Abstract: An absorbent product has a central absorbent element. Flaps extend from each of the longitudinal edges of the product. Pressure sensitive adhesive is centrally located on the garment facing side of the product and on the garment facing side of the flaps. A single release strip has a first side covering the centrally located adhesive. The flaps are folded over the release strip with the flap adhesive contacting the second side of the release strip.

Abstract: A loosely constructed knit or woven fabric is dimensionally stabilized by causing staple length textile fibers to be entangled about the intersections of the yarns comprising the fabric. The stabilized fabric is formed by covering one or both sides of the loosely constructed base fabric with a light web of the staple length fibers, and subjecting the composite material to hydraulic entanglement while supported on a porous forming belt configured to direct and concentrate the staple length fibers at the intersections of the yarns comprising the base fabric.

Abstract: A method for forming shaped hydrogel articles such as soft contact lenses wherein hydrophilic monomers are mixed with an inert diluent prior to polymerization, and the diluent is replaced with water following the polymerization. Diluents yielding optically clear hydrogels with good mechanical properties are selected on the basis of their viscosity and their Hanson cohesion parameters relative to the cohesion parameters of the polymeric component of the hydrogel.

Abstract: Laminar polysaccharide structures, e.g., laminar microbial cellulose structures, are disclosed. These structures comprise densified planiform sheets or laminae that merge into one another and together define plural regions having reduced polysaccharide microfibril density. The disclosed laminar polysaccharide structures are derived by manipulating fibrous polysaccharide pellicles produced by microorganisms such as those of the genere Acetobacter, Rhizobium, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas, Sphaerotilus, and the like.

Abstract: A surgical sponge constructed of a nonwoven fabric is provided with an integral X-ray detectable element in the form of a yarn or monofilament which is positioned interiorly of the nonwoven fabric and in the plane thereof. The fabric is produced by placing the X-ray detectable element between two fibrous webs and subjecting the composite material to hydraulic entanglement to produce a patterned, nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: A continent ostomy valve comprising a drainage tube which is secured at one end within the stoma of the patient while the other end passes through an orifice in a disk-shaped valve body which includes releasable clamping means for selectively occluding the drainage tube. The outer end of the drainage tube is stored on the face of the valve body under a cover which encloses the valve body and provides a low profile of uniform configuration.

Abstract: A surgical hemostat comprising oxidized cellulose having a warp knit tricot construction which provides a fabric density of at least 0.03 g/cm.sup.2, air porosity of less than 150 cm.sup.3 /sec/cm.sup.2, and liquid absorption of at least 3 times the dry weight of the fabric.

Abstract: Adhesive bandages comprising a blister pad and adjacent adhesive-coated areas are prepared from heat-fusible bandage materials, preferably a nonwoven batt material, by applying the pad material to a base material and heat-welding around the perimeter of the pad to totally enclose the interior thereof. The portions of the base material extending from the pad area are compacted under heat and pressure to provide a surface suitable for a coating with adhesive. A medicated gel or other therapeutic material may be included within the confines of the pad area to provide a medicated blister bandage.

Abstract: A soft contact lens, particularly a multifocal or toric lens having prism ballast for lens orientation, is provided with a channel in the back surface of the lens circumscribing the optical zone of the lens to impart flexibility to the peripheral area of the lens and to provide for improved tear distribution. Optionally, the channel may be included in the front surface of the lens to impart flexibility to the peripheral area of the lens without affecting tear distribution. Advantages of the channel are particularly evident in flexibility of multifocal lenses which have significant vertical translation between the near and distance vision modes.

Abstract: A thin adhesive coated film dressing is provided with the adhesive surface covered by a release paper in three sections to facilitate the application of the dressing to the wound site. The construction of the dressing provides for the center section of the release paper to be removed to expose the central adhesive area of the film. While gripping the film by the two end portions still covered by the release paper, the central portion of the dressing is applied to the wound site. Once the center section is secure, the end sections of the release papers are removed and application of the dressing completed.

Abstract: The compounds 2'-hydroxy-5'-(hydroxyalkyl)phenyl-2H-benzotriazoles are useful as intermediate alcohols in the preparation of corresponding 2'-hydroxy-5'-acrylyloxyphenyl-2H-benzotriazole monomers, which in turn are copolymerizable with ethylenically unsaturated monomers, particularly acrylic monomers, to impart ultraviolet absorbing properties to the resulting copolymers.

Abstract: An adhesive bandage and integral wrapper therefor is constructed of a continuous length of bulky, nonwoven bandage and wrapper material which is preferably a nonwoven fabric batt constructed at least in part of heat-fusible fibers. The bandage pad is formed by a Z-fold in the bandage portion of the material. The adhesive wing portions of the bandage are compacted and fused prior to the application of a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The wrapper portion of the product may be entirely nonwoven fabric compacted and heat-fused and coated with an adhesive release surface, or may be formed in part of polyethylene or similar film. The wrapper material is folded around the bandage and sealed on three edges to totally enclose the bandage.

Abstract: Liquid loaded pads useful as wound and burn dressings are prepared from pellicles of microbially-produced cellulose obtained, for example, by culturing Acetobacter xylinum. A pellicle having a thickness from about 0.1 to 15 millimeters or greater is processed to replace the culture medium with water or other physiologically compatible liquid. The liquid-loaded pellicle is sterilized prior to its use as a dressing or in other medical applications.

Abstract: A soft, multifocal contact lens of the segmented type intended to translate vertically between the near-vision and distance-vision modes, characterized in that the superior portion of the lens is equiangularly truncated from points on either side of the vertical axis at the apex of the lens to points on each respective side proximal the horizontal axis of the lens.

Abstract: A soft toric contact lens having spherocylindrical power for correcting astigmatism in humans and utilizing a prism ballast as a means of maintaining correct axial orientation. The degree of prism is greater than about 0.5 diopter, and the peripheral outer surface of the lens is tapered off to a relatively thin edge of constant thickness over a substantial portion of the ballast area.

Abstract: A packaged adhesive bandage comprising a bandage backing strip having an adhesive coating and a wound covering pad on one surface thereof contained in a sealed envelope with the side edges of the backing strip laminated and sealed between the panels of the envelope. The packaged bandage is produced by a continuous process wherein a length of wrapper material is folded to enclose a length of bandage material and individual bandages are cut transversely from the folded material with simultaneous sealing of the cut edges.