23363 results about "Polyurethane" patented technology

A tissue closure treatment system and method are provided with an external patient interface. A first fluid transfer component FTC.1 comprises a strip of porous material, such as rayon, with liquid wicking properties. FTC.1 can be placed directly on a suture line for transferring fluid exuded therethrough. An underdrape is placed over FTC.1 and includes a slot exposing a portion of same. FTC.2 comprises a suitable hydrophobic foam material, such as polyurethane ether, and is placed over the underdrape slot in communication with FTC.1. Negative pressure is applied to FTC.2 through a connecting fluid transfer component FTC.3. A negative pressure source can comprises a manual device or a power-operated suction device. The tissue closure method includes a manual operating mode using a manual suction device with an automatic shut off for discontinuing suction when a predetermined volume of fluid has been drained. An automatic operating mode utilizes a microprocessor, which can be preprogrammed to respond to various patient and operating conditions. The method proceeds through several phases with different components in place and different patient interface functions occurring in each.

A lead assembly and a method of making a lead are provided. The lead comprises a terminal, proximal end having a plurality of terminal contacts and material separating the terminal contacts. In one embodiment of the lead, the terminal contacts are separated by a preformed spacer, that may be made from various hard materials such as polyurethane, PEEK and polysulfone. Epoxy may be used to fill spaces at the proximal lead end, including between the spacer and terminal contacts. In one embodiment of the lead, the terminal contacts are separated by epoxy only. The lead may include a plurality of conductor lumens that contain conductors. The lead may also include a stylet lumen for accepting a stylet.

A surgical implant is provided that includes first and second abutment surfaces between which are positioned a force imparting mechanism. A sheath is positioned between the first and second abutment surfaces, and surrounds the force imparting mechanism. The sheath is fabricated from a material that accommodates relative movement of the abutment members, while exhibiting substantially inert behavior relative to surrounding anatomical structures. The sheath is generally fabricated from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, a copolymer of polycarbonate and a urethane, or a blend of a polycarbonate and a urethane. The force imparting member may include one or more springs, e.g., a pair of nested springs. The surgical implant may be a dynamic spine stabilizing member that is advantageously incorporated into a spine stabilization system to offer clinically efficacious results.

The present invention comprises methods and compositions for antimicrobial silver compositions comprising silver nanoparticles. The present invention further comprises compositions for preparing silver nanoparticles comprising at least one stabilizing agent, one or more silver compounds, at least one reducing agent and a solvent. In one aspect, the stabilizing agent comprises a surfactant or a polymer. The polymer may comprise polymers such as polyacrylamides, polyurethanes, and polyamides. In one aspect, the silver compound comprises a salt comprising a silver cation and an anion. The anion may comprise saccharinate derivatives, long chain fatty acids, and alkyl dicarboxylates. The methods of the present invention comprise treating devices with the silver nanoparticle compositions, including, but not limited to, such devices as woven wound care materials, catheters, patient care devices, and collagen matrices. The present invention further comprises treatment of humans and animals wacr6ith the antimicrobial devices described herein.

A method, and related composition and apparatus for repairing a tissue site. The method involves the use of a curable polyurethane biomaterial composition having a plurality of parts adapted to be mixed at the time of use in order to provide a flowable composition and to initiate cure. The flowable composition can be delivered using minimally invasive means to a tissue site and there fully cured provide a permanent and biocompatible prosthesis for repair of the tissue site. Further provided are a mold apparatus, e.g., in the form of a balloon or tubular cavity, for receiving a biomaterial composition, and a method for delivering and filling the mold apparatus with a curable composition in situ to provide a prosthesis for tissue repair.

A breathable composite sheet material, a method for making such a sheet material, and an absorbent article utilizing the sheet material are provided. The composite sheet material is comprised of a thermoplastic film adhered directly to a fibrous substrate. The thermoplastic film comprises at least 50% by weight of a polymer material from the group of block copolyether esters, block copolyether amides and polyurethanes. The substrate comprises a fibrous web of at least 50% by weight of polyolefin polymer synthetic fibers. The composite sheet exhibits a peel strength of at least 0.1 N/cm, a dynamic fluid transmission of less than about 0.75 g/m² when subjected to an impact energy of about 2400 joules/m², and a moisture vapor transmission rate, according to the desiccant method, of at least 1500 g/m²/24 hr. The absorbent article comprises (a) a topsheet; (b) a backsheet; and (c) an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet; wherein the backsheet comprises the non-porous, substantially fluid impermeable, moisture vapor permeable composite sheet material described above. The composite sheet material is oriented such that the film layer of the composite sheet material faces toward the absorbent core. The absorbent article may comprise a disposable diaper.

