Abstract: This invention relates to a blood pressure transducer (8) and provides a safe and economical transducer by providing a novel optical fiber (80) made of a transparent elastomer. The present invention provides an invasive direct blood pressure transducer (8) of an external sensor system consisting of a catheter (1a), a pressure tub (6) connected to the catheter at one of the ends thereof and a pressure transducer (8) connected to the other end of the pressure tube (6), part of the pressure transducer is composed of an optical fiber (80) made of a transparent elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tube and cable restraint comprising: a strip of flexible material having a generally elongated rectangular loop-section adapted to form a loop about the tube with an attachment means near the first end of the loop-section adapted to secure (e.g., adhere) the strip to a surgical drape and a refastenable loop forming means adapted to secure (e.g., adhere) the second end of the loop-section to the first end thereby forming a loop around the tube or cable. In another embodiment, the restraint is adapted to secure a tubular drape around a projecting object such as a microscope eyepiece.

Abstract: The present invention provides a garment (e.g., a surgical gown) having adhered thereto a conformable, thin polymeric barrier film. The barrier film provides fluid resistance to the garment while still allowing the garment to "breathe." In addition, preferred barrier films are resistant to the transmission of pathogens. The barrier film of the present invention, prior to being applied to a fabric substrate, is preferably provided as an assembly in the form of an individual sheet, a roll of material, or a pad of stacked sheets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shaped permeable polymeric material including a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion, wherein the material is crosslinked. This material is prepared by a method including the steps preparing a crosslinkable composition having a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion; placing the crosslinkable composition in a mold; gelling the crosslinkable composition to form a shaped gelled polymeric composition comprising a hydrophobic portion, a hydrophilic portion, and a liquid portion; and exchanging the liquid portion with an exchange liquid to form the permeable polymeric material. Preferably this material is used in a blood gas sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article, comprising: a fabric sheet which has been compacted using a heat shrink yarn; and a curable or hardenable resin coated onto the fabric sheet. The present invention involves compacting a fabric sheet to impart stretchability and conformability to the fabric while minimizing undesirable recovery forces. Suitable fabrics for compacting are fabrics which comprise fiberglass fibers which are capable of first being compacted and then being heat set or annealed in the compacted state. The article may be in the form of an orthopedic bandage and may optionally contain a micro fiber filler associated with the resin.

Abstract: Multilayered barrier structures comprising a gas barrier layer of a non-chlorine containing organic polymer which is substantially impermeable to oxygen gas and a moisture barrier layer of a mesophase propylene-based material are provided. These structures are environmentally compatible and radiation resistant, and exhibit one or more additional properties, including gas barrier properties, moisture barrier properties, toughness, heat sealability, softness, and quietness during wrinkling. Also provided are methods of preparing and using such multilayered barrier structures, and articles, such as films, pouches, and tubings, formed from these structures, as well as multilayer barrier structures with additional graft layers affixed thereto through the application of a dose of ionizing radiation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a narrow orthopedic casting tape which can be handled in longer lengths suitable for economical production of coated fabric products. The narrow casting tape of the present invention is knitted as a wide fiberglass fabric with at least one removable connecting yarn in the length (i.e., warp) direction of the fabric which acts to connect two narrower strips of fiberglass fabric. The removable connecting yarn is subsequently removed from the fabric by a heat treatment process which separates the wider fabric into two narrower fabrics and also heat sets the fabric. Alternatively, the removable connecting yarn may be removed from the fabric by a dissolution process. Narrow fabrics of the present invention can also be constructed of organic yarns.The present invention also provides a tearable orthopedic casting tape which has a high degree of extensibility.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical tape comprising a highly conformable and deformable nonwoven web coated with an adhesive. The non-adhesive side of the web may be heat bonded to many different polymeric film materials and is particularly useful with ostomy pouch films. The present invention also provides ostomy bags comprising an elastic, breathable nonwoven based medical tape.

Abstract: Sterilization indicators utilizing moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesives are provided. The sterilization indicators comprise at least one backing strip, preferably water-dispersible, which is coated on at least one side with the moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesive. A sterilization indicator strip is affixed to the backing strip and is easily removable from the sterilization indicator. The indicator tapes are useful to maintain a sterilization wrapper containing articles to be sterilized in a closed position during sterilization, and normal pre- and post-sterilization handling, while also providing a means to indicate if the wrapped articles have passed through a sterilization cycle. After use, the sterilization indicator strip is easily removed, and the adhesives coating the sterilization indicators, and preferably also the backing strips, disperse an aqueous alkali solution, such as are found in commercial laundries.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid collection pouch which may be easily attached to a surgical drape or directly to a patient's skin. The fluid collection pouch comprises a front panel and a rear panel joined along common side edges (thus defining a fluid receiving chamber). The pouch has an open top end to which is adhesively attached a portion of a tape attachment strip. A second portion of the tape attachment strip overhangs the open top end of the pouch and is covered with a liner. In use, the liner is removed (thus exposing an additional portion of the adhesive surface of the tape attachment strip) and the exposed adhesive is placed against the surface to which the pouch is being attached. This design provides a leak free seal between the surface and the pouch, and fluid is able easily to flow over the sealed region into the pouch without being inhibited or directed away.

