Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety device (2) for a prefilled syringe (1), the syringe comprising a body (3), a needle carrier (4), a piston (6) movable inside the body, and a piston rod (7) suitable for pushing the piston inside the body towards the needle carrier. The device comprises a protective sheath (10) in which the syringe body can slide between an injection position and a safe position in which the needle is withdrawn inside the sheath, said device (2) comprising a resilient element (15) suitable for acting on the syringe to bring in into its safe position after injection, said resilient element presenting two axial ends and comprising at least two elastically-deformable arms extending between said two axial ends, one of the ends (20) being arranged so as to be capable of sliding freely relative to the piston rod (7) prior to injection, and/or one of the ends being arranged in such a manner as to be capable of being fixed to the protective sheath (10) in a position of adjustable height.

Abstract: An elastic assembly for absorbent garments having a first carrier layer, a second carrier layer, and an elastic layer attached between the first and second carrier layers to impart elasticity to an elasticized portion of the elastic assembly. The elastic layer is made of elastic strands having a decitex of about 600 or less. The elastic strands are arranged generally in parallel with one another and with a spacing of about 1 to about 10 elastic strands per centimeter. The elasticized portion of the elastic assembly has a thickness of about 2.6 mm or less at a pressure of 0.05 p.s.i. and about 8 or more corrugations per centimeter when in an elastically relaxed state. The first and second carrier layers are attached to one another in the elasticized portion substantially only by a coating of adhesive on the elastic strands. Absorbent garments incorporating the elastic assembly and a method of making the elastic assembly are also provided.

Abstract: In a male external urinary catheter comprising a cylindrical discharge tube connected to a funnel through a bulbous zone wherein the extreme edge of the funnel is fitted with a rolled up coverette of latex rubber, polyurethane or the like that can be unfurled to encapsulate the patient's male organ, a unitary strap is provided having an connecting end unitary attached to said coverette and formed of a like material therewith and having intermediate and free end regions adapted to be looped about the coverette back upon themselves, the unitary strap including a fastener for attaching the strap upon itself without contacting the skin of a male patient.

Abstract: A subdural evacuating port system for removing subdural fluid accumulations in a manner that is minimally invasive and promotes decompression, expansion and recovery of the brain. The system includes a subdural evacuating port device including a tubular portion for partial insertion into an opening in a skull of a patient. The tubular portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The port device has a pair of wings for facilitating finger rotation of the tubular portion, with the wings extending outwardly from the tubular portion in substantially opposite directions from the tubular portion. The exterior surface of the tubular portion may have self-tapping threads at the proximal end and may have a plurality of annular barbs at the distal end. A kit for evacuating a collection of fluid from a subdural space may include the subdural evacuating port device and a retractor for spacing sides of an incision in a scalp away from each other.

Abstract: An absorbent article such as a diaper or an incontinence protector, comprising at least one liquid storage region (2, 3) with high absorption capacity and at least one wicking layer (4) which overlaps at least a substantial part of the liquid storage region and which has greater liquid dispersion ability than the storage region. The wicking layer (4) is intended to disperse liquid collected locally in the article over the liquid storage region (2, 3). The aim of the invention is to improve liquid dispersion in absorbent articles. The invention is characterized in that liquid-impermeable portions (5, 6) are arranged at separate places in the article along sections of overlapping parts of the wicking layer (4) and the liquid storage region (2, 3) in order to prevent the transfer of liquid over said parts from the wicking layer to the storage region.

Abstract: An adhesive wafer for use as the faceplate of an ostomy appliance is disclosed. The wafer includes an adhesive layer of hydrocolloid-containing material having first and second surfaces, a flexible backing layer covering the first surface, and a removable release sheet extending over the second surface. The release sheet has at least a portion of its outer surface mirrored to reflect images during application of the wafer to the peristomal skin surfaces of an ostomate.

Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a main diaper body with a flexible plastic housing. The diaper housing has a front wall and a parallel back wall sealably joined to the front wall. The front and back walls cooperate to define a housing chamber therebetween. The back wall has an aperture formed therein. The main diaper body also includes at least one layer of absorbent material disposed within the housing chamber. The diaper also includes a flexible sleeve for surrounding a user's phallus. The flexible sleeve attached to the back wall of the housing around the aperture, and is in fluid communication with the housing chamber via the aperture. The diaper may have an adhesive material attached to a lower portion of the front wall, to allow it to be removably fastened to an undergarment.

Abstract: The invention relates to an absorbent product with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, two side edges (109, 110) extending essentially in the longitudinal direction, a front portion (114), a rear portion (115), a first surface and a second surface, and an absorption body (105) arranged between the first surface and the second surface. The absorption body (105) has a liquid storage area (106), and a secondary absorption area (107), the secondary absorption area (107) comprising portions which completely surround the liquid storage area (106) in the plane of the product, the liquid storage area (106) accounting for at least 75% of the total absorption capacity of the product, and a liquid-impermeable material layer (104) being arranged on the second surface of the product and essentially only within the liquid storage area. The invention also relates to a method of producing the absorbent product.

