Abstract: A hydrophilic, pressure sensitive adhesive of a poly(ethylene oxide) derived network plasticized with an essentially non-volatile, polar plasticizer present in an amount sufficient to form a cohesive, pressure sensitive adhesive. The polymeric network is prepared from an oligomeric precursor comprising difunctional poly(ethylene glycol) moieties which have been end-capped with ethylenically unsaturation. The adhesive is useful as a biomedical adhesive for transmitting or receiving electrical signals as a component of a biomedical electrode. The adhesive is also useful as a drug delivery device to deliver pharmaceuticals or other active ingredients to or through mammalian skin. The adhesive is also useful as a component in a skin covering for protecting mammalian skin or mammalian skin openings with antimicrobial agents. A method of preparation of the adhesive is also disclosed.

Abstract: An azlactone-functional thermoplastic composition is disclosed, The composition is a blend of an azlactone-functional composition and a thermoplastic polymer. A method of making azlactone-functional homopolymers by bulk homopolymerization is disclosed, optionally also concurrent or sequential blending of a thermoplastic polymer. A method of blending azlactone-functional compositions and thermoplastic polymers is disclosed. Molded articles coupled with biologically active substances are claimed.

Abstract: A composite membrane is provided having covalently azlactone functional particles incorporated in a membrane formed by solvent phase inversion. The azlactone functional particles have surfaces of covalently reactive functional groups capable of directly forming covalent chemical bonds with ligands without need for an intermediate activation step. An adduct composite membrane is also provided comprising the membrane and derivatized particles dispersed therein. The derivatized particles comprise a direct, covalent reaction product of ligand with the covalently azlactone functional particles. Methods of making and using the composite membranes and adduct composite membranes are also provided.

Abstract: Method of disposing aqueous-alkali disposable articles is disclosed. The articles are made from films or non-woven webs or composites of films and webs where the film or non-woven web comprises a hydrolytically degradable polymer and preferably also comprises a water soluble polymer. Multilayer microfibers of at least one layer of a hydrolytically degradable polymer and at least one layer of a water soluble polymer are particularly disclosed. The articles have water resistance during preparation, storage, and use with mammals but are dispersible when submersed in water at conditions of elevated temperature, elevated pH, and during a single commercial laundry cycle. The articles solve both the problem of solid waste disposal prevalent with single use garments and the problem of repeated cleansing and recycling of multiple use garments. Contamination associated with the articles of the invention after their use will be disinfected during the commercial laundry cycle that is utilized to disperse the article.

Abstract: Supports having azlactone-functional surfaces, adduct supports prepared from such azlactone-functional supports, and methods of preparing both are disclosed. Azlactone functionality is introduced to surfaces of a pre-existing support in a manner which retains useful physical and chemical characteristics of the pre-existing support. One method involves exposing surfaces with high energy radiation to generate free radical reaction sites on the surfaces and causing azlactone-functional moieties to react with the free radical reaction sites. Another method involves coating surfaces with azlactone monomers, crosslinking monomers, and optionally co-monomers and polymerizing the monomers to form a polymerized coating of azlactone-functionality on the surfaces. Another method involves dispersion polymerization of azlactone-functional moieties to produce azlactone-functional particles within pores and interstices of a pre-existing support.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Articles in the form of membranes useful as filters, residue barriers for electroplating devices, separators for electrochemical cells, and drug delivery device components are also described.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition prepared by irradiating solid poly(N-vinyl lactam) with ionizing radiation to crosslink the poly(N-vinyl lactam) and thereafter mixing the radiation-crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) with essentially unirradiated plasticizer in an amount sufficient to form a cohesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. The composition is useful as a biomedical adhesive for transmitting or receiving electrical signals as a component of a biomedical electrode. The composition is also useful as a drug delivery device to deliver pharmaceuticals or other active ingredients to or through mammalian skin. The composition is also useful as a component in a skin covering for protecting mammalian skin or mammalian skin openings with antimicrobial agents. A method of preparation of the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and electrical circuitry are provided for electrical devices in order to provide electrical isolation of exposed electrical contacts on at least one of multiple modules of the electrical device. The apparatus includes at least one actuating component in one module and at least one sensor component within a second module in electrical communication with electrical circuitry, whereby electrical isolation of the exposed electrical contacts ceases when the sensor apparatus senses a desired location of the module. Placement of the apparatus and electrical circuitry to reside within the modules promotes electrical safety while minimizing tampering with safety aspects of the device. The apparatus and circuitry are useful for medical devices such as handheld diagnostic devices and consumer devices such as telephones.

Abstract: Apparatus and electrical circuitry are provided for electrical devices in order to provide electrical isolation of exposed electrical contacts on at least one of multiple modules of the electrical device. The apparatus includes at least one actuating component in one module and at least one sensor component within a second module in electrical communication with electrical circuitry, whereby electrical isolation of the exposed electrical contacts ceases when the sensor apparatus senses a desired location of the module. Placement of the apparatus and electrical circuitry to reside within the modules promotes electrical safety while minimizing tampering with safety aspects of the device. The apparatus and circuitry are useful for medical devices such as handheld diagnostic devices and consumer devices such as telephones.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition prepared by irradiating solid poly(N-vinyl lactam) with ionizing radiation to crosslink the poly(N-vinyl lactam) and thereafter mixing the radiation-crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) with essentially unirradiated plasticizer in an amount sufficient to form a cohesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. The composition is useful as a biomedical adhesive for transmitting or receiving electrical signals as a component of a biomedical electrode. The composition is also useful as a drug delivery device to deliver pharmaceuticals or other active ingredients to or through mammalian skin. The composition is also useful as a component in a skin covering for protecting mammalian skin Or mammalian skin openings with antimicrobial agents. A method of preparation of the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: An azlactone-functional thermoplastic composition is disclosed. The composition is a blend of an azlactone-functional composition and a thermoplastic polymer. A method of making azlactone-functional homopolymers by bulk homopolymerization is disclosed, optionally also concurrent or sequential blending of a thermoplastic polymer. A method of blending azlactone-functional compositions and thermoplastic polymers is disclosed. Molded articles and adduct molded articles formed from the thermoplastic composition are disclosed.

