Abstract: A system for disposing of body fluids collected during surgery comprises a canister and an apparatus for emptying and cleaning the canister. The canister has a lid having an inlet port to receive body fluids during surgery and for insertion of a cleaning fluid sprayer during servicing, an outlet port with a suction tube extending into the canister for removal of fluids therefrom, and a vacuum port for the application of vacuum to the canister. The servicing unit is an appliance having a receiving compartment in which the canister is placed. A connector head in the servicing unit connects the canister to a source of cleaning fluid and to a conduit for evacuating the fluids in the canister through the suction tube and to a decontamination chamber, where they are brought into contact with a disinfecting fluid, and subsequently to a drain.

Abstract: The vacuum desiccator low pressure vacuum pump and trap and is transportable upon a user's person. The device is especially useful to remove excess fluids from wounds and incisions as they heal. The device includes a desiccator cartridge containing a fluid trapping agent. The desiccator cartridge is connected to a vacuum pump member providing a low vacuum pressure to the interior chamber of the desiccator cartridge. A small battery powered, electric motor drives the pump member. An electrical control circuit, including the battery power source, controls the operation of the electric motor. A single passage, one-way, gas/liquid flow pathway connects the inlet port of the desiccator cartridge to an occlusive dressing covering the wound to be drained. The control circuit includes one or more ancillary circuits for controlling operation of the device, such as: a power circuit, a moisture sensor, a timer circuit, a vacuum pressure sensor, and a pressure differential sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for treating disease in a urinary bladder. The devices include a bladder liner for insertion into the urinary bladder and catheters positioned within the urinary bladder to carry urine from the ureters to an outside collection container. The bladder liner and catheters are constructed of biocompatible materials and are configured to create a seal with the urethra and ureters. The bladder liner may be adapted to deliver medicinal agents to the urinary bladder. Methods of treating disease in the urinary bladder include isolating urine from the bladder wall to allow sufficient time for the bladder wall to heal e.g., by implanting the aforementioned devices. Healing or pain relief may be enhanced by instilling pharmaceutical agents between the liner and bladder wall without dilutional effects.

Abstract: An incontinence diaper and receptacle apparatus for effective and efficient collection of bodily waste after administration of an enema. The incontinence diaper and receptacle apparatus includes a diaper member which includes a sheet of material and at least one inner absorbent liner being attached to the sheet of material; and also includes an assembly for fastening the diaper member about a person's midsection; and further includes a hose being in fluid communication with the diaper member; also includes a container being connected to the hose for receiving a person's bodily waste; and further includes a diaper lift member being attached to the diaper member for lifting the diaper member to facilitate flow of the person's waste through the hose.

Abstract: A belt extends about the waist of a patient and is secured at a selected tightness thereon, the securing device being adjustable as to tightness. An outside surface of the belt provides plural spaced apart elongate fasteners aligned with a longitudinal axis of the belt, each of the fasteners comprising a first surface attachment element integral with the outside surface of the belt, and a second surface attachment element permanently fastened at one end of the first surface attachment element and extending longitudinally in removable, mutually engaged contact with the first surface attachment element. A fluid storing bulb has an inlet nipple adapted for receiving a fluid conduit for conducting a bodily fluid into the bulb, and has an outlet nipple adapted for expulsing the fluid collected. A stopper, temporarily seals the outlet nipple when it is not in use.

Abstract: An absorbent article (10) includes a backsheet layer (30), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28), and an absorbent body (32) sandwiched between the backsheet and topsheet layers. The absorbent body (32) includes a first fibrous stratum (52) having a first quantity of absorbent fibers, a second fibrous stratum (54) having a second quantity of absorbent fibers, and at least a third fibrous stratum (56) which is located between and integrally formed with the first and second fibrous strata (52, 54). In particular aspects, the third fibrous stratum (56) includes an operative quantity of a substantially hydrophilic, wet-strength agent. In other aspects, the wet-strength agent is distributed in the third quantity of absorbent fibers to render the third fibrous stratum (56) substantially non-dispersible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable human waste management devices such as fecal and urine management devices (10) which are provided with adhesives for attachment of the device to the skin. In particular the present invention relates to adhesives (20) which provide secure attachment and are pleasing to the skin upon application, yet cause no discomfort upon removal. In particular the present invention relates to adhesives which provide secure attachment to oily and greasy skins. Preferably the adhesive also provides secure attachment under moist and wet skin conditions and which maintains adhesive peel strength even under exposure to excess water.

Abstract: A device for preventing post occlusion flow surges during eye surgery includes an enclosure defining an inlet and an outlet. The enclosure further defines a flow passage between the inlet and the outlet. A restriction is positioned in the flow passage. Structure preferring a filtering function is placed upstream of the restriction for permitting fluid passage through the device. The enclosure further defines a storage area for collecting material restrained by the filter structure. In the preferred embodiment, the device is constructing from a suitable plastic or other molded material, and is intended for disposable use.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent core layer and a breathable outer cover is provided with a hydrophobic foam dampness-inhibiting layer between the absorbent core and the outer cover. The hydrophobic foam dampness-inhibiting layer maintains an air space within the foam. The air space acts as a thermal insulator, dampness-perception inhibitor and moisture passageway. The resulting product is an absorbent garment having a breathable outer cover material with reduced perception of dampness on the outer surface of the outer cover.

Abstract: A urinary bag supporting device including a plate portion. A plurality of buttons extend outwardly from the plate portion. The plurality of buttons are disposed in a spaced relationship. The buttons allow strap loops of a urinary drainage bag to be coupled therewith. A pliable clip is secured to the plate portion. The pliable clip is attachable to a belt of a wearer's pants to allow the plate portion to depend from an interior of the pants.

