Abstract: The invention is a refastenable mechanical fastening system, made of free formed prongs joined to a substrate. The prongs taper and are nonperpendicularly oriented relative to the plane of the substrate. Each prong has an engaging means projecting laterally from the periphery of the prong. The free formed prongs are manufactured by the process of depositing liquid material onto a moving substrate, stretching the liquid material in a direction parallel to the plane of the substrate and severing the stretched material to form the distal end and engaging means of the prong. The advantageous usage of the fastening system in an article of manufacture, such as a disposable absorbent garment, specifically a diaper, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A blood component collection system with optimization capabilities. In one embodiment, the blood component collection system includes a central input station (e.g., computer) and a plurality of blood component collection assemblies. These blood component collection assemblies include a blood component collection device and an operator interface module (e.g., computer). Various types of data are maintained on the collection procedures performed in the blood component collection system and are utilized to generate various types of reports for optimizing system operations.

Abstract: An ostomy bag cover is formed of a single piece of a soft knit fabric, folded and sewn so that there are no rough edges in contact with the patient. The cover contains the ostomy bag and isolates the patient from direct contact of the plastic bag with the skin. The cover has a distal side panel and left and right proximal side panels that meet at a vertical midline on the patient side of the cover. The panels are left detached from one another from the top seam partway down the midline to define a vertical slot through which the fitting or flange of the ostomy bag protrudes. Another slot is provided along the bottom seam to accommodate a drain tube.

Abstract: A feature of this invention is the raised longitudinal hydrophobic edges or edge members in combination with the raised central member. Since the raised central member captures the body fluids close to the source of fluid discharge it contains the body fluids in the central portion of the napkin. In addition, the raised hydrophobic longitudinal edges or edge members prevent fluid from wicking through to the undergarment of the user.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin having a body-conforming portion or component that is capable of continuously adusting is provided. The body-conforming component, in one embodiment, is in the form of a resilient insert which has multiple arcuate portions in use. The insert has a central arcuate portion that provides the sanitary napkin with a convex upward shape in use and a pair of lateral arcuate portions that form barriers to the flow of liquid exudates. The multiple arcuate portions can either be pre-formed into the insert, or the insert can be provided in the form of a relatively flat piece that is provided with areas of different stiffness that form arcuate portions during use.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a sanitary napkin having a body surface and a garment surface and being comprised of an absorbent means underlayed by a liquid barrier means, wherein the sanitary napkin is relatively highly flexible and has a capacity great enough to handle medium to high menstrual flows, is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the sanitary napkin comprises, from the body surface down, an apertured formed film topsheet, an apertured nonwoven wipe acquisition sheet, a wet-laid tissue, a superabsorbent core, and a barrier sheet. Preferably, the central width of the absorbents is at least about 6.5 centimeters and the caliper of the napkin as a whole is less than about 2.6 millimeters. In a preferred embodiment, the napkin has laterally extending flaps which drape over the edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch and are attachable to the garment side of the wearer's panties.

Abstract: A centralizer is installed on the end of the distal stem of a femoral prosthesis by virtue of splines cut into the sides of the tip of the distal end of the stem. Each spline has a relatively shallow distal portion and a deeper proximal portion. The centralizer has legs, each one of which has a radially inwardly directed surface designed to enter a respective spline. The proximal end of each leg of the centralizer is thicker in a radial direction including a radially inwardly directed projection entering the proximal portion of the spline to lock the centralizer in mounted position on the distal end of the stem. The centralizer acts to center the distal stem of the femoral prosthesis within the intramedullary canal of the proximal femur.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved urinary drainage device which simulates the normal, non-catheterized urethra. This novel design significantly reduces the risk of urinary tract infection typically associated with internal catheters by providing a double-lumen drainage duct with a collapsible inner tube and an evacuator-type collection receptacle. Like the non-catheterized urethra, the inner tube collapses after urination to expel residual urine.

Abstract: A blood component collection system with optimization capabilities. In one embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input/configured predetermined blood component yield and which is based upon the maximization of at least one process parameter. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived process control parameters. In another embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input total procedure time from a maximized value for at least one of the other process control parameters so as to maximize blood component yield in this fixed time. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived parameters.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance of one-piece or two-piece construction having an adhesive faceplate with a stoma-receiving opening for peristomal adhesive attachment of the appliance to a wearer. The faceplate includes a flexible patch which may be formed of non-woven material and is covered on one side with a first layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive material--particularly a skinfriendly, tacky, hydrocolloid-containing, moisture-absorbing skin barrier material--surrounding the stoma-receiving opening, and a second layer of a soft, easily-deformable, and extrudable fluid-resistant sealant material also surrounding that opening. Inward displacement of the sealant material following adhesive attachment of the faceplate to a patient results in the formation in situ of a fluid-resistant gasket that prevents stomal fluids from contacting the peristomal skin surfaces and the first layer of skinfriendly adhesive and possibly dissolving that layer and/or disrupting its attachment to the skin.

