Abstract: A computer mouse pad is heated for reducing repetitive motion stress for a user and for providing potential therapeutic treatment for the user's hand and wrist while operating a mouse thereon. The pad has a resistance-type heating element which is embedded in the rubber material of the pad. The mouse is either a stationary mouse or a conventional movably positioned mouse and is operated on the level section of the top surface of the pad. If a stationary mouse is utilized, the user's hand and wrist are support by an elevated section of the top surface of the pad. A non-skid surface is on the bottom of the pad. A conventional electric power outlet is utilized as the power source.

Abstract: A disposable thermal pad comprises a substantially planar laminate structure having a first side and a second side and a plurality of heat generating cells embedded between the first and the second sides. The plurality of heat generating cells each are spaced apart and fixedly attached to the laminate structure. The laminate structure has means for providing oxygen permeability to each of the plurality of heat generating cells. The means for providing oxygen permeability is located entirely on the first side of the laminate structure. The disposable thermal pad also comprises means for releasably attaching the thermal pad to an inside portion of a user's clothing. The means for releasably attaching is also located on the first side of the laminate structure so that the second side of the thermal pad may be placed directly against a user's body.

Abstract: The ankle joint orthesis for the stabilization of the internal and external ankle joint comprises a medial shell and a lateral shell made of plastic. The shells extend from the heel region beyond the malleolus to the lower calf region. The shells are lined throughout the entire support surface with a flexible padding. Loop and hook type fastening structure are provided for fastening and securing the shells. One shell, preferably the lateral shell, is of an L-shaped design and has a laterally extending leg which extends below the foot between the heel and the ball of the foot. Both shells can be connected to each other by loop and hook type fastening structure under the foot, e.g., a selectively adhesive strap fastened to one of the shells and passing under the foot for being adhesively secured to a mating strap closure on the other shell. Both shells have openings in the malleolar area.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cold pack device which includes a cold pack, a band member configured to extend around a part of a body in a self-supporting manner, and a housing connected to the band which removably receives the cold pack therein and a method of cooling using the same.

Abstract: A thermal wrap is disclosed for application to body members, especially joints and limbs. It comprises a pouch for containing a thermal medium and which is constructed of a flexible elastic cloth. The pouch is mounted on a support member, also constructed of a flexible elastic cloth, which is adapted to wrap around a limb or joint. The support member is provided with a wrap fastener such as a hook and loop fastener which is adjustable to establish the desired degree of compression on the affected area. The wrap as applied to a knee and wrist is provided with cinch bands which encircle the limb at locations above and below the pouch. This arrangement provides compression under the bandwidth of the pouch which is independently adjustable relative to the compression under the cinch bands. Additionally, a pressurized air bladder may be provided to independently adjust the compression under the bandwidth of the pouch.

Abstract: A cold pad for use with a tool such as office equipment including computer controls like a keyboard or mouse. The cold pad has a thickness which is used to elevate the user's wrists from a work surface to lessen the onset of work-related disorders such as carpaltunnel syndrome. At the same time, the pad contains a gelatinous substance which absorbs heat and reduce pain and inflammation caused by existing injuries, and which forms a deformable cushion upon which the user's wrists can rest.

Abstract: A method of applying therapeutic heat a patient including forming a heating pad having an outer container having a first side formed by a material non-pervious to water and a second side formed by a material pervious to water. The container substantially encapsulates an outer bag containing and exothermic chemical and an inner bag containing a solvent. Further, the first side is covered by a layer of heat insulating materially and the second side by a layer of sponge-like material. The fist side and sponge-like material are contacted with water, thereby causing the sponge-like material to absorb water. Then the inner bag is fractured, causing the chemical and solvent to mix, producing heat, which is directed at the sponge-like material. The second side of the heating pad is then placed against the body, causing moist heat to be applied to the body. The pad may by tied to the body using straps extending from the ends of the container.

Abstract: A wearable therapeutic brace having strategically located pockets that receive and contain reusable, alternatively insertable hot and cold pods which can be tailored to a specific injury management program of use. The brace body portion which may be a hand/wrist, neck/cervical collar, knee/elbow/ankle brace has a main section of elasticized material construction with adjustable fastening means and fitted pockets formed from breathable, four way stretch nylon (LYCRA) spandex for receiving the hot or cold gel filled reusable pods to be held adjacent the appropriate body part area.