A seal for use in a cannula or tube, such as a surgical trocar cannula, is adapted to form a pressure barrier seal between two spaces and is adapted to accommodate a wide range of instrument diameters and objects passed therethrough. The present invention is directed to a generally cylindrical seal plug made of flexible foam materials and having a central orifice extending through along a central axis. In the preferred embodiments, the foam material is preferably a flexible foam material such as polyurethane foam.

A lifting sling and a lifting grommet are disclosed which can be fabricated of a high tensile strength polymeric material, preferably a woven polymer such as liquid crystal polymer fibers, that are woven in a rope or cable configuration. The apparatus features an elongated woven material length of cable that is spliced. Plastic, preferably polyurethane spring cut tube sleeves are positioned as a grip on the splices to allow for handling in the field without concern for the splice becoming disassembled or undone. The sling and grommet of the present invention can each be provided with a clear cover spring cut tube that serves as a flexible protective cover for minimizing abrasion and maintaining the slings appearance.

An intraluminal prosthesis includes an outer three-dimensional (3D) anti-migration structure that is attached to the outer wall of a fully covered or partially covered stent to prevent migration and still allow stent removal at a later period of time. A method of manufacturing the intraluminal prosthesis includes attaching the anti-migration structure by usage of a polymer such as polyurethane.

A vascular graft, such as an AAA stent graft, includes a core zone of PET fabric with a non-porous coating comprising a polyurethane, such as Thoralon®, disposed on at least one surface. The coating provides a barrier to prevent short and long term leakage of fluids through the pores of the PET fabric core zone. A method for sealing the pores of a porous PET graft includes the step of coating at least one surface of said graft with at least one polyurethane, or mixtures and combinations thereof. Preferably, the coating is Thoralon®. A method for making a vascular prosthesis includes the steps of providing a core zone of PET fabric, and coating at least one surface of the core zone with at least one polyurethane, or mixtures and combinations thereof, such as Thoralon®. Finally, a method of repairing or treating a defective vessel includes the step of reinforcing or replacing the defective vessel with a graft according to the invention.

A medical device (10) including a tube (11) having a highly uniform and repeatable inner and outer diameter, the tube (11) possessing good trackability, pushability and torquability, and the tube (11) being highly resistant to collapse, necking or kinking during use. The tube (11) first includes a metal coil (14) in a stressed, radially expanded condition, the metal coil (14) preferably being formed as a flat wire. The tube (11) also includes a metal braid (16) extending over at least part of the coil (14). The tube (11) further includes a polymeric bonding layer (18) positioned over and contacting at least the coil (14). The polymeric layer (18) is preferably heat-shrinkable shrinkable tubing made of one or more of nylon or polyurethane. The tube (11) optionally includes an inner liner (20) beneath and in contact with at least part of the coil (14), the liner (20) preferably being composed of PTFE. The polymeric layer (18) maintains the coil (14) in its stressed, radially expanded condition, for example, by adhesion to the coil (14) (such as by thermal bonding to it).

A grip for the handle of a golf club having multiple two layer panels that are wrapped about an underlisting sleeve. The edges of the panels are adhesively sealed together. The grip reduces impact and shock and provides a feeling of tackiness in the manner of a spirally wrapped polyurethane-felt grip while allowing the use of multiple color panels and easy instillation onto a golf club shaft.

A waterborne dispersion of a polyurethane polymer is disclosed, which is useful as a film having improved mechanical properties. More particularly, the film has properties comparable to rubber; including, a percentage elongation greater than 700%; a tensile strength greater than 3500 psi; a 100% modulus below 450 psi; a 300% modulus below 700 psi; and, a 500% modulus below 1500 psi. The film can be prepared in the absence of a solvent, thus making it attractive for a variety of protection products for medical and industrial applications such as gloves, condoms, catheters, and the like. The polymer is useful as a coating for textiles, such as backcoatings, fabric or fiber saturants, finishes, or transfer coatings, or other textile and non-textile applications where good elastomeric properties would be useful.

