The invention relates to an enveloping body for at least partially enveloping a limb, having an enclosed volume and a connection for supplying and removing fluid to the volume or from the volume, wherein the enveloping body forms an inner circumference and an outer circumference; on the enveloping body reinforcement elements are arranged that are designed to be brought into contact as a result of the removal of fluid from the volume or to increase their contact with one another as a result of the removal of liquid.

A brace for retaining an organ in an expanded state configured to adhere and substantially conform to an external surface of the organ includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and at least one sheet of thin malleable material forming a middle layer between the inner layer and outer layer, the at least one sheet being enclosed and configured to rigidify and maintain the organ in an expanded state upon application of a vacuum. The brace can be incorporated into a brassiere.

Feedback-controlled pressure monitoring system for limb-stabilizing medical pressure splints are described herein. In one embodiment, a limb-stabilizing system, includes: a pressure splint; a pressure sensor operatively coupled with the pressure splint; a controller configured to receive a first signal from the pressure sensor and to send a second signal to a pump; and the pump operatively coupled to the pressure splint. The pump is configured to adjust a pressure of air inside the pressure splint based on the second signal received from the controller.

A rib brace includes: a sealed enclosure; an adhesive on an external side of the sealed enclosure, the adhesive configured to adhere the rib brace to a person externally and noninvasively to the person; a layered structure inside the sealed enclosure; and a port through a wall of the sealed enclosure, wherein a stiffness of the layered structure is adjustable by applying suction to an interior of the sealed enclosure via the port.

A brassiere having cups with an inner layer, an outer layer, and at least one sheet of thin malleable material forming a middle layer between the inner layer and outer layer, the at least one sheet being enclosed and configured to rigidify.

The present disclosure relates generally to devices and methods to relieve tension or stress on tissue and, in particular, tissue that includes a surgical incision site. A shape-setting material is used to conform the device to the tissue without the need for continuous application of negative pressure. The device can support and improve the health of breast tissue after breast augmentation or reconstruction post-mastectomy.

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.

Method of using a shape-formable apparatus. A shape-formable apparatus can include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet can include a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface. The method can include providing the shape-formable apparatus in a first state; forming the apparatus into a desired shape; and reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to a second state in which the apparatus is substantially less formable than in the first state.

Orthopaedic device and a method of use thereof are provided for treating a bone fracture. The orthopaedic device includes a sheet cover configured to extend over a portion of a patient's skin corresponding to a bone fracture under the skin, the sheet cover configured to form an enclosed volume between the portion of the patient's skin and the sheet cover, wherein the sheet cover comprises a vacuum port, the vacuum port configured to apply a vacuum to withdraw a gaseous volume from the enclosed volume and a member, the member configured to be in the enclosed volume, the member configured to deform in at least a direction towards the skin and apply a force to the fracture.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed regarding orthopedic support devices adapted for stabilizing a part of a body of a wearer, in which an integrated pressure modulation mechanism is adapted to be coupled to at least one evacuable bladder containing molded beads. An exemplary orthopedic support device comprises an orthopedic walker adapted for stabilizing a foot of a wearer. The orthopedic walker comprises an integrated adjustable stabilization system comprising an integrated pressure modulation mechanism, a bladder, a plurality of molded beads inside the bladder, and a bladder coupling. The bladder coupling couples the bladder with the integrated pressure modulation mechanism. The integrated pressure modulation mechanism is adapted to evacuate a fluid from the bladder to decrease its internal pressure to a decreased bladder internal pressure, consolidate the plurality of molded beads from a loose arrangement to a rigid arrangement, and maintain the bladder internal pressure at the decreased bladder internal pressure.