Patents Examined by A. Zuttarelli
  • Patent number: 5653686
    Abstract: A method and transfer device for transferring fluids between closed vials. The transfer device includes a cylinder having a pair of opposing open tubes or tubular portions into which a pair of vials can be inserted to transfer fluid therebetween. The tubes are separated by a wall through which extends a fluid transfer needle and a vent needle which first is inserted into a first vial to vent the first vial into a vent chamber or reservoir formed in the transfer device before the transfer needle is inserted into the first vial. The first vial, stopper first, is inserted into first tube until seated onto an exposed end of the transfer needle. A second vial, stopper first, then is inserted into the second tube until seated onto the opposite exposed end of the transfer needle. A pressure differential between the closed vials preferably can be utilized to transfer a desired fluid portion between the vials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Coulter Corporation
    Inventors: Wallace H. Coulter, Charles R. Shambaugh
  • Patent number: 5649915
    Abstract: A highly absorbent, flexible and resilient sheet comprising a non-defiberized cellulosic pulp board containing effective amounts of debonding agent and cross-linked cellulosic fibers, well-suited for use as an absorbent component of a disposable, absorbent product such as a sanitary napkin, a diaper, an incontinence pad, an adult brief, a wound dressing and the like. The invention also extends to a method for manufacturing the fluid-absorbent sheet, to a disposable absorbent product utilizing the fluid-absorbent sheet and to a method for enhancing the resilience, fluid-absorbency and flexibility of a non-defiberized cellulosic pulp board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Inc.
    Inventors: Gaetan Chauvette, Patricia Ramacieri
  • Patent number: 5649916
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a cover, a baffle and an absorbent core is disclosed. The absorbent core is constructed of at least three absorbent members vertically arranged with each absorbent member having an increasing wicking capacity along an x and y-axes, relative to the preceding absorbent member. The improved absorbent core exhibits a crush resistance of greater than about 250 grams and having a caliper of less than about 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph DiPalma, Timothy Scot Stilp, R. John Birtwell
  • Patent number: 5647862
    Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a generally thin, flexible sanitary napkin with a topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core is provided. The absorbent article has a means for directional fluid distribution such as a fluid directing strip positioned between the topsheet and absorbent core, and an absorbent strip positioned between the topsheet and fluid directing strip. The relationships between the sizes of the fluid directing strip and the absorbent strip are such that the width of the fluid directing strip is greater than that of the absorbent strip and the length of the absorbent strip in greater than that of the fluid directing strip, so that bodily exudates may be directed toward the ends of the absorbent core even when the sanitary napkin assumes a body-conforming shape or is otherwise distorted during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ward Osborn, III, Deborah Catherine Schmitz, James William Cree, Melisse Noel Elder
  • Patent number: 5647863
    Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core is described. The absorbent core comprises an acquisition member, a storage/distribution member, and an indicator member. The absorbent article further has a longitudinally oriented middle region defined by the storage/distribution member and a pair of longitudinally oriented side regions that lie laterally outboard of the middle region. The acquisition member is disposed on the storage/distribution member and the indicator member is disposed, at least partially, in the side regions. The storage/distribution member has a higher capillary suction than the acquisition member such that absorbed bodily fluids are drawn from the acquisition member into the storage/distribution member providing a clean appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John L. Hammons, Shannon J. Hennessy, Alvin D. Martin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5643239
    Abstract: A breathable diaper, feminine hygiene, or like disposable sanitary product construction includes a plurality of materials comprising, from the skin-facing side outwardly a topsheet of liquid- and vapor-permeable hydrophilic material. A core of highly absorbent material disposed outwardly of the topsheet for absorbing fluid received through said topsheet. The core has an inner surface in fluid communication with the topsheet, an outer surface and two lateral side surfaces. A barrier is formed of a multilayer non-woven material which is hydrophobic and vapor-permeable for limiting the outward escape of fluid therethrough while enabling the outward escape of heat and water vapor therethrough, such as a two-layer spunbond-meltblown or a three-layer spunbond-meltblown-spunbond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Poly-Bond, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Allen Bodford, Rahul Krishnakant Nayak
