Abstract: Disclosed herein is a surgical drape with a fluid collection system for channeling and collecting fluids emanating from the surgical site during an operation. The surgical drape includes a main sheet with a fenestration located therein. A fluid collection bag is attached to the main sheet with its open end positioned adjacent the fenestration. The fluid collection bag has a front panel and a rear panel joined along common side edges to define a fluid receiving chamber. The front and rear panels further form a trough on either side of the bag extending upwardly from the open end along the common side edges. The fluid collection bag, with its integrally formed troughs, is attached to the main sheet such that the troughs and the open end of the fluid collection bag surround at least a portion of the fenestration with the troughs opening inwardly toward the fenestration so as to contain and channel fluids into the open end of the fluid collection bag.

Abstract: A fenestrated surgical drape is disclosed which has a fluid collection pouch pivotally attached about the fenestration so that the pouch may selectively attached to either side of the fenestration. As a result, the same surgical drape may be used for either right- or left-handed procedures.

Abstract: A melt transfer web has a conformable layer which enables the melt transfer web to be used to transfer print uneven surfaces. In one embodiment the melt transfer web has a separate conformable layer and separate release layer. The conformable layer consists of copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate or copolymers of ethylene and acrylic acid which copolymers have a melt index greater than 30. The release layer consists of polyethylene films or ethylene copolymer films. In another embodiment a single layer of copolymers of ethylene and acrylic acid having a melt index between 100 and 4000 serves as a conformable-release layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cloth-like tape substrate. The substrate is made from an essentially unbonded cellulose web having a breaking length between about 0.71 km and 2.66 km which is saturated with a soft rubber-like polymer, coated with a low stiffness polymer, and then embossed. The unbonded web is formed from at least 25% by weight of pulp having R.sub.10 values greater than 94%. The soft rubber-like polymer has a glass-transition temperature between -50.degree. C. and 0.degree. C. and the low stiffness polymer coating has a tensile modulus less than 1,000 MPa.

Abstract: A breathable barrier which includes:A. a first layer which is a porous sheet having a first side and a second side; andB. a second layer joined to the first side of the first layer, which second layer is a continuous film of a polymeric latex material, in which:the film is not microporous in that it is substantially free of voids which connect the two surfaces of the film; andthe film has an average thickness of from about 10 to about 250 microns;wherein the first layer side of the second layer is intimately comingled with at least some of the fibers at the surface of the first side of the first layer, none of the pores at the surface of the first side of the first layer are so large as to significantly adversely affect the barrier properties of the breathable barrier as a consequence of the comingling, and the breathable barrier has a water vapor transmission rate at 37.degree. C. and about 50 percent relative humidity of from about 100 to about 2,200 g/m.sup.2 /24 hours and is impermeable to 0.

Abstract: There is disclosed a synthetic sheet composite that is tear resistant and has paper-like aesthetic qualities. The composite comprises two spun filament polymer webs of unbonded continuous filaments with a binder web sandwiched between. The binder has a melting point below that of the spun filament webs. When the composite is subjected to heat and pressure the binder melts, and fills the interstital space between the filaments, and binds the filaments together. The filaments are encapsulated within the composite but retain their discrete identity. The filaments at the surface are exposed, flattened, discrete, and adhered to the binder.

Abstract: A composite cover material for absorbent articles and the like and a method for making the same are disclosed herein. The cover material is made of a thermoplastic film in contact with an external layer of nonwoven material. Selective point application of heat and pressure to the external surface of the nonwoven material causes the formation of a plurality of densified and partially fused areas in the nonwoven which are in vertical alignment with a corresponding plurality of concurrently formed perforations in the film. The densified and fused areas in the nonwoven act to mask the perforations in the film and in addition, restrict fluid flow when the cover material is under compression by partially blocking the performations in the film.

Abstract: A multilayer nonwoven fabric is disclosed which comprises at least two layers of nonwoven web. Each nonwoven web comprises a plurality of monofilaments of a thermoplastic material. In at least one of the webs the monofilaments have a bilobal cross-section. Preferably, the fabric includes two layers of nonwoven web with the monofilaments of the first web having the bilobal cross-section and the monofilaments of the second web having a trilobal or branched cross-section.

Abstract: Nonwoven webs are disclosed which comprise monofilaments or fibers of a thermoplastic material. Basically, the improvement comprises the use of monofilaments or fibers which have a bilobal shaped cross-section. Nonwoven webs made according to this invention are particularly suited to be used for liners for disposable diapers as well as wraps for catamenial devices. Methods are also disclosed for producing such nonwoven webs.

Abstract: An absorbent article (20) for proximate contact with a mammalian body adapted to receive a fluid containing discharge therefrom, includes an absorbent member (22) bearing a body-side cover (26) comprising a foraminous net (30) having a generally reticular network (32, 34) of polymeric filaments (36, 38). The net is comprised of two arrays of filaments oriented at a displacement angle ("a") in the range of 20.degree.-90.degree.. The cover is characterized by a basis weight of about 0.5-5.0 osy, a caliper of about 5-25 mils, an open area of about 30%-60% and a mesh of about 20-40. Individual filaments may have a size in the range of about 3-12 mils and may be superimposed or interlaid into the network.

Abstract: A method and configuration for packing flexible, flat packages in a carton for easy removal includes stacking the packages in a stack which has a height that is less than its length or width, placing the stack in a plastic bag within the carton on edge so that the stack fits loosely between the sides of the carton, and rotating the plastic bag and stack so that the packages lay flat in the carton and the neck of the plastic bag wraps around the stack.

Abstract: A container for sterilizing, and storing and presenting surgical instruments and materials in a sterilized condition has a container base member with a cover and bottom and side apertures for passage of a sterilizing agent; a sealing gasket between the container cover and the base member provides a seal and a tortuous path constituting a probability filter is provided exteriorly of the seal; a removable tray for instruments to be sterilized is carried within the container; a removable filter element commensurate in shape to the container base member is located intermediate the removable tray and the bottom of the container base member; the filter element may be of a soft formed element or may have a frame and is located with a portion extending outwardly between the base member and cover past the sealing gasket; the filter element provides a filter path permitting passage of sterilizing agent received through the bottom and side apertures into the container while the filter element inside the container and th

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric is disclosed which comprises at least two layers of nonwoven web adjacent to and bonded to each other. Each web comprises a plurality of monofilaments of a thermoplastic material. In one of the webs, the thermoplastic material is polypropylene. In another of the layers, the thermoplastic material is polyethylene. Advantages of this combination of nonwoven webs comprising these polymers in layers in a multilayer nonwoven fabric are disclosed which include increased softness and tensile strength.