Abstract: A disposable paper with a slightly abrasive surface impregnated with an iodophor and detergent is an excellent germicidal pre-wash in the surgical scrub routine or in any situation where it is important to impede the growth of microorganisms. By using substantially dry impregnated papers the product may be packaged and stored for at least 18 months without undue deterioration. In the presence of undue moisture, the paper degrades too fast for adequate storage.

Abstract: Polyglycolic acid surgical elements, particularly sutures, are colored green to contrast with tissue, blood, and surroundings by extruding while melted the polyglycolic acid and concurrently in an optically homogeneous dispersion, from about 0.03% to 0.5% by weight of 1,4-bis(p-toluidino)-anthraquinone (D&C Green No. 6).

Abstract: A combination aerosol container carrier and deceleration chamber carries an aerosol container interiorly of the deceleration chamber and by pulling out and, pivoting the aerosol container in its case, is changed to a dispensing configuration in such a manner that essential parts are not apt to be dropped and incorrect assembly is avoided even when the user is under stress or adverse environmental conditions. The dispenser provides for unitary doses of inhalable medicament, with uniform doses and very convenient administration.

Abstract: Polyhydroxyacetic ester, also called polyglycolic acid (PGA), has surgically useful mechanical properties. On implantation, in living mammalian tissue, the polyglycolic acid is absorbed, and replaced by living tissue. Sutures, clips and storage pellets having medicaments incorporated therein can be used for both their own mechanical properties and as a delayed release system for medicaments.

Abstract: The susceptability of microorganisms to various antibiotics is determined by propagating microorganisms in the presence of different concentrations of the antibiotic in a plurality of test cells or chambers axially aligned on one element of a cylinder of plastic which cylinder has a concentric protective sleeve with apertures to match the test cups and indexing and orienting means to keep the sleeve and cylinder aligned. A series of concentrations of a particular antibiotic are prepackaged and stored dry in the test cells of a particular cylinder with various antibiotics in various cylinders which may be positioned in a storage rack for convenience in inoculation and incubation.

Abstract: Poly(N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) is soluble in hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol and hexafluoracetone sesquihydrate. The solutions formed may be wet or dry spun into filaments, or cast into films or solid articles, which may be used as absorbable surgical sutures, or other absorbable surgical elements. Poly(N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) is enzymatically degradable in living tissue, and is resistant to hydrolytic degradation, and, therefore, surgical elements thereof have good storage characteristics under a wide variety of conditions.

Abstract: Poly(N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) is soluble in hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol and hexafluoracetone sesquihydrate. The solutions formed may be wet or dry spun into filaments, or cast into films or solid articles, which may be used as absorbable surgical sutures, or other absorbable surgical elements. Poly(N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) is enzymatically degradable in living tissue, and is resistant to hydrolytic degradation, and, therefore, surgical elements thereof have good storage characteristics under a wide variety of conditions.

Abstract: Asthma is effectively treated by inhalation of powder dispensed from an aerosol suspension of powdered N,N-diethyl-4-methyl-1-piperazinecarboxamide pamoate, which is dispersed as a fine powder, essentially below 10 microns in particle size, which gives an improved ratio of absorption in the lungs as compared to systemic absorption.

Abstract: Useful surgical elements consist of a sterile synthetic copolymer containing, by mole percent, about 15 to 85 percent glycolic acid and 85 to 15 percent lactic acid, which has enhanced tissue absorption as compared with polylactic acid and enhanced solubility in organic solvents as compared with polyglycolic acid and hence can be cast into sheets during preparation and implantation. Such surgical element may be used alone or in combination with polyglycolic acid or a coating for polyglycolic acid surgical elements. Other comonomers may be introduced into the system.

Abstract: A fast-acting photochromic filter--i.e. a filter whose optical density in the visible light range of 4000 to 7500 angstroms is increased when subject to radiation shorter than 6000 angstroms--which is room temperature stable, that is from at least about 20.degree. to 80.degree.C., consists of (1) a solid optically transparent polymeric matrix, (2) essentially free from non-combined or molecular oxygen, and preferably protected from diffusion of atmospheric oxygen, in which is (3) dispersed, in solid solution, at least one light absorbing compound having a polynuclear conjugated condensed aromatic ring structure, whose molecules are capable of assuming a metastable triplet state by a process of intersystem crossing (not necessarily of the moiety which assumes the metastable triplet state) and in the triplet state, because of closer triplet states, has energy absorption bands whicch occur at lower energies (larger wavelengths) than the singlet-singlet absorption for such molecules.

Abstract: A surgical laparotomy pad having uniquely useful properties comprises a hydrophilic polyurethane sponge in which the sponge pores have a surfactant coating to accelerate absorption of body fluids into the pores at medically desirable rates, the fluids being retained therein by capillarity to affect removal of the fluids from the body. The sponge is flexible, and substantially free from lint, toxicity, and abrasiveness, making it particularly suitable for use in contact with raw living tissue to absorb blood or fluids, and retain tissues temporarily in position during surgical procedures.

Abstract: Surgical sutures are wound from a needled end on a printed reel-label. The reel-label is made from sealed together thicknesses of stiff inert sterilizable label stock, with an aperture which acts as a rotable axis to permit holding between a finger and thumb for unwinding. The needle is held in a pocket between the thicknesses with the armed portions of the needle protected. The friction between the thicknesses and the suture permits retention of the suture during storage and unwinding from the needled end. The suture reel assembly is stored in a sterile envelope which may be completely dry. The package protects the suture from kinks during storage, and protects the suture from the needle and the package from the needle. It permits unwinding from either end without tangling.

