Abstract: A disposable garment and method of manufacturing such whereby profile cuts are made near the longitudinal edges of an absorbent pad assembly to create leg cut-out pieces or noodles. The noodles remain attached to the absorbent pad assembly at a point proximal to a center point of the absorbent pad assembly. The noodles are then folded toward the interior surface of the absorbent pad assembly about the point of attachment and are attached to the interior surface by an adhesive. An outer folding strip of each noodle is then folded back upon the respective noodles and secured to the noodle and the absorbent pad assembly by an adhesive, thereby creating an effective leakage control shield without the need to discard unused material in the manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ostomy bag having a multi-piece construction with peelable skin surfaces, and multiple perforated layers which are made of dissolvable material. Absorbent material is placed between the layers to facilitate dissolution of the bag when placed in a toilet. The multiple layers of material also permit ready identification to the wearer, by its color change appearance of the inventive applicance, that the layers thereof are properly assembled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent article and preferably a diaper or incontinent device having perfume zones disposed on the backsheet outer surface or on a backing member attached to the backsheet outer surface. The perfume zones generally comprise a binder having release agents of one or more types dispersed therethrough. Additionally, the perfume zones contain pull-strips attached to the binder which, when detached from the binder, will cause perfume to be released from the release agents either by shearing of the agents or diffusion as a result of uncovering the binder. The perfume provides the functions of either masking and/or absorbing malodors and are released via fragrance burst, and/or diffusion over time. Furthermore, perfume is released either at attachment of the article about a wearer, at removal of the article from about a wearer and/or during sustained wear of the article about a wearer.

Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core therebetween. The backsheet is made of an air-permeable but liquid-impermeable plastic film having a surface thereof whitened by fine particles of an inorganic substance contained therein. An indicator 18 provided between the backsheet and the absorbent core. The indicator includes a layer of printed ink adapted to be visually revealed when it is wetted with discharged urine and a masking region disposed between the layer of printing ink and the backsheet so as to cover the layer of printed ink, and the masking region contains a surfactant.

Abstract: Catheter systems comprising a base catheter and a sleeve catheter are modified to have reduced sliding friction therebetween. The sleeve catheter is received over the base catheter, and an inner luminal surface of the sleeve catheter or outer surface of the base catheter is modified to have surface irregularities to reduce sliding friction. Preferably, the surface irregularities are circumferentially spaced-apart V-spaced peaks. Such peaks may be formed by fabricating tubular catheter bodies in an extrusion tool having a mold or die with correspondingly shaped V-shaped grooves therein. Alternatively, the surface irregularities may be imparted using a mold or mandrel which is placed over or in a tubular catheter body, where the desired geometry is transferred by heating the catheter.

Abstract: A device for sucking an effusion fluid from the skin of an organism from which keratin has been removed. A disk is received in the cavity of a cell for sucking an effusion fluid in contact with the surface of an organism. Guide grooves are formed in the surface of the disk facing a suction port while holes are formed through the disk in each guide groove. The disk allows a minimum of fluid to remain thereon and guides the fluid toward the suction side in order to enhance efficient collection. When the fluid is collected a plurality of times, the preceding fluid and the following fluid are prevented from being mixed together, insuring accurate measurement.

Abstract: A kidney stone specimen collection device having a tubular body with a longitudinal axis, a mesh screen affixed to an interior of the tubular body and extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body, a first closure member affixed to one end of the tubular body so as to selectively seal the end of the tubular body, and a second closure member affixed to an opposite end of the tubular body for selectively sealing the opposite end of the tubular body. The tubular body is formed of an impact-resistant generally transparent plastic material. A flow indicator is positioned on a surface of the tubular body so as to be indicative of a direction of urine flow through the tubular body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cover for an ostomy bag which is opaque to camouflage waste in the ostomy bag. The cover is also moisture resistant to prevent the deterioration of the cover when exposed to moisture as well as to prevent the cover from separating from an ostomy bag when exposed to moisture. The cover may also include decorative patterns.

