Hexcel Corporation

Carol J Laufenberg

Milton F Custer

An orthopedic cast material having a thermoplastic material and provided with a quantity of (poly)ethylene oxide applied thereto to prevent adherence of adjacent convolutions of the cast material when it is in the form of a roll and is immersed in hot water prior to being wrapped on a limb or body part of a patient. The (poly)ethylene oxide can be in the form of a coating on the outer surface of the cast material or in the resin of the cast material.

Separator medium for orthopedic cast material

A heat softenable orthopedic bandage assembly which comprises a length of a pliant fabric material to which a heat softenable polymer composition is applied. The fabric material is wound up into a roll and a separator is placed between adjacent fabric convolutions of the roll. The separator is constructed of a material that is readily releasable from the heat softenable composition, it is relatively thin, and includes a multiplicity of apertures which have a size less than the size of the openings in the fabric carrier. The cast is formed by submerging the roll in heated water to heat the temperature of the composition above its softening temperature. While submerged water is flowed in a radial direction past the carrier openings and the separator apertures towards the center of the roll to speed up the softening process. When the roll is removed from the water to form the orthopedic cast the separator prolongs the cool-down time over what it would be if no separator were used to extend the available time during which the cast may be formed.

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Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

Carol J Laufenberg