Abstract: A method that includes the step of using a person's fingers to push a dental composition into engagement with a damaged tooth surface of a damaged tooth thereby adhering the dental composition to the damaged tooth surface and covering at least a portion of the damaged tooth surface. The dental composition includes a base material comprising at least one of the following compounds chosen from the group consisting of: a product consisting of one or more hydrocarbon-based waxes that may also include inorganic fillers and/or organic fillers; an uncured, uncrosslinked silicone high consistency rubber base; and a hydrophobic water insoluble solid material. The base material has a coating composition on one or more surface of the base material wherein the coating composition comprises: one or more desensitization ingredient and at least one dry, powdered hydrophilic polymeric substance.

Abstract: A hygienically packaged composition that includes a base layer of a thermoplastic film, a covering film layer that is a heat sealable or pressure sealable adhesive liner that covers the hygienically packaged composition where the hygienically packaged composition is a dental composition, a food composition, or a medicine. The covering film layer includes a stretched dimple in a portion of the covering film layer proximate the hygienically packaged composition thereunder the covering film layer. There is typically a heat or pressure seal around each hygienically packaged composition.

Abstract: A method that includes the step of using a person's fingers to push a dental composition into engagement with a damaged tooth surface of a damaged tooth thereby adhering the dental composition to the damaged tooth surface and covering at least a portion of the damaged tooth surface. The dental composition includes a base material comprising at least one of the following compounds chosen from the group consisting of: a product consisting of one or more hydrocarbon-based waxes that may also include inorganic fillers and/or organic fillers; an uncured, uncrosslinked silicone high consistency rubber base; and a hydrophobic water insoluble solid material that is malleable at 37° C. or lower and safe for a human oral environment. The base material has at least one dry, powdered hydrophilic polymeric substance engaged with and dispersed on one or more surface of the base material.

Abstract: At least one individually sealed dental composition that includes a layer of a thermoplastic film; a covering film that is a heat sealable or pressure sealable adhesive liner that covers a dental cement composition; a seal around an individual use dosage of the dental cement composition wherein the extrudable dental cement composition is extrudable through a die. The dental cement composition typically has a textured surface thereon and the at least one dry, powdered hydrophilic polymeric substance is engaged with and dispersed on the textured surface of the dental cement composition.

Abstract: An orthodontic protection device that includes: an extruded base material having an uncured, uncross-linked silicone high consistency rubber base where the extruded base material has at least one dry, powdered hydrophilic polymeric substance mechanically or frictionally engaged with and dispersed on a surface of the extruded base material thereby forming a finger force malleable hydrophobic base material composite configured to be applied to a surface of a tooth, a surface of an orthodontic appliance or both a surface of a tooth and a surface of an orthodontic appliance using finger pressure within about eight seconds or less.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot, and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members movable about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one of the jaw members includes at least one mechanical interface and at least one jaw member is adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the at least one jaw member is capable of conducting energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot, the flexible boot including a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material.

Abstract: An extruded, preferably flexible mixing tube having unitary construction and a lumen coextensive with the length thereof. A mixing portion of the lumen is tortuous and operable for mixing two or more comingled fluids flowing therethrough. The lumen of the mixing tube preferably includes a smooth cylindrical connector portion at both ends thereof dimensioned to receive tubing connectors. The mixing portion of the lumen is disposed between the connector portions and is in fluid communication with the connector portions of the lumens at both ends of the mixing tube. The mixing tube may be extruded in any desired length. The tortuous mixing portion of the lumen may have any desired cross-sectional geometry. In one embodiment the mixing portion is defined by a spiral conduit. In another embodiment, the mixing portion of the lumen varies in internal diameter periodically along the length of the mixing tube.

Abstract: The present invention discloses extruded articles, such as tubing or multilumen catheters, having hybrid composition, an axial length and a transverse cross-section orthogonal to the length. The extruded articles have unitary construction and require no assembly. The composition of each cross-section of the article along the length of the article is homogeneous and comprises a first extrudable material and/or a second extrudable material. The percentage of the two extrudable materials in any cross-section varies along the length of the article in a controlled, either continuous or discontinuous manner. The first and second extrudable materials are preferably elastomers having different durometers, color or radiopacity. The weight percentage of one of the two extrudable materials in a cross-section may vary abruptly, smoothly and/or periodically along the length of the article.

