Abstract: A method for molding an article by dip or slush molding. The method includes the step of providing a flexible, heat resistant mold member. The mold member maintains its structural integrity during further heating and curing steps. Thus the mold member may therefore be used as an insert in the article 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 article may be any article made from a plastisol; in particular it can be a binaural for a stethoscope having a single or double lumens.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a hearing aid by the in situ molding of a room temperature curing material about hearing aid components. The in situ molding of the custom hearing aid provides an acoustical and comfort fit and minimizes processing involving multiple impression and casting procedures.

Abstract: Azlactone-functional substrates, (especially hydrogels), mammalian body implants, and methods of making and using them are disclosed. The azlactone-functional substrates are the reaction product of substrates having azlactone-reactive nucleophilic surfaces and a multi-functional azlactone composition having at least two azlactone moieties, where at least one moiety covalently couples to the azlactone-reactive nucleophilic surface and at least one moiety remains available for further nucleophilic reaction, such as with a biologically active material. A preferred use of azlactone-functional hydrogel is as the optical element of a corneal prosthesis which enhances epithethial cell growth.

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: Europium activated magnesium oxide phosphors are described as useful photoluminescent materials, to be used in methods for detecting the presence or determining the concentration of carbon dioxide in a sample, comprising the steps of a) exposing to a predetermined wavelength range radiation a carbon dioxide-quenchable photoluminescent phosphor put in contact with the sample to cause the phosphor to store energy radiation, b) stimulating the photoluminescent phosphor with infrared radiation to release the stored energy as photoluminescent light, c) detecting and measuring the intensity of said photoluminescent light and d) correlating the measured intensity with an intensity of the photoluminescent light previously measured at a given reference carbon dioxide pressure value.

Abstract: A method of using a pressure sensitive adhesive to form a moisture resistant, water-dispersible tape is provided. The adhesive and tape are resistant to autoclavation conditions and/or moisture and body fluids during usage, and are water-dispersible when immersed in aqueous solutions. The tape may be used with cloth body coverings, such as garments such as hospital gowns, drapes, dressings, diapers and other body coverings which require cloth to cloth or cloth to skin adhesion in the presence of moisture and bodily fluids yet be dispersible from such body coverings during laundering or other aqueous alkali immersion.

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.sup.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: Polymer blends of non-crystalline mesomorphous polypropylene and a polymer compatible with such polypropylene and the method of making such polymer blends are provided. Such compatible polymer blends exhibit substantial maintenance of structural integrity after exposure to gamma irradiation and provide heat sealing properties, puncture resistance, and tear strength. Films, fibers, and other articles made from such blends may be used in various applications, including medical articles such as medical packaging films, ostomy pouches, and transdermal delivery patches, which may require sterilized storage prior to usage.

Abstract: A biomedical electrode which generally comprises a conductor member partially overlapping a separator construction. The conductor member is preferably a thin flat, flexible member having a pad portion and a tab portion. The tab portion overlaps the separator construction in a manner which centrally positions mechanical and electrical contact of electrode with an electrical lead to electrical instrumentation. Beneath pad portion and all or a substantial portion of separator construction is a conductive adhesive to provide good electrical interface between skin of a subject and the electrical instrumentation. Methods of manufacturing biomedical electrodes from strips of components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Hydrophilic, cohesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions are provided comprising a) a crosslinked, swellable polymeric matrix made from an N-vinyl lactam monomer and a multi-ethylenically unsaturated compound, wherein the ethylenic groups are vinyl groups, allyl groups, and/or methallyl groups, which groups are bonded to nitrogen or oxygen atoms, and b) a plasticizer for the copolymer wherein the amount of the multi-ethylenically unsaturated compound and the plasticizer are present in amounts sufficient to render the polymeric matrix cohesive, swellable and pressure-sensitive adhesive. These compositions can also be used as adhesives for biomedical electrodes and transdermal drug delivery systems.