Abstract: A disposable diaper has front and rear waist regions adapted to be separably connected to each other by surface fasteners. Each surface fastener has a hooked fastener component and a looped fastener component operatively associated with the hooked fastener component. At least a pair of wings extending outward from transversely opposite sides of the rear waist region have their outer surfaces made of nonwoven fabric with which the component can be interlocked, enabling the used disposable diaper to be reliably rolled-up for disposal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided for use in the perineal area of the body having an absorbent core having an upper body facing surface, a lower garment facing surface, first and second longitudinal sides, and first and second transverse ends. A body fluid impervious sealing wrapper, having upper and lower portions each having longitudinally and transversely extending edges along which said portions are joined, is formed around the absorbent core so as to enclose at least the entirety of the garment facing surface, the longitudinal sides and the transverse ends, thereby forming a seal. A centrally disposed opening is formed in the upper portion of the sealing wrapper thereby forming a window on the body facing surface of the absorbent core that exposes it to fluid flow. A fluid pervious layer covers at least the portion of the body facing surface on which the window is formed. The upper portion of the sealing wrapper and the pervious layer are joined so as to form a laminated layer.

Abstract: A two piece male incontinence device includes an inner sheath adapted to adhere to and cover at least a portion of the penis of the user and an outer sheath adapted to adhere to the inner sheath and to direct voided urine to a receptacle. At least the penile meatus is exposed through an opening in the inner sheath. The outer sheath includes a continuous cap-like section adapted to adhere to the inner sheath, a urine collection section and a tube section suitable for connection to a urine receptacle. The user changes the outer sheath as needed while leaving the inner sheath intact for prolonged periods of time, thereby minimizing penile skin damage and erosion resulting from repeated removal of a device adhesively bonded to the skin.

Abstract: An absorbent product having fluid repellent leakage barriers is provided to reduce or prevent side leakage. The leakage barriers comprise folded structures which are attached longitudinally on the body-facing side of the absorbent product adjacent each lateral edge of the absorbent product and the distal ends of each leakage barrier are anchored to the absorbent product. When the absorbent product is flexed concavely along its longitudinal axis with respect to the body-facing side the leakage barriers at least partially open to form upstanding walls.

Abstract: A disposable liquid-absorbing article, such as a diaper (10), sanitary towel or similar, having a substantially longitudinal shape and including an absorption body (12) and a cover (11) enclosing the absorption body with a liquid-pervious inner sheet (17) and an outer sheet (18) and contracting elastics members (23) in contact with at least one of the sheets to give the article its shape in an in-use position. The cover sheet on which the elastics members are applied, is connected to the inside and outside of the absorption body respectively, and the elastics members (23) extend with at least one substantially continually curved portion (24, 25) over at least an area of the absorption body. The strive of the elastics members to contract and the contact of the elastics members with one of the sheets, exert a tension force on the sheet in a direction towards the curvature center of the elastics members, whereby this force is transferred and absorbed by the absorption body.

Abstract: A condom improving device in the form of an elastic sheet having an aperture with a cross-sectional area of from 12.5 mm.sup.2 to 707 mm.sup.2, the aperture being adapted to receive a condom and the perimeter thereof acting to hold the rim of the condom on the body of a user.

Abstract: An absorbent pants type article has a front waist-opening marginal stretchable region and a front waist stretchable region having upper, intermediate and lower stretchable subregions. The elongation stress of the front waist-opening marginal stretchable region is greater than the corresponding stress in the lower stretchable subregion. The stress in the lower stretchable region is greater than the stress in the upper stretchable subregion which is in turn greater than the stress in the intermediate stretchable subregion.

Abstract: A convertible bird box as illustrated has upper and lower entrance openings located in a pivoting front wall panel to create an upper roosting perch and a lower nesting location. A closure having a single opening rotates between the upper and lower entrance openings to selectively create a nesting box and a roosting box. The invention further describes a method for selectively forming a winter roosting box and a spring nesting box.

Abstract: A method of treating a disorder of an eye, the eye having a macular area and a sclera, comprises the step of placing a strip of material over the macular area, the strip having a pair of opposed ends, and suturing the ends to the sclera. A macular bandage is also disclosed which comprises a strip of material having a pair of ends which are sutured to the sclera of the eye after the strip has been placed around the macular area of the eye.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a main body portion, a pair of flaps joined to the main body portion, and an adhesive patch joined to each flap. Each adhesive patch comprises a first half and a second half releasably secured to the first half. The first half comprises an adhesive and the second half comprises an adhesive which is releasably securable to the adhesive of the first half.

Abstract: A float tube urinal of the present invention includes a urine inflow mechanism which is typically formed by a condom catheter formed of a condom (or other urinal) with an elongate tube extending therefrom. The condom catheter is connected to a housing with substantially rigid side walls, or sidewalls which, though flexible, are held apart by substantially rigid support structures, to prevent a compressive force from compacting a containment volume defined by the housing. A vent tube is attached to the housing to vent air in the housing as urine is received from the condom catheter.