrically heat the gel-like material. The main portion of the back brace has two wide belt portions which extend forewardly and upwardly from the main lower back support area, and which are secured together by overlapping Velcro members at the lower stomach area; and the centerlines of these two wide belt portions may make an angle of about 30 degrees to 60 degrees with one-another.

Abstract: An adjustable wrist and hand splint employs four rigid aluminum stays for providing support for the forearm, fourth and fifth fingers and the outer portion of the hand. The aluminum stays are bendable for accommodating particular needs of the user. The splint also employs a sleeve that encompasses and provides further support for the forearm, fourth and fifth fingers and outer portion of the hand. The sleeve also provides padding between the stays and the forearm, hand and fingers. In addition, the splint includes pockets that are secured to the sleeve. The aluminum stays are housed within the pockets. Further, the splint may be readily put on or removed using a set of adjustable straps. The straps normally include "Velcro" type material that engage the mating "Velcro" type material on the surface of the sleeve. The fastening straps also help to further immobilize the wrist, fourth and fifth fingers and outer portion of the hand.

Abstract: An orthopaedic gel pad assembly includes a layer of gel, with a backing layer behind it, an apertured pad extending around the layer of gel and a thin plastic film extending over the front surface of the gel. The plastic film controls the configuration of the front face of the gel, and the gel may be recessed, or indented, and may protrude forwardly out from the apertured pad. Stiff orthopaedic supports may be provided to back up the gel pad unit.

Abstract: An athletic shoe includes a substantially flat pump chamber in the sole of the shoe under the heel of the user, with a one-way valve permitting the drawing in of air when pressure is taken off the heel, and second one-way valve at the outlet from the flat pump which comes into play as air is being exhausted from the chamber. One or more pressure bladders for receiving air from the pump mentioned above, are mounted in the sidewalls of the shoe, toward the rear thereof adjacent the ankle. When the user is active, and is walking or running, the pump is actuated to inflate the air bladders and to provide additional support for the foot and the ankle. The air bladders may be provided with a relief valve to prevent overpressure, and with arrangements for slowly leading air out of the bladder so that when the user is resting, pressure on the foot and ankle is minimized. This last function may be accomplished, either by a bleed valve, or by a series of fine perforations in the walls of the bladder.

Abstract: A soft goods type foldable, wrappable sleeve orthopedic cast immobilizes and conforms to the shape and configuration of a limb, or other part of the anatomy. The soft-goods type cast assembly is initially specially formed or configured to specifically fit a selected portion of the anatomy of a patient. The cast conforms to the anatomy through the use of airtight and moisture-proof pouches which encapsulate either (1) open cell or fiberglass matrices impregnated with a water-activated hardenable pre-polymer, or (2) the entire assembly. After the tightening of the cast around the limb, the application of water activates the urethane polymer which conforms to the configuration of the limb encased. Supplemental bendable ribs may be employed to splint the limb prior to activation of the hardenable material. The soft goods type cast is held in place by straps, and may be removed or adjusted by releasing or tightening the straps. The splinting elements may be removed and replaced.

Abstract: The back support is constructed from a back brace of elastic material which carries a gel pad and an air bladder. The brace supports the pad against lower back of the user in firm engagement. The air bladder is juxtaposed and generally co-extensive with the pattern containing the gel-like material. The air bladder has three individually inflatable chambers so that the user may adjust the pressure exerted on the pad and hence the support of the lower back. The gel pad may also contain a heating element to electrically heat the gel-like material. A rheostat may be provided for regulation of the heat.

Abstract: An ankle brace having two relatively rigid side supports with inflatable bladders attached to them. The side supports are connected at their bottom by a flexible strap upon which is mounted an air pump. The air pump is activated by walking and running and inflates the air bladders mounted on the side supports. The side supports are held firmly in place about the lower leg and ankle by straps. A relief valve and/or pin holes in the bladders prevent excessive pressure in the bladders and provide reduced support when the user is not active.

Abstract: An orthopedic device for treatment of injured joints or limbs having at least one gel pad including at least one phase change material for improving the thermal energy storage capacity of the gel pad. The phase change material included in the gel material inside the gel pad may be encapsulated, formed in pellets, soluble, insoluble, or in any desirable form. The gel pad may be removed from the orthopedic device, heated or cooled, and then used with the device for hot or cold therapy of injured joints or limbs, taking advantage of the increased thermal energy storage capacity of the phase change material. Two different phase change materials may be included in the gel pad, one of which may be used for cold temperature therapy while the other is used for hot temperature therapy. The gel pad may include encapsulated water as a phase change material.

