Abstract: An industrial sponge device and a method of manufacturing the same. The sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to solutions of high pH and low pH. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, and other elements to be 2 ppm or less, preferably 1 ppm or less.

Abstract: An industrial sponge device wherein the sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to solutions of high pH and low pH. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, and other elements to be 2 ppm or less; preferably 1 ppm or less.

Abstract: An industrial sponge device and a method of manufacturing the same. The sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to solutions of high pH and low pH. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, and other elements to be 2 ppm or less. preferably 1 ppm or less.

Abstract: A synthetic sponge having a high density is rinsed while changing the hydrostatic pressure of rinsing solution in pore spaces of the sponge to remove chemical residue and particulate matter more completely. The hydrostatic pressure can be changed by varying fluid supply pressure or varying centrifugal force. A rinsing apparatus includes a rotatable container and a fluid supply for supplying rinsing solution to sponge material in the container.

Abstract: A synthetic sponge having a high density is rinsed while changing the hydrostatic pressure of rinsing solution in pore spaces of the sponge to remove chemical residue and particulate matter more completely. The hydrostatic pressure can be changed by varying fluid supply pressure or varying centrifugal force. A rinsing apparatus includes a rotatable container and a fluid supply for supplying rinsing solution to sponge material in the container.

Abstract: An industrial sponge device and a method of manufacturing the same. The sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to solutions of high pH and low pH. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, and other elements to be 2 ppm or less preferably 1 ppm or less.

Abstract: Nasal, sinus and otic packings exhibiting a less adherent surface when in contact with tissue and being less traumatic on removal are prepared. In a first embodiment, polyvinyl acetal foamed packing material undergoes a surface modification imparting a non-adherent hydrogel coated surface. The surface modification is accomplished after final processing and fabrication of the packing product shape. The packing material is subjected to either an atomized spray of an aqueous solution of ethyl alcohol or a polyvinyl acetate/polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. In another embodiment, a foamed polyvinyl acetal material is produced by crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol with an organic compound containing two hydroxyl reactive groups in the presence of an inert gas. An aqueous solution containing polyvinylpyrrolidone is mixed into the reaction during crosslinking.

Abstract: Nasal, sinus and otic packings exhibiting a less adherent surface when in contact with tissue and being less traumatic on removal are prepared. In a first embodiment, polyvinyl acetal foamed packing material undergoes a surface modification imparting a non-adherent hydrogel coated surface. The surface modification is accomplished after final processing and fabrication of the packing product shape. The packing material is subjected to either an atomized spray of an aqueous solution of ethyl alcohol or a polyvinyl acetate/polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. In another embodiment, a foamed polyvinyl acetal material is produced by crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol with an organic compound containing two hydroxyl reactive groups in the presence of an inert gas. An aqueous solution containing polyvinylpyrrolidone is mixed into the reaction during crosslinking.

Abstract: A synthetic sponge having a high density is rinsed while changing the hydrostatic pressure of rinsing solution in pore spaces of the sponge to remove chemical residue and particulate matter more completely. The hydrostatic pressure can be changed by varying fluid supply pressure or varying centrifugal force. A rinsing apparatus includes a rotatable container and a fluid supply for supplying rinsing solution to sponge material in the container.

Abstract: An industrial sponge device and a method of manufacturing the same. The sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to acid and oxidizing solutions. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, and other elements to be 2 ppm or less; preferably 1 ppm or less.

Abstract: A sponge consisting of a sponge material, such as a polyvinyl alcohol sponge material having a coating of a non adherent mucopolysaccharide, hyaluronic acid ester. The ester can be applied to surfaces of the sponge or can be a uniformly dispersed interstitial gel of an esterified mucopolysaccharide, such as hyaluronic acid, formed by cross linking polyvinyl alcohol with various organic compounds containing carbonyl groups in the presence of acid catalysts, and reacting unreacted portions of the polyvinyl alcohol with the mucopolysaccharide to esterify the mucopolysaccharide and copolymerize the ester with the polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: An industrial cleaning sponge includes an industrial sponge roller device having a cylindrical body of polyvinyl acetal material and a plurality of projections, formed of the polyvinyl acetal material, extending from an outer surface of the cylindrical body. The projections have a truncated conical shape with each projection including a circular base coupled to the outer surface of the cylindrical body, a circular, planar top surface and a side wall extending outwardly from the top surface to the base.