Abstract: A thermal blanket particularly suitable for post-operative treatment of the ankle and foot. The blanket includes inner and outer panels of easily foldable material having an outline defining two foot sections, an ankle section, and a T-shaped leg encircling section. The outer panel has its entire outer surface formed of soft loop pile fabric and the inner panel is composed of double layers of thermoplastic sheet material heat-sealed together to define at least one and preferably two serpentine flow passages for the circulation of thermal fluid through the blanket. The foot sections have bottom edges joined by one or more elastic webs. Hook-providing attachment patches, releasably attachable to the loop pile fabric that forms the entire outer surface of all of the sections of the blanket, detachably secure the upper edges of the foot sections together, as well as the front edges of the ankle section and the ends of the band portion of the T-shaped section, when the blanket is worn.

Abstract: A therapeutic cold pack is provided for temporary affixation to an area of the human body. The cold pack comprises a pair of hermetic barrier layers that are heat sealed together throughout a plurality of articulations defining a plurality of compartments. A refrigerant gel, such as ethylene glycol, is contained within the compartments and has a high specific heat such that after becoming cooled it absorbs a large quantity of heat while undergoing phase change on heating. The plurality of compartments is distributed throughout an extended area. Adjoining compartments are hinged to each other along intersecting axes. The compartments are adapted to be folded with respect to each other along the axes into a configuration that is snugly seated against an irregular three dimensional anatomical surface. A relatively large velcro-type micro-fastener area is located at the back of the cold pack.

Abstract: A thermal wrap is disclosed for application to body members, especially joints and limbs. It comprises a pouch for containing a thermal medium and which is constructed of a flexible elastic cloth. The pouch is mounted on a support member, also constructed of a flexible elastic cloth, which is adapted to wrap around a limb or joint. The support member is provided with a wrap fastener such as a hook and loop fastener which is adjustable to establish the desired degree of compression on the affected area. The wrap is provided with cinch bands which encircle the limb at locations above and below the pouch. This arrangement provides compression under the bandwidth of the pouch which is independently adjustable relative to the compression under the cinch bands. Additionally, a pressurized air bladder may be provided to independently adjust the compression under the bandwidth of the bladder.

Abstract: A stirrup-type ankle brace having an outer shell member, the shell member having a lateral elongated, substantially rigid, support member with a corresponding supporting cushion thereon substantially coextensive therewith and an opposed medial support member with a corresponding cushion thereon. The lateral supporting cushion has a pre-inflated flap extending the anterior margin of its distal end with enough width to cover the area over and surrounding the anterior talofibular ligament. The flap is compressed against the ATF by a strap of elastic hook-and-loop compatible material. A tab of hook material is attached to the anterior end of the elastic strap so that it can engage the opposite end at any length. The strap is retained between the lateral shell and supporting cushion in the preferred embodiment so as to overlap the flap and compress the ATF ligament and medial malleolus when wrapped around the ankle.

Abstract: A therapeutic tubular muff containing temperature maintaining material for applying heat or cold to the body extremities including the hands, the wrists, the arms, the ankles and legs of the user. The muff is constructed of flexible material, including fleece material for the internal surface, and denim for the exterior surface. The muff is preheated in a microwave or cooled in a refrigerator before using.

Abstract: An improved therapeutic device for applying cooling to a body joint to speed healing comprises a reservoir of chilled fluid connected to a container in heat conducting relation with the joint to be chilled by supply and return lines. Fluid is continually recirculated by convection, employing the thermosiphon principle, such that the fluid is recirculated by energy provided by the patient's body heat. Check valves may be provided in one or both of the supply and return lines, preventing reverse flow, and also so that motion of a patient's body joint within the container further motivates the recirculating flow.

