Patents by Inventor John E. Bruno

John E. Bruno has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6742522
    Abstract: A surgical incise drape comprising a flexible film having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a film handle applied at the leading edge of the flexible film. A liner substantially covers the major portion of the flexible film, which is coated with an adhesive. The liner may include a liner handle at the leading edge, and one of the liner handle and film handle are of a size for wrapping about at least a portion of the drape when the drape is in a folded configuration. A tensioning strip may be applied to the liner at a position away from the leading edge of the liner to hold at least a portion of the flexible film lying between the film handle and the tensioning strip in a wrinkle-free state when the liner is being removed from the major portion of the flexible film. Further, the liner may be stiff relative to the flexible film such that the liner and the film handle hold the flexible film in a wrinkle-free state when the liner is being removed from the major portion of the flexible film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dennis L. Baker, John E. Bruno, Patricia A. Eull, Dietmar Schlei, Matthew T. Scholz
  • Patent number: 5979450
    Abstract: A surgical incise drape including a flexible film having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a film handle applied at the leading edge of the flexible film. A liner substantially covers the major portion of the flexible film, which is coated with an adhesive. The liner may include a liner handle at the leading edge, and one of the liner handle and film handle are of a size for wrapping about at least a portion of the drape when the drape is in a folded configuration. A tensioning strip may be applied to the liner at a position away from the leading edge of the liner to hold at least a portion of the flexible film lying between the film handle and the tensioning strip in a wrinkle-free state when the liner is being removed from the major portion of the flexible film. Further, the liner may be stiff relative to the flexible film such that the liner and the film handle hold the flexible film in a wrinkle-free state when the liner is being removed from the major portion of the flexible film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dennis L. Baker, John E. Bruno, Patricia A. Eull, Dietmar Schlei, Matthew T. Scholz
  • Patent number: 5803086
    Abstract: A linerless, easy to apply surgical incise drape including a flexible film which has one major surface coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive and of the opposite major surface coated with a low adhesion backsize. The drape is rolled around a cylindrical core. The drape of the invention eliminates the need to use a separate liner to protect the adhesive surface of the drape, reducing the cost of the drape and eliminating waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Scholz, Andrew J. Stockholm, Kristen L. Comstock, John E. Bruno, Dietmar Schlei
  • Patent number: 5567510
    Abstract: Aqueous-alkali disposable articles are disclosed. The articles are made from films or non-woven webs or composites of films and webs where the film or nonwoven web comprises a hydrolytically degradable polymer and preferably also comprises a water soluble polymer. Multilayer microfibers of at least one layer of a hydrolytically degradable polymer and at least one layer of a water soluble polymer are particularly disclosed. The articles have water resistance during preparation, storage, and use with mammals but are dispersible when submersed in water at conditions of elevated temperature, elevated pH, and during a single commercial laundry cycle. The articles solve both the problem of solid waste disposal prevalent with single use garments and the problem of repeated cleansing and recycling of multiple use garments. Contamination associated with the articles of the invention after their use will be disinfected during the commercial laundry cycle that is utilized to disperse the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gregg A. Patnode, John E. Bruno, Denise R. Rutherford, Walter B. Sandison, Dietmar Schlei
  • Patent number: 5508101
    Abstract: Aqueous-alkali disposable articles are disclosed. The articles are made from films or non-woven webs or composites of films and webs where the film or non-woven web comprises a hydrolytically degradable polymer and preferably also comprises a water soluble polymer. Multilayer microfibers of at least one layer of a hydrolytically degradable polymer and at least one layer of a water soluble polymer are particularly disclosed. The articles have water resistance during preparation, storage, and use with mammals but are dispersible when submersed in water at conditions of elevated temperature, elevated pH, and during a single commercial laundry cycle. The articles solve both the problem of solid waste disposal prevalent with single use garments and the problem of repeated cleansing and recycling of multiple use garments. Contamination associated with the articles of the invention after their use will be disinfected during the commercial laundry cycle that is utilized to disperse the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gregg A. Patnode, John E. Bruno, Denise R. Rutherford, Walter B. Sandison, Dietmar Schlei
  • Patent number: 5472518
    Abstract: Method of disposing aqueous-alkali disposable articles is disclosed. The articles are made from films or non-woven webs or composites of films and webs where the film or non-woven web comprises a hydrolytically degradable polymer and preferably also comprises a water soluble polymer. Multilayer microfibers of at least one layer of a hydrolytically degradable polymer and at least one layer of a water soluble polymer are particularly disclosed. The articles have water resistance during preparation, storage, and use with mammals but are dispersible when submersed in water at conditions of elevated temperature, elevated pH, and during a single commercial laundry cycle. The articles solve both the problem of solid waste disposal prevalent with single use garments and the problem of repeated cleansing and recycling of multiple use garments. Contamination associated with the articles of the invention after their use will be disinfected during the commercial laundry cycle that is utilized to disperse the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gregg A. Patnode, John E. Bruno, Denise R. Rutherford, Walter B. Sandison, Dietmar Schlei