Abstract: A personal care article for preventing exudates from contacting the body of a user comprises a substrate including an extensible bodyside liner layer, and an aperture support structure limiting extensibility of the bodyside liner layer along the length of the aperture support structure. One support band of an aperture support structure runs through the gluteal fold between the buttocks of a user. The aperture support structure positions an aperture in the bodyside liner layer in the gluteal fold of a user, in alignment with the anus, so that fecal material enters a containment receptacle upon leaving the anus. In another embodiment, the personal care article can include a comfort stretch layer comprising an elastomeric, hot melt, pressure-sensitive adhesive located between a bodyside liner layer and an outer layer.

Abstract: Multicomponent superabsorbent gel particles are disclosed. The multicomponent particles comprise at least one acidic water-absorbing resin and at least one basic water-absorbing resin. Each particle contains microdomains of the acidic resin and/or the basic resin homogeneously dispersed throughout the particle.

Abstract: Multicomponent superabsorbent gel particles are disclosed. The multicomponent particles comprise at least one acidic water-absorbing resin and at least one basic water-absorbing resin. Each particle contains at least one microdomain of the acidic resin in contact with, or in close proximity to, at least one microdomain of the basic resin. Blends of multicomponent superabsorbent gel particles with particles of a second water-absorbing resin also are disclosed. Improved diaper cores containing particles of the multicomponent super-absorbent gel particles also are disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a main body of a support sheet, a liquid absorbing layer and a liquid-permeable sheet; and leakage preventing side walls provided on two sides of the main body and extending in the longitudinal direction, to have root ends jointed to the surface of the liquid receiving side and to have free ends positioned apart from the surface of the liquid receiving side. Each leakage preventing side wall is formed of at least one side wall sheet to have an inner sheet portion facing the widthwise inner side of the absorbent article and an outer sheet portion facing the widthwise outer side of the absorbent article. The inner sheet portion are provided with holes leading to the inside of the inner and outer sheet portions.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin having a far-infrared functional component disposed between a lower bottom layer and a middle water-absorbent layer of the sanitary napkin is provided. The far-infrared functional component emits far-infrared rays that have direct far-infrared effects on a user's skin contacting with an upper surface layer of the sanitary napkin as well as on the user's lower belly close to the sanitary napkin. The sanitary napkin has therefore an additional value of being physiologically beneficial to users.

Abstract: A disposable garment comprising a chassis having a front region, a back region, and a crotch region between the front and back regions, the chassis comprising a liquid impervious backsheet and at least one pair of side panels extending laterally outwardly from the chassis. The backsheet comprises a liquid impervious film extending longitudinally in the front, back, and crotch regions, and having a nonuniform lateral width so as to form a first portion in the crotch region and a second portion in the front or back region. The second portion has a lateral width dimension less than the lateral width dimension of the first portion such that the film does not extend into the side panels. At least one of the side panels comprises an elastomeric material extending laterally outwardly from the chassis, wherein the elastomeric material is joined to the second portion of the liquid impervious film.

Abstract: An absorbent article (10) has a longitudinal direction (26), a lateral, transverse direction (24), an article front portion (14), an article back portion (12), and an intermediate portion (16) interconnecting the front and back portions. The article includes an elastomerically stretchable backsheet member (30), a liquid-permeable topsheet layer (28), and an elastomerically stretchable retention portion (48) sandwiched between the backsheet member (30) and the topsheet layer (28). The topsheet layer can be elastomerically stretchable, and the absorbent article (10) can also provide a selected combination of physical properties, such as a composite-article elongation-at-peak-load value which is at least about 50 percent.

Abstract: A portable aspiration device using suction to clear a breathing obstacle or the like in conjunction with a commercially available flow-control member providing opposing operating mode objectives of progressively diminishing porosity in response to fluid contact and progressively increasing the volume of aspirated fluid in a reservoir so that ideally suction is cut off when the reservoir is full to avoid overflow, but in which assumed positions during use inadvertently cause splashing contact of fluid against the flow-control member and premature suction cut off by an unfilled reservoir to interrupt treatment. As a solution, a baffle in size and shape is disposed about the flow-control member and adjacent facing surfaces bound therebetween a compartment of such nominal width that splashing does not occur therein.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a chassis having a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion, a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core, and a pair of ear portions integral to the backsheet. Each ear portion has proximal, distal, first connecting and second connecting edges. The first and second connecting edges connect the distal to the proximal edges. The proximal edge is integral to the topsheet. Each ear portion has an elastic layer having first and second edges where the first edge and second edge are secured to the backsheet. The elastic layer has a central portion not secured to the backsheet. The ear portion has a tearable portion extending from the first to the second connecting edges and extends along the central portion of the elastic layer. A fastener joined to each of the elastic layers secures the disposable absorbent article.

Abstract: A diaper is provided which includes a chassis having front, rear, and crotch portions. The chassis includes a topsheet, backsheet, core and pair of ears. Each ear includes a topsheet, backsheet and proximal, distal, first connecting, and second connecting edges. The first connecting and second connecting edges connect the distal to proximal edges. The proximal edge is integral to the chassis. Each ear has an elastic layer sandwiched between its topsheet and backsheet. Each elastic layer has first and second edges which are secured to the ear topsheet and backsheet. The elastic layer has a central portion not secured to either the ear topsheet or backsheet. Each ear topsheet and backsheet has perforations. The tearable portion is adjacent to the central portion. Each ear may be pulled away from the chassis causing the ear topsheet and backsheet to tear at the perforations thereby exposing the elastic layer.