Abstract: A process for making a model skin surface for testing adhesion of medical adhesive as a screening test and/or as an alternative to costly and highly variable human skin substrates including casting silicone rubber on human skin to produce a mold having human skin topography and pouring a water-swellable, water-soluble proteinaceous material along with a crosslinking agent and fatty acid constituent into the mold. The proteinaceous material crosslinks while in the mold and the water content of the material is adjustable to simulate varying moisture contents in human skin.

Abstract: A hand brace having dorsal and palmer hand sections integral one with the other along a distal side of the brace, those sections being connected along a proximal side of the brace only by a web defining a finger hole through which all a user's fingers extend so that the web lies between a user's thumb and forefinger. A thumb strap integral with the palmer section connects with the dorsal section when the brace is being worn and is wrapable behind the user's thumb to provide adjustable compression over the hand's thenar eminence to aid in remediation of the DeQuerveins condition Dorsal and palmar wrist sections integral with the brace's respective dorsal and palmar hand sections, are integral one with the other along the brace's distal side. A wrist strap integral with the dorsal wrist section is of a length so that the wrist strap overlies the palmar side of a user's wrist but so that it does not extend substantially onto the dorsal side of a user's wrist.

Abstract: A dual lumen catheter apparatus and method. The apparatus has an elongated catheter body adapted for insertion into a vein or a fluid-containing body cavity of a patient such as the right atrium of a heart. The catheter body has a septum that runs longitudinally through the interior of the catheter body so as to divide the interior of the catheter into a first and a second lumen. The septum is offset from the longitudinal center axis of the catheter so that the cross-sectional area of the two lumens are of different sizes. The first lumen has a cross-sectional size that is relatively large so that a sufficient volumetric flow rate of blood that is to be oxygenated is able to flow by means of gravity drainage through the first lumen whereas the second lumen is smaller but is still sufficiently large so that an essentially equal volumetric flow rate of blood that has been oxygenated can be returned under pressure through the second lumen.

Abstract: A valve assembly comprising, a hollow body member having a cavity, a compression member received on one end of the body member and having an annular flange aligned with the cavity, a device for adjusting the position of the compression member relative to the body member, and a valve device for sealingly engaging against a catheter passing through the valve device, and responsive to compression by the compression member to immobilize the catheter in the valve device.

Abstract: A device for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb having a sleeve for applying pressure against a length of a patient's limb, with the sleeve having a plurality of chambers arranged longitudinally along the sleeve. The device intermittently inflates the chambers, and intermittently connects the chambers to an exhaust system during which a base static pressure is established in the chambers.

Abstract: Method for treating leg wounds requiring both bandaging and the application of compressive pressure wherein a dressing is applied to cover the wound and an elastic stocking is put on to provide the compressive pressure; the improvement wherein a loosely knit stocking which easily slips on is first put on over the dressing and then the elastic stocking, the coefficient of friction between the stockings being relatively low, thereby greatly facilitating putting on the elastic stocking.

Abstract: A stepped needle comprising, a proximal hollow hub, a first elongated tubular portion extending from the hub of a first larger diameter, and a second elongated tubular end portion located distal the first tubular portion of a second smaller diameter.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive meeting Underwriter Laboratories, Inc. 181A requirements and specifications for foil tapes for use with rapid fiberglass air ducts consisting essentially of:(1) 100 phr of a block copolymer consisting of from 75 to about 100 parts be weight of a styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer and from 0-25 parts by weight of a member selected from the group consisting of a styrene-isoprene diblock copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer and a mixture of styrene-isoprene diblock copolymer and styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer;(2) from about 60 to about 110 phr of rubber phase associating resin;(3) from about 5 to about 30 phr of a polyestyrene phase associating resin;(4) an effective amount of flame retardant;(5) an effective amount of antioxidant for the rubbery isoprene moiety; and(6) a crosslinking system for crosslinking the isoprene moiety;and foil tapes including same.

Abstract: Novel flame-retardant conformable adhesive tapes consisting essentially of: (1) a water-impermeable chlorinated polyethylene backing layer from about 1 to 3 mils thick; (2) an evenly tearable synthetic fiber cloth or scrim; (3) a flame-retardant adhesive layer, preferably a rubber-based adhesive; and (4) a thin tie coat layer between the backing and the scrim which, when applied as a molten mass, at least partially fills the interstices between the fibers of the scrim so as to provide surface contact with the underlying adhesive layer, the tie coat providing a strong bond at both the tie coat/backing interface and the tie coat/scrim and adhesive interfaces, thereby providing a laminar product possessing the desired anchorage and structural stability and integrity.The tape is particularly useful in wrapping irregular surfaces, e.g. as a wire harness wrap, where high conformability is essential to good adhesive contact.