Abstract: A therapeutic glove that may be used to provide pressure and heat to relieve pain caused from arthritis or other ailments in a user's hand. The glove utilizes a heat retaining gel that may be warmed with hot water and the like to provide therapeutic heat to the hand of a user over a period of time. To provide for further therapy, the glove includes a small air pump that may be used to inject air into the glove to provide pain relieving pressure on the user's hand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gel shell splint for the hand which has an elongated support constructed of an elastomeric material that is shaped to fit the center portion of a human hand. The support is releasably secured around the hand with the support being secured on either the dorsal or palmar side of the hand. A rigid shell shaped to fit the center portion of the hand is releasably secured to the interior side of the support and a compressible pad is attached to the interior side of the shell.

Abstract: This invention relates to a disposable foot warmer comprising an inner bag capable of being applied to socks or stockings to warm a foot, and the inner bag is shaped so as to have an area and a thickness which does not protrude out of the plantar arch of a foot, so that the inner bag may be used as being applied to socks or stockings at their portion confronting the plantar arch.

Abstract: A cryotherapeutic apparatus is disclosed for treating an injury with a cold compress system that has a flexible application bag coupled with a cold liquid supply container via a flexible tube. The flexible application bag is secured about a body member with the bag in contact with the area of injury. The supply container is elevated above the bag so that cold liquid gravitates from the supply container into the application bag causing it to fill and to apply cold and pressure to the area of injury. The height of the supply container above the application bag is adjusted to establish the desired pressure exerted by the application bag upon injury.

Abstract: A sports band for absorbing perspiration and for cooling the wearer is comprised of a band of elastic absorbent material, generally toroidal in shape, and is configured to be worn upon a person's head or wrist. The sports band has a slit formed upon its inner surface such that a flexible cold pack may be received thereby and disposed within the band. The sports band may alternatively be generally comprised of a comparatively inelastic material and have a strip of elastic material inserted as a portion of the band to provide the required stretchability. A layer of insulating material may optionally be formed along the inner layer of the generally toroidal band to reduce the rate of heat transfer between the wearer and the cold pack such that the sensation of cold is reduced and the useful life of the cold pack is increased.

Abstract: An adjustable ankle compress (10) in the shape of a boot (12) with an ankle portion (18) and a foot portion (16) for receiving the ankle and foot and having a sole (14) on the boot (12) that is adjustable in width for varying the size of the boot (12) to accommodate a foot and ankle of various sizes. The boot (12) has a fluid-tight compartment (36) formed therein for substantially surrounding the ankle and the top of the foot.

Abstract: A hospital bed has an articulated patient support surface with four air outlet housings mounted thereon at spaced locations. An air supply arrangement supplies temperature-controlled air to an air outlet opening in each of the housings. Associated with each housing is an elongate tubular fabric diffusion member having an O-ring which encircles one end thereof and is removably received in a circumferential groove in the air outlet opening. Each diffusion member can be tucked completely into its housing when not in use. Each housing has a cap movable between open and closed positions with respect to the air outlet opening, and an arrangement yieldably urging the cap toward its closed position. A valve arrangement is provided below two of the housings in order to automatically discharge fluids which happen to enter the air supply system through the air outlet openings.

Abstract: A heater 10 for warming blood, plasma and other solutions flowing through an intravenous tube prior to its entry into a patient. The heater has a housing that has an elongated channel 17 which extends from one end of the housing to the other and which is sized to receive and releasably hold in intimate contact an elongated portion of an intravenous tube. The channel is formed with an elongated slot 18 against which is mounted a heating element H controlled by a control circuit 30 and powered by batteries B. The control circuit may energize the heating element continuously or cyclically with a regulated pulse width modulator U1 in response to sensed temperatures.

Abstract: An ankle brace designed to be worn under the shoe has a first bladder which is filled with the high viscosity gel resistant to rapid deformation to apply pressure to the ankle and conform to its shape to provide support to the ankle. A second bladder inflatable with air is juxtaposed the first bladder to provide a uniform compressive force upon the bladder filled with the gel. A canvas ankle brace holds a pair of air and gel bladders along each of its sidewalls and is wrapped about the lower extremity and snugly fit thereto. Once the brace is in position, air is introduced into the second bladder to press the first bladder against the ankle and to conform to the shape thereof. Broad elastic straps may be secured to the lower rear of the brace to extend over the front of the ankle and the instep in a cruciate configuration.