An improved orthotic has a strap that secures the orthotic to a wearer, and comprises a tension indicator coupled to the strap. The tension indicator includes a first element disposed to produce a tactile signal when a tension in the strap reaches a threshold that is less than a permanent deformation threshold.

A back support apparatus intended for use during emergency transport of a patient suffering an actual or suspected spine injury is disclosed. The device provides a solid support for the arched portion of the spine that molds to the shape of the individual patient's back. The device comprises a bag or other container into which a solid curable material and a liquid activator are introduced, which is then placed beneath the patient's spine on a back board or like support. The device may be deployed quickly without the need for additional straps, belts, or the like, and may be treated as disposable due to its low cost.

A shoulder orthosis is provided having an arm support and an optional arm spacer connected to the arm support. The arm support includes an arm retainer and a supportive strapping system. One optional arm spacer includes a pair of individual pillows which are attachably combinable with one another at a first face of the first individual pillow and a face of the second individual pillow to form one combined pillow having a first shape. The individual pillows are alternately attachably combinable with one another at a second face of the first individual pillow and the face of the second individual pillow to form another combined pillow having a second shape different from the first shape.

The limb supporting system is an on the go wrist support pad that is designed to give the user cushion and support while free you move from PC to laptop, keyboard, gaming and mousing without pain and discomfort often associated with such movements. Made from soft stretchable elastic that conforms to any size wrist giving you total comfort during repetitive computer use.

An orthopedic device for correcting abnormalities in the wrist, hand, fingers and thumb of a newborn baby comprises a lightweight glove shaped semi rigid shell constructed and dimensioned to fit a newborn baby within a few hours of birth. A wrist or lower arm and hand engaging portion are rotatably connected and adjustable in one millimeter increments. The adjustments are made with no more than one millimeter correction per 24 hour period. The shell includes a wrist and lower forearm engaging portion, a hand engaging portion and a finger engaging portion and is adjustable for rotationally clockwise or counterclockwise about the longitudinal axis of the lower arm bone. Further adjustments may be made to rotate the fingers upwardly or downwardly, to the left or right and rotationally and/or rotational movement between the hand and lower arm. The invention also contemplates an orthopedic method for correcting skeletal abnormalities of the wrist, hand, fingers and thumb of a newborn baby.

In one aspect, an ankle foot orthosis generally comprises a leg member, a foot member, and a drive assembly. The leg member is configured to be releasably fastened to a leg of the wearer. The foot member is configured to be releasably fastened to a foot of a wearer, the foot member having anterior and posterior ends. The drive assembly includes a link member hingedly secured to the foot member at a hinge location adjacent to the posterior end of the foot member.

A kit of parts for forming an orthotic head support. The kit includes at least one frame having a plurality of arms extending from a central region. Examples of such frames are W-frames, Y-frames and H-frames. The kit further includes at least one extension connectable to a frame. Such extension members include straight extensions, L-shaped extensions, and extension with two elements at an acute angle to one another. The kit has elements for attaching the extensions to the frames. The frames and extensions may have lines of reduced stiffness formed therein about which they are preferentially bendable to conform the support to the shape of a wearer's head and/or neck. The kit further includes padding members connected, or connectable, to the frames and/or extensions on the surfaces thereof which in use are to be adjacent the wearer.

An orthopedic device has a main body panel including a longitudinal length with a curved cross-section, and opposed lateral and medial sides. A posterior panel is secured to the lateral and medial sides of the main body panel, and is sized longitudinally shorter than the main body panel in a non-stretched condition. The posterior panel is secured to the main body panel in a pretensioned condition and spans the longitudinal length of the main body panel along the lateral and medial sides thereof.

An apparatus is provided for mounting to a support for modifying an ankle-foot orthosis. The apparatus comprises a tooling device having a plurality of holes spaced over an outer surface of the tooling device. The tooling device includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis, and a second portion integral with the first portion and having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first portion. The second portion of the tooling device defines an opening for receiving the support. A peg is configured to be inserted into one of more holes of the tooling device. The peg comprises a body portion and a post depending from the body portion and configured to be received in the holes in the outer surface of the tooling device. In one embodiment, the body portion of the peg has a convex outer surface.