Abstract: A biomedical electrode which generally comprises an insulator construction and a conductor member. The conductor member is preferably a thin flat, flexible member having a pad portion and a tab portion. The insulator construction is arranged such that the conductor member pad portion is positioned on one side of the insulator construction and the tab portion is generally positioned on and accessible to an opposite side. Preferred arrangements having a field of conductive adhesive associated with the pad portion of the conductor member, completely surrounded by a border of insulator construction and skin adhesive, are described. A method of assembling a strip of biomedical electrodes is also disclosed.

Abstract: Polymer blends of non-crystalline mesomorphous polypropylene and a polymer compatible with such polypropylene and the method of making such polymer blends are provided. Such compatible polymer blends exhibit substantial maintenance of structural integrity after exposure to gamma irradiation and provide heat sealing properties, puncture resistance, and tear strength. Films, fibers, and other articles made from such blends may be used in various applications, including medical articles such as medical packaging films, ostomy pouches, and transdermal delivery patches, which may require sterilized storage prior to usage.

Abstract: A biologically active adduct support, prepared from an azlactone-functional polymeric support and biomolecules covalently immobilized thereon, is disclosed. The biomolecules are covalently immobilized in the presence of polyanionic salt using a method which achieves both high density and optimized bound specific biological activity. Preferably, the immobilization occurs in the presence of an azlactone quencher.

Abstract: A gelatin capsule sealant of a water soluble, amide-containing polymer adhesive in a volatile, essentially non-aqueous solvent is used to seal gelatin capsule sections together at less than the entire circumference of overlap between the capsule sections. The sealant may also adhere a pharmaceutical caplet within the capsule to the internal wall of the capsule. The method of applying the sealant to the capsule sections and possibly also the pharmaceutical caplet uses a drop of the sealant spread at the junction of an eccentric arcuate portion of the sections and the pharmaceutical caplet. The solvent evaporates from the sealant through the portion of the capsule section overlap not sealed. The sealant may use "generally regarded as safe" (GRAS) solvents and may also include a GRAS dye for visual indication tha that the capsule is eccentrically sealed to resist manually forced separation of the capsule sections.

Abstract: Polymer blends of non-crystalline mesomorphous polypropylene and a polymer compatible with such polypropylene and the method of making such polymer blends are provided. Such compatible polymer blends exhibit substantial maintenance of structural integrity after exposure to gamma irradiation and provide heat sealing properties, puncture resistance, and tear strength. Films, fibers, and other articles made from such blends may be used in various applications, including medical articles such as medical packaging films, ostomy pouches, and transdermal delivery patches, which may require sterilized storage prior to usage.

Abstract: A biomedical electrode is disclosed which generally comprises an insulator construction and a conductor member. The conductor member is preferably a thin flat, flexible member having a pad portion and a tab portion. The insulator construction is arranged such that the conductor member pad portion is positioned on one side of the insulator construction and the tab portion is generally positioned on an opposite side. Three general embodiments are disclosed which achieve this: a first comprising two overlapping sections of insulator material, with the tab portion of the conductor member extending outwardly from therebetween; a second in which two sections of insulator construction material are oriented in a substantially coplanar relationship to define a seam therebetween, through which a portion of the conductor member extends; and, a third in which the insulator construction includes a single sheet of material having a slot therein, through which a portion of the conductor member extends.

Abstract: A biomedical electrode which generally comprises a conductor member partially overlapping a separator construction. The conductor member is preferably a thin flat, flexible member having a pad portion and a tab portion. The tab portion overlaps the separator construction in a manner which centrally positions mechanical and electrical contact of electrode with an electrical lead to electrical instrumentation. Beneath pad portion and all or a substantial portion of separator construction is a conductive adhesive to provide good electrical interface between skin of a subject and the electrical instrumentation. Methods of manufacturing biomedical electrodes from strips of components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Repulpable splicing tape, especially adapted for splicing carbonless paper. The preferred adhesive is a blend of acrylate:acrylic acid copolymer, NaOH and/or LiOH KOH, and certain ethoxylated plasticizing components. A small amount of polyamide-epichlorohydrin crosslinker may also be included.