Abstract: An improved orthopaedic support (10) is provided in the form of an elongated, open-ended tubular body (12) having a continuous sidewall (13), with the latter presenting a recessed region (18) intermediate the ends (14, 16) for anatomically conforming with a limb joint such as a knee. The sidewall (13) is entirely free of transverse dart-defining seams at the recessed region (18). In preferred forms, the body (12) is fabricated with only a single seam (26) extending the length thereof. The body (12) is formed from fabric-faced closed cell neoprene rubber synthetic resin material, and the seam (26) is adhesively formed and covered with heat-applied seam tape (28, 30).

Abstract: A joint support includes an outer shell sized for extending across a human joint and an inner liner fixed to the outer shell for surrounding the human joint. One or more straps are provided for securing the outer shell around the human joint over the inner shell and one or more inserts, removably disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner, are provided for limiting an amount of flexion of the human joint when the strap secures the outer shell around the human joint.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a surgical stockinette for covering and encasing a body extremity such as an armor leg to isolate and protect the extremity during surgery. The stockinette has a generally tubular-shape and is made from a composite material defining a length and a width with the length being longer than the width. The stockinette defines an interior surface and an exterior surface with the tubular-shaped structure defining an open end and a closed end separated by the length. The interior and exterior surfaces are joined circumferentially to one another along substantially the entire length of the tubular-shaped structure. The interior surface is formed from a fibrous material and the overall structure is liquid impervious and circumferentially expandable from a first circumference to a second and larger circumference. Due to the materials and nature of construction, the stockinette of the present invention provides a form-fitting design which is easy to don and remove.

Abstract: A therapeutic bandage provides a removable bandage article that can be readily wrapped and fastened around an injured joint. The bandage includes an internal air bladder that can be selectively inflated to provide compression to the injury, and an internal coolant bladder that can be selectively chilled to provide cooling therapy to the injury.

Abstract: A taping supporter of the invention is worn around a joint and a surrounding portion of a user for tightly support the same. The taping supporter is formed of a cylindrical body having a size slightly smaller than a size of the joint and the surrounding portion to be worn. The cylindrical body is made of a resilient material to tightly hold and support the joint and the surrounding portion. Signs or wrapping marks are printed on the outer surface of the cylindrical body to apply tapes thereon along the signs. When used, the cylindrical body is worn and the tapes are applied along the signs. Consequently, the joint and the surrounding portion are well supported by the cylindrical body and the tapes.

Abstract: An elongate bandage that is predominantly stretchable in the longitudinal direction enables readily applied development of an elastic surgical limb sleeve that can be rendered locally inextensible. The bandage features multiple longitudinally spaced rows of transverse slits which are in staggered offsetting interlace, from one to the next-adjacent row, such that when a circumferential wrap of the bandage completes a sleeve, the multiple slits are arrayed parallel to the axis of the limb. The limb sleeve gently conforms to the shape of an affected or injured joint or other body part, and the gentle conformance is operative to convert slits into ventilation openings. One or more strips of relatively inelastic hook material applied to the outer surface of a developed sleeve not only complete the sleeve but, when desired by the surgeon, can exert localized pressure to the injured area either directly or indirectly as in the treatment of swelling or in the control of bleeding.

Abstract: A wearing article with a tapering function for wearing on a human body in pressed relation to a surface of the human body, has a heavily-stretchable portion which has an excellent tightening force and is adapted to be held against a required portion of the human body so as to extend generally along muscle fibers over a region from a tendon to a central portion of the muscle. The remainder of the wearing article is defined by an easily-stretchable portion. With this arrangement, by merely wearing this wearing article on the required portion of the body, the heavily-stretchable portion tightens only a required portion of the body to support the central portion of the relevant muscle, thereby easily achieving a taping function.

Abstract: A garment for use by a patient after surgery for breast removal which alleviates post-operative pain and discomfort and facilitates normal activities during the recovery period. A padded vest-like garment is adapted for applying comforting pressure to the sites of removal of breast and other tissues and for holding pain relieving packages. A detachable arm support provides further comfort in a similar manner.

Abstract: A glove-shaped overwrap of, e.g, cotton has finger portions which extend radially outwardly from a central hand portion. Ravel-stop means, e.g. baste stitches, encircle each of the finger portions adjacent the hand portion. A drawstring or other means permits the overwrap to be secured about the patient's wrist.Where a patient's finger is to be bandaged or medicated, the other finger portions are severed from the hand portion. The finger is bandaged or medicated and the overwrap is then put on the bandaged or medicated hand so that the bandaged or medicated finger is covered by the unsevered finger portion of the overwrap. The drawstring is tied around the patient's wrist. The invention facilitates bandaging and medication of, e.g., infant fingers and hands, since infants tolerate the overwrap well and can neither remove the bandage from the finger nor eat or otherwise remove the medication from it.