An orthopedic cast removal tool and method uses an unmodified, typically cordless, rotary impact driver and a embedded wire to cut through an orthopedic cast for removal. By merging it with a slotted spacer block specifically for this cast removal purpose, an ergonomic tool is provided which allays fears of orthopedic patients. When rotating and encountering high resistance of the plaster or fiberglass material of the cast, the cordless rotary impact driver does not bog down; since it seamlessly engages impact action, which offers an order of magnitude or more torque multiplication via short frequent pulses (several per second) to overcome this torque resistance. Thus a high amount of torque with very little reaction force is made available to cut through a cast while affording the technician good control. The cast is cut very rapidly with little dust creation and no jostling of the patient.

A knee orthosis and a method for controlling a knee orthosis including a thigh structure having a fastening structure to be fixed to a thigh, a lower leg structure which is pivotally coupled to the thigh rail using a joint mechanism and has a fastening structure to be fixed to a lower leg as well as a foot piece for supporting a foot, and an actuator device between the thigh structure and the lower leg structure. The fastening points of the actuator on the thigh structure and lower leg structure and the center of rotation of the joint mechanism form a triangle. The fastening points are arranged on the structures such that the connecting line between a fastening point and the center of rotation in an angular position of the knee in which the lower leg is bent at an angle ranging from 0° to 90° relative to the thigh.

The invention relates to a fixing element (33) extending as a flat, particularly lamellar element along a preferred direction (34) and comprising a corrugated sheet metal core (18) as a central component, said core providing the fixing element (33) with the characteristic of being integrally rigid and permanently deformable by hand, and said core being covered by a cover (36, 37). For such a fixing element, a large range of use is achieved in that the corrugations of the corrugated core sheet (18) are oriented substantially parallel to the preferred direction (34), and that means (38, 39) for releasably attaching the fixing element (33) are disposed on the fixing element (33).

Orthopedic device for treating neuropathic ulcers and other injuries while allowing easy access to the wound site on the plantar surface of a patient's foot includes a base portion and a sole that is either movably connected or removably connected to either the base or to a strut member. The base or strut is maintained in position on the lower leg while the sole may be rotated, slid, or completely removed for allowing inspection and access to the plantar surface of the patient's foot.

A hammer toe treatment device to help uncurl a hammer toe and protect the toe including a base pad configured to extend in a neck portion of the between the toe mound and tip of the toe. The base pad including an arcuate top surface extending in the direction of the hammer toe and configured to produce a straightening force against the toe. The pad including a bottom surface generally opposite to the top surface that includes a generally flat surface configured to engage a shoe insole when the shoe is worn. The base pad further including a tubular toe sleeve fixed relative to the base pad and extending forwardly along a sleeve axis from a reward toe opening. The sleeve axis extending at a sleeve angle relative to the bottom surface and the sleeve being shaped to receive the hammer toe and cover a substantial portion of the toe.

The present invention provides a metal passivator/trap comprising a rare earth oxide dispersed on a matrix containing a calcined hydrous kaolin.

A ceramic article may comprise a sintered phase ceramic composition comprising aluminum titanate (Al2TiO5), zirconium titanate (ZrTiO4), and a niobium-doped phase.

Nanoparticle catalyst compositions and methods for preparation of same are described. The nanoparticle catalysts are platinum-free and are useful in effecting selective ring-opening reactions, for example in upgrading heavy oil. The catalyst may be of monometallic composition, or may comprise an alloyed or core-shell bimetallic composition. The nanoparticles are of controlled size and shape.

A method for making particles containing carboxyalkyl cellulose, comprising blending a carboxyalkyl cellulose and a starch in water to provide an aqueous gel; treating the aqueous gel with a crosslinking agent to provide a crosslinked gel; drying the crosslinked gel to provide a solid; comminuting the solid to provide a plurality of particles.

A molecule possessing a primary or secondary amino group and an additional functionality capable of providing a novel or improved property to a cellulose material has been permanently attached to the cellulose material in aqueous media using a water-soluble carbodiimide as the coupling agent/activator. One such molecule is 5-aminofluorescein (abbreviated as “A-fluo”) and one such cellulose material is a papermaking pulp. Papers made from a pulp furnish containing, for example, 0.01 wt. % of the “A-fluo”-attached pulp show an embedded marker feature authenticable upon UV or visible light excitation. The “A-fluo”-attached pulp can also be used for the marking and identification of a pulp furnish.

A polyester resin is a polycondensate obtained by reacting a divalent alcohol, a divalent carboxylic acid, and a mono- or divalent rosin by the use of a zinc compound as a reaction catalyst.