  • Patent number: 5643236
    Abstract: A holder for a urinary drainage bag for securing the bag to a patient's leg. The weight of the urinary drainage bag is supported by a waistband which encircles the patient's waist. The urinary drainage bag is affixed to a partial pantleg which is suspended from the waistband. The partial pantleg is split and adjustably encircles the patient's thigh. The partial pantleg is comprised of a twilled fabric and prevents a typically plastic or vinyl urinary drainage bag from making contact with the patient's thigh. The urinary drainage bag is affixed to the partial pantleg by means of a plurality of buttons provided on the partial pantleg. The buttons are arranged so that as the urinary drainage bag expands the buttonholes formed integrally with the urinary drainage bag will slide with respect to the buttons and not pull or tug on the partial pantleg. The partial pantleg need not be tightly secured to the wearer's thigh in order to be effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: Jack D. Hadley
  • Patent number: 5643242
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinent briefs, training pants, diaper holders and liners, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, designed to provide sustained dynamic fit about the wearer during use as well as to improve the containment of body exudates and wearer comfort/mobility. Such an absorbent article has an absorbent core preferably designed to fit within the low motion zone of the wearer so that dynamic forces imparted by movements of the wearer on the absorbent core are minimized. The absorbent article is also provided with a closure system for anchoring the absorbent article on the wearer to sustain the dynamic fit of the absorbent article throughout wearing. The closure system is designed so that a primary line of tension, fitting at an angle to the body, is formed to secure the absorbent article on a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean Lavon, Edward Paul Carlin, Kenneth Barclay Buell, Thomas Allen Desmarais, John Allen Chang, Christina-Susanne Mueller, Takako Haga
  • Patent number: 5643240
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a combination apertured film and lofty fibrous nonwoven web separation layer which is particularly well suited for use as, among other things, a body side liner for personal care absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins and the like. When used in such applications, the material of the present invention has excellent liquid penetration rates and it resists rewet of the surface of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Wanda Walton Jackson, Monica Signoret Diaz, Cheryl Anne Perkins, Dawn Marie Huffman, Wendy Louise Bush, Cheryl Ann Mocadlo, Richard John Birtwell
  • Patent number: 5643243
    Abstract: A disposable garment having unitary elasticized leg cuffs disposed on the interior surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Drypers Corporation
    Inventor: Walter V. Klemp
  • Patent number: 5643241
    Abstract: A diaper having an inflatable component and a pump is disclosed. The pump has a pump chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, and a resilient chamber wall. The resilient chamber wall is deformable to displace air from the pump chamber to the inflatable component. A check valve provides unidirectional flow from the pump to the inflatable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Albert Ahr, Donald Carroll Roe
  • Patent number: 5643192
    Abstract: A fibrin glue includes a fibrinogen component and a thrombin component, both prepared from single donor plasma. The plasma is precipitated to produce a precipitate containing fibrinogen and a supernatant containing the thrombin. The precipitate may be resuspended in a small volume of supernatant and used as the fibrinogen component. The supernatant is further treated by clotting to convert residual fibrinogen to fibrin and filtration to remove the fibrin. The resulting serum can be used as the thrombin component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Hamilton Civic Hospitals Research Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Hirsh, Marilyn Johnston, Kevin Teoh
  • Patent number: 5641323
    Abstract: Implantable articles, such as bone prostheses, are prepared by casting techniques and have incorporated therein fluid communicating passageways. The internal fluid communicating passageways convey synovial fluid from a joint space to the articulation surface of an artificial joint. The presence of synovial fluid at the articulation surface provides sufficient lubricity to the joint and enables artificial joints to utilize metal/metal, metal/ceramic, and ceramic/ceramic articulation couples without the need for a low friction polymeric lining material. Accordingly, artificial joint components formed according to the present invention are less likely to develop wear debris. The implantable articles are formed by a casting process from casting molds that are prepared using a three dimensional printing technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Professional, Inc.
