Abstract: The disclosed reinforced adhesive substrate includes a transparent, flexible, breathable backing with a reinforcing material having open areas to the substrate. The reinforcing material strengthen the breathable backing while maintaining transparency so that overall the substrate is transparent. A transparent adhesive substrate can allow the underlying surface to be visualized.

Abstract: A stored energy discharge apparatus for discharging electrical charge from a first component prior to being installed into a second component. The apparatus includes at least one mounting component adapted to a desired voltage potential used in the second component, and at least one discharge component adapted to receive the first component and discharge electrical charge from the first component to the second component through the at least one mounting component prior to the first component being installed in the second component.

Abstract: Non-adhesive articles include an elastomeric layer, where the elastomeric layer has a plurality of cuts arrayed in a pattern. The cuts are gaps, but the gaps are not visible to the naked eye when the article is in an unstressed state, and in a stressed state, at least some of the cuts become gaps that are visible to the naked eye. The gaps are perforations in the elastomeric layer and are apertures through which one can view through the elastomeric layer. The perforations indicate the presence of stress in the article, and the elastomeric layer has a lower effective modulus of elasticity in at least one axis than an identical elastomeric layer without the plurality of cuts.

Abstract: Medical tapes include an optically transparent tape backing and an optically transparent adhesive layer, typically a pressure sensitive adhesive, disposed on the backing The tape is optically transparent and has a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 250 g/m2 /24 hrs/37° C./100-10% RH using the inverted cup method. The tape remains optically transparent when over-taped, such that a multi-layer tape stack of at least 2 layers of tape are formed.

Abstract: Compression sleeve (1) for application circumferentially around a human limb (10) to exert therapeutic pressure on the limb. The compression sleeve has a fabric (80), which comprises viscoelastic strands (90) for providing the fabric with viscoelastic properties.

Abstract: A nestable framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips and downstream pleat valleys, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The filter includes a frame with sidewalls that are angled so that the framed pleated air filter is nestable.

Abstract: A medical article and methods of using same. The medical article can include a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CMD); a support layer; and a viscoelastic layer. The viscoelastic layer can be coupled to the support layer, and the viscoelastic layer can be discontinuous in the MD and/or the CMD. The viscoelastic layer can recover at least 70% of its deformation after 48 hours at room temperature after being strained to 50% elongation, such that the medical article has a first tensile stiffness T1 at a first strain rate S1, and a second tensile stiffness T1 at a second strain rate S1. The ratio of S1/S2 can be at least 100, and the ratio of T1/T2 can be at least 1.5. The method can include wrapping the medical article around a body part; applying the first strain rate S1; and applying the second strain rate S2.

Abstract: Compression sleeve (1) for application circumferentially around a human limb (10) to exert therapeutic pressure on the limb. The compression sleeve has a fabric (80), which comprises viscoelastic strands (90) for providing the fabric with viscoelastic properties.

Abstract: Compression bandage for use as the only bandage in a single-bandage system for compression therapy, comprising an elastic compression layer and an elastic comfort layer, of which at least 50% is permanently attached to the compression layer. The compression bandage has a full-stretch elongation (FSE) of between 25% and 60% beyond its unstretched length. Full-stretch elongation is defined as the elongation at which the second derivative (130) of a curve (110) showing tensioning force over longitudinal elongation has its global maximum (140).

Abstract: Polymeric multilayer films having an array of openings extending between the first and second major surfaces of the film, and a thickness greater than 50 micrometers, wherein the openings each have a series of areas through the openings from the first and second major surfaces ranging from minimum to maximum areas, and wherein the minimum area is not at at least one of the major surfaces. Polymeric multilayer films described herein are useful, for example, for wound dressings and graphics films.

Abstract: A nestable framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips and downstream pleat valleys, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The filter includes a frame with sidewalls that are angled so that the framed pleated air filter is nestable.

Abstract: A nestable framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips and downstream pleat valleys, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The filter includes a frame with sidewalls that are angled so that the framed pleated air filter is nestable.

Abstract: Gravity-laid inorganic fiber webs and methods of making and using are disclosed. The gravity-laying process comprises mechanically separating inorganic fibers and collecting the fibers as a web, and may comprise blending of multiple types of inorganic fibers and/or blending of inorganic particulate additives with the fibers.

Abstract: Wound dressing articles comprising a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of fibers having grafted pendant hydrophilic groups, methods that use high energy irradiation for making a plurality of fibers having grafted pendant hydrophilic groups, useful for making wound dressing articles.

Abstract: A composite nonwoven fabric and articles comprising the composite nonwoven fabric are provided. The composite nonwoven fabric comprises a population of meltblown fibers comprising an aliphatic polyether thermoplastic polyurethane polymer having at least about 80% (by weight) polyalkylene oxide and a population of staple fibers intermixed and entangled therewith.

Abstract: A medical article and methods of using same. The medical article can include a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CMD); a support layer; and a viscoelastic layer. The viscoelastic layer can be coupled to the support layer, and the viscoelastic layer can be discontinuous in the MD and/or the CMD. The viscoelastic layer can recover at least 70% of its deformation after 48 hours at room temperature after being strained to 50% elongation, such that the medical article has a first tensile stiffness T1 at a first strain rate S1, and a second tensile stiffness T1 at a second strain rate Si. The ratio of S1/S2 can be at least 100, and the ratio of T1/T2 can be at least 1.5. The method can include wrapping the medical article around a body part; applying the first strain rate S1; and applying the second strain rate S2.

Abstract: Monolithic gravity-laid inorganic fiber webs that are greater than about 5 cm in thickness are disclosed. Methods of making and using such webs are also disclosed. The gravity-laying process comprises mechanically separating inorganic fibers and collecting the fibers as a monolithic thick web, and may comprise blending of multiple types of inorganic fibers and/or blending of inorganic particulate additives with the fibers.

Abstract: Reinforced articles particularly adapted for use in combination with an adhesive to form reinforced adhesive tape articles that are stretchable as well as hand-tearable along with being highly conformable and cinchable.

Abstract: A nestable framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips and downstream pleat valleys, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The filter includes a frame with sidewalls that are angled so that the framed pleated air filter is nestable.

Abstract: A nestable framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips and downstream pleat valleys, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The filter includes a frame with sidewalls that are angled so that the framed pleated air filter is nestable.