A mouthpiece device and method for helping human users with congested sinuses breathe freely through their mouths while sleeping while minimizing the risks of dry mouth and drooling. The device fits between the user's jaws and is configured to apply a gentle jaw and lip opening pressure sufficient to at least partially open a sleeping user's jaw and lips while the jaw and lip muscles are relaxed. At the same time, the device is configured to so that when the user, while still sleeping, activates their jaw or lip muscles to swallow, this action overcomes the gentle opening force, allowing the user to easily swallow without conscious effort. Methods of configuring the device shape and opening forces are also taught.

A mouthpiece device and method for helping human users with congested sinuses breathe freely through their mouths while sleeping while minimizing the risks of dry mouth and drooling. The device fits between the user's jaws and is configured to apply a gentle jaw and lip opening pressure sufficient to at least partially open a sleeping user's jaw and lips while the jaw and lip muscles are relaxed. At the same time, the device is configured to so that when the user, while still sleeping, activates their jaw or lip muscles to swallow, this action overcomes the gentle opening force, allowing the user to easily swallow without conscious effort. Methods of configuring the device shape and opening forces are also taught.

Medical devices and methods are presented for protecting a limb, e.g., an arm, of a patient during a medical procedure. The medical devices and methods utilize a plurality of longitudinal sealed fluid pockets to thermally insulate and cushion an extremity of a limb. The plurality of longitudinal sealed fluid pockets is incorporated in a protective body that is shaped to wrap around the extremity when the medical device is deployed. The protective body has at least one access opening to provide access through the protective body to one or more corresponding portions of the extremity. Access panels may be formed into the protective body to allow portions of the extremity to be covered or uncovered and used with left or right limbs. Other devices and methods are presented.

A vacuum-molded and reusable limb protecting pad includes an airtight bag body, the locating components are spaced each other to divide a containing space in the bag body into a plurality of locating spaces which are spaced but communicated with each other for being filled with granules; an air nozzle whose bottom is sealed airtightly, and the air nozzle being internally provided with an air channel which is used for communicating the inside and the outside of the bag body and can be switched into a state of communication or non-communication; a filter screen, arranged at a position corresponding to the air channel, the sieve size of the filter screen being less than the particle sizes of the granules; and at least one tightening component, capable of enabling the limb protecting pad to stably surround and cling to the surface of a limb.

A vacuum-molded and reusable limb protecting pad includes an airtight bag body, the locating components are spaced each other to divide a containing space in the bag body into a plurality of locating spaces which are spaced but communicated with each other for being filled with granules; an air nozzle whose bottom is sealed airtightly, and the air nozzle being internally provided with an air channel which is used for communicating the inside and the outside of the bag body and can be switched into a state of communication or non-communication; a filter screen, arranged at a position corresponding to the air channel, the sieve size of the filter screen being less than the particle sizes of the granules; and at least one tightening component, capable of enabling the limb protecting pad to stably surround and cling to the surface of a limb.

A buoyancy-based cervical traction system has a floatation and a head rest supported by the flotation system. The head rest is adapted to support a person's head above the neck and apply traction to the neck when the person is in a body of liquid. The system has a position adjustment system adapted to allow selective adjustment of the position at which the person's head rest will be relative to an upper surface of the liquid when the person and the cervical traction system are in the liquid, the person's head is supported by the head rest, and the cervical traction system and person are floating in the liquid at equilibrium.

A spinal immobilization device including a base member and a spinal support member configured to overlay the base member. The base member includes an elongate board having a curvate top surface, and a channel defined within the top surface. The spinal support member may include a bladder, a fluid housed within the bladder, a plurality of fluid absorbing members within the bladder, and a breakable barrier separating the fluid and the plurality of fluid absorbing members from mixing. The channel defines an impression within the top surface that matches a shape of a portion of the bladder.

In one general aspect, an orthopaedic fixation device includes an inner core and shaft formed of a multi-layered, fiber-reinforced composite. A sensing element is embedded within the multi-layered, fiber-reinforced composite.

In one general aspect, an orthopaedic fixation device includes an inner core and shaft formed of a multi-layered, fiber-reinforced composite. A sensing element is embedded within the multi-layered, fiber-reinforced composite.

A spinal immobilization device including a base member and a spinal support member configured to overlay the base member. The base member includes an elongate board having a curvate top surface, a plurality of openings surrounding at least a portion of the elongate board, and a channel defined within the top surface. The spinal support member may include a bladder, a valve controlling passage of fluid into the bladder, and a plurality of fluid absorbing members within the bladder. The channel defines an impression within the top surface that matches a shape of a portion of the bladder.