Abstract: Extruded articles, such as tubing or multilumen catheters, having hybrid composition, an axial length and a transverse cross-section orthogonal to the length. The extruded articles have unitary construction and require no assembly. The composition of each cross-section of the article along the length of the article contains a first extrudable material and/or a second extrudable material. The percentage and/or distribution of the two extrudable materials in any cross-section varies along the length of the article in a controlled, continuous or discontinuous manner. The first and second extrudable materials may be an elastomer having different durometers, color or radiopacity. The weight percentage of one of the two extrudable materials in a cross-section may vary abruptly, smoothly and/or periodically along the length of the article. An extrusion die and a method for using the die for making the hybrid, unitary extruded articles is disclosed.

Abstract: A tubing having unitary construction and having a single lumen portion, a multilumen portion and a transition portion therebetween. The single lumen is in fluid communication with each and every lumen comprising the multilumen portion. The tubing may be made in any desired length by means of extrusion. The outer surface of the tubing may be either smooth or grooved and have any desired cross-sectional geometry. Similarly, any of the lumens can be made to have a desired cross-sectional shape and size. Although the tubing can be made from any extrudable material, a preferred material is medical grade silicone clastomer. An extrusion apparatus and a method for making the tubing in a continuous process is described.

Abstract: A tubing having unitary construction and having a single lumen portion, a multilumen portion and a transition portion therebetween. The single lumen is in fluid communication with each and every lumen comprising the multilumen portion. The tubing may be made in any desired length by means of extrusion. The outer surface of the tubing may be either smooth or grooved and have any desired cross-sectional geometry. Similarly, any of the lumens can be made to have a desired cross-sectional shape and size. Although the tubing can be made from any extrudable material, a preferred material is medical grade silicone elastomer. An extrusion apparatus and a method for making the tubing in a continuous process is described.

Abstract: An extruded "Y" or bifurcated tube having unitary construction and an extrusion apparatus therefor. The "Y" tube includes three separate tubes, each tube having a central lumen, and a transition portion integral with the tubes and providing physical connection and fluid communication between the individual lumens of the three separate tubes. The first of the three tubes has a first lumen and is first formed by extrusion through a convention extruding die. The extruder die then gradually bifurcates the first tube, providing a gradual transition between the first tube and the second and third tubes. The lumens in the second and third tubes thus formed remain in uninterrupted fluid communication with the lumen of the first tube. The bifurcation takes place with the first tube to form second and third tubes smoothly and over a transition distance which is easily controlled by the extruder die. The bifurcated second and third tubes are continuous with the first tube making the "Y" tube unitary.

Abstract: A unitary tube useful for the conduction of fluids to and from a site within the body of a patient. A particularly preferred embodiment is a drainage tube. The drainage tube, which may be continuously extruded from a biocompatible elastomer, has a variable exterior and interior cross section along its length. The drainage tube has collecting, transition and extension portions. The collecting portion, which has a hollow interior to receive fluids, is temporarily implanted within a wound site or other body cavity to enable body fluids to collect therein. The collecting portion is preferably a flattened tubular member having a width that exceeds the height. The interior wall of the collecting portion has longitudinal ribs or struts to prevent opposing walls from collapsing upon each other. The collecting portion preferably has fenestrations in its wall to permit the passage of body fluids from the surrounding tissue into the hollow interior lumen of the collection portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for making extruded tubing having one or more lumens therein with a variable outer diameter. The apparatus is useful for forming tubing of an extrudable material such as an elastomer or thermoplastic. The extrudable material is forced around a mandrel and through a die aperture over a mandrel wherein the inside surface of the tubing is of uniform diameter along its length but the wall thickness varies throughout its length. Such an apparatus may be used, for example, to make kink-resistant tubing. In one embodiment, the aperture in the extrusion die has a variable diameter while the mandrel remains constant. In a second preferred embodiment, a moveable ring with a central aperture is disposed within the extrusion chamber coaxially with the mandrel. The ring is capable of reciprocal motion in the direction of extrusion. During extrusion, when the moveable ring is moved toward the die opening, it constricts the outer diameter of the tubing thus formed.