Abstract: An integral disposable elasticized absorbent article has a front waist portion, a back waist portion, a crotch portion, a pair of spaced apart leg openings, an absorbent core member, and means for tightly fitting the absorbent body to the body of the wearer. The absorbent article has a barrier layer which comprises one or more segments overlying portions of the absorbent core member, and defining one or more retaining enclosures between the barrier layer segments and the underlying portion of the absorbent core member.

Abstract: A disposable undergarment includes liquid-impervious skin-contactable sheets actually having a pair of belt-like strips spaced apart from and opposed to each other in a transverse direction of an undergarment and extending in a longitudinal direction of the undergarment along transversely opposite side edge portions of the undergarment. The skin-contactable sheets are attached to a skin-contactable surface of the undergarment so as to cover a panel. The skin-contactable sheets have fixed surface areas secured to longitudinally opposite end portions of the undergarment and free surface areas adapted to be spaced upward from the panel so that the skin-contactable surface may be partially surfaced between these skin-contactable sheets.

Abstract: A ostomy device having a mounting disc and an ostomy pouch with a stoma receiving portal. The mounting disc is sealed about the portal and includes a flexible plastic disc having a convex central body portion and surrounding annular rim. A foam disc is adhesively adhered to the plastic disc, and a first skin barrier disc having an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the foam disc is adhesively adhered to an adhesive face of the foam disc. The skin barrier disc includes an inner diameter that is stretchable from a smallest diameter that is a point distal from an inner diameter of the plastic disc to a largest diameter that is substantially corresponding to an inner diameter of the plastic disc.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for treating disease in a urinary bladder. The devices include a bladder liner for insertion into the urinary bladder and catheters positioned within the urinary bladder to carry urine from the ureters to an outside collection container. The bladder liner and catheters are constructed of biocompatible materials and are configured to create a seal with the urethra and ureters. The bladder liner may be adapted to deliver medicinal agents to the urinary bladder. Methods of treating disease in the urinary bladder include isolating urine from the bladder wall to allow sufficient time for the bladder wall to heal e.g., by implanting the aforementioned devices. Healing or pain relief may be enhanced by instilling pharmaceutical agents between the liner and bladder wall without dilutional effects.

Abstract: A wound treatment apparatus has a vacuum bandage covering a wound of a patient, a vacuum source coupled to the vacuum bandage, and a controller that operates the vacuum source to apply negative pressure to the wound through the bandage in a controlled manner. The controller is programmed to limit the rate of change of the negative pressure applied to the wound. A caregiver has the ability to change one or more negative pressure setpoint values and the controller of the wound treatment apparatus controls the rate of change of the negative pressure to reduce patient discomfort.

Abstract: A disposable pant-like undergarment is disclosed having stretchable front and back panels. An elastic band is secured to at least one of the front and back panels. The elastic band has a retracted length less than the retracted length of the panel to which it is secured. An absorbent assembly including a liquid pervious bodyside liner, a liquid-impervious outer cover, and an absorbent positioned therebetween, is secured to the front and back panels. The absorbent assembly is capable of being folded to enable the front panel to overlap the back panel. A pair of seams joins the front panel, the back panel and the elastic band together at their side edges to form a pant-like undergarment having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The elastic band creates a snug fit at the waist opening.

Abstract: VARS (Vacuum Assisted Relief System) is a aircrew bladder relief system that allows the pilot, whether male or female, to urinate in flight with comfort and convenience. There are three principle parts to the system, The pump, the garment, and the receiver. A pump and battery pack may be mounted in a breast pocket or attached to a torso harness at breast level. Locating the pump at a level higher than the garment insures little or no “leak back” to the garment. A garment worn like a diaper or underwear, includes an intake manifold comprised of a number of perforated tubes sandwiched between layers of material. Urine from a user is collected in the garment, drawn into the manifold tubes through these holes, by means of vacuum from the pump. Collected urine then passes through a hose into containment bag or receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for fitting a condom-style catheter onto a penis of a user. The apparatus includes two jaws moveable toward and away from each other. The jaws, in a first position, surround a first portion of the catheter and retain against surfaces of the jaws a toroidal roll formed of a rolled-up open-ended sheath portion of the catheter adjoining the first portion. The jaws are then moved outwardly to a second position relative to each other so that an opening bounded by a wall of the first portion of said catheter between the jaws is shaped and opened up sufficiently to admit placement of an end of a penis therein. The jaws can then be moved inwardly to a position in which the catheter is located on the penis and the roll can be unrolled from the jaws and along said penis.

Abstract: An external change aid having engaging means which can engage with a landing member on an absorbent article and having a specific peel force and/or shear force when engaged with such an absorbent article. Also provided are combinations of such external change aids and absorbent articles and methods for applying an absorbent article by use of the external change aid. Also provided are external change aids having specifically designed engaging means structures and absorbent articles with specifically designed engaging means structures.

Abstract: A portable closed wound drainage system that uses a pouch shaped dressing which is inserted into a wound. At least a portion of the outer surface of the pouch is porous to allow exudates to enter. Exudates are removed from the pouch by flexible tubing which is secured inside the pouch at one end, and secured at the other end to a portable drain/suction unit. The pouch contains porous material, and may optionally contain beads and fillers which are antibacterial in nature. The tubing can have a single or multi-lumen structure with perforations in the side walls of the end of the tube that is inserted in the pouch to allow body fluids to enter laterally. The portable drain/suction unit is preferably a portable battery powered device. The pouch and the tube are sealed by a flexible sealing material which is applied to the outer surface of the skin around the periphery of the pouch and the tubing as it exits the pouch.

