Abstract: Stretch-release adhesive articles with tunable mechanical properties are provided. The articles include a stretchable carrier extending along a first direction and including a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. At least one of the first and second major surfaces of the stretchable carrier is a stretch-releasable adhesive surface, and the stretchable carrier includes a pattern of slits distributed thereon and configured to deform upon a stretch on the stretchable carrier to elongate the stretchable carrier.

Abstract: A removable dental appliance may include an appliance body at least partially surrounding two or more teeth of a patient. The appliance body may include a first shell shaped to receive a first tooth; a second shell shaped to receive a second tooth; and at least one spring bellows that includes an arcuate displacement extending over and away from at least a portion of an interproximal region between the first tooth and the second tooth to join the first shell and the second shell. The spring bellows is configured to apply a force between the first shell and the second shell to cause movement of at least one of the first tooth and the second tooth toward a desired position when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method and system of determining a first force vector of a selected point in a first position on a virtual dentition of the oral cavity based on the first aggregate force characteristic of a force member, having multiple segments, in the first configuration and determining a second force vector of the selected point in a second position on the virtual dentition based on the first aggregate force characteristic of the force member in the first configuration. The method includes determining a condition of whether the second force vector (or force magnitude thereof) is within 90 percent of the first force vector (or force magnitude thereof) at 50 percent of displacement between the first position and the second position and performing an operation based on the condition.

Abstract: A removable dental appliance that includes an appliance body configured to at least partially surround a plurality of teeth of a dental arch of a patient. The appliance body including a first and second shell shaped to receive a first and second respective tooth; and at least one jumper including an elongated structure having a first end coupled to the first shell and a second end coupled to the second shell. The at least one jumper is configured to apply a force between the first and second shells to cause a movement of at least one of the first and second teeth toward a desired position when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a removable dental appliance comprising an appliance body configured to at least partially surround a plurality of teeth of a patient. The appliance body defines a shell configured to receive a tooth of the plurality of teeth in an initial position and a bendable flap integrally formed with the appliance body to tether the flap to the shell. The bendable flap defines a boundary region around the bendable flap and includes abridge, wherein the bridge extends between the body and the flap at or adjacent the boundary region. In one specific embodiment, the bridge is an arcuate member and includes a spring bellows. The bendable flap and the bridge are configured to apply a force to the tooth to cause movement of the tooth toward a desired position when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: A respiratory mask body defining a breathable air zone for a wearer and having a shut-off valve is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the mask body includes one or more inlet ports configured to receive one or more breathing air source components. The shut-off valve is operable between a closed position and an open position, and when in a closed position the shut-off valve prevents fluid communication between the one or more inlet ports and the breathable air zone and the shut-off valve returns to an open position in the absence of an applied force.

Abstract: An adhesive article including: a flexible backing; a first cushion layer permanently bonded to a first surface of the flexible backing, wherein the first cushion layer: has an average thickness of at least 10 micrometers; and includes an acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive having a Fox Tg of up to ?30° C., wherein the acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a (meth)acrylate copolymer; and a first continuous shell layer adjacent the first cushion layer, wherein: the first continuous shell layer has an average thickness of up to 25 micrometers; the ratio of the first cushion layer average thickness to the first shell layer average thickness is at least 2:1; the first continuous shell layer includes an adhesive having a Fox Tg of ?20° C. to +50° C.; and the first continuous shell layer adhesive includes a copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 Daltons.

Abstract: An orthodontic palatal expander may include a first shell configured to receive at least one tooth of a first posterior segment of a dental arch of a patient; a second shell configured to receive at least one tooth of a second posterior segment of the dental arch; and a split beam connected between the first shell and the second shell. The split beam may include a first beam comprising a relatively high modulus material, a second beam comprising the high modulus material, and a region between the first beam and the second beam.

Abstract: A respiratory mask body defining a breathable air zone for a wearer and having a shut-off valve is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the mask body includes one or more inlet ports configured to receive one or more breathing air source components. The shut-off valve is operable between a closed position and an open position, and when in a closed position the shut-off valve prevents fluid communication between the one or more inlet ports and the breathable air zone and the shut-off valve returns to an open position in the absence of an applied force.

Abstract: A curved optical film generally lying in a base plane and having a thickness of less than 500 microns, and an average optical absorption of less than 70% for unpolarized normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range is described. A first cross-section of the optical film in a first plane perpendicular to the base plane has an actual first length AL1 a projected first length PL1, and a first stretch ratio S1 of (AL1?PL1)/PL1. A second cross-section of the optical film in a second plane perpendicular to the first and base planes has an actual second length AL2, a projected second length PL2, and a second stretch ratio S2 of (AL2?PL2)/P2. The optical film may have a maximum thickness variation of less than 20% along each of the first and second cross-sections, S1 may be at least 0.1, and S2 may be at least 0.01 and less than 0.8S1.