Abstract: Multilayered barrier structures comprising a gas barrier layer of a non-chlorine containing organic polymer which is substantially impermeable to oxygen gas and a moisture barrier layer of a mesophase propylene-based material are provided. These structures are environmentally compatible and radiation resistant, and exhibit one or more additional properties, including gas barrier properties, moisture barrier properties, toughness, heat sealability, softness, and quietness during wrinkling. Also provided are methods of preparing and using such multilayered barrier structures, and articles, such as films, pouches, and tubings, formed from these structures.

Abstract: Transfusion and perfusion device having two pressure bags communicating via a calibrated pressure-reducing valve, each pressure bag including an inflatable pressure balloon. Each balloon is held in an envelope and has the same shape as its envelope. An inflating device provides for the inflation of the pressure balloon, and a verticalization device ensures verticality of the drip. Both envelopes which hold the two balloons are flexible and are each provided with a sleeve intended to receive a flexible pouch of the perfusion product in such a way that the pressure balloon contained in its envelope may be inflated to a high pressure and therefore may act as a pressing balloon in order to provide the flow rate necessary for life support. The invention is applicable to the medical and veterinary fields.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable intimate feminine absorbent with lateral regions or cuffs for containing liquids, which tend to assume a vertical position when the absorbent assumes, in use, an anatomical arched configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of skin regeneration of a wound or burn in an animal or human. This method comprises the steps of initially covering the wound with a collagen glycosaminoglycan matrix, allowing infiltration of the grafted GC matrix by mesenchymal cells and blood vessels from healthy underlying tissue and applying a cultured epithelial autograft sheet grown from epidermal cells taken from the animal or human at a wound free site on the animal's or human's body surface. The resulting graft has excellent take rates and has the appearance, growth, maturation and differentiation of normal skin.

Abstract: A shaped sanitary napkin. The sanitary napkin of this invention has an absorbent means, such as an absorbent core, and two flaps extending outwardly from the absorbent means. Each flap is associated with the absorbent means along a nonlinear line of juncture and each has two axes of flexibility. In use, the absorbent means is secured in the crotch of a panty and the flaps are secured about the elastic edges of the panty so that, when the panty is worn, the absorbent means is held adjacent the body while the flaps form a wall at each side of the absorbent means and seals against the body. Both the walls and the seals serve to prevent soiling of the body and clothing by menstrual fluid.

Abstract: A system for percutaneous transluminal front-end delivery of a collapsible prosthetic occluder includes a front-end loading portion, a control assembly and an introducer. The front-end loading portion includes a tapering lumen portion and a smaller diameter distal lumen portion. An infusion port communicates with the distal lumen portion immediately adjacent the distal end of the tapering lumen portion. A valve assembly seals the front-end loading portion lumen proximally of the collapsed occluder. The distal end of the front-end loading portion lumen is inserted into the proximal end of an introducer. A control assembly advances the occluder through the front-end loading portion, the introducer and into the defect site.

Abstract: An interlabial sanitary pad is disclosed including a pickup module containing an absorbent which is adapted to fit in or adjacent to a vaginal opening, a capacity module containing an absorbent which is adapted to be positioned remote from the vaginal opening, and fluid-wicking fibers serving as the absorbent and further communicating with both the pickup and capacity modules for carrying fluid from the pickup module to the capacity module. The fluid-wicking fibers are longitudinally oriented and packed in the capacity module at a bulk density greater than in the pickup module. The pickup module has a fluid-pervious cover, while the capacity module has a fluid-impervious baffle capable of containing fluid therein. The capacity module can have a flattened fan shape and can contain superabsorbent.

Abstract: A method for vertebral fixation of a pair of vertebrae of a patient, which includes in steps of posterolaterally entering the back of a patient by means of an open surgical technique, introducing a plurality of pedicle screws into the medullary canal of the pedicles of adjacent thoracic and/or lumbar vertebrae or the pedicles of the L5 and S1 vertebrae, to a position where the proximal end lies adjacent the fascia of the patient; inserting pedicle screw linkages between the skin of the patient and the lumbar fascia of the patient and detachably securing the linkage means to the proximal ends of the screws on the same side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae to restrict relative movement between the vertebrae.

Abstract: An improved intravascular catheter placement device for semi-automatic insertion, i.e. manually triggered self-propelled insertion, of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising a hollow needle, an intravascular catheter concentric with said hollow needle, a chamber in communication with said hollow needle wherein the pressure within said chamber is a vacuum pressure and self-propelling means for moving said catheter into a blood vessel upon penetration of the wall of the blood vessel by the tip of the hollow needle.The self-propelling means acting upon the catheter is manually actuated by the operator of the device upon visualization of the backflow of blood occurring upon penetration of the blood vessel by the tip of the needle, said backflow of blood being accelerated into said chamber by the vacuum pressure present within said chamber.

Abstract: An absorbent device having low fluid wet-back and good surface cleanliness and resistance to staining is provided which comprises an absorbent core, a cover sheet on a body facing side thereof and an intermediate layer between the cover sheet and the core wherein the cover sheet comprises an apertured polymer film for example a flexible polymer net and the intermediate layer comprises a planar apertured polymer film for example a flexible polymer net.