Abstract: A medical instrument with a hydrophilic, low-friction coating is provided. The guidewire includes a metallic core which includes a first layer of a water-insoluble polymer deposited from an aqueous polymer emulsion, such as an acrylic or polyether block amide latex and a second external layer of a water soluble hydrophilic polymer. The guide wire may also include on the metal core a polymer tube which is heat sealed to the exterior surface of the core. The first and second coatings are then formed on the polymer tube. After the two layers are applied, both layers are cured by heating the coated instrument to a temperature above 100.degree. C.

Abstract: A plastic mold assembly comprising a male and female section for casting soft contact lenses from a polymerizable feed material wherein compensation for polymerization shrinkage is attained and disengagement of the male and female mold sections is facilitated by providing one flexible and one rigid mold section. Good optical properties of the mold surfaces are obtained by forming the mold sections entirely from a thermoplastic material such as polystyrene that will not crystallize when cooled from a melt. In one embodiment a plurality of flexible male sections having convex molding surfaces and a plurality of rigid female sections having concave molding surfaces are supported on frames to attain an increased production rate of finished soft contact lenses.

Abstract: A plastic mold assembly comprising a male and female section for casting soft contact lenses from a polymerizable feed material wherein compensation for polymerization shrinkage is attained and disengagement of the male and female mold sections is facilitated by providing one flexible and one rigid mold section. Good optical properties of the mold surfaces are obtained by forming the mold sections entirely from a thermoplastic material such as polystyrene that will not crystallize when cooled from a melt. In one embodiment a plurality of flexible male sections having convex molding surfaces and a plurality of rigid female sections having concave molding surfaces are supported on frames to attain an increased production rate of finished soft contact lenses.

Abstract: Soft contact lenses are made by polymerizing a substantially anhydrous polymerization mixture containing a polymerizable acrylic or methacrylic monomer, and a water displaceable ester of boric acid and a compound containing 3 or more hydroxyl groups so as to form a hydrophilic polymer containing at least 30% of said boric acid ester. In a preferred embodiment, the polymerizable is effected in a mould cavity where the contact between a sharp circular edge in one mould part and a spherical surface in the other mould part defines the edge of the lens and the distance between the two mould surfaces outside the sharp edge increases in all radial directions away from the center.

Abstract: A magnet system for sealing devices for artificial or natural intestinal or similar ducts, comprising a ring-magnet to implant in the tissue around the duct and a rod-shaped center magnet member mounted in a more or less soft sealing member to be in sealing contact with the walls of the duct. The improvement is that the center magnet member comprises at least two, in practice usually two or three, axial aligned individual magnets acting together so as to resist axial displacement; the individual poles are positioned to resist tilting of the center magnet member relative the axis of the duct and the ring-shaped magnet member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing material for use in connection with ostomy devices, particularly stoma pouches, to surround and protect a stoma in the human body. The improvement is that the material is a shaped, gel-like composition composed of a largely continuous phase consisting of a physically cross-linked elastomer or a mixture of such elastomers, and preferably, but optionally, one or more hydrocarbon tackifier resins and likewise optionally, but preferably, an oil extender; and distributed in the continuous phase one or more hydrocolloids. The gel-like composition has a low resistance to quick deformation and a rapid recovery to the original shape after deformation.

Abstract: Improved polyfuran foams are prepared by polymerizing or copolymerizing furfuryl alcohol, alone or in combination with prepolymers or precopolymers of furfuryl alcohol, as liquid feed material in the presence of a liquid acidic compound, the liquid feed material containing at least 20% of free furfuryl alcohol and wherein at least 50% of the hydroxyl groups in the mixture are present as free furfuryl alcohol. The liquid acidic compound or mixture of acidic compounds having a pKa value in water of from 1 to 4 or having a pka value in water of less than 1 and being uniformly distributed in mono alcohols that do not polymerize in the presence of said acidic compound or mixture of acidic compounds. The polyfuran foam having non-flammability characteristics as determined by the muffle furance test.

Abstract: In a method of treating a textile material in a shrinking bath containing a swelling agent comprising the step of introducing into said bath a driving-off agent which substantially reduces the solubility of the swelling agent in the shrinking bath.

Abstract: A synthetic foam and a process for its preparation is disclosed comprising (a) a polymerized mass of at least 50 parts by weight of furfuryl alcohol, at least one part by weight of at least one amino compound selected from the group consisting of urea, thiourea and melamine, and up to 49 parts by weight formaldehyde, and (b) an equal or less amount of filler.

Abstract: A synthetic foam and a process for its preparation is disclosed comprising (a) a polymerized mass of at least 50 parts by weight of furfuryl alcohol, at least one part by weight of at least one amino compound selected from the group consisting of urea, thiourea and melamine, and up to 49 parts by weight formaldehyde, and (b) an equal or less amount of filler.