Abstract: The present invention provides a universal surgical drape kit, having: a plurality of drape panels each having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a plurality of tape attachment strips comprising a backing, an adhesive layer covering one side of the backing, and a liner. At least two of the tape attachment strips are adhesively attached to the top surface and along at least a portion of one edge of the drape panels and a second portion of the tape attachment strips overhangs the drape panels and is covered with a liner. The present invention also provides a surgical drape, comprising: a sheet of drape fabric having a rectangular fenestration cut therein; and four tape attachment strips comprising a backing, an adhesive layer covering one side of the backing, and a liner. The four tape attachment strips are adhesively attached to the top surface of the sheet along the edges of the fenestration and a second portion of the tape attachment strips overhangs the fenestration and is covered with a liner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fluorescence based sensor for measuring the concentration of a gas (e.g., CO.sub.2 or ammonia) in a medium such as blood which has improved drift stability. In a preferred embodiment, the sensors of the present invention comprise microcompartments of an aqueous phase having a pH sensitive sensing component within a hydrophobic barrier phase. The sensors of the present invention are substantially free of partitioning species other than the analyte of interest which can migrate from one phase to the other in response to a change in pH in the aqueous phase and which substantially affect the concentration dependent signal. In an alternative embodiment, the sensors of the present invention are constructed so as to retard the migration of partitioning species, thus reducing the initial rate of drift.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of using novel casting tapes incorporating water soluble liners. The liners of the present invention may be used for a number of purposes including: use as an interlayer film liner in a casting tape article to prevent undesirable resin pooling; use as an interlayer liner to lubricate a casting tape when immersed in water; use in a method of producing a decorative casting tape either by retarding layer-to-layer migration of a colored resin or by transferring a design preprinted on the liner to an adjacent casting tape; use as an interlayer liner in a casting tape article to prevent adhesion between adjacent layers of the article; and use as a release liner to facilitate removal of a roll of casting tape from its package. The liners employed in this invention are rapidly soluble in water and may be provided as a continuous or semi-continuous sheet structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making an orthopedic casting article comprising an apertured, extruded sheet. The method involves the steps of charging an extrudable material selected from the group consisting of low temperature thermoplastic polymers and viscous curable resins to an extruder; and extruding the material through a die to form an apertured sheet. The sheet is used as an orthopedic casting material and has a sufficient number of apertures after application to the patient to allow moisture vapors produced by the skin to freely escape through the cast or splint. The sheet preferably has at least 20 percent aperture volume. The apertured, extruded sheet may optionally contain a filler associated with the resin. The incorporation of fillers adds substantially to the strength of the cured casting material as well as to the handling properties of the uncured casting tape or bandage.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for the preparation of ionic sensors that include a matrix material, such as ion-permeable cellulose, having a sensing component included therein, such as a fluorescent dye, and an opaque overcoat material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of enclosing a body member, comprising the steps of: heating an apertured, extruded sheet comprising a low temperature thermoplastic polymer having a softening or melting temperature less than about 90.degree. C.; wrapping the article about the body member; and molding the wrapped article about the body member such that the article is used as an orthopedic casting material and has a sufficient number of apertures after application to the patient to allow moisture vapors produced by the skin to freely escape through the cast or splint.

Abstract: Multilayered tubing which exhibits one or more desirable characteristics of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubings, such as clarity, flexibility and toughness, but without the environmental and health hazards associated with PVC materials, is provided. Also provided is a method of preparing such tubing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article, comprising: a fabric sheet which has been compacted using a heat shrink yarn; and a curable or hardenable resin coated onto the fabric sheet. The present invention involves compacting a fabric sheet to impart stretchability and conformability to the fabric while minimizing undesirable recovery forces. Suitable fabrics for compacting are fabrics which comprise fiberglass fibers which are capable of first being compacted and then being set or annealed in the distorted, state. The article may be in the form of an orthopedic bandage and may optionally contain a microfiber filler associated with the resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water-curable resin composition for use in an orthopedic cast composed of a water-reactive alkoxysilane terminated resin, having at least one hydrolyzable group per molecule. The resin composition has a viscosity of no greater than about 500 Pa-s under ambient conditions and contains less than about 1 wt-% of a solvent, based on the total weight of the resin composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique knit construction having a nonfiberglass stiffness-controlling yarn in the fabric of the backing. Preferably, the nonfiberglass stiffness-controlling yarn is used in combination with a heat shrinkable yarn or a stretch yarn, and alternatively a nonfiberglass microdenier yarn. More preferably, the nonfiberglass stiffness-controlling yarn is in combination with a stretch yarn and a nonfiberglass microdenier yarn. Most preferably, the nonfiberglass stiffness-controlling yarn is in combination with a heat shrinkable, elastically extensible yarn, and a nonfiberglass microdenier yarn.