Abstract: A digital tampon is provided which is sufficiently rigid to allow for digital insertion but which subsequently, during use, loses its rigidity to provide comfort when worn and when removed. The tampon comprises a rigidifying element extending longitudinally and disposed centrally with respect to the axis of the tampon. The element is chosen to have a dry resistance to compression sufficiently high enough to allow insertion and a wet resistance to compression, less than the dry resistance, and sufficiently low enough to allow the tampon to expand when wet and be comfortable in use and during removal.

Abstract: Absorptive devices, such as disposable diapers, presenting a dry surface feel to the user. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, a substantially planar, moisture absorbent layer is disposed between a soft and bulky, wearer contacting, moisture-pervious topsheet and a moisture-resistant backing sheet to form a disposable diaper. The topsheet preferably comprises an integral structure containing a multiplicity of depressed areas which intimately contact the uppermost surface of a substantially planar, moisture absorbent layer, while the non-depressed areas of the topsheet contact the wearer's skin in-use.

Abstract: An infant diaper has a coherent absorbent pad with a pair of exterior longitudinal pad margins oppositely disposed to each other. The absorbent pad area has a central pad area in combination with an opposed pair of absorbent border pad areas, each one of the opposed border pad areas has one longitudinal boundary margin adjacently coextensive with one longitudinal boundary margin of the central pad area. A central optimum pad area can have a discrete weight greater than each one of the border pad areas. A pair of parallel, narrow width pleats are disposed the full longitudinal pad axis length. Each one of the pair of pleats can be formed of the central pad area and are disposed on the same first face of the central pad area adjacent to the longitudinal boundary margin of the central pad area. Each one of the pleats can have a pleat apex disposed nearer or further from the central longitudinal pad axis than the corresponding companion pleat base fold.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a stretchable waistband having a topsheet provided with means for passing liquid therethrough, a water impermeable backsheet and an absorbent pad disposed therebetween, one of said topsheet or backsheet being fabricated from a water impermeable stretchable plastic film having end portions extending beyond said absorbent pad, each end portion being folded upon itself and adhered to itself to form a stretchable waistband for the diaper.

Abstract: In an infant disposable diaper the absorbent diaper pad for body excreta has a pair of narrow width pleats disposed in the absorbent pad. Each one of the pleats being oppositely disposed parallel along the full longitudinal length of the diaper pad, the pair of pleats being separated by a suitable width of absorbent pad, providing a central pad channel width as a urine and feces trap and an excreta channel pad area suitable for containment of excreta between the pleat pair. Each one of the pad pleats can be formed of the central optimum pad area and each pleat is disposed on the exterior first face of the diaper pad. Each pleat is disposed adjacent to the longitudinal exterior margin of the central pad area. A thin, flexible, fluid impermeable membrane is contiguously disposed coextensive with the second face of the diaper pad area. The impermeable membrane is specifically excluded from contact with the side width values of the pair of narrow width pleat sides.

Abstract: A therapeutic device for skin lesions is provided in which adhesively coated flexible strips are stuck to skin on opposed sides of the lesion, aligned to prevent lateral displacement of the skin and drawn together by flaps to close the skin over the lesion. This device allows the lesion to heal without the formation of keloids. The flaps may be pulled around the side bars of a buckle member to draw the flexible strips to close skin over the lesion, and then the flaps stuck to the flexible strips to hold the skin closing the lesion. For surgical incisions a transparent, removable cover may be on the folded back flaps, and the surgical incision made through the transparent, removable cover, markings on the strips may be used to align them, and the lesion may be closed by sticking the flaps together in face-to-face relation.

Abstract: A medicinal, substantially elliptically shaped insert is easily placed into, or removed from, the eye by a wand-like instrument. The instrument has an elongated stem which is held in the hand, generally between the thumb and index finger. One end of the stem supports an applicator portion. The applicator portion carries the insert by wet adhesion and generally conforms to, and is aligned with, the substantially elliptical shape of the insert. This configuration allows for the ease of placement of the insert transversely across the eyelid or sclerotic portion of the eye. On an opposite, or distal end of the stem, is a swab-like section for the removal of the insert from the eye. The swab-like section contains, or is coated with, an adhesive material, which when placed in contact with the insert, will easily lift the insert from the eye.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a topsheet and backsheet one of which is stretchable, the other non-stretchable and wherein both extend beyond the edges of the absorbent material to provide a waistband. The non-stretchable sheet is provided with openings to permit stretching of the waistband.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diaper supplement which is composed of a plurality of tricot-like fine-mesh, water-repellent, substantially oblong cloths; gauze-like coarse water-absorbent cloths of about the same size inserted between said water-repellent cloths; and a water-proof cloth of about the same size, these three kinds of cloths being adhered along the long sides at both edges.

Abstract: Apparatus for assisting the treatment of wounds or inflammations internal to the human body comprises a belt support consisting of a resilient base plate with belts connected to two of its opposite sides. The belts are arranged to encircle the human body, with a center hole in the plate lying on the area of the bodily disorder. A tube mounted on the plate above the center hole houses a sliding plug, on the underside of which is placed a suitable medicament. The plug passes through the hole and presses the medicament against the area of the disorder, the contact pressure being adjustable micrometrically by operating an upper handle rigid with a screw which engages in the plug.