Abstract: A leg brace for alleviating problems with torn or damaged anterior or posterior cruciate ligaments includes an upper assembly oriented longitudinally with and extending circumferentially around the thigh, a lower assembly oriented longitudinally with and extending circumferentially around the calf, and hinge assemblies connecting the upper and lower assemblies and with axes oriented along the axis of rotation of the knee joint. Two pairs of elongate support struts are provided with one pair extending along the medial and lateral portions of the thigh and the other extending along the medial and lateral portions of the calf and with the central ends of both pairs of struts connected to the hinge assemblies. Straps are provided with the upper and lower assemblies and which extend circumferentially around the thigh and calf respectively for securing the leg brace to the wearer's leg. Padding is provided with the upper and lower assemblies and which extend circumferentially around the thigh and calf respectively.

Abstract: A soft-goods type foldable, wrappable sleeve orthopaedic cast immobilizes and conforms to the shape and configuration of a limb, or other part of the anatomy. The soft-goods type cast assembly is initially specially formed or configured to specifically fit a selected portion of the anatomy of a patient. The cast conforms to the anatomy through the use of airtight and moisture-proof pouches which encapsulate either (1) open cell or fiberglass matrices impregnated with a water-activated urethane polymer, or (2) the entire assembly. After the tightening of the cast around the limb, the application of water activates the urethane polymer which conforms to the configuration of the limb encased. Supplemental bendable ribs may be empolyed to splint the limb prior to activation of the hardenable material. The soft goods type cast is held in place by straps, and may be removed or adjusted by releasing or tightening the straps. The splinting elements may be removed and replaced.

Abstract: A method for forming gel-filled cushion pads that provide a resilient support against the ankle, comprises the use of a vacuum chamber substantially covered at the top with a perforated base plate. A thin, rubber foam layer spacer pad with openings is overlaid on the base plate. A thin, rubber foam layer front pad with openings is overlaid on the spacer pad in alignment with the spacer pad openings. Adhesive material is coated on the top surface of the front pad. A thin layer of urethane is overlaid on the adhesive coated upper surface of the front pad and vacuum is applied to pull the urethane layer toward the base plate. With the urethane layer substantially conformed to the inner walls of these pads, a patterned pocket is formed for receiving liquid gel. Then, a predetermined amount of liquid gel is poured into this pocket and allowed to cool and solidify to form a dense semi-solid gel.

Abstract: An ankle brace includes an outer supporting casing for enclosing the ankle, and two side cruciate elastic straps, each having one end secured within the supporting casing near the sole of the user's foot, with the straps extended across the instep or the front of the ankle and across one-another in a cruciate configuration. Tensioning lines are secured to the free ends of each of the straps and extend through eyelets on each side of the front of the supporting casing, ending in D-rings, through which shoelaces may be tied to tension the cruciate straps.

Abstract: A foldable, wrappable envelope sleeve orthopedic cast immobilizes and conforms to the shape and configuration of a limb. The cast conforms to the limb through the use of airtight pouches which encapsulate open cell or fiberglass matrices impregnated with a water-activated urethane polymer. After the tightening of the cast around the limb, the injection of water into each pouch activates the urethane polymer which conforms to the configuration of the limb encased. Supplemental bendable ribs may be employed to splint the limb prior to activation of the hardenable material. The soft goods type cast is held in place by straps, and may be removed or adjusted by releasing or tightening the straps. The splinting elements may be removed and replaced.

Abstract: An ankle brace for insertion into a shore with laces for immobilizing the ankle against inversion or eversion while permitting planter-flexion and dorsi-flexion, includes, a pair of side supports for fitting about the lower leg on both sides. The side supports have a configuration to encase both sides of the ankle and with the lower end of the side supports for insertion into the sides of the shoe. Pad members are formed of a dense flexible material located on the inner surface of each side support to form a cushion between the ankle and the side supports. The side supports are secured to firmly encase the ankle and lower leg and includes a counter strap extending between the side supports at a lower position just above the heel and a fastener located on the side supports to receive the laces of the shoe so that the laces can be tightened and tied to immobilize the ankle against inversion or eversion or anterior subluxation while permitting planter-flexion and dorsi-flexion.