Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7347874 | In vivo joint implant cycle counter A joint endoprosthesis system has two prosthetic components to be affixed to two bones of a human joint. A sensor and electronic components are affixed to one of the prosthetic components so that a record can be maintained of the number of times the patient moves th... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7328562 | Stirrup with gas-filled shock absorber A stirrup (210,310) includes a footrest (214,314) as well as a hanger (216,316) for suspending the stirrup from a saddle. A shock absorber (350) is provided for the footrest (314) and has passages (364) which allow the shock... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7273463 | Dynamic gauntlet A dynamic gauntlet including at least two of a base, a hand piece, and a thumb piece. At least one of the base, hand piece and thumb piece is constructed of an elastomeric material and includes an anchor having an attachment element extending toward the at least one... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7249385 | Finger/toe tip protective apparatus A finger/toe tip protective apparatus including a semispherically shaped flexible member of perforated material with inner and outer surfaces, and a circumferential edge. The flexible member has at least one elongated tab extending tangentially and radially about th... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7238161 | Apparatus and method for passive and active therapeutic exercise A therapy apparatus includes a container having an interior volume and having an opening providing access to the interior volume and massaging elements freely located in the interior volume of the container. Each massaging element has a generally spherical exterior ... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7210172 | Fingertip flexor glove A rigid glove has openings at the ends of the fingers such that the ends of the fingers from the most distal joint to the end protrude therefrom. The fingers may be flexed as an exercise. Caps of varying resistance may also be applied to the ends of the glove's fing... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7207331 | Arrangement and method for controlling operational characteristics of medical equipment An arrangement and method is provided for controlling operational characteristics of medical equipment. A pressure sensor associated with the caregiver is arranged to sense changes in air pressure that correspond to breathing activity of the caregiver. The pressure ... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7172567 | Orthopedic aid with a locking device In an orthopedic aid with two parts (15, 16) which are movable relative to one another and with a locking device for locking the two parts (15, 16) in a predetermined relative position and for unlocking the parts (15, 16) in order to permit move... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7156819 | Flexion and extension device An orthotic device may be utilized to promote flexion or extension of a patient's wrist. At least one support member having a pivotal portion may be angularly positioned through the use of a tensioning member in conjunction with a hinge to effect the desired therape... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7144368 | Guided retractor and methods of use The present invention provides methods and apparatus in which a surgical retractor comprises a plurality of mechanically coupled tissue retaining walls that are guided into position along one or more guides previously implanted into the patient. The walls are prefer... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7121983 | Hand exerciser A new and improved method and apparatus for exercising the hand is disclosed herein. A stretchable web, with an array of spaced apertures is molded over a rigid frame. The web has multiple portions, wherein each portion is made of a different material with different... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7118516 | Martial arts training device The present devices apply resistance force to a user's body in close simulation of the impact and resistive forces experienced in martial arts techniques and interactions to provides more effective muscle and neurological training of the user. The devices include a ... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7090650 | Continuous passive motion exercise system with driven monitoring The continuous passive motion exercise system enables human's joints to recover speedily to original functioning after injuries or surgeries, and thus shortens the period of time needed for joint rehabilitation. The present invention provides a force or torque monit... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7087029 | Massager A massage device is composed of an elongated main body in the form of a sheet of flexible plastic material. The main body is configured with a plurality of flexible elongated strips extending from one end of the elongated body in cantilever fashion and juxtaposed sp... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7037286 | Wrist brace The present application discloses an open air wrist brace for use in supporting the wrist in an anatomically neutral position, or in a position that permits therapeutically-useful extension, without increasing pressure on the carpal tunnel, median nerve or flexor te... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7033330 | Wrist brace A wrist brace for relaxing extensor musculature in a forearm having a first body, a second body, and at least one hinge joint hinging the first and second body together. The first body is arranged to be secured to a forearm while the second body extends from the hin... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7001352 | Dynamic resting hand splint A dynamic splint for the positioning and functional exercise of a neurologically impaired upper extremity, including the wrist, hand and fingers, made up of a forearm support and hand support linked by a first connector. Fingertip caps are connected to finger tensio... | 02/21/2006 |
| 7002067 | Wrist position training assembly A wrist training assembly that is intended for use by releasably clamping it to a piano keyboard with a predetermined amount of clamping force. The assembly is releasably locked in place but the clamping and locking functions are separated so that the finish and str... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6979305 | Apparatus and method for treating carpal tunnel syndrome An apparatus for treating carpal tunnel syndrome in a patient's hand includes a bilateral housing for receiving the patient's right or left hand with two bottom capture regions for capturing and retaining the thenar and hypothenar regions of the patient's hand. The ... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6947030 | Actuating device for miniature keyboards The invention concerns a simple and user-friendly actuating device (10) for miniature keyboards or miniature input tablets. The device has of a dome-shaped body (12) which is adapted to the curve of the fingertip and fitted to the fingertip by means of... