Abstract: Provided is a water-decomposable absorbent article including a water-decomposable back sheet, a water-decomposable absorbent layer, and a surface member covering the absorbent layer. The surface member has a plurality of water-retentive water-decomposable sheets laminated and bonded to each other by integration means for permitting to dissociate the water-decomposable sheets from each other when wetted.

Abstract: The invention relates to cotton buds and to swabs for medical use. The inventive buds or swabs are characterized in that they are extruded and provided with a continuous inner web. Said inner web may be linked with the inner surface of the buds or swabs by webs that are produced of the same material. The invention provides buds or swabs that are slightly less rigid while guaranteeing good working properties and a good usability. At the same time, their weight and the material required is considerably reduced.

Abstract: A wearable article useful for facilitating toilet training is provided. The wearable article includes a wetness sensation member held in close contact with a wearer's skin during use that enhances the wearer's awareness that urination has occurred. The wetness sensation member includes a permeable layer and an impermeable layer. During insults of urine, the permeable layer allows urine to penetrate in the z-direction and provides a medium for the flow of urine in the x-y plane via wicking. The impermeable layer supports the flow of liquid between the permeable and impermeable layers and retains the liquid thereby increasing the wetted area contacting the wearer's skin.

Abstract: There is provided an intake/retention/transfer material for personal care products like feminine hygiene products, which is a heterogeneous composite containing between 5 and 25 weight percent of a superabsorbent or gelling material and having a density less than 0.17 g/cc. A more particular embodiment contains less than 20 weight percent and a still more particular embodiment contains 15 weight percent or less of a superabsorbent or gelling material. Also provided are absorbent articles which contain the class of intake/transfer materials mentioned above along with additional absorbent layers such that the absorption of a menses simulant provides fluid partitioning of less than 72% of fluid in the intake/transfer/retention composite. Additionally said composite should have retention capacity values greater than 2.7 g/g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel applicator for topical anesthetics and a method using said novel applicator which provides for pain-free injections in mucosa by the application of a topical anesthetic followed by an injection limited to penetrate the mucosa only to the extent of penetration of the topical anesthetic. The method is accomplished by applying a topical anesthetic to the desired mucosal area by means of a novel applicator swab, comprising a handle on which is attached an absorbent material and an abrasive portion. The swab is dipped in topical anesthetic and placed at the desired oral location, where the abrasive portion is used to mildly abrade the oral mucosa. The application of the topical is then followed with an injection which penetrates the tissues only to the extent of penetration of the topical anesthetic.

Abstract: Blood lines for hemodialysis and other blood handling procedures may be reused by placing connectors intermediately along the length of the blood lines so that the lines can be disconnected to separate out reusable portions thereof. Specifically, the bulk of the blood lines used may comprise branchless lengths of tubing which are easily reusable, and may be cleaned and stored along with a dialyzer or similar device by connection to a conventional reuse machine. Also, the connectors on the blood lines which are reused may have first and second sealing surfaces. The first sealing surfaces are used in the connections made to form the blood line in its normal form for use. Then, during cleaning and sterilization for reuse, the reusable connectors can connect first and second lengths of blood lines together making use of a second sealing surface, in which the first sealing surfaces are exposed to cleaning/storing solution to cause cleaning and antibacterial action on the first sealing surfaces.

Abstract: There is provided a personal care product having a vapor sweep comprising a material which reacts with water or urine to form vapor at a rate capable of displacing at least 5, and preferably at least 10, percent of the air volume within said product per minute. This vapor generation sweeps water vapor and humidity from the personal care product, such as a diaper, and so it's believed will contribute to skin health. Materials that, upon reaction with water or urine, produce large volumes of carbon dioxide may be incorporated into the various components of standard personal care products to achieve the objective of this invention. Such materials include leavening agents. Additionally, a seal may be added to the personal care product to encourage the generated vapor to travel a longer path prior to exiting the product in order to maximize water vapor removal.

Abstract: A method of hydrating a sponge material for delivery to a body. The method includes the steps of placing a dry piece of sponge in a container at a first pressure. A hydrating fluid is then introduced into the container to hydrate the sponge. The pressure within the container is changed between the first pressure and a second pressure. At least a portion of the hydrating fluid is removed from the sponge, and the sponge is delivered to a bodily site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tampon applicator arrangement, having tampon, applicator unit and a film cap, attached thereto, which is at least partially uniformly shaped, typically being conforming to part or all of the tampon or applicator unit, or such that the film cap has the lowest possible surface area. The film cap is so shaped and/or generally under tension and has no rugosites, folds or even wrinkles, other than optionally tension wrinkles, and preferably also no seams or welds. The invention also relates to specific moulding processes for making the film cap and the arrangement of the invention. The arrangements of the invention provide a smoother, easier and safer insertion of a tampon in the body.

Abstract: An absorbent article has a liquid permeable top sheet, a substantially liquid impermeable, preferably water vapor permeable back sheet, and a selectively stretchable absorbent composite between the top sheet and the back sheet. The selectively stretchable absorbent composite is more stretchable in a first direction than in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and can be stretched to at least 150% of an initial length in the first direction. The absorbent composite has a selectively stretchable substrate layer and a plurality of pockets in or on the substrate layer. The pockets each contain a quantity of superabsorbent material, which can swell when exposed to a liquid insult. When the substrate is stretched, the pockets become spaced further apart, thereby promoting comfort and alleviating gel blocking caused by adjacent pockets swelling toward each other.