Abstract: A securement device for securing a medical article, comprising abase having a longitudinal axis, a top face and a bottom face, where the longitudinal axis defines a longitudinal direction, a cuff disposed on the top face of the base and positioned along the longitudinal axis, the cuff comprising an entry gap in at least a portion of the cuff and defining an interior aperture, and a bar disposed on the top face of the base, the bar positioned along the longitudinal axis, where the bar is moveable between an open position and a closed position and where the bar cooperates with the cuff in the closed position to secure the medical article.

Abstract: A flexible hook hanger comprises an elongate sheet of pliable backing, an adhesive layer and a hook element. The backing comprises first and second ends, a first zone positioned adjacent the first end, a second zone positioned adjacent the second end and a central zone positioned between the first and second zones. The adhesive layer is disposed on one side of the backing. The hook element is connected to the central zone. In one embodiment, the pliable backing comprises microstructured tape, and the adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising one or more hydrocarbon block copolymers, and a polar phenolic tackifier. In another embodiment, at least one of the first and second zones includes a peel arrestor. For example, the first zone and the second zone have a first width and a second width, respectively, and the central zone has a third width that is less than at least one of the first width and the second width.

Abstract: A removable dental appliance may include an appliance body configured to at least partially surround a plurality of teeth of a patient. The appliance body defines a shell configured to receive a tooth of the plurality of teeth in an initial position and a bendable flap integrally formed with the appliance body to extend from a hinge axis of the shell. The bendable flap may be configured to apply a force to the tooth to cause movement of the tooth toward a desired position when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: An adhesive article including: a flexible backing; a first cushion layer permanently bonded to a first surface of the flexible backing, wherein the first cushion layer: has an average thickness of at least 10 micrometers; and includes an acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive having a Fox Tg of up to ?30° C., wherein the acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a (meth)acrylate copolymer; and a first continuous shell layer adjacent the first cushion layer, wherein: the first continuous shell layer has an average thickness of up to 25 micrometers; the ratio of the first cushion layer average thickness to the first shell layer average thickness is at least 2:1; the first continuous shell layer includes an adhesive having a Fox Tg of ?20° C. to +50° C.; and the first continuous shell layer adhesive includes a copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 Daltons.

Abstract: An article comprising a macroporous wound-packing material and a microcorrugated microporous wound-contact layer is provided. The wound packing material is coupled to and/or substantially surrounded by the wound-contact layer. The average pore diameter of the microporous layer is less than or equal to about 90 m. A method of treating a wound using a microcorrugated microporous wound-contact layer and a macroporous wound packing material is also provided.

Abstract: An adhesive article including: a flexible backing; a first cushion layer permanently bonded to a first surface of the flexible backing, wherein the first cushion layer: has an average thickness of at least 10 micrometers; and includes an acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive having a Fox Tg of up to ?30° C., wherein the acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a (meth)acrylate copolymer; and a first discontinuous shell layer adjacent the first cushion layer, wherein: the first discontinuous shell layer has an average thickness of up to 25 micrometers; the ratio of the first cushion layer average thickness to the first shell layer average thickness is at least 2:1; the first discontinuous shell layer includes an adhesive having a Fox Tg of +10° C. to +50° C.; and the first discontinuous shell layer adhesive includes a copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 Daltons.

Abstract: A removable dental appliance may include an appliance body at least partially surrounding two or more teeth of a patient. The appliance body may include a first shell shaped to receive a first tooth; a second shell shaped to receive a second tooth; and at least one spring bellows that includes an arcuate displacement extending over and away from at least a portion of an interproximal region between the first tooth and the second tooth to join the first shell and the second shell. The spring bellows is configured to apply a force between the first shell and the second shell to cause movement of at least one of the first tooth and the second tooth toward a desired position when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: An orthodontic palatal expander may include a first shell configured to receive at least one tooth of a first posterior segment of a dental arch of a patient; a second shell configured to receive at least one tooth of a second posterior segment of the dental arch; and a split beam connected between the first shell and the second shell. The split beam may include a first beam comprising a relatively high modulus material, a second beam comprising the high modulus material, and a region between the first beam and the second beam.

Abstract: A removable dental appliance that includes an appliance body configured to at least partially surround a plurality of teeth of a dental arch of a patient. The appliance body including a first and second shell shaped to receive a first and second respective tooth; and at least one jumper including an elongated structure having a first end coupled to the first shell and a second end coupled to the second shell. The at least one jumper is configured to apply a force between the first and second shells to cause a movement of at least one of the first and second teeth toward a desired position when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: Magneto-Mechanical Resonator Sensor with Mass Distribution Channel Some aspects of the present disclosure feature a sensing device (e.g. for temperature, moisture or detection of substances) comprising a magnetic bias layer, a resonator, a spacer, and an environmental change receptor. The spacer is disposed between the magnetic bias layer and the resonator. At least one of the resonator surfaces has a predefined channel. The environmental change receptor is disposed proximate to the predefined channel. In response to a change in environment, the environmental change receptor distributes along a part of the channel.