Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of printed orthopedic casting tapes. A knit, open mesh fibrous tape having elastic filaments extending in the length direction is stretched in a predetermined amount and a pattern is printed onto the stretched fibrous tape using a low temperature drying ink. The printed tape is thereafter passed through a drying zone maintained at a temperature of less than about 100.degree. C. while the tape is maintained in the stretched condition. The printed tape is thereafter allowed to relax and is subsequently coated with a hardenable liquid resin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to orthopedic casting tapes including an open mesh fibrous tape coated with a hardenable liquid resin, preferably a water activatable resin, that permits shaping and curing of the tape to provide a hardened cast. The fibrous tape is a knit tape is formed primarily or entirely of unbulked, continuous polymeric filaments and elastic filaments. A plurality of continuous filament courses extend generally transverse to the plurality of wales and are present in the fibrous tape in an amount of at least 15 courses per linear inch of tape, measured in a relaxed state. The wales are present in the fibrous tape in an amount sufficient to provide at least about 275 openings per square inch. The casting tape has an extensibility of at least about 5 percent. The orthopedic casting tapes of the invention cure rapidly despite their fine mesh/high mesh content structure and normally are set within 3-5 minutes following application.

Abstract: The invention provides improved orthopedic cast bandages and improved orthopedic casts which include one or more colors. The orthopedic cast bandages of the invention comprise an open mesh fabric tape and a hardenable liquid resin coated onto the fibrous tape. At least one coloring agent is visibly disposed on at least a portion of the fibrous tape. The coloring agent is stably retained by the fibrous tape in the presence of the hardenable liquid resin. Because the coloring agent is stably retained by the fibrous tape, the invention provides for colored orthopedic casting tapes which do not require the use of colored liquid resins. In addition, multiple colored, patterned orthopedic casts, not heretofore available, are provided by the invention.