In the context of medical recovery from injury and/or surgery to a lower extremity, a device may be used to provide elevation and support for a patient's foot, including ankle and heal, along with restraint against rotation of the lower leg of a patient. This can protect the knee from injury. The device may include a generally flat main body, two spaced-apart lateral ridges extending along or near lateral edges of the generally flat main body, and a medial depression between the lateral ridges that provides a support surface on which the ankle may be positioned.

The present invention includes methods of conducting a colonoscopy that includes positioning a ball pillow under the patient's left lateral lower abdomen while the patient is lying laterally until cecum is reached by the colonoscope. Also, the present invention includes methods of limiting looping of a colonscope during a colonoscopy that include positioning a ball pillow underneath a patient and/or applying a pressure to a patient's abdomen by securing a ball pillow between a patient and a surface.

The present invention includes methods of conducting a colonoscopy that includes positioning a ball pillow under the patient's left lateral lower abdomen while the patient is lying laterally until cecum is reached by the colonoscope. Also, the present invention includes methods of limiting looping of a colonscope during a colonoscopy that include positioning a ball pillow underneath a patient and/or applying a pressure to a patient's abdomen by securing a ball pillow between a patient and a surface.

Methods of immobilizing the head of a patient include heating a thermoplastic mask preform to a formable temperature, forming the thermoplastic mask over at least a mouth of the patient, and pushing a mouth receiving end of a bite piece into a portion of the thermoplastic mask preform that is positioned over the mouth of the patient, which moves the portion of the thermoplastic mask preform into the mouth of the patient. The methods also include allowing the thermoplastic mask preform to cool from the formable temperature, causing the portion of the thermoplastic mask moved into the mouth of the patient to harden.

A brace for restricting the movement of a shoulder joint, the brace including a trunk module attachable to a human body, wherein the trunk module includes a strap for attaching the brace to the body; and at least one first part of a locking mechanism; a forearm module pivotable relative to the trunk module, the forearm module further including a second part of a locking mechanism capable of engaging and disengaging with said first part of the locking mechanism; and a posterior upper arm support attached to the trunk module in a fixed position; wherein in a first orientation the at least one first part of the locking mechanism is engaged with the second part of the locking mechanism; and wherein in a second orientation the at least one first part of the locking mechanism is disengaged from the second part of the locking mechanism.

A restraint bracket of a bracket assembly mounted to a lower surface of a support frame of a person support apparatus is disclosed. The restraint bracket includes a bracket body having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a pair of flanges formed on the upper surface of the bracket body, and an attachment member extending from the lower surface of the bracket body, the attachment member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end and the second end fixed to the lower surface of the bracket body.

Various embodiments of an arm support are disclosed. An arm support may include a support member having a forearm section and an elbow section. An arm support may have a plurality of opposed longitudinal slots adapted for engagement with releasably attachable straps for securing the arm support to a person's forearm. A support member may bend upwardly at a transition point between the forearm section and the elbow section. A forearm pad may be attached to the forearm section. An elbow pad may be attached to the elbow section. The elbow pad may include an upwardly inclined surface. A support member may include a concave upper surface. An arm support may be useful to prevent hyperflexion or hyperextension, such as hyperextension of the elbow joint of a bowler.

A vest includes a first panel including a first flap, a second panel including a second flap, a back panel extending from the first panel to the second panel, and a plurality of grips. The back panel defines a first and second arm accesses with first and second panels respectively, and portions of the first, second, and back panels disposed below first and second arm accesses define a body of the vest. The first flap is configured to overlap the second flap. The first flap includes a first front attachment segment configured to attach to a second front attachment segment of the second flap in a closed state of the vest. At least one embodiment or aspect may comprise at least one of the following features: at least one zipper expansion and retraction mechanism; and a leg attachment device for detachably securing a compression vest system to a user's leg.

A vest includes a first panel including a first flap, a second panel including a second flap, a back panel extending from the first panel to the second panel, and a plurality of grips. The back panel defines a first and second arm accesses with first and second panels respectively, and portions of the first, second, and back panels disposed below first and second arm accesses define a body of the vest. The first flap is configured to overlap the second flap. The first flap includes a first front attachment segment configured to attach to a second front attachment segment of the second flap in a closed state of the vest. At least one embodiment or aspect may comprise at least one of the following features: at least one zipper expansion and retraction mechanism; and a leg attachment device for detachably securing a compression vest system to a user's leg.

A distraction frame for use with a surgical table, wherein the surgical table includes a base for positioning on a floor, the distraction frame including a table mount for fixation to the base of the surgical table; at least one horizontal strut mounted to the table mount; at least one vertical strut mounted to the at least one horizontal strut; and at least one distraction mechanism mounted to the at least one vertical strut, wherein the at least one distraction mechanism may be connected to a limb of a patient for applying a distraction force to the limb of the patient; wherein the table mount may transfer to the floor a force moment imposed on the table mount when the at least one distraction mechanism applies a distraction force to a limb of a patient.