Abstract: There is provided a distribution material for personal care products which is a fabric which wicks artificial menses according to a horizontal wicking test a distance of about 1 inch in less than about 1.5 minutes. Materials meeting this performance criteria generally have a pore size distribution with a high percentage (usually more than 50 percent) of pore diameters between about 80 and 400 microns and a density below about 0.15 g/cc. There is also provided a personal care product system having a distribution/retention layer and a pad shaping layer wherein each layer has a stain length ratio of 0.5 or less and the distribution/retention layer has a saturation profile of 4 or less.

Abstract: A method for and a preservative composition for use in embalming a dead human body to temporarily maintain a desirable state of non-decomposition. The method comprising the steps of draining blood from the circulatory system of a dead body; and injecting a preservative composition into the drained circulatory system of the dead human body. The preservative composition consisting essentially of from 10 to 40% of each of the following components: a material selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, the sodium and potassium salts thereof and mixtures thereof; a material selected form the group consisting of citric acid, the sodium and potassium salts thereof and mixtures thereof; a material selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate and mixtures thereof; and material selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium sulfite, bisulfite, and metabisulfite and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin 1 includes respective pairs of upper and lower layer flaps 11, 12 placed upon each other, each of the upper layer flaps 11 is elastically stretchable longitudinally of the napkin 1 and each of the lower layer flaps 12 is provided with a wing 13, and thereby prevent the menstrual discharge from leaking sideways.

Abstract: A multifunctional device for use in an endoscopically performed operative procedure of the type where a narrow portal is established through the skin to provide access to an operative site and the multifunctional device is introduced to the operative site through the narrow portal. The multifunctional device is formed of an absorbent material, preferably expandable, having a substantially rigid dry state prior to introduction to the operative site and a soft, flexible wet state after absorbing fluids. The absorbent material can be formed with a spine therein and the spine can be branched and tubular or solid. The multifunctional device can have a passage therethrough to accommodate laser, electrosurgical, biopsy or culturing instruments.

Abstract: The ostomy system with mounting wafer and repositionable pouch includes a resealable tape provided on one of the system members and a releasable film provided on the other system member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the resealable tape is located on a faceplate of the pouch and the releasable film is located on the body-side mounting wafer. The pouch is thus secured to the body-side mounting wafer by engaging the resealable tape with the releasable film. The resealable tape and the releasable film coupling arrangement permit repeated removal of the pouch from the body-side mounting wafer and repeated resecurement of the pouch to the mounting wafer. The pouch can thus be repositioned relative to the mounting wafer even after the pouch has been worn for a day.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved absorbent tampon having improved leakage performance. Tampons, having a primary absorbent member which is constructed from an absorbent material compressed to a self-sustaining form and a mass of secondary absorbent material are disclosed. The mass of secondary absorbent material may be a multiple pieces or one piece. The secondary absorbent material may be attached to the primary absorbent member, the withdrawal cord, or both, or may be integral with one or both of these members. The withdrawal cord of the tampon may have absorbent and non-absorbent zones, especially when the mass of secondary absorbent material is attached to the withdrawal cord. The mass of secondary absorbent material preferably has a lower total absorbency than the primary absorbent member. Preferably, the mass of secondary absorbent material is provided with a driving force to direct fluid toward the primary absorbent member.

Abstract: An automatic mucus removal device for extracting mucus from a nasal cavity includes a transportable housing which encases a compact vacuum source connected to a power source, and to which a disposable mucus trap member is removably attached. The housing includes a base portion and a barrel portion, with the mucus trap member preferably attached to one end of the barrel portion. An ejection rod is resiliently mounted to the opposing end of the barrel portion, with the ejection rod operable to expel the mucus trap member from the housing. The user therefore is not required to contact the mucus trap member or the mucus associated with it, and the mucus trap member may be disposed of or cleaned as desired.

Abstract: A disposable pull-on diaper includes a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. In any one of front and rear waist regions of the diaper, second elastic members are disposed between the core and the backsheet to extend under tension circumferentially of the waist region and secured to the inner surface of the backsheet only at their portions extending outward beyond transversely opposite side edges.

Abstract: There is provided a tampon pledget that expands without the aid of moisture or menses. The tampon pledget has a plurality of high resiliency, non-absorbent materials and a plurality of absorbent materials. The tampon pledget has improved comfort as compared to conventional fully compressed tampon pledgets. The tampon pledget preferably has all of its non-absorbent and absorbent materials enclosed in a coverstock. The coverstock may be inverted or turned inside out, prior to filling the coverstock with a plurality of non-absorbent and absorbent materials.

Abstract: A disposable applicator includes a generally tubular applicator body having a closed proximal end and an open distal end and a frangible vial inside. The proximal end is covered by a drying swab while the distal end is covered by an applicator swab that is in open communication with the interior of the applicator body. Within the applicator body is a frangible vial containing a biomedically useful liquid composition, such as an &agr;-cyanoacrylate adhesive, a medicament, or both. The applicator is useful for applying liquid compositions to target sites such as tissue, particularly sites of topical pathology, such as stomatitis lesions.