An endoluminal support structure includes strut members interconnected by pivot joints to form a series of linked scissor mechanisms. The structure can be remotely actuated to compress or expand its shape by adjusting the scissor joints within a range of motion. In particular, the support structure can be repositioned within the body lumen or retrieved from the lumen. The support structure can be employed to introduce and support a prosthetic valve within a body lumen.

Devices and methods for implantation at a native mitral valve. One embodiment of the device includes a valve support having a first region and a second region, and anchoring member having a longitudinal dimension with a first portion configured to contact tissue at the non-circular annulus, a second portion configured to be attached to the valve support, and a lateral portion transverse to the longitudinal dimension between the first portion and the second portion. The anchoring member and the valve support are configured to move from a low-profile configuration to an expanded configuration in which the first portion of the anchoring member at least partially adapts to the non-circular annulus of the native mitral valve and a shape of the first region of the valve support is at least partially independent of a shape of the first portion of the anchoring member.

A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly. The stent has an annulus section with a relatively small cross-section, and an aortic section with a relatively large cross-section. The valve assembly, including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, is secured to the stent in the annulus section such that the valve assembly can be entirely deployed in the native valve annulus and function as intended while at least a portion of the aortic section is held by the delivery device in a manner that allows for resheathing. The configuration of the prosthetic valve is such that the valve leaflets can fully coapt and the valve can function properly even when the stent and/or valve assembly become distorted upon deployment or use.

The invention encompasses devices and methods for treating one or more damaged, diseased, or traumatized intervertebral discs to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. Specifically, the invention encompasses intervertebral nucleus and annulus implants that are resistant to migration in and/or expulsion from an intervertebral disc space. The invention further encompasses kits including the implantable devices of the invention and associated delivery tools to treat annular and nuclear tissue.

A spinal fixation device includes a housing and a plurality of blades. Each blade includes a body having a central opening configured to rotate on a shaft within the housing. Control openings on opposing sides of the central opening are sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool. At least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extends from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft. Upon rotation of the blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra.

Implants, tools and methods for performing unilateral posterior lumbar interbody fusion are provided. An interbody implant includes a body having a top and bottom surface extending along a length thereof; and first and second side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces on opposite sides of the body. The height of the first side surface is greater than the height of the second side surface.

The intervertebral disc prosthesis comprises first and second plates (3, 4) designed to be attached on one of the two vertebrae adjacent to the intervertebral disc to be replaced, and a compression pad arranged between the first and second plates. Each plate comprises first attaching means including two attaching portions (14a, 14b) positioned symmetrically on either side of the anteroposterior median plane of said plate, second attaching means including two attaching portions (15a, 15b) positioned symmetrically on either side of a first plane inclined by an angle comprised between 50° and 70° relative to the anteroposterior median plane of said plate, and third attaching means opposite the second attaching means relative to the anteroposterior median plane and including two attaching portions (16a, 16b) positioned symmetrically on either side of a second plane inclined by an angle of approximately 90°, relative to the anteroposterior median plane of said plate.

A method of forming an orthopedic implant, the method comprising the steps of providing a first implant component and a second implant component, the first implant component having a stem and a second implant component including a head defining a female taper sized to receive the stem; coupling the stem to the female taper of the head; forming a modular injunction between the stem and head; applying a seal to the modular injunction to limit bodily fluid from contacting the modular injunction; and forming the orthopedic implant.

An elbow prosthesis is provided and may include a first stem component attached to one of a humerus and an ulna, a second stem component attached to the other of the humerus and the ulna, and a joint disposed between and coupling the first stem component and the second stem component to permit relative movement between the first stem component and the second stem component about a first axis. The elbow prosthesis may additionally include a condyle extending from the joint and including an axis of rotation that is eccentric from the first axis.

The present disclosure relates to methods of facilitating bone growth. The method may include positioning a device around at least a portion of a bone exhibiting a defect, the device capable of retaining bone segments and micro-structured particles. The method may also include applying micro-structure particles within the device to the defect, wherein each of the micro-structure particles include at least one pore therein. In addition, the method may include aligning at least a portion of the micro-structure particles and applying a polymer to the particles and solidifying the polymer.

Disclosed is an assembly and method for implant installation between adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient. The implant has a support body and a rotatable insert therein and the support body is curved for installation between adjacent vertebral bodies transforaminally. An installation instrument is also disclosed for removable attachment to implant and engagement with the rotatable insert to selectively permit rotation between the insert and the support body. The installation instrument extends along a longitudinal tool axis and when the installation instrument is in a first position the insert is rotationally fixed with respect to the support body and when the installation instrument is in a second position the support body may rotate with respect to the insert.

