Abstract: A water soluble hydrophilic resin in an alcohol-free polymer solution and a method of application to natural rubber and synthetic latex products such as surgeon's gloves, catheters and condoms to increase the lubricity of the rubber products where they come into contact with skin or other tissue. The hydrophilic resin is applied in a single application step in an aqueous solution in the absence of alcohol or a separate acid priming step.

Abstract: A water soluble hydrophilic resin in an alcohol-free polymer solution and a method of application to natural rubber and synthetic latex products such as surgeon's gloves, catheters and condoms to increase the lubricity of the rubber products where they come into contact with skin or other tissue. The hydrophilic resin is applied in a single application step in an aqueous solution in the absence of alcohol or a separate acid priming step.

Abstract: An adhesive bandage, wound dressing, suture-like mechanism, or surgical drape for use over a wound is made from a laminate structure of flexible rubber, a hydrophilic hydrogel polymer bonded to one side of the flexible rubber, and an adhesive bonded to the hydrophilic hydrogel polymer along at least a first section of the adhesive bandage, wound dressing, suture-like mechanism, or surgical drape. The adhesive is preferably a hydrogel adhesive with a cellulosic, polyurethane or polyacrylate base, while the flexible rubber is preferably rubber which is pretreated with hydrogel polymer prior to curing. A medicament such as CPC or BAK can be bonded to the hydrophilic hydrogel polymer along the non-adhesive portion of the adhesive bandage, wound dressing or surgical drape to provide slow release medication, and if desired, removable plastic may be provided to cover the adhesive portions. The bandage, wound dressing, suture-like mechanism, or surgical drape may take various shapes, sizes, and arrangements.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing energetics, including explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics and obsolete munitions below detonation temperature by reaction with liquid sulfur. Also disclosed is a process for introducing sulfur into explosive packages without dismantling. The package is soaked in carbon disulfide solution and the solution is then evaporated, leaving behind elemental sulfur. After stabilization below the autodetonation temperature, the reaction products are completely destroyed by reaction with sulfur vapor at temperatures above 500.degree. C.

Abstract: An adhesive bandage, wound dressing, suture-like mechanism, or surgical drape for use over a wound is made from a laminate structure of flexible rubber, a hydrophilic hydrogel polymer bonded to one side of the flexible rubber, and an adhesive bonded to the hydrophilic hydrogel polymer along at least a first section of the adhesive bandage, wound dressing, suture-like mechanism, or surgical drape. The adhesive is preferably a hydrogel adhesive with a cellulosic, polyurethane or polyacrylate base, while the flexible rubber is preferably rubber which is pretreated with hydrogel polymer prior to curing. A medicament such as CPC or BAK can be bonded to the hydrophilic hydrogel polymer along the non-adhesive portion of the adhesive bandage, wound dressing or surgical drape to provide slow release medication, and if desired, removable plastic may be provided to cover the adhesive portions. The bandage, wound dressing, suture-like mechanism, or surgical drape may take various shapes, sizes, and arrangements.

Abstract: The interior surface of a container, such as a bloodbag, is primed and subsequently coated with a time-releasable viricide against HIV absorbed in a hydrogel polymer. The viricides of this invention are derivatives of urea, and upon release into the blood, have no adverse effects on the red blood cell functions of the blood.

Abstract: A biplane ultrasound assembly (10) including a probe member (14) having a body portion (46) defining a longitudinal axis. A pair of scanning transducers (16,18) are mounted on the body portion (46) aligned along the longitudinal axis thereof for respectively ultrasound scanning different orthogonal planes (23,25) of an adjacent object (20) and transmitting the scans to an visual image processing system. Each of the planes (23,25) intersects the plane (23,25) of the other scanning transducer (16,18) at a centerline (22,24). A centerline indicating mechanism produces an image of the centerline of the scan plane (23,25) from each scanning transducer (16,18).

Abstract: A biplane ultrasound probe (10) including an outer casing (12) having a longitudinal axis and an inner member (14) mounted within the outer casing (12). A pair of scanning transducers (16,18) are mounted on the inner member (14) for respectively ultrasound scanning different orthogonal planes (23,25) of an adjacent object (20). The assembly includes a shifting mechanism for shifting the inner member (14) axially within the outer casing (12) independently of the outer casing (12) to move either one of the scanning transducers (16,18) into a unitary scanning position. The shifting mechanism further includes an actuator for actuating the one of the scanning probes (16,18) shifted into the scanning position to scan the object (20).

Abstract: A skin-contacting lubricating layer formed from a hydrogel polymer bonded to a rubber article (such as a surgeon's glove) is treated by means of surfactant material (such as a bactericidal cationic surfactant which preferably has a 6-18C alkyl or alkenyl group, such as an N-hexadecyl group) or a long chain fatty amine so as to substantially improve the lubricity of the layer with respect to damp skin.The hydrogel polymer is preferably a copolymer of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) with methacrylic acid (MAA) or with 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) or with both MAA and EHA. Such a hydrogel polymer has improved lubricity to dry skin and, if used for this purpose, need not be treated with a surfactant or fatty amine to improve the lubricity with respect to damp skin.

Abstract: There is provided a flexible rubber or article having a coating of a hydrophilic hydrogel polymer. The coating is applied to at least one surface of the article prior to heat vulcanization of the article and prior to curing of the polymer to impart lubricant and moisture transmission properties after vulcanization and curing thereof. A solution of a trivalent cationic salt may be applied to the article prior to or simultaneously with the application of the polymer so as to provide for improved adhesion of the polymer to the article after curing. A powderless solution of an emulsion or a surfactant is applied to the article after curing to reduce the surface tack of both the surface of the article which has been coated by the polymer and the surface opposite such polymer-coated surface.

Abstract: A skin-contacting coating of a lubricating hydrogel polymer bonded to a rubber article (such as a surgeon's glove) is treated by means of surfactant material (such as a bactericidal cationic surfactant which preferably has an N-hexadecyl group) or a long chain fatty amine so as to substantially improve the lubricity of the coating with respect to damp skin.The hydrogel polymer is preferably a copolymer of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) with methacrylic acid (MAA) or with 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) or with both MAA and EHA. The copolymer contains HEMA and MAA is a molar ratio of 1 to 10:1 of HEMA and EHA in a molar ratio of 2.5 to 10:1. Such a hydrogel polymer has improved lubricity to dry skin and, if used for this purpose, need not be treated with a surfactant or fatty amine to improve the lubricity with respect to damp skin.

Abstract: A treatment of a shaped flexible elastomer item so as to form a coating of a hydrophilic polymer on the surface of the elastomer. The treatment encompasses cleaning of the elastomer surface, immersion of the elastomer in a concentrated solution of a strong acid such as sulphuric acid, washing, and subsequent dipping of the treated elastomer in a solution of an uncured hydrophilic polymer. The treated elastomer is then held at an elevated temperature for a period of time to cure the polymer coating and to bond the polymer coating to the elastomer.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprising a track along which a plurality of carriers are movable. Each carrier includes a pusher dog that is movable into and out of position for engagement by a pusher lug of a conveyor chain. Each carrier is provided with wheels, and a pivoted anti-back up cam member which is normally urged by gravity in a direction to hold surfaces thereof out of engagement with the track. Each carrier further includes an actuator operable when it engages a preceding carrier or an obstacle to move the pusher dog out of engagement with the pusher lug. A spring is provided between the actuator and the anti-back up cam member so that when the actuator is operated to move the pusher dog, the cam member frictionally engages the track.