Disclosed are implantable devices that include biocompatible polyurethane materials. In particular, the disclosed polyurethane materials can maintain desired elastomeric characteristics while exhibiting thermoset-like behavior and can exhibit improved characteristics so as to be suitable in load-bearing applications. For example, the disclosed polyurethane materials can be suitable for use in artificial joints, including total joint replacement applications. The disclosed polyurethane materials include biocompatible cross-linking agents as chain extenders, more particularly chain extenders comprising a terminal group capable of side reactions and further comprising an electron withdrawing group immediately adjacent the terminal group. In addition, the reaction materials and conditions can be selected to encourage intermediate levels of cross-linking without the use of traditional cross-linking trifunctional reagents. In addition, the chain extenders can also include substantially inflexible moieties so as to increase the rigidity of the product polyurethanes.

An integral gasketed filtration cassette structure of a type comprising a filtration cassette fully or partially overcoated by a gasket layer, forming a fluid-tight seal between the filtration cassette and the filtration cassette holder to which the filtration cassette is to be affixed. The filtration cassette comprises filter sheets arranged in a multilaminate, peripherally bonded array, wherein the filter sheets alternate with permeate and retentate sheets. The gasket layer comprises an elastomeric material with suitable hardness and temperature resistance for sealing, such as silicone, ethylenepropylenedienemonomer (EPDM), viton, polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyester, epoxy, ethylvinylacetate, bunnas, and styrene butadiene. The filtration cassettes and filter of the invention may be advantageously employed for dewatering of aqueous biomass suspensions, desalting of proteins, removal of secreted metabolites from cellular suspensions, and the like.

A composition comprising in admixture with a polymer, preferably a polyurethane, and a compatible surface-modifying macromolecule having (i) a central portion of a segmented block oligomeric copolymer comprising at least one polar hard segment, and (ii) PROPORTIONAL - omega terminal polyfluoro oligomeric groups, in a surface modifying enhancing amount. The composition is of use in providing articles having improved surface properties, particularly, medical devices having improved resistance to enzyme degradation with acceptable blood compatibility.

This invention includes malleable, biodegradable, fibrous compositions for application to a tissue site in order to promote or facilitate new tissue growth. One aspect of this invention is a fibrous component (e.g., collagen, chitosan, alginate, hyaluronic acid, poly-lactic acid, poly-capralactone, and polyurethane) that provides unique mechanical and physical properties. The invention may be created by providing a vessel containing a slurry, said slurry comprising a plurality of natural or synthetic polymer fibers and at least one suspension fluid, wherein the polymer fibers are substantially evenly dispersed and randomly oriented throughout the volume of the suspension fluid; applying a force, e.g., centrifugal, to said vessel containing said slurry, whereupon said force serves to cause said polymer fibers to migrate through the suspension fluid and amass at a furthest extent of the vessel, forming a polymer material, with said polymer material comprising polymer fibers of sufficient length and sufficiently viscous, interlaced, or interlocked to retard dissociation of said polymer fibers.

The present invention provides a polymer membrane enhanced with cured epoxy resin for use as the outer membrane of biosensors. The membrane includes approximately 30-80% epoxy resin adhesives, 10-60% polymer such as poly(vinyl chloride), polycarbonate and polyurethane and 0-30% plasticizers and 5-15% surface modifier reagent such as polyethylene oxide-containing block copolymers. Utilizing the polymer membrane of the present invention, a three-layered sensing element has been developed. This sensing element will be particularly useful for miniaturized biosensors used for in vitro blood measurements or for continuous in vivo monitoring such as implantable biosensors. This element includes an enzyme layer, an interference-eliminating layer and the novel polymer member of the present invention as the outer polymer layer. This novel sensing element shows excellent response characteristics in solutions and has an extremely long lifetime. This technology is particularly useful for improving the lifetime of implantable biosensors.

The invention relates to a multi-hole foamed metal material and the manufacturing method. It includes the following steps: equally dispersing metal or alloy powder that has the particle diameter at 1-100um into solution contains adhesive agent to make slime, pouring the slime into through-hole polyurethane sponge foam, after taking drying and sintering, the material would be gained. It also could be make by the method of directly isostatic cool pressing one or more metal or alloy powder, isostatic cool pressing after mixing with pore forming material or isostatic cool pressing after mixing with adhesive agent solution to gain green pressing that would be sintered in vacuum furnace to make the material. The invention could be used to process vehicle tail gas and could also be used to filter the smoke form thermal power station or metallurgical furnace.

