Abstract: A bandage consisting of elastic textile material, e.g. stocking, which is provided with a cushion covered by an overlay consisting of the same or similar textile material and which is secured to the textile material of the bandage by means of a border which projects over the cushion. The overlay is provided with, on the side facing the cushion, an elastic thermoplastic synthetic coating which is adhered to the textile material of the bandage in the region of the border areas by heating and whose softening temperature is below that of the textile material.

Abstract: A medical and surgical dressing has an expansion system designed to cover, yet be spaced apart from, a healing wound when the dressing is applied. In its expanded configuration, the dressing is bubble shaped. The dressing includes an adhesive material for adhering to the skin of a patient surrounding the wound, and further includes several layers of material which permit circulation and filtration of air entering the space defined by the expanded bubble. The dressing and expansion system avoid direct contact with the healing wound, yet fully protect the wound from the outside environment.

Abstract: A protective bandage is provided having a circumferentially shaped foam base topped with a protective grill or screen. The grill is attached to the foam base either mechanically or with an adhesive bonding sheet. The underside of the foam base is coated with an adhesive for attachment to the skin.The resulting bandage provides protection from physical trauma, enhances the flow of air to the wound, and allows application of medication to the wound without the need for bandage removal.

Abstract: A surgical pressure plaster has a pressure pad of readily compressible, resilient material, preferably having a trapezoidal cross-section with its non-parallel sides equal. The pressure pad is attached lengthwise and centrally to the adhesive surface of a highly elastic adhesive tape. Two removable protective strips and overlie the tacky surface of the elastic tape in end regions thereof and are of material stiff enough for them to have been inherently curved or angled into sections at right angles to sections adhering to the elastic tape. The protective strip may extend over the top surface of the pad which needs to be kept sterile through further anglings thereof. Using one hand only, digital pressure is exerted on the pressure pad's sides causing rotation of the projecting strips away from the pad whose surface is pressed onto a venepuncture wound site. The strips are removed, the tape ends, each stretched, are then applied to the skin, and the pad now maintains pressure on the wound and prevents bleeding.

Abstract: A puncture protector having a flexible backing with adhesive on one side thereof and a shielding arrangement for blocking passage of needles, both of which can be conformed to that portion of the body of the needle user, often the fingers, which is desired to be protected.

Abstract: Capsular contracture causing firmness of soft silicone implants is a serious problem that may result from several causative factors that have as their final pathway, the development of increased scar tissue. The present invention has altered the formation of this scar encapsulation of silicone implants by texturing the silicone surface in order to gain fibroblast ingrowth into the interstices and thus prevent micromotion at the host prosthesis interface. It has been found that this produces a thinner fibrous capsule. Previously published work pertaining to animals and man has shown that similar texturing of tetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) and other substances achieves these goals. In accordance with work leading up to the present invention, textured silicone samples have been implanted in the subcutaneous layer of rabbits, the capsule formation and the host-prosthesis interface studied histologically.

Abstract: An external breast prosthesis is disclosed including two shell shaped chambers containing silicone rubber material of different softness. The silicone rubber material is confined by outer front and back polyurethane films, and the chambers are divided by an intersitial film. The films are welded together along their common peripheral edge. The silicone rubber in the back chamber which is placed next to the chest wall is softer than that in the front chamber, and conforms to the shape of the chest wall following surgery.

Abstract: A prosthesis wall for an artificial organ, e.g. an artificial arterial blood vessel, to be coated without gaps on one side with biologically active epithelial, e.g. endothelial cells is provided with a structure of open continuous micropores a few microns in size. The pore size is limited to between 0.1 and 3 microns, at least on the surface to be coated with cells with the thickness of the partitions between the pores being not more than 3 microns to permit a continuous layer of endothelial cells with prolonged and firm adhesion to the prosthesis to be subsequently formed.

Abstract: A self adhesive bandage which comprises a hydrophilic gel located on a bandage carrier strip at the point of the strip to be positioned against a wound. Portions of the same surface of the carrier strip are also coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, allowing the bandage to be secured to the skin. The gel-side surface is covered with a strip of removable release paper until the bandage is to be used, in order to preserve its sterility. The gel comprises water and a polyol mixed with the reaction product of a bis crosslinking agent with an acrylamide compound.

Abstract: A soft-goods type foldable, wrappable sleeve orthopaedic cast immobilizes and conforms to the shape and configuration of a limb, or other part of the anatomy. The soft-goods type cast assembly is initially specially formed or configured to specifically fit a selected portion of the anatomy of a patient. The cast conforms to the anatomy through the use of airtight and moisture-proof pouches which encapsulate either (1) open cell or fiberglass matrices impregnated with a water-activated urethane polymer, or (2) the entire assembly. After the tightening of the cast around the limb, the application of water activates the urethane polymer which conforms to the configuration of the limb encased. Supplemental bendable ribs may be empolyed to splint the limb prior to activation of the hardenable material. The soft goods type cast is held in place by straps, and may be removed or adjusted by releasing or tightening the straps. The splinting elements may be removed and replaced.

Abstract: A wound dressing which comprises, in order:a layer of a permeable material suitable for putting in contact with the wound;a layer of a charcoal fabric;an absorbent pad; andone or more layers which protect and substantially prevent liquid strike-through.