A device for improving the function of a heart valve comprises a first loop-shaped support, which is configured to abut a first side of the heart valve, and a second loop-shaped support, which is configured to abut a second side of the heart valve opposite to said first side, whereby a portion of the valve tissue is trapped between the first and second supports. An outer boundary of the second support is greater than an outer boundary of the first support.

The invention describes the finding that 4-(4-dimethylaminostyrl)-N-methylpyridinium or ASP+ is a fluorescent substrate that is transported by several neurotransmitter transporters. Provided are methods for the analysis of neurotransmitter transport and binding using ASP+. The invention also provides rapid methods for screening for modulators of neurotransmitter transport. As neurotransmitter transporter defects are associated with numerous neurological disorders, the invention also provides methods for treating neurotransmitter transport-associated defects/conditions using the modulators identified by the screening methods of the invention.

Thermoplastic composition and articles containing UV absorbers that protect the articles contents from harmful UV radiation are disclosed as well as methods for making the thermoplastic articles and methods for using the articles to contain and protect materials sensitive to UV radiation. The UV absorbers contain oxazolone and/or azine functional groups that absorb UV radiation and prevent its transmission into the article. Many of the compounds are novel compositions of matter. The generally clear thermoplastic articles of this disclosure are particularly useful for containing a variety of UV sensitive consumer products that would otherwise have to be packaged in opaque containers.

A ligand design allows compact nanoparticle materials, such as quantum dots (QDs), with excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of pH and under high salt concentrations. Self-assembled biomolecular conjugates with QDs can be obtained which are stable in biological environments. Energy transfer with these ligands is maximized by minimizing distances between QDs/nanoparticles and donors/acceptors directly attached to the ligands or assembled on their surfaces.

A starting device of a spark-ignition multi-cylinder engine is provided. The device includes a multi-cylinder engine body having cylinders, fuel injection valves, ignition plugs, an intake valve drive mechanism for opening and closing intake valves, a hydraulic variable valve phase mechanism for changing a close timing of each intake valve, an engine-driven hydraulic pressure supply source for supplying a hydraulic pressure, and a start controller for controlling the fuel injection valves, the ignition plugs, and the variable valve phase mechanism. When the supplied hydraulic pressure is below a predetermined pressure, the variable valve phase mechanism locks the close timing. When an engine temperature in an engine-start is high, the start controller retards a fuel injection timing of the cylinder on intake stroke at an engine stopped timing and retards an ignition timing thereof. The start controller does not retard the close timing of the intake valve until the engine-start completes.

A torque limiting device, particularly for power transmission elements, is provided. The torque limiting device includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member, which is connected rotatably to a driven element. The first connecting member includes a motor driving disk and the second connecting member includes a sliding disk, and further includes a pin supporting body which comprises a drum that is assembled on the second connecting member and includes a plurality of radial holes, each one of which accommodates a pin that is pressed, toward the center of the drum, by elastic means, and abuts, with at least one of its faces which is inclined with respect to the central rotation axis of the second connecting member, against at least one corresponding abutment face.

A rotational vibration damper includes a primary side (32) and a secondary side (46) which is rotatable with respect to the primary side (32) around an axis of rotation (A) against the action of a damper element arrangement (28). At least one damper element unit (42) of the first group (70) and at least one damper element unit (42') of the second group (70') are pre-loaded, and the primary side (32) and the secondary side (46) are pre-loaded in a basic relative rotation position with respect to one another. Proceeding from the basic relative rotation position of the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46), a pre-loading path (V, V') of at least one pre-loaded damper element unit (42) is shorter than a maximum relative rotation path of the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46).

A wheel supporting device includes: a hub unit that has a rotary ring having a first spline on its axially inner end face; and a joint that has an outer ring having a second spline, meshing with the first spline, on its axially outer end face. At least one projection included in a plurality of projections of the first spline projects in the axial direction by a larger amount than the remaining projections of the first spline. When a crest of the at least one projection contacts a crest of one of projections of the second spline, a play is caused between the rotary ring and the outer ring due to the at least one projection that works as a fulcrum.

