Abstract: Shapeable articles, kits including one or more of the shapeable articles, and methods of making and/or using the shapeable articles. The shapeable articles include a shapeable member that can be shaped or manipulated into three-dimensional shapes without the use of tools and hold those shapes after removal of the force required to achieve the shape. The shapeable articles could have a variety of uses including use as surgical retractors to move and/or restrain non-target tissue and/or organs to improve access to the target tissue and/or organs.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes articles, such as medical articles, containing a substrate having disposed thereon a hydrophilic gel material (e.g., a shaped hydrophilic gel material or a coating of a hydrophilic gel material) and methods for making such articles. Methods are provided for making hydrophilic gel materials from a precursor composition that contains a polar solvent and a polymerizable material that is miscible with the polar solvent.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a multicomponent filament and articles thereof. The multicomponent filament comprises at least a first component and a second component. The first component includes a thermoplastic polymer. The second component includes a hydrophilic thermoplastic polymer comprising 65% (w/w) to 90% (w/w) (inclusive) hydrophilic segments. The first component is capable of forming a continuous filament with the second component.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions that include at least about 85 wt % of a hydroalcoholic solution that includes at least about 1 wt % water; and about 30 to about 85 wt % of at least one C1 to C4 alkyl alcohol based on the total weight of the hydroalcoholic solution; and acrylate copolymer particles dispersed in the hydroalcoholic solution, the acrylate copolymers particles being the reaction product of a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture including monomers, the monomers including from about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % of at least one high Tg monomer; and from about 20 w % to about 80 wt % of at least one low Tg monomer where the wt % of the low and high Tg monomers are with respect to the total weight of the monomers in the reaction mixture, wherein the particles have a number average diameter of at least about 100 nm.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions, especially those useful when applied topically, particularly to mucosal tissues (i.e., mucous membranes), including, in particular, an antimicrobial lipid component, such as a fatty acid ester, fatty ether, or alkoxide derivative thereof. The compositions can also include an enhancer component, a surfactant, a hydrophobic component, and/or a hydrophilic component. Such compositions provide effective topical antimicrobial activity and are accordingly useful in the treatment and/or prevention of conditions that are caused, or aggravated by, microorganisms (including viruses).

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a warming system. The warming system includes a light device having a light source configured to be positioned proximate to a patient support having a patient support surface. The light source can also be configured to generate infrared radiation. The warming system can also include a flexible sheet having a first side configured to reflect at least some of the generated infrared radiation from the light device toward a portion of the patient support surface.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions, especially those useful when applied topically, particularly to mucosal tissues (i.e., mucous membranes), including, in particular, an antimicrobial lipid component, such as a fatty acid ester, fatty ether, or alkoxide derivative thereof. The compositions can also include an enhancer component, a surfactant, a hydrophobic component, and/or a hydrophilic component. Such compositions provide effective topical antimicrobial activity and are accordingly useful in the treatment and/or prevention of conditions that are caused, or aggravated by, microorganisms (including viruses).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that include contacting a skin surface with a first liquid composition; and then contacting in the skin surface with a cationic coated article loaded with a second liquid composition, while at least some portion of the first liquid composition remains on the skin surface, wherein one or both of the first liquid composition or the second liquid composition includes acrylate copolymer particles dispersed therein, the acrylate copolymer particles including the reaction product of a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture including monomers, the monomers including from about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % of at least one high Tg monomer where the wt % of the high Tg monomer is with respect to the total weight of the monomers in the reaction mixture; and from about 20 wt % to about 80 wt % of at least one low Tg monomer where the wt % of the low Tg monomer is with respect to the total weight of the monomers in the reaction mixture, wherein the particles have a number average diameter of at lea

Abstract: Described herein is a warming blanket having a structure comprising a first layer of material forming a bottom layer with openings to allow a profusion of air through the bottom layer, a second layer of material forming an upper layer wherein the upper layer is coupled to the bottom layer to form an initial shape of the warming blanket and to form a plurality of interconnected air passageways between the first and second layers of material, wherein at least a portion of the structure is deformable in at least one dimension to reshape the periphery of the warming blanket while maintaining the integrity of the interconnecting air passageways throughout the structure; and wherein the deformable portion of the blanket is deformable by at least a 50% elongation. Examples of materials comprising the deformable portions of the warming blanket include low density polyethylene, metallocene polyethylene, polypropylene, parafilm, and polyurethane.

Abstract: Shapeable articles, kits including one or more of the shapeable articles, and methods of making and/or using the shapeable articles. The shapeable articles include a shapeable member that can be shaped or manipulated into three-dimensional shapes without the use of tools and hold those shapes after removal of the force required to achieve the shape. The shapeable articles could have a variety of uses including use as surgical retractors to move and/or restrain non-target tissue and/or organs to improve access to the target tissue and/or organs.