    Inventor: Salvatore Caldarise
  • Patent number: 5637105
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent member interposed between the topsheet and backsheet, and a moisture absorbent material, wherein the amount of moisture absorption per unit area of the absorbent article is not less than 7.2.times.10.sup.-4 g/hr.cm.sup.2, and a total amount of moisture absorption of the absorbent article is not less than 0.10 g/hr in an environment of 35.degree. C./75% RH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Masahito Tanaka, Yayoi Fukuhara, Minoru Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 5634914
    Abstract: Viscose filaments, preferably in staple fibre form, which have a decitex of less than 5.0 and a multi-limbed cross-section, the limbs having a length-to-width aspect ratio of at least 2:1. Examples of multi-limbed cross-sectional shapes are Y--, X--, H-- and T-- shapes. The fibre can be formed into woven, non-woven or knitted fabrics, and is especially useful for absorbent products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Courtaulds PLC
    Inventors: Andrew G. Wilkes, Alan J. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 5634916
    Abstract: Absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinent briefs, training pants, diaper holders and liners, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, designed to provide sustained dynamic fit about the wearer during use as well as to improve the containment of body exudates and wearer comfort/mobility. Such an absorbent article has an absorbent core preferably designed to fit within the low motion zone of the wearer so that dynamic forces imparted by movements of the wearer on the absorbent core are minimized. The absorbent article is also provided with a closure system for anchoring the absorbent article on the wearer to sustain the dynamic fit of the absorbent article throughout wearing. The closure system is designed so that a primary line of tension, fitting at an angle to the body, is formed to secure the absorbent article on a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary D. Lavon, Edward P. Carlin, Kenneth B. Buell, Thomas A. Desmarais, John A. Chang, Christina S. Mueller, Takako Haga
  • Patent number: 5632738
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a so-called "natural dripping" type plastic container by which medicinal fluids are administered by deformation of the flat shaped body. During natural dripping the accumulation capability for the contained fluids is large and the deformation based on back pressure avoids the occurrence of dead space. In the plastic blow container for medicinal fluids of this invention, in the cross-sectional shape of a flat shaped body the long axis width is more than 2.0 times the short axis width, at the upper end of the body a suspending mechanism is formed, and at the outer of the lower end of the body an opening means is formed, the bottom cross-section of the body on the short axis side the shape of parallel faces is formed as a wedge, while the parallel faces on the long axis side are formed with a tapered funnel shape toward the opening means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignees: Kewpie Kabushiki Kaisha, Kyoraku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Sumi, Kazuya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5628788
    Abstract: A self-expanding endoluminal stent-graft includes a conventional wire stent and a tubular deformable material constructed of filaments and having a density and geometry such that when ends of the tubular material are pulled apart, the diameter of the tubular material decreases to one half to one tenth of its original diameter. The tubular deformable material is affixed to the interior or exterior of the self-expanding stent, preferably with an elastomeric adhesive. A biocompatible porous elastomeric liner is preferably affixed to the interior of the deformable member with an elastomeric adhesive. The tubular deformable member is preferably a PET mesh. The elastomeric adhesive is preferably a melt adhesive used in conjunction with a fibrous or porous layer which is applied to the exterior of the stent with a padding applicator to push the adhesive through the interstices of the stent onto the graft material. A second embodiment of the invention provides a bifurcated (e.g. Y-shaped) graft material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Corvita Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard Pinchuk
  • Patent number: 5628739
    Abstract: Prebent, anatomically shaped, self-aligning absorbent products comprising a fluid permeable body facing cover, an absorbent element, a central, partially longitudinally disposed core, and a flexible, moisture barrier having partially longitudinally disposed permanent creases proximate to the longitudinal edges of the moisture barrier, are provided. Such products generally have a convex shape in the approximate center portion of the body facing surface which shape allows the product to conform to the body and more closely approximate the source of fluid discharge thereby reducing unwanted movement or misalignment which may result in leakage. Such products further generally have an hourglass shape which complements the general contour of the inside surfaces of the thighs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Tong-Ho J. Hsieh, John T. Ulman
  • Patent number: 5628736
    Abstract: The present invention provides a resilient fluid transporting network suitable for use in absorbent articles. The fluid transport network includes a plurality of bicomponent capillary channel fibers capable of intra-fiber fluid transport. The fibers have a base portion and at least two walls extending from the base portion to form an external capillary channel. The walls and the base portion are made of a first polymeric material which has a first melting point temperature. The distal ends of the capillary channel walls are made of a second polymeric material which has a second melting point temperature lower than the first melting point temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Hugh A. Thompson