Abstract: Repulpable tapes, their composition and the process of making the same, which retain adhesion and tack over a wide range of humidity and temperature, are provided. The improved composition comprises the addition of 10 to 50 parts by weight of a partially to fully hydrogenated rosin and at least 1 part by weight of polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: A cushion having a series of pods connected in a matrix configuration. The pods are deformable in response to a person seated on the cushion. The pods cooperate to define primary airflow channels through the cushion from side edge to side edge, and from front edge to back edge, thereof. In one feature, a series of cruciform configured recesses are defined in the pods' top surfaces. These recesses cooperate to define secondary airflow channels through the cushion from side edge to side edge, and from front edge to back edge, thereof. In another feature, a series of first pods are located in those cushion areas which underlie and support a person's ischial and coccyx bones, and a series of second pods located in those cushion areas which do not underlie and support a person's ischial and coccyx bones. The first pods have a relatively thin wall covering a foamed interior and are of a relatively greater height to provide relatively soft pods.

Abstract: A surgical sponge comprising, a sheet of absorbent material comprising a plurality of layers of an open mesh gauze fabric having generally parallel woven spaced warp and filling yarns. The sheet has one or more spaced generally parallel tie-in yarns interwoven between the layers in at least one direction of the sheet, with a substantial number of the yarns in one layer generally parallel to the tie-in yarns being located intermediate the corresponding yarns in another layer of the sheet to define a staggered configuration of the sheet yarns, with the tie-in yarns limiting freedom of movement of the staggered woven yarns to retain them in place, and with the sheet being folded into a multiple ply configuration.

Abstract: Novel system for providing lubricity to the surface of a nasogastric intubation device, which system comprises a substantially homogeneous mixture consisting essentially of: (1) an effective amount of an unsaturated higher fatty acid having at least 16 carbon atoms; and (2) a polymer compatible therewith.The mixture may be coated on the surface of the portion of the length of the tube assembly to be lubricated or, alternatively, the acid may be contained in the polymer mix employed in the manufacture of the tube assembly.When the acid-containing surface is contacted with an aqueous alkaline solution prior to intubation, the acid is converted to the corresponding lubricious soap.

Abstract: An environmental absorbent dressing having, an absorbent layer comprising a hydrogel, and a front sheet comprising a film capable of permitting passage of liquid covering a front surface of the absorbent layer and coated on a front surface thereof with a porous adhesive.

Abstract: A point-of-use membrane filtration system and method for water or other liquids including an automatic control system for purge, rinse-up, sanitization, or combinations thereof. The system may be used for microfiltration, ultrafiltration or hyperfiltration (reverse osmosis) depending on the membrane pore size of the filtration cartridge employed in the system. A reject valve at the bottom of the filter cartridge is automatically opened when filtered product is drawn, thus to direct some water and any waste to drain. The control system is programmed to accomplish purge, rinse-up and sanitization procedures at predetermined intervals with predetermined combinations of procedures.

Abstract: A fluid sampling chamber assembly having a housing, a chamber within the housing for temporary storage of sample fluid and a pair of special sensor walls on opposite sides of the chamber for engagement by ultrasonic sensor probes. The sampling chamber is trough-shaped with an open top for both receipt and discharge of sample fluid. An inlet and outlet of the chamber housing are continuously open.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a limb compressible sleeve to permit the sequential distal to proximal compression of the limb, comprising fabricating a pair of elongated sheets, aligning them together, sealing chamber lines between the sheets, folding one end of the pair of sheets onto itself and sealing the longitudinal sides together to define as sheath into which a patient may insert a limb.

Abstract: A connection device having an intermediate member, a first connector, and a second connector. The first and second connectors are releasably retained to the intermediate member, and the first and second connectors are rotatable with respect to the intermediate member. The first and second connectors have a plurality of separate annular channels, and the intermediate member has a plurality of annular channels. The channels of the first and second connectors communicate with the channels of the intermediate member in all rotatable positions of the first and second connectors, such that fluid may be passed through the separate channels of the intermediate member into the separate channels of the first and second connectors.

Abstract: Novel two-faced roofing tape for forming a lap joint with adjacent roofing membranes wherein opposed edges of the tape are tapered.In accordance with the preferred aspect of this invention for weatherproofing the roofs of buildings and the like, the roofing membrane is also tapered along the lap joint edge(s).