The present invention relates to a shoulder brace for the rehabilitation of patients that suffer from shoulder instability. The shoulder brace uses a novel elevation and compression cabling system to stabilize and approximate the humerus to glenoid fossa. More specifically, the present invention allows an individual that suffers from shoulder instability to easily put on and, while wearing the device, adjust all forces that approximate their shoulder without the assistance of another individual. The design will also allow the individual the ability to have functional movement. This will give someone who has become dependent on others to regain a greater degree of independence.

A variety of body supports are disclosed for supporting a body portion, for example, for supporting a chest in a donned configuration. In some examples, the body support includes a first support panel having one or more first tongues projecting outwardly therefrom, a second support panel having one or more second tongues projecting outwardly therefrom, a connecting section, joining the first support panel to said second support panel in longitudinal spaced relationship along an imaginary longitudinal mid-line of the body support, the first tongue and the second tongue being on opposite transverse sides of a mid-line of the body support, a first fastener and a second fastener. The body support may further include a doffed configuration in which the first support panel and the second support panel are non-contiguous with respect to one another.

In one embodiment, an adhesive support garment includes a base anchoring portion and a shaping panel. The base anchoring portion is configured to be adhered to a body beneath a breast. The shaping panel includes a fabric layer and an adhesive layer that is configured to extend from the base anchoring portion over the breast and adhere thereto. The shaping panel is configured to hold and orient the breast.

A method of pressure control in the pneumatic compression bandage and a pneumatic compression bandage includes a cuff with a chamber to be filled with a pressurized fluid. The device has a harness to fasten the cuff in the wound area and a control and pumping unit (6) connected pneumatically to the chamber in the cuff via a hose. The unit includes an electrical pump, an electromechanical valve connected electrically with the unit, a pressure sensor connected electrically with the unit (6). The controller of the pressure in the cuff chamber is of the PID type, including a proportional, integral and derivative modules, to control the electric pump to increase pressure in the cuff chamber and to control the valve to reduce pressure in the cuff chamber.

A method and apparatus for applying pressure to the abdomen of a patient to facilitate the insertion of a colonoscope is characterized by the use of a tensile compression device in the form of an elastic band which is wrapped around the patient's abdomen and secured in place. The tension of the band is adjusted to apply a desired degree of pressure to the patient's abdomen to reduce loops in the patient's colon so that the colonoscope can be fully inserted into the colon with minimal discomfort to the patient. The ends of the device are connected together when the desired degree of tension is obtained so that constant pressure and support are provided to the patient's colon. Addition pressure can be manually applied simultaneously with the pressure from the tensile device to reduce or eliminate more distal loops in the colon.

A wraparound portion of compression garments may include a mitt defining a mitt opening. A user may place their hand in the mitt opening of the mitt to assist in donning the compression garments about their body. For example, the wraparound portion of the compression garment may be located in awkward position for a human user to grasp, and the mitt and mitt opening may assist a user in grasping and moving the wraparound portion about their body.

A device for maintaining or achieving soft tissue expansion applicable to any body region already temporarily expanded including: an adhesive element deformable and capable of adapting to the shape of this body region, and which can then itself become mechanically rigid enough to resist tendency of the expanded tissue to recoil or to which a second material can be applied to form a stent adapted to the shape of the body area to provide the necessary structural rigidity to prevent recoil of the expansion and thereby induce its retention of its expanded shape after the stent is removed.

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.

A device for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: a shield having a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient; and an opening at the shield for allowing an umbilical catheter to extend therethrough. A method for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: providing a device having a shield with a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient, and wherein the device further includes an opening at the shield; shielding the umbilical stump from an environment using the shield; and accommodating an umbilical catheter using the opening at the shield.

A device for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: a shield having a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient; and an opening at the shield for allowing an umbilical catheter to extend therethrough. A method for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: providing a device having a shield with a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient, and wherein the device further includes an opening at the shield; shielding the umbilical stump from an environment using the shield; and accommodating an umbilical catheter using the opening at the shield.