An audio setting application of a smart phone acquires tuning data from a tuning data setting server, which meets a search condition specified by a user. The audio setting application performs filtering of tuning parameters included in the tuning data. The tuning parameters are parameters of a plurality of acoustic characteristic items of an audio apparatus, and such parameters are excluded if the parameter cannot be expected to achieve an appropriate effect when the parameter is applied to the audio apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for assisting sort operators in identifying the appropriate location to sort an item. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system for identifying a particular bin from a plurality of bins for sorting a package is provided. The system includes a plurality of bins configured to receive sorted packages; an optical reader positioned to capture destination indicia associated with the package; a keypad comprising a plurality of keys, where in at least some of the keys are associated with individual bins of the plurality of bins and at least some of the keys include lights; and a control system. The control system is configured to: receive data from the optical reader relating to the destination indicia; identify a particular bin within the plurality of bins associated with the received data; and trigger illumination of one or more lights on the keypad.

Apparatus, and an associated method, for generating a trouble ticket related to an IT incident. When an IT incident occurs, a worklog is formed by a reporter that enters information associated with the incident. Successive inputs, made by appropriate personnel, are made to update the status of the incident. A table-of-contents is formed, associated with the collection of entries of information. And, each entry of information is categorized, to identify the entry by an associated category.

Present invention discloses a dispenser having means to dispense desired number of pills from a bulk supply of pills contained in the dispenser. The dispenser comprises of storage compartment having bulk supply of pills and having a discharge port emptying into counting compartment The counting compartment contains first and second conveyors moving at first and second speed; wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed thereby enabling pill separation; the second conveyor discharges pills into dispensing compartment. Sensors are strategically placed along the conveyors to count pills discharged into dispensing compartment. A pill recovery system and apparatus is disposed inside the dispenser having means to recover pills remaining on conveyors upon completion of a dispensation cycle and deposit recovered pills back into the storage compartment for use in future dispensation cycles. A docking station having receptacles to accommodate dispenser is provided. Docking station has communication ports enabling two-way communication with personal computer.

Provided are a home network system and a method for an autonomous mobile robot to travel along a shortest travel route. The home network system capable of home automation includes a plurality of beacons for sensing a user located in a cell coverage area and for transmitting resulting sensing information of the user; an autonomous mobile robot for executing travel to reach the user based on provided travel route information; and a home server for calculating a travel route along which the autonomous mobile robot can easily reach the user based on the sensing information of the user transmitted from the beacons, and for providing the travel route to the autonomous mobile robot. Therefore, the autonomous mobile robot may reach the user by the shortest travel route and thus reducing energy loss.

The present invention relates to lithium salt-containing rare earth halide solutions in aprotic solvents, processes for production thereof and also use thereof.

Methods and compositions for the deposition of a film on a substrate. In general, the disclosed compositions and methods utilize a precursor containing calcium or strontium.

It is an object of the present invention to provide antimicrobial metallodrugs comprising an antimicrobial peptide (“AMP”) and/or an antibiotic covalently bound to a metal binding moiety. These metallodrugs combine a metal binding domain which typically catalyzes oxido-reductase chemistry or acts as a Lewis-Acid catalyst, with a member of a diverse class of antimicrobial agents currently validated in preclinical and clinical settings for the treatment of a broad spectrum of pathogenic organisms.

The rare-earth complex of the present invention has high luminous efficiency, since it has a structure represented by the following general formula (I):

A method and apparatus for transporting syringes containing radioactive material. The apparatus includes a radiopharmaceutical pig having an inner chamber in which a sharps container can be secured. The sharps container has a housing and an attachable cap. The method includes assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig so that the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig contains the syringe in the sharps container housing. The radiopharmaceutical pig is disassembled, where upon the syringe is removed, discharged, and then replaced in the sharps container housing. The cap of the sharps container is affixed to the housing of the sharps container, thus enclosing the contaminated syringe therein. The radiopharmaceutical pig is assembled so that its chamber contains the sharps container and the syringe. The radiopharmaceutical pig is transported to a disposal area, where it is disassembled and the sharps container containing the syringe is placed in a particular disposal container.

An apparatus and method for transporting radiopharmaceutical substances. The apparatus comprises a radiation shielding pig having an elongated sidewall that extends between two ends and that defines an elongated, interior chamber. The sidewall is thinner than each of the ends. A radiation shield defines at least one cavity. The shield has two open ends and a central area between the open ends that is thicker than each of the two open ends. Also, a method of assembling and disassembling the apparatus includes, placing a syringe filled with a radiopharmaceutical substance into the pig; placing the pig containing the filled syringe in the radiation shield; placing the pig and the shield into an ammunition can for transporting the radioactive substance contained in the syringe.