A foam mattress includes a reticulated, viscoelastic foam that makes up the mattress in whole or in part. The reticulated nature of the viscoelastic foam allows a user to enjoy the benefits of softness and conformability of a viscoelastic foam and also an improved breathability. The foam mattress may include a plurality of zones of foam and/or a plurality of layers of foam, where one of the layers may be reticulated urethane for improved breathability and humidity resistance, as well as heat dissipation.

The invention relates to a composite comprising a weight fraction of single-wall carbon nanotubes and at least one polar polymer wherein the composite has an electrical and/or thermal conductivity enhanced over that of the polymer alone. The invention also comprises a method for making this polymer composition. The present application provides composite compositions that, over a wide range of single-wall carbon nanotube loading, have electrical conductivities exceeding those known in the art by more than one order of magnitude. The electrical conductivity enhancement depends on the weight fraction (F) of the single-wall carbon nanotubes in the composite. The electrical conductivity of the composite of this invention is at least 5 Siemens per centimeter (S/cm) at (F) of 0.5 (i.e. where single-wall carbon nanotube loading weight represents half of the total composite weight), at least 1 S/cm at a F of 0.1, at least 1×10^{−4 S/cm at (F) of 0.004, at least 6×10−9} S/cm at (F) of 0.001 and at least 3×10⁻¹⁶ S/cm (F) plus the intrinsic conductivity of the polymer matrix material at of 0.0001. The thermal conductivity enhancement is in excess of 1 Watt/m-° K. The polar polymer can be polycarbonate, poly(acrylic acid), poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), polyoxide, polysulfide, polysulfone, polyamides, polyester, polyurethane, polyimide, poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl pyridine), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), copolymers thereof and combinations thereof. The composite can further comprise a nonpolar polymer, such as, a polyolefin polymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyisobutene, polyisoprene, polystyrene, copolymers thereof and combinations thereof.

The present invention relates to a surgical access device comprising an elongate tubular member having a working channel and an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, a septum seal integrally formed at the distal end of the tubular member, and a zero seal disposed at the distal end of the tubular member and distal to the septum seal, the zero seal being sized and configured to seal when no instrument is in place within the working channel of the tubular member, and the zero seal being coupled to the septum seal and having properties to float with the septum seal relative to the tubular member. The tubular member may be formed from an elastomeric material. The tubular member has a wall that may be rigid or semi-rigid, and the tubular member may be reinforced with a coil along a portion of the tubular member. The tubular member may include a distal, mechanically deployable shielding portion. The zero seal may be a duckbill seal constructed with one or more intersecting sealing portions. The duckbill seal may comprise of opposing lip portions separated by a slit portion. The opposing lip portions are coated with or attached to a soft or occlusive material. The occlusive material is one of Kraton, polyurethane or the like. The occlusive lip portions allow a surgical item such as a suture to extend through the slit portion without disrupting the seal. In one aspect, the tubular member and the septum seal are molded together as a single unit and the zero seal is then bonded or fused to the septum seal. In another aspect, the tubular member, the septum seal and the zero seal are all molded together or integrally formed as a single unit. The tubular member may further comprise flexibility enhancing features to allow the tubular member to flex in response to a motion of a surgical instrument within the working channel of the tubular member.

An improved cushioned carpet fabric is provided. The cushioned carpet comprises a primary carpet having a primary base and a plurality of pile-forming yarns projecting outwardly from one side. A layer of reinforcement material is bonded to the primary base on the side opposite the pile forming yarns. The reinforcement layer is adjacent to and embedded in, a cushion layer of a polymer such as a polyurethane. There is preferably no additional adhesive between the cushion layer and the layer of reinforcement material since the primary carpet fabric is mated in-situ to the polyurethane-forming composition without preheating the polyurethane-forming composition. An apparatus and process for forming the cushioned carpet fabric of the present invention are also provided.