Abstract: An industrial sponge device and a method of manufacturing the same. The sponge is made from a polyvinyl acetal material with a process in which the pores are formed by gas to provide an open pore structure having no fibrils. Additionally, the sponge is purified by alternating exposure of the partially cross-linked sponge to solutions of high pH and low pH. The sponge is sterilized by electron beam radiation to destroy micro organisms that can cause contamination of the final product. The resulting sponge material is formed into an industrial sponge having a cylindrical body and a plurality of projections extending from the body. The projections are tapered truncated cones having a cross-sectional radius that decreases with distance from the body.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a silicon material using a polyvinyl acetal sponge material. The sponge material is purified by an extracting process which includes alternating exposure of the sponge material to acid and oxidizing solutions. The extracting process permits residual amounts of calcium, zinc, sulfate, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chloride, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, magnesium, mercury, nitrate, potassium, selenium, silica, silver and sodium to be 2 ppm or less. Following the extracting process, the silicon material is contacted with the sponge material to thereby clean the silicon material.

Abstract: A method for rinsing a synthetic sponge material, the synthetic sponge material being formed through a process which leaves residue or particulate matter in pores of the synthetic sponge material, the method includes the steps of:a) contacting a rinsing solution with the synthetic sponge material; b) centrifuging the sponge material containing the rinsing solution; c) changing the hydrostatic pressure of the rinsing solution during said centrifuging step to expand and relax the pores of the synthetic sponge material to effectively pump the rinsing solution into and out of the pores, wherein the residue or the particulate matter in the pores of the synthetic sponge material are removed. The hydrostatic pressure can be changed by varying fluid supply pressure or varying centrifugal force.

Abstract: A method for producing an improved antimicrobial material thereby producing a soft, dry, iodine/acetalized polyvinyl alcohol complex sponge material having a pleasing yellow-gold coloration which self-indicates activation of the antimicrobial elements in the complex.

Abstract: Nasal, sinus and otic packings exhibiting a less adherent surface when in contact with tissue and being less traumatic on removal are prepared. In a first embodiment, polyvinyl acetal foamed packing material undergoes a surface modification imparting a non-adherent hydrogel coated surface. The surface modification is accomplished after final processing and fabrication of the packing product shape. The packing material is subjected to either an atomized spray of an aqueous solution of ethyl alcohol or a polyvinyl acetate/polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. In another embodiment, a foamed polyvinyl acetal material is produced by crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol with an organic compound containing two hydroxyl reactive groups in the presence of an inert gas. An aqueous solution containing polyvinylpyrrolidone is mixed into the reaction during crosslinking.

Abstract: A method for producing an improved antimicrobial material thereby producing a soft, dry, iodine/acetalized polyvinyl alcohol complex sponge material having a pleasing yellow-gold coloration which self-indicates activation of the antimicrobial elements in the complex.

Abstract: A surgical device constructed of a polyvinyl acetal having a body constructed with an average pore diameter ranging from about 0.02 to about 1.2 mm and a fused surface layer of about 0.25 min. The fused surface layer is substantially closed and has a pore diameter ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.45 mm allowing absorption of fluid into the body of the device.

Abstract: A surgical device constructed of a polyvinyl acetal sponge body constructed with an average pore diameter ranging from about 0.02 to about 1.2 mm and opposite sides laminated with a surface film layer of about 0.0015 inches thick. The laminate surface film layer is perforated with a plurality of holes allowing access to the body of the surgical device having a diameter ranging from about 0.1 to about 0.7 mm allowing absorbtion of fluid through the laminate layer into the sponge body of the device.