Abstract: An impervious housing having a compartment for a pharmaceutical product and an independent compartment for containing circuitry that senses and records when a patient administers the pharmaceutical contained in the first compartment. The circuit includes a clock which produces a pulse each hour and an addressable memory coupled to the clock so that the address is changed each hour. Sensors for determining when the cap is removed from the first compartment and when the housing is inverted, the output of the sensors being coupled to a register at the input of the circuitry so that if a patient has administered the pharmaceutical since the last clock pulse, a binary signal indicative of that fact will be transferred from the register to the memory upon occurrence of a succeeding clock pulse.

Abstract: An osmotic device for delivering an active agent is disclosed. The device is comprised of a wall surrounding in at least a part, a reservoir containing agent. The wall is formed of a material permeable to an external fluid and impermeable to agent. The reservoir is formed of a microporous material permeable to agent and fluid, and having at least one micropore that is a passageway for release of agent. The agent is soluble in the fluid and exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient against the fluid, or the agent has limited solubility in the fluid and is admixed with an osmotically effective compound soluble in fluid that exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient against fluid. In operation, agent is released by fluid permeating through the wall into the reservoir producing a solution of agent or a solution of compound containing agent, which solution in either instance is released through the micropore to the exterior of the device.

Abstract: An osmotically driven fluid dispenser for use in an aqueous environment comprising: a shape retaining canister having controlled permeability to water; an osmotically effective solute confined in the canister which, in solution, exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient against the water in the environment; an outlet in the canister wall; and a flexible bag of relatively impervious material that holds the fluid to be dispensed and is housed in the canister with its open end in sealed contact with the canister such that the canister outlet communicates with the bag interior and the bag interior is closed to the solute and aqueous solution thereof with the remainder of the bag spaced from and generally unsupported by the canister wall.

Abstract: A combined disposable diaper and disposal bag wherein a thin plastic sheet is affixed over the waterproof side of a conventional disposable diaper and sealed to it along a portion of its periphery to form a permanently attached waterproof pocket with part of the sheet that can be turned inside out to form a bag for the used disposable diaper and to form a flap with the remainder of the sheet which can be closed over the bag opening to seal the bag.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a facing sheet defining a diaper inside surface for direction toward an infant and a backing sheet defining a diaper outside surface is provided with adhesive tabs having a bifurcated fixed end and a free end. The fixed end has first and second anchoring legs which are integral with the free end and which are provided with adhesive coatings on opposing inner faces thereof. The fixed end is permanently attached by means of the adhesive coatings to opposing outer surfaces of the diaper facing and backing sheets which are interposed between the first and second anchoring legs. The free end of the tab has an adhesive coating on one face thereof, is releasably attached to a release region provided on the diaper inside surface, and is movable from a folded-over storage position, wherein the free end is releasably adhered to the release region, to a working position wherein the adhesive-coated free end is available for use in securing the diaper about an infant.

Abstract: Method and therapeutic system in the form of a bandage that administer scopolamine base transdermally in an initial pulse of 10 to 200 .mu.g/cm.sup.2 of skin that quickly brings the concentration of scopolamine in the plasma to a level at which emesis and nausea are inhibited without intolerable side effects, followed by a substantially constant dosage in the range of 0.3 to 15 .mu.g/hr that holds said level. The bandage is a four-layer laminate of, from the top: a protective backing; a gelled, mineral oil-polyisobutene-scopolamine reservoir lamina that is the source of the constant dosage; a microporous membrane that controls the constant dosage rate; and a gelled, mineral oil-polyisobutene-scopolamine adhesive layer that is the source of the pulse dose and the means by which the bandage is attached to the skin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus according to which a living being can be provided with an implant which is absorbed into the body. According to the method the implant is situated in the body adjacent the outer skin. The implant is injected in a liquid, molten condition, but assumes a solid condition at body temperature. The composition of the implant is such that the implant will be absorbed by the body at a greater rate when the temperature of the implant is increased. By situating the implant adjacent the outer skin it is possible to elevate the temperature at the outer skin so as to increase the rapidity with which the implant is absorbed by the body. A syringe which contains the implant in solid condition is provided with a heating structure which is operated for the purpose of converting the composition into a liquid molten condition in preparation for injecting the composition into body tissue.

Abstract: A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of waistline portions, a crotch portion intermediate the waistline portion, a backing sheet, a fluid pervious cover sheet, and absorbent pad means positioned between the backing and cover sheets. The pad means comprises a first absorbent pad including a hydrophilic material and defining a front surface of the pad means between the crotch portion and waistline portions of the pad assembly, and a second pad in the crotch portion of a material which has a large wet resiliency relative the first pad to maintain the shape of the crotch portion when wetted and placed under loads during use of the diaper.

Abstract: A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having an absorbent pad, opposed surfaces, and at least one side edge. The diaper has a pressure-sensitive tape strip having an outer securement section for securing the diaper about an infant. The fastener has a sheet having an inner portion including a thermoplastic material secured to one of the surfaces of the pad assembly, with the sheet extending from the inner portion toward the side edge of the pad assembly.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having an absorbent pad comprising a mass of fibers. The pad has densified regions for transmitting liquid through the pad at relatively high rates and for supporting the pad when placed under loads. The pad also has relatively undensified areas adjacent the regions to provide a relatively high liquid holding capacity for the pad, with the regions having a thickness approximately at least as large as the thickness of said areas.