Abstract: An article having anti-microbial effect is provided. The article includes an occlusive layer; a substrate overlaying the occlusive layer, wherein the substrate having two opposing major surfaces; a metal oxide layer overlaying one opposing major surface of the substrate, wherein the metal oxide layer comprises a metal oxide; and a metal layer overlaying the other opposing major surface of the substrate; wherein the substrate is between the metal oxide layer and the metal layer; and wherein electric potential of the metal oxide layer is at least 0.454V more than electric potential of the metal layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to air filters expandable from a collapsed arrangement to an expanded, end-use arrangement and to methods of making, using, and installing such air filters. Some embodiments relate to an air filter having an expanded state and a collapsed state. The air filter includes a filter media assembly including (1) filter media including a plurality of pleats, (2) first and second opposing sides, and (3) first and second opposing ends. The air filter also includes a shape retention structure capable of being connected to at least a portion of the filter media assembly and capable of retention the filter media assembly in the expanded state. A spacing distance between adjacent pleats in the filter media is greater in the expanded state of the air filter than in the collapsed state of the air filter. In some embodiments, the air filter is an HVAC air filter.

Abstract: A copolymer composition that includes a silicone copolymer, methods of making the composition, and articles that include the composition, wherein the copolymer composition includes a silicone copolymer having a backbone composition that includes: silicone segments in an amount of 5 wt-% to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the silicone copolymer; hydrophilic segments in an amount of 40 wt-% to 75 wt-%, based on the total weight of the silicone copolymer; and reinforcing segments in an amount of 5 wt-% to 30 wt-%, based on the total weight of the silicone copolymer, wherein the reinforcing segments are derived from the reaction of one or more chain extenders with one or more multi-functional isocyanates, multi-functional carboxylic acids, multi-functional anhydrides, multi-functional esters, and/or multi-functional acid halides; wherein the silicone segments, hydrophilic segments, and reinforcing segments are connected through urea, urethane, amide, and/or oxamide linkages; wherein the hydrophilic segments

Abstract: Shapeable articles with structured elements and kits including one or more of the shapeable articles. The shapeable articles described herein have a variety of uses including use as surgical retractors for moving and/or restraining tissue and/or organs to improve access to a surgical site. The shapeable articles described herein can be shaped or manipulated into three-dimensional shapes without the use of tools and hold those shapes after removal of the force required to achieve the shape.

Abstract: Surgical incise drapes including incision edge protectors are described. Methods of protecting the exposed edges of a surgical incision are also discussed.

Abstract: Orthodontic appliances and related methods are provided, including a fast-dissolving and humidity-resistant coating, containing a colorant and a binder selected from a polyamide, cellulose derivative, or homopolymer/copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide). The coating can facilitate appliance identification and serve as a reference marking to assist the practitioner in appliance placement. Advantageously, the composition of these coatings allows the color marking to be rinsed off quickly, and yet the color of the coating does not bleed during storage even in high humidity environments. The fast-dissolving nature of these coatings also allows the coating to be deposited in concave and recessed areas of the appliance, such as the archwire slot and vertical slot, since these coatings can be removed prior to archwire installation.

Abstract: A system and methods for sterilizing or disinfecting articles, particularly the hollow internal areas of medical instruments are disclosed. The system includes a plasma generator having an electrode, a shield, and a dielectric gap between the electrode and the shield. A source of electrical power is connected to the plasma generator for applying an electron energy density between the electrode and the shield. A source of gas comprising water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen provides a flow of gas between the electrode and the shield, to form a plasma containing acidic and/or oxidizing species. In the exemplary system, the temperature at the shield's surface is <150° C. when the electron energy density is >0.05 eV/molecule of the gas. Also disclosed is a method for disinfecting an article contaminated with a bio-film or spores, by exposing the contaminated article to the plasma for an exposure time sufficient to achieve at least 2-log10 reduction in colony forming units.

Abstract: Multilayer articles include a fibrous web and a barrier film directly bonded to the fibrous web; wherein the fibrous web includes fibers that include natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or combinations thereof; wherein the synthetic fibers comprise a synthetic thermoplastic polymer selected from an aliphatic polyester, an aromatic polyester, a polyamide, and combinations thereof; and wherein the barrier film includes a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester, a polyvinyl alkanoate polymer having a Tg of no greater than 70 C; and a non-lactide plasticizer having an acid number of no greater than 10 and having a weight average molecular weight of no greater than 5000 g/mol.

Abstract: Methods and products for protecting tissue of a patient during a surgical procedure that involve making an incision in the tissue and retracting the tissue to make a larger opening, wherein the methods and products use a water-absorbing stress-distributing layer.

Abstract: Methods and products for protecting tissue of a patient during a surgical procedure that involve making an incision in the tissue and retracting the tissue to make a larger opening, wherein the methods and products use a water-resistant stress-distributing layer.