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6942631 | Device for treating carpal tunnel syndrome A therapeutic device for applying graded compression to the hand to remedy the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The device is a passive therapy device which receives the palm of the hand and applies graduated pressure to the top of the hand to relieve carpal tunn... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6921377 | Finger orthosis The same orthosis can be used to sequentially move joints of different fingers of a hand. A hand cuff of the orthosis is mounted on the hand. Mechanisms operable to move the joints are connected to the hand cuff at locations aligned with the fingers. The mechanisms ... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6911011 | Digit therapy device A digit therapy device and method for progressively desensitizing a patient's sensitive digit tip such as a sensitive tip of a finger, thumb, toe or big toe. In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises at least one elongated flexible member and an optio... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6908475 | Device for treating carpal tunnel syndrome A therapeutic device for applying graded compression to the hand to remedy the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The device is a passive therapy device which receives the palm of the hand and applies graduated pressure to the top of the hand to relieve carpal tunn... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6740051 | Supinator/pronator therapy system A passive therapy device useful for bringing back mobility to the wrist, forearm and/or elbow after immobilization. The device provides therapy to restricted tissue in the wrist, forearm and/or elbow while applying passive tension during therapy. The therapy device ... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6730049 | Adjustable and tunable hand tremor stabilizer A tunable and adjustable device for stabilizing tremors includes a rigid splint for receiving a patient's hand, wrist and forearm, and at least one gyroscope removably and rigidly attachable to said splint and positionable for countereffecting the tremors. Also, a m... | 05/04/2004 |
| 6673028 | Passive joint movement device and method for using the same A passive movement deivce for exercising a patient's joint is provided. The device includes a resilient foam section and a casing enclosing the foam section within a sealed chamber. The patient's joint is held in position relative to the sealed chamber by... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6663579 | Device for reducing hand contracture In accordance with the present invention a device for reducing hand contracture resulting from injury or trauma is disclosed comprising at least one column comprising a plurality of blocks, the plurality of blocks having at least one attachment means enab... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6553574 | Weighted therapeutic glove A weighted therapeutic glove has a back-hand side, a palm side, a thumb opening, and at least one finger opening. Positioned on the back-hand side are back-hand pockets for removably receiving first weights. The back-hand pockets are oriented to open on t... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6491651 | Expert system soft tissue active motion technique for release of adhesions and associated apparatus for facilitating specific treatment modalities A method for the non-surgical treatment of soft tissue lesions includes placing a contact point near the lesion and causing the patient to move in a manner that produces a longitudinal sliding motion of soft tissues, e.g., nerves, ligaments, and muscles, ... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6447464 | Therapy device for upper extremity dysfunction Gloves and harnesses for allowing patients to do rehabilitation and reeducation exercises. A first version allows a therapist to exercise a second person's hand(s) including their fingers, wrists, and arms by overlying the palm(s) of the therapist's hand(... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6447425 | Range of motion device A flexure measurement device measures the flexure of a flexing body part thereby describing a range of motion of the body part. The flexure measurement device includes a flexible member and a sensor for detecting a change in proportion of the flexible mem... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6443874 | Occupational - therapy apparatus for strengthening fingers, hand, wrist, forearm and foot An occupational-therapy/physical-therapy apparatus is disclosed and includes at least one pivotal or rotatable resistance against which the body part being exercised is located. A resistance bar is biased to act against the body part, which bias is adjust... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6406406 | Hand and wrist exerciser A hand and wrist exerciser having an outer frame comprising left and right outer posts, upper and lower members connected to the left and right outer posts, and intermediate portion, configured such portion at an angle of less than 180 degrees with respec... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6312398 | Actuator for flexing a resilient covering The present invention provides a power assisted actuator assembly for flexing restraints in response to movement of an underlying member or a controller. The actuator assembly generally includes a flexible member, such as a cord or fabric panel, having a ... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6238357 | Health appliance including an expandable chamber for stretching the toes A health appliance comprises a fitting member fittable in between toes or fingers and having in an interior thereof a pressurized medium charging portion. This portion is expanded in a direction so as to widen a space between the toes or fingers when the ... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6213918 | Method and apparatus for finger, hand and wrist therapy A method and apparatus to strengthen an individual hands, fingers and wrists includes at least one resilient band supported by at least one of a plurality of spaced pegs which extend from at least one side of a support base and wherein resistance of the a... | 04/10/2001 |
| 6179750 | Hand exercise system An exercise system includes an upper planar plate, a lower plate, a sidewall coupling the upper and lower plates to retain them in a spaced parallel relationship forming a housing with a chamber there within. Five slots formed in the upper plate extend fr... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6149612 | Rehabilitative apparatus for treating reflex sympathetic dystrophy The apparatus provides active and passive exercise to the hand, wrist and forearm of the patient. It has dual handles and an attached inertia apparatus such that both the affected arm and the non affected arm are subjected to the therapy. It is theorized ... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6036621 | Digit gym for the exercise of hand and finger muscles A hand exerciser comprising a rigid elongated horizontal base whose undersurface is covered by a soft, corrugatued material. Across the top surface of the base are longitudinally affixed three support walls so as to define two equal exercise spaces betwee... | 03/14/2000 |