Abstract: A biomosaic polymer is provided. Biologically active materials are bound at surfaces of such polymers polymerized from emulsions containing hydrophobic polymerizable monomers, such biologically active materials, and surface active agents. The biomosaic polymers may be formed into membranes, films, beads, or other structures for a variety of assays, bioseparations, or catalyzed reactions and other uses. A single step polymerization of the emulsion provides significant retention of the biologically active material bound and congregated at surfaces of the polymer.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition prepared by irradiating solid poly(N-vinyl lactam) with ionizing radiation to crosslink the poly(N-vinyl lactam) and thereafter mixing the radiation-crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) with essentially unirradiated plasticizer in an amount sufficient to form a cohesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. The composition is useful as a biomedical adhesive for transmitting or receiving electrical signals as a component of a biomedical electrode. The composition is also useful as a drug delivery device to deliver pharmaceuticals or other active ingredients to or through mammalian skin. The composition is also useful as a component in a skin covering for protecting mammalian skin or mammalian skin openings with antimicrobial agents. A method of preparation of the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: Solid state conductive polymer compositions which are ionically-conductive regardless of the amount of water present in the composition are disclosed. The compositions have solvating polymer, ionic salt, and optionally if the composition is not cohesive and pliable, essentially non-volatile plasticizer in an amount sufficient to render the composition cohesive and pliable. Biomedical electrodes having means for electrical communication contacting the compositions are also disclosed. Methods of making the compositions and electrodes are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a flexible, heat resistant mold member. The mold member is useful in molding processes such as dip or slush molding. The mold member maintains its structural integrity and may therefore be used as an insert in the article being molded to provide flexible stability at specific locations within the article. The mold member is made of a material which is substantially non-reactive with the molded article. The molded article may be any article made from a plastisol such as a binaural for a stethoscope having single or double lumens.

Abstract: A composite of a gel of swollen hydrocolloid dispersed in a pressure sensitive adhesive matrix is provided. The gel has a natural or synthetically derived hydrocolloid swollen with a non-volatile swelling agent, such that the gel may have a shear modulus of less than 6.2.times.10.sub.6 dynes/cm.sup.2 The gel-adhesive composite has continued skin adhesion whether applied to or existing in dry or moist skin conditions. The gel contributes a high moisture vapor transmission rate to attempt to maintain dry skin conditions while the adhesive maintains skin adhesion. The gel-adhesive composite may be used in a variety of tape, dressing, bandage, drape, or other skin contacting usage and may optionally include antimicrobial agents to treat the skin while adhesion continues.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a low impedance, water-absorbing, ionically-conductive, hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising an ionically-conductive, hydrophilic, pressure sensitive adhesive hydrogel and crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) in an amount sufficient to retain low electrical impedance and maintain hydrogel adhesion and cohesion during use of the composition in the presence of water and other moisture tending to plasticize the hydrogel. Crosslinked homopolymers and copolymers of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) having Swelling Capacity of at least 15 milliliters of water per gram of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) are preferred. Adhesion values upon removal from mammalian skin after about four hours of adhesion are not greater than initial adhesion removal values, demonstrating ease of removal of electrodes of the present invention from skin.

Abstract: Supports having azlactone-functional surfaces, adduct supports prepared from such azlactone-functional supports, and methods of preparing both are disclosed. Azlactone functionality is introduced to surfaces of a pre-existing support in a manner which retains useful physical and chemical characteristics of the pre-existing support. One method involves exposing surfaces with high energy radiation to generate free radical reaction sites on the surfaces and causing azlactone-functional moieties to react with the free radical reaction sites. Another method involves coating surfaces with azlactone monomers, crosslinking monomers, and optionally co-monomers and polymerizing the monomers to form a polymerized coating of azlactone-functionality on the surfaces. Another method involves dispersion polymerization of azlactone-functional moieties to produce azlactone-functional particles within pores and interstices of a pre-existing support.

Abstract: A two-phase composite of ionically-conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive, biomedical electrodes using the composite and methods of preparing the composite and the electrode are disclosed. The continuous phase is a hydrophilic, solid state pressure-sensitive adhesive composition ionically-conductive regardless of an amount of water present in the composition. The discontinuous phase are domains of a hydrophobic pressure-sensitive adhesive which enhances adhesion of the composite to mammalian skin while maintaining acceptable alternating current impedance of the composite.

Abstract: Apparatus and electrical circuitry are provided for electrical devices in order to provide electrical isolation of exposed electrical contacts on at least one of multiple modules of the electrical device. The apparatus includes at least one actuating component in one module and at least one sensor component within a second module in electrical communication with electrical circuitry, whereby electrical isolation of the exposed electrical contacts ceases when the sensor apparatus senses a desired location of the module. Placement of the apparatus and electrical circuitry to reside within the modules promotes electrical safety while minimizing tampering with safety aspects of the device. The apparatus and circuitry are useful for medical devices such as handheld diagnostic devices and consumer devices such as telephones.