Abstract: An adjustable knee support is formed from a single piece of a resilient, flexible laminate, preferably a layer of neoprene bonded to a nylon outer casing and a nylon inner lining. A central portion of the support overlies the patella. Upper and lower fasteners are integral with the central portion above and below the knee. Each fastener includes at least one strap that extends laterally and wraps around the leg. The upper and lower fasteners extend in opposite directions. The central portion has a separate pair of fastening straps which extend transversely from both sides and meet behind the knee cap. Tabs carrying an array of hook-type fastenings are secured to the free end of each strap. The upper and lower straps are separated from the central fastener by a cutout portion of sufficient vertical height to allow the support to flex without the buckling or rubbing the back of the leg.

Abstract: Apart from an intermittent massage on the soft tissue surrounding the medial and lateral malleolus, the ankle joint bandage renders possible a deep-acting transverse friction on the attachment of the Achilles tendon; it consists of an anatomically configured tubular body (11) which is provided with a lower section (16) forming an outsole (16a) and which, in the applied state, embraces half the foot and extends to the calf, while, within the area of the outsole (16a), half a heel (18) is knitted in and which is provided with two anatomically asymmetrically constructed pressure pads (20) located above the paraachillory soft tissue and which, at the medial and at the lateral malleolus, cover the region above Bisgaard's link, each pressure pad being constructed in the form of a shaped member (21) having a lateral rounded-off indentation (27) for accommodating the bony prominence of the ankle, which consists of a soft or soft-elastic material, in which, within the shaped member (21), a rod-shaped friction core (30

Abstract: A shoulder-joint bandage having an elastic sleeve receiving the upper arm of the patient and a cap passing over the shoulder, has extension belts wound in opposite helical senses along the sleeve and cap and forming a crossover point at the apex of the cap from which the belts extend diagonally downwardly across the back and chest of the patient to a lower crossover point below the armpit of the opposite arm at which the belts are stitched together and have frontal and dorsal connecting segments passing around the back and chest of the patient to be joined by a connecting element at their ends.

Abstract: An elastic garment and method of using same are disclosed for providing therapeutic results as well as improved endurance and stamina. The garment includes six component parts which can be used in various combinations. Each component part is made of an elastic material so as to act in a compressive manner on the body part which it surrounds. A pant-like portion of the garment extends from the waist downwardly through two leg segments to a location beneath the knee joints. A pair of tubular leg portions extend from the feet upwardly beyond the knee joints so as to form an overlap with the leg sections of the pant-like portion. In a similar manner, a coat-like portion is worn around the upper torso or chest and includes depending sleeves which extend beyond the elbow joints. Tubular arm portions extend from the wrists upwardly beyond the elbow joint to form an overlap with the sleeves.

Abstract: A supporter for mounting on a limb in position to cover an affected body portion to predeterminedly constrain and limit movement thereof comprising a tubular stretchable elastic material forming a main body and having adhered to at least one portion of the main body a reinforcing member comprising an interlining laminated to a surface member which acts to restrict the elongation of said interlining, wherein the reinforcing member has a modulus of elasticity capable of restricting movement of an affected body part within a defined motion area.

Abstract: An improved liquid proof barrier for medical applications having a substantially impervious flexible layer and a strip attached to or integral with the layer about its periphery. The strip has an adhesive backing and is relatively flexible and elastically extendable. The improved barrier serves to inhibit the passage of liquid into the area which it covers.

Abstract: An improved wrist brace is described wherein the improvement comprises the brace being formed generally from one piece of fabric having uniform elasticity, the fabric being folded and sewn in such a manner to provide tension in the carpal ligament area which is greater than the tension over other areas and provides an angled compression tube of 32.degree.. An alternative embodiment illustrates an orthopedic support apparatus constructed of two way stretch fabric having a ravel-free severed end portion joined flatly to and abutting another portion of the fabric and stitched thereto. The process of the invention describes an improved method of manufacturing orthopedic supports.

Abstract: A sleeve to hold an orthopedic knee brace in place on the knee of a person. The sleeve is elastic, e.g., neoprene, to enable it to be stretched to encircle the person's calf, and has a top end, an inner surface, an outer surface. A strap is secured to the top end of the sleeve. A brace mount is secured on the outer surface of the sleeve. The inner surface of the sleeve is resistant to sliding on the skin of the person when the sleeve is in place on the person's calf. The strap has an elongated free end portion arranged to be wrapped around at least a portion of the sleeve adjacent the top end and to be releasably secured in that position, whereupon the inside diameter of the portion of the sleeve underlying the strap is confined to a diameter which is less than the diameter of the widest portion of the wearer's calf so that the sleeve is precluded from slipping down the calf.