The present invention relates to a device and method which may be used to reinforce the native annulus during spinal surgery. The device is a catheter based device which is placed into the inter-vertebral space following discectomy performed by either traditional surgical or endoscopic approaches. The distal end of the catheter is comprised of an expansile loop which may be increased in diameter by advancement of a portion of the catheter via its proximal end, such proximal end remaining external to the body. The expansile loop may be formed of a woven or braided material and may be made of a polymer such as nylon, polyurethane, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene or any of the well known and biocompatible polymers. Alternatively the expansile portion of the catheter may be formed from a metallic braid of stainless steel, elgiloy, Nitinol, or other biocompatible metals. The expansile loop may be formed such that when the loop is diametrically contracted the loop feeds into its other end, similar to a snake eating its own tail. Stabilization of the outer portion of the loop and pulling out the inner portion will thereby increase the overall diameter of the loop while maintaining it as a closed loop or torus. The present invention comprises four embodiments and can be used to 1) facilitate disk fusing, 2) perform an artificial replacement of the nucleus, 3) perform an artificial replacement of the annulus, or 4, perform an artificial replacement of both the nucleus and annulus.

The present invention provides a polyurethane or polyurethane/urea composition which has a tensile strength greater than 10 MPa, a modulus of elasticity greater than 400 MPa and an elongation at break greater than 30% at a temperature of between 0° C. and 60° C. and at a relative humidity of between 0% and 100%.

The invention further provides uses of the compositions of the invention in biomedical vascular stents, an orthopaedic implant, a drug delivery coating or in tissue engineering.

Secure inlays for secure documents such as a passport comprising an inlay substrate may have laser ablated recesses within which a chip module is installed. Channels for an antenna wire may be formed in a surface of the substrate. Instead of using wire, the channels may be filled with a flowable, conductive material. Patches homogenous with the substrate layer may be used to protect and seal the chip and interconnection area. The inlay substrate may include two layers, and the antenna wire may be between the two layers. A moisture-curing polyurethane hot melt adhesive may be used to laminate a cover layer and the additional inlay substrate layers. The adhesive layer may include metal nanoscale powder and ink for electromagnetic shielding. Additional security elements may include material that is optically changeable by an electromagnetic field. Ferrite-containing layers may be incorporated in the inlay substrate.

A waterproof zipper, a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the same are provided, which can be provided with water resistance, implement diverse shapes and colors through a print layer formed on the zipper, and prevent the print layer from peeling off due to ultraviolet rays or a sliding operation of a slider. The waterproof zipper includes a zipper having one surface to which a plurality of elements are attached so that the elements are engaged with each other in a length direction of the zipper, and a waterproof film made of a transparent polyurethane material and having one surface on which a print layer is formed and which is attached to the other surface of the zipper.

A self-cleaning surface which has an artificial, at least partially hydrophobic, surface structure containing elevations and depressions, which comprises an at least partially hydrophobic surface formed from structure-forming particles of hydrophobic fumed silica having elevations and depressions ranging in dimensions of 1 to 1000 nm and the particles themselves having an average size of less than 50 μm adhered to the surface by way of a viscous, curable carrier material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurethane acrylates, silicone acrylates and singly and/or multiply unsaturated (meth)acrylates applied to the surface, which is sufficient to bond the structure forming particles without substantial wetting of the particles by the carrier material while retaining the fissured structure of elevations and depressions of the structure-forming particles in the nanometer range.

A low molecular weight polyether oligomer is modified with a salt during chain extending reaction of the polyether oligomer to form electrostatic dissipative polymer products such as polyurethanes, polyether amide block copolymers and polyether-ester block copolymers. The reaction product polymers exhibit relatively low surface and volume resistivities, and static decay times which are not too fast or too slow, yet are free of excessive amounts of extractable anions, particularly chlorine, nitrate, phosphate and sulfate. The electrostatic dissipative polymers can be blended with a variety of base polymers to form plastic alloys, which in turn can be utilized to form articles useful in the manufacture of electrostatic sensitive electronic devices.

Hollow thermoexpandable particles or microspheres are provided that contain hydrocarbon blowing agents and have a shell polymer that can be softened at the onset of the expansion temperature and solidified at a higher temperature (thermoset) in an expanded state. Preferably, the microspheres have a shell of thermally expandable and thermally crosslinkable polymer and a hollow interior that contains a hydrocarbon liquid that boils at a temperature below the heat activated crosslinking temperature of the polymer shell. The crosslinking of the shell polymer during or after expansion, which is heat activated at an elevated temperature, can solidify the shell polymer and, then, maintain the expanded volume of the microspheres. The thermoexpandable thermoset polymer particles are useful in insulation, packaging, for making foam materials such as polyurethane or polyisocyanurate rigid foams. The invented thermoset microspheres can substantially improve the close cell percentage and compressive strength of the foam materials and make the foam manufacturing less hazardous.