Abstract: The invention provides male external catheters having kink-resistant drainage stems as well as methods for making male external catheters having kink-resistant drainage stems. Specifically, the invention provides male external catheters having a drainage stem designed to reduce or prevent kinking that can occur during use when a drainage hose fitting and drainage hose are attached to the catheter. The invention also provides male external catheters having skin-friendly compounds and methods for making male external catheters having skin-friendly compounds. Specifically, the invention provides male external catheters designed to have skin-friendly compounds that contact the user's skin when the catheter is being used.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a narrow crotch portion and elasticized shield shields is disclosed. The absorbent article has a fit factor defined as the minimum crotch width divided by the effective height of the side shields. In one embodiment, the absorbent article includes and an absorbent structure having a central portion defined by a width about 65 millimeters or less, and a length about 50 millimeters or greater, and the absorbent article having a fit factor less than about 7.0.

Abstract: A thoracic vent kit has a reservoir and an introducing port and a catheter port. A removable cannula is small enough to fit in the catheter, but has an internal diameter that can accommodate a flexible guide wire. The cannula has a beveled tip and a luer threaded cap at the opposite end. A removable plug has a chamfer that can be used to seal the luer passage.

Abstract: Absorbent product (101) such as a sanitary towel, a panty liner or an incontinence pad, which product has two transverse end edges (117, 118), two longitudinal side edges (119, 120), a liquid-permeable surface layer (102), a liquidtight backing layer (103) and an absorbent core (104) arranged between these layers (102, 103), the product having side flaps (106) arranged at the longitudinal side edges (119, 120) on both sides of the absorbent core (104), which side flaps (106) are of such shape and size that, during use of the product, they can be folded around the leg edges in the crotch portion on a pair of briefs, the side flaps (106) exhibiting a gloss below 25% and a regular transmittance above 5%.

Abstract: A device for collecting urine includes a container kept at vacuum, an interface locatable at the urethral opening of a person and a pump operable to create a vacuum within the container. A sensor senses the presence of urine at the interface and opens a valve to allow the pumping of urine from the interface to the container.

Abstract: An absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence guard, a diaper, or a panty-liner, has a substantially elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and exhibits two side edges (9,10), a front edge (11) and a rear edge (12), a front portion (6) and a rear portion (7), and a central portion (8) situated between the front portion (6) and the rear portion (7). The article furthermore includes a liquid-pervious cover layer (2) and a liquid-impervious cover layer (3) and an absorbent body (4), a hump (26) extending in the longitudinal direction and having two longitudinally extending sides, and elastic members (19). The article is characterized in that the hump (26) includes a formation element (27) and the elastic members (19) are arranged along either longitudinally extending side of the hump, wherein the formation element (27) and the elastic members (19) cooperate in shaping the hump (26).

Abstract: A faecal management device has a bag and a flange. The faecal management device is placed on a wearer, in combination with an applicator. The applicator is configured to exert pressure from at least two spaced apart pressure points onto the flange of the device. The device is placed on a wearer by using placement lobes associated with the flange.

Abstract: Pressurisable container for storing and ejecting liquid, the container comprising a) a front wall having or surrounding a cavity corresponding to the form of an open vessel, b) an opening in the front wall adapted for ejection of the liquid from the container, said opening defining a container axis, c) optionally a sealing over the opening adapted for temporary use, and d) a rear wall closing and sealing the open part of the front wall vessel to confine a space for the liquid in the container, the rear wall running at least partially perpendicular to the container axis and being displaceable or deformable for movement towards the opening to pressurize the container liquid. The front wall is substantially rigid in relation to the rear wall, the rear wall before pressurizing the container is substantially flat or substantially single-curved and the rear wall is deformable under stretching to substantially fill out the container cavity.

Abstract: A drainable ostomy pouch having at least one arcuate spring member, and preferably two such spring members, adjacent the discharge opening at the lower end of the pouch is disclosed. Each wall of the pouch with such arcuate spring member is normally bowed outwardly from the other wall to hold the discharge opening in open condition for draining of the pouch's contents. To seal the discharge opening, the lower end of the pouch is folded upwardly to force the spring member(s) into flattened condition, and the pouch's lower end is then secured in such upwardly-folded condition.

Abstract: A flexible membrane is situated within a rigid or semi-rigid cap. The edge of the cap wall is adhesively fixed to the tissue surrounding the stoma. The interior of the cap is pressurized to press the membrane to seal the stoma against the discharge of solid and semi-solid waste. Gas escapes through a vent with a filter element. The cap can be pressurized by an external pump or an integral pump member situated on top of the cap. A relief valve prevents over pressurization. A collection pouch can be provided as part of a device. The device can be removably mounted on a standard two-piece faceplate.

Abstract: An emergency urinal kit is provided having a urine receptacle and a pair of specifically adapted male and female collector funnels, each said collector funnel for interchangeable connection with said urine receptacle for provide fluid communication thereto. The male collector funnel forms a cylindrical flexible membrane that has a rollable sidewall and is in fluid communication with a drain tube for connection with a collection conduit. The female collector funnel forms a rigid sidewall terminating at the upper end in an upper sealing ridge forming a contoured upper edge specifically adapted to seal against the user's body when pressed against the user's groin, and is in fluid communication with a drain tube for connection with a collection conduit.

Abstract: A thoracic drainage system for removing liquid from the thoracic cavity of a patient. The system includes a reusable thoracic vacuum regulator and a standard disposable collection container. A disposable water seal chamber is also provided that can be disposed of after each patient and is a separable, independent component. There is also a combination thoracic vacuum regulator having a water seal chamber removable affixed thereto to enable the water seal chamber to be readily removed from the thoracic vacuum chamber in order to carry the water seal chamber along with the patient as that patient is transported.