Disclosed is a device for the rehabilitation and treatment of traction in the walking dysfunctions of the animals and for the general training of the cardio-respiratory and muscular functions of animals. The device has a structure, at least one mechanism for stationary traction adapted to allow an animal to walk, at least one support member adapted to support the weight of the treated animal with at least one upright, at least one cross member fixed to the upright that extends substantially parallel over the structure, at least one bar fixed to the cross member, at least one lift tie rod, and at least one harness. The device is arranged to change and adjust at least one operating parameter so as to make the device adaptable to the size or pathologies of the animal to be treated.

Systems for training an animal, such as a rodent, to maintain its head substantially motionless during an imaging procedure using an imaging and training system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the imaging and training system includes a frame defining an enclosure for enclosing an animal therein during the imaging procedure. The frame includes a head post that is attached to the head of the animal and a treadmill having a plurality of rollers that the animal is in operative contact such that one or more of the plurality of wheels rotate when the animal is in a walking motion and stop rotating when the animal is in a substantially motionless state. This arrangement trains the animal to remain substantially motionless when disposed within an imaging apparatus.

A light-up object includes a rubberized outer body; a plug in a cavity of the outer body; and a lighting device located in the plug. The light-up object further includes a first inner capsule piece, the first inner capsule piece located in the plug, and a second inner capsule piece located in the cavity of the outer body, the second inner capsule piece shaped to engage with the first inner capsule piece. The first and second inner capsules are threaded to fit together. The outer body includes grooves, running around multiple circumferences of the outer body. The outer body has a size of approximately a baseball; the outer body is shaped approximately like a sphere; and the grooves are at least 5 mm deep in the outer body.

A ball holder includes a first and second hollow hemispherical shell, each having a plurality of apertures therein. Each hemispherical shell includes a respective hinge part, and, diametrically opposed therefrom, a respective closure element. The first and second hinge parts are connected with each other, enabling turning the first or the second hemispherical shell relative to each other to open or close the ball holder. The first and second closure elements are aligned when the ball holder is closed permitting engagement with a releasable lock therethrough. The ball holder includes a plurality of protuberances spaced apart along internal surfaces of the hemispherical shells. The protuberances separate a ball held within the ball holder from the internal surfaces of the shells, and form discrete contact points to reduce surface contact areas of the ball with the internal surface for effectively drying the ball carried by the ball holder.

The present invention provides a body lift-assist walker device for gait training is provided by the invention. The patient wears a pressurized body suit over all or a portion of his lower body, and the suit is attached to the walker device. A positive pressure or vacuum condition is applied to the interior of the suit, so that the differential pressure condition across the suit offloads a portion of the patient's body weight to the ground through the supportive walker device to make it easier for him to walk or run. The walker device also includes a lift-assisted body weight support device operated by a constant force mechanism like a pneumatic air cylinder that can lift the patient from a sitting position to a standing position with minimal physical effort. The device provides a portable and convenient system for persons undergoing physical therapy for treatment of gait or balance problems following an injury, stroke, or neurological disorder, or for use by elderly or disabled persons who have encounter difficulties in the sit-to-stand movement or walking.

A thrower includes an elongate arm. A handle is attached to one end of the arm. A retaining device has a base attached to an opposite end of the arm and at least one gripping member extending from the base to define a retention volume together with the base. The, or each, gripping member is resiliently displaceable with respect to the base to permit the retaining device to be urged on to the object to be thrown such that the, or each, gripping member is displaced to permit the object to be received in the retention volume, with the, or each, gripping member subsequently retaining the object in the retention volume.

The present invention relates to a ball-throwing scoop for interaction with a pet, comprising a scoop body and a handle. The scoop body includes a scoop opening, two sides and a base portion. The scoop body resembles a smaller half of a circular tube or approximately circular tube longitudinally cut off, the longitudinal central axis y of which is an arc having a larger radius R; r is used to denote the radius of the smaller half of the circular tube, R>>r; the base portion of the scoop body is connected to the handle in the shape of a hollow cylinder, the central axis of the handle obliquely intersects the longitudinal central axis of the scoop body, a cavity of the handle can store liquid or solid pet drinks/foods, especially a cylindrical biscuit box.

A differential pressure body suit with external support against body suit migration. In its preferred embodiment, such body suit may comprise a close-fitting, multi-layered suit sealed against a mammal's skin to contain the differential pressure, or a looser-fitting suit that bends at the mammal's joints with minimal force. External support structure includes either fixed or movable mechanical supports attached to the body suit, extraordinary air pressure levels for making the body suit rigid, or exoskeletons attached to the body suit, or a counter-force adjustment cable suspension system. A cyclic control system can turn the differential pressure condition within the body suit on and off on a selective basis to accommodate the movement of the legs of the mammal. This differential pressure body suit provides a portable and convenient system for, e.g., rehabilitating a skeletal joint injury or training the mammal for injury prevention or athletic performance or fat burning. The pressurization reduces the weight of the body to greater or lesser extents, and offloads the weight to the ground through the external support means.

The present invention provides a differential pressure body suit with external support against body suit migration. In its preferred embodiment, such body suit may comprise a close-fitting, multi-layered suit sealed against a mammal's skin to contain the differential pressure, or a looser-fitting suit that bends at the mammal's joints with minimal force. External support means include either fixed or movable mechanical supports attached to the body suit, extraordinary air pressure levels for making the body suit rigid, or exoskeletons attached to the body suit, or a counter-force suspension cable adjustment system. A cyclic control system can turn the differential pressure condition within the body suit on and off on a selective basis to accommodate the movement of the legs of the mammal. This differential pressure body suit provides a portable and convenient system for, e.g., rehabilitating a skeletal joint injury or training the mammal for injury prevention or athletic performance or fat burning. The pressurization reduces the weight of the body to greater or lesser extents, and offloads the weight to the ground through the external support means.

A stretching device comprising an elongated band having a first end and a second end, a first handle coupled to the band proximate the first end, a second handle coupled to the band proximate the second end, and a boot coupled to the band between the first end and the second end, the boot adapted to engage with a body part of a person, horse, or other animal.