Abstract: An adhesive coated thin film dressing (1) in combination with an applicator (4) to facilitate its application is described. The applicator (4) comprises a pair of superimposed laminar members (5,6) hinged at one end. The lower member (6) is adapted to be grasped at the end (13) remote from the hinge (7). The upper member (5) supports the thin film dressing and is in releasable contact with a major portion of the adhesive surface (3) of the thin film (2). A protector (11) is in releaseable contact with the remaining portion of the adhesive surface (3) and extends beyond the hinged end of the upper member (5). In one preferred form the dressing has a medicated pad or a medicated area located on the adhesive side of the coated film.

Abstract: A method for fabricating human tissue prosthesis. The method produces a prosthesis that has mechanical compliance properties similar to that of body tissue. The prosthesis fabrication method utilizes, for example, a polyurethane urea-linked block copolymer system which in the cured state is a thermoset elastomer which has lumen surface qualities which are essentially optically flat. The formulation is essentially a single a single step process. A clean mandrel is horizontally clasped in the jaws of a variable speed motor and slowly rotated. The pre-polymer solution is placed on the rotating mandrel and thickness adjusted by a mechanical wiper. The rotating mandrel having pre-polymer of desired thickness is placed in a sub-atmospheric environment to remove dissolved gasses and permitted to initially cure while rotating. The final cure is achieved in a sub-atmospheric environment.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprises a vapor permeable plastic film coated on one side with an adhesive about the periphery of a wound contacting window in the central portion of the dressing. A pair of release liners covers the adhesive coating and include tabs so that the release liners can be peeled from the adhesive coating. Means are provided adjacent to and at opposite lateral sides of the wound contacting window to change abruptly the resistance to peeling of the release liners from the adhesive coated film. Accordingly, when the user feels this change in resistance, he or she knows that the wound contacting window and a small portion of the adhesive about the periphery thereof is uncovered which allows the dressing to be anchored about the patient's wound with the release liners partially in place and the wound contacting window exposed. This minimizes the tendency of the film to wrinkle and/or to fold on itself such that the adhesive adheres to itself.

Abstract: Organic silicon compounds in which silicon is solely bonded to oxygen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine such that not less than one-fourth of the silicon valences are satisfied by bonding to oxygen, stimulate the deposition of bone in bird embryos. Preferred birds are domestic fowl, such as chickens and turkeys. The silicon compounds are administered to the bird eggs by such means as injecting the eggs, or spraying or soaking them.

Abstract: A transparent bandage for substantially sealing a wound consisting of a semi-rigid frame for defining an opening and a resilient transparent membrane member substantially covering the opening in order to form a transparent window. The transparent material is such that air and vapors can permeate the material in a first direction and contaminants and fluids are prevented from entering the wound area from an opposite direction. A flap can be secured to the frame such that a user cannot see any of the wound covered by the transparent material when the flap is closed. Several embodiments of the invention are shown consisting of different shapes for different medical needs. A third and fourth embodiment are included for holding tracheal or other types of tubes to a patient such that the area around which the tube is inserted can be readily observed.

Abstract: A total TMJ replacement system comprises a temporal implant component and a mandibular implant component.The temporal component comprises a thin, rigid plate of Vitallium.RTM. which is contoured to generally conform to and overlay at least the articular eminence and mandibular fossa portions of the glenoid fossa, but not the petro-tympanic fissure. A layer of Silastic.RTM. is securely attached to the superior surface of the plate and is disposed to reside between the plate and the floor of the mandibular fossa to act as both a filler and a means for adjusting the vertical position of the plate relative to the floor of the natural fossa. The plate includes a lateral flange which is screwed to the zygion to hold the plate securely in place.

Abstract: Devices for applying film layers and/or active agent carriers to the skin are disclosed, including a liner layer having a release surface, a carrier layer for the film layer, a first adhesive between the carrier layer and the film layer, and a second adhesive between the liner layer and the opposite surface of the film layer and carrier layer. In this manner, the film layer is sandwiched between the liner layer and carrier layer, and the coefficients of adhesion of the two adhesives are selected so that upon separation of the liner layer and the carrier layer the film layer remains on the carrier layer, and upon application of the film layer to the skin, the film layer transfers from the carrier layer to the skin. The device preferably includes a hinge permanently connecting a peripheral edge of the carrier layer to the liner layer in order to facilitate this process, and in a preferred embodiment an active agent carrier is either substituted for or added to the film layer.

Abstract: An adhesive bandage used personally to cover a minor injury on a human body, especially on a finger or a toe thereof, comprises a bandage proper having an adhesive inside, a pad fixed to a substantially central portion of the inside of the bandage proper, and a protective paper having opposed end portions removably attached to the inside of the bandage proper. The protective paper has a central, greater part folded flatwise. The central greater part of the protective paper can be unfolded and has a sufficient length to provide, together with the bandage proper, an ample space through which a finger or a toe with a minor injury to be covered can be inserted, when the central greater part is unfolded.

Abstract: An improved horse leg wrap wherein a plurality of elastic strips are secured together and held in a spaced apart relationship from one and other by nylon webbing. Silicone friction beads lay parallel to the elastic strips and run the length of the leg wrap, adjacent silicone beads being at least one quarter inch away from any adjacent bead portion.