Abstract: Unsymmetrically 3,6-substituted 1,4-dioxane-2,5-diones may be polymerized to give living-tissue absorbable, hydrolytically degradable surgically useful polymers. These polymers have predominantly regular rather than random spacings of side chains, may be stereoregular and tend toward higher crystallinity than randomly sequenced polymers. A polymer of 3-methyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione has the same empirical formula as an equimolecular copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid but has unique physical properties resulting from its more regular steric configuration. Polymers and copolymers of 3- and 3,6-unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-dioxane-2,5-diones have surgically useful mechanical properties. On implantation, in living mammalian tissue, the polymers are absorbed, and replaced by living tissue.

Abstract: Asthma is effectively treated by inhalation of powder dispensed from an aerosol suspension of powdered N,N-diethyl-4-methyl-1-piperazinecarboxamide pamoate, which is dispersed as a fine powder, essentially below 10 microns in particle size, which gives an improved ratio of absorption in the lungs as compared to systemic absorption.

Abstract: A substantially anhydrous liquid iodophor detergent solution is used as a pre-surgical skin cleansing agent. This substantially anhydrous system in which the iodophor is stabilized by the addition of iodides can be incorporated easily into surgical scrub sponges without the expense, delay, and degradation of sponge material resulting from heating to remove the water of aqueous systems to produce a substantially anhydrous product that will not prematurely hydrolyze and deteriorate during prolonged storage.

Abstract: A superior grade of d,d'-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)di-1-butanol dihydrochloride from the reaction of ethylene dichloride and an excess of d-2-amino-1-butanol is obtained by mixing finely divided sodium hydroxide with the reaction mixture, vacuum distilling off d-2-amino-1-butanol, adding a 2-4 carbon alkanol, preferably isopropanol, separating sodium chloride, adding water or an aqueous 2-4 carbon alkanol thereto to a water content of about 7-10% by weight, and an essentially stoichiometric amount of hydrogen chloride, to precipitate d,d'-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)di-1-butanol dihydrochloride, cooling the reaction mixture, and separating a pharmaceutical grade product.

Abstract: D-2-Amino-1-butanol, for the synthesis of ethambutol hydrochloride, d,d'-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)di-1-butanol dihydrochloride, is produced in high purity and good yields by the reaction of butene-1, a nitrile, preferably an excess of acetonitrile, and chlorine to form N-[1-(chloromethyl)propyl]acetimidoyl chloride which is hydrolyzed to dl-2-amino-1-butanol, which can be isolated as the hydrochloride, or free base, or a mixture, resolved with L(+)- tartaric acid and the d-2-amino-1-butanol reacted with ethylene dichloride and then hydrochloric acid to form ethambutol hydrochloride. A minimum of by-products which are conveniently split out permits the economical synthesis of a pharmaceutical grade product.

Abstract: N-[1-(Chloromethyl)propyl]acetamide, for the synthesis of ethambutol hydrochloride, d,d'-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)-di-1-butanol dihydrochloride, is produced in high purity and good yields by the reaction of butene-1, a nitrile, preferably an excess of acetonitrile, and chlorine to form N-[1-(chloromethyl)propyl]acetimidoyl chloride which is hydrolyzed to N-[1-(chloromethyl)propyl]acetamide. This may be hydrolyzed further to dl-2-amino-1-butanol, which can be isolated as the hydrochloride, or free base, or a mixture, resolved with L(+)-tartaric acid and the d-2-amino-1-butanol reacted with ethylene dichloride and then hydrochloric acid to form ethambutol hydrochloride.

Abstract: D-2-Amino-1-butanol, for the synthesis of ethambutol hydrochloride, d,d'-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)di-1-butanol dihydrochloride, is produced in high purity and good yields by the reaction of butene-1, a nitrile, preferably an excess of acetonitrile, and chlorine to form N-[1-(chloromethyl)propyl]acetimidoyl chloride which is hydrolyzed to dl-2-amino-1-butanol, which can be isolated as the hydrochloride, or free base, or a mixture, resolved with L(+)-tartaric acid and the d-2-amino-1-butanol reacted with ethylene dichloride and then hydrochloric acid to form ethambutol hydrochloride. A minimum of by-products which are conveniently split out permits the economical synthesis of a pharmaceutical grade product.

Abstract: DL-2-Amino-1-butanol, as the free base or a salt, for resolution to d-2-amino-1-butanol, for the synthesis of ethambutol hydrochloride, d,d'-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)di-1-butanol dihydrochloride, is produced in high purity and good yields by the reaction of butene-1, a nitrile, preferably an excess of acetonitrile, and chlorine to form N-[1-(chloromethyl)propyl]acetimidoyl chloride which is hydrolyzed to dl-2-amino-1-butanol hydrochloride. This can be isolated as the hydrochloride, or free base, or a mixture, resolved with L(+)- tartaric acid and the d-2-amino-1-butanol reacted with ethylene dichloride and then hydrochloric acid to form ethambutol hydrochloride. A minimum of by-products which are conveniently split out permits the economical synthesis of a pharmaceutical grade product.