Abstract: The post circumcision diaper has an integrated protective cup situated between the outer fluid-impervious and inner absorbent layers of the diaper's front portion. The protective cup is constructed of plastic and forms an area of the diaper that is convex outward and concave inward to protect the penis of a recently circumcised baby boy from both direct and incidental pressure. In an alternative embodiment, the post circumcision diaper is formed from a protective cup that is configured for aftermarket attachment to the inside of a commercially available disposable or cloth diaper. In this embodiment, the protective cup has adhesive on its outer surface and a layer of absorbent material on its inner surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, panty-liners, nursing pads, baby diapers and the like. The absorbent articles include an agent able to convey a perception to the wearer, without the need to create the external condition perceived by the wearer. Such absorbent articles are able to improve comfort, by, for example, conveying to the wearer thereof a long lasting freshness sensation upon prolonged wearing time of such articles.

Abstract: In an ultra-thin absorbent sheet member 1a in which an absorbent polymer powder 3 is adhered to one surface of a first nonwoven fabric 2 by a hotmelt adhesive such that absorbent polymer powder present areas 2c and absorbent polymer powder absent areas 2a, 2b exist; the absorbent polymer powder absent areas are present at opposite widthwise ends (2a) of the ultra-thin absorbent sheet member and at least one position (2b) between the opposite ends; the absorbent polymer powder 3 is bonded to the first nonwoven fabric 2 by first hotmelt adhesive layers S1 formed on an upper side of the first nonwoven fabric 2 and on a lower side of the absorbent polymer powder 3 and a second hotmelt adhesive layer S2 formed to cover upper sides of the absorbent polymer powder present areas 2c and the absorbent polymer powder absent areas 2a, 2b; and the first hotmelt adhesive layer S1 and the second hotmelt adhesive layer S2 are both made of an aggregate of linear hotmelt adhesive pieces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wrapper for individually packaging absorbent articles for personal hygiene, especially tampons. The wrapper of the present invention is provided with an opening means, which prevents the wrapper from becoming separated into more than one piece of wrapper material upon being opened.

Abstract: A low cost suction regulator is disclosed in conjunction with a fluid drainage system that includes a suction chamber and a collection chamber. The suction regulator is comprised of an atmospheric chamber and a suction chamber separated by a divider. An opening in the divider has a variably biased closing member associated therewith for opening or closing the opening according to operator selected pressure differentials between the chambers. The closing member is movable along an axis that differs from the direction of airflow, thus eliminating the need for damping the forces applied to the closing member. The dividing means and its closing member will operate over the full range of angles from the vertical to horizontal axis. One embodiment of the drainage system further includes devices for measuring patient airflow, patient negativity and imposed suction.

Abstract: The present invention provide a catheter which exhausts a humor such as a hematoma, a brain fluid, and an encephalophyma smoothly without any infection, and be able to inject a hematoma resolvent while maintaining a constant brain pressure, and is inserted into an accurate operative portion in the cranial cavity using a brain stereotactic frame conveniently and easily. The catheter 100 includes a long tube 110 made of an atoxic, transparent and flexible material; a two-way fitting 160 having two channels and inserted into a rear portion of the tube through a fitting 120; second and third coupling members 140 and 150 selectively coupled to a branched channel of the two-way fitting 160; an injection member 170 including a needle portion 174 inserted into a rear portion of the third coupling member 150 through an inserting hole 153; and a fourth coupling member 180 including a seal member 181 and being inserted into a reception groove 171 formed in a rear portion of the injection member 170.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin for placement in a crotch portion of an undergarment of a wearer having a longitudinal axis and being further characterized by having a preferential bending zone extending obliquely in relation to the longitudinal axis, each preferential bending zone being located solely in an end region and does not extend into a central region of the napkin. The preferential bending zone may be created by mechanically embossing the surface of the sanitary napkin to locally densify the absorbing materials of the article. The preferential bending zone causes the end regions of the sanitary napkin to resist lateral compression forces exerted by the thighs of the wearer and thereby prevents bunching of the article on the undergarment. The central region 70 of the sanitary napkin conforms to the wearer's body providing greater comfort for the wearer of the napkin.

Abstract: Digital tampons are disclosed which are capable of radially expanding into a non circular cross-sectional shape upon exposure to a wet environment, typically in use condition, so as to reduce bypass leakage. The inventions also relates to tampon blanks and a process of producing the tampons.

Abstract: A tissue closure treatment system and method are provided with an external patient interface. A first fluid transfer component FTC.1 comprises a strip of porous material, such as rayon, with liquid wicking properties. FTC.1 can be placed directly on a suture line for transferring fluid exuded therethrough. An underdrape is placed over FTC.1 and includes a slot exposing a portion of same. FTC.2 comprises a suitable hydrophobic foam material, such as polyurethane ether, and is placed over the underdrape slot in communication with FTC.1. Negative pressure is applied to FTC.2 through a connecting fluid transfer component FTC.3. A negative pressure source can comprises a manual device or a power-operated suction device. The tissue closure method includes a manual operating mode using a manual suction device with an automatic shut off for discontinuing suction when a predetermined volume of fluid has been drained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diapering system (200) suitable for the collection of urine and faeces. Claimed and described is a diapering system comprising one human waste collection bag integral with one absorbent component (preferably a diaper like absorbent component) located outside of or adjacent to the collection bag.