Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Dennis C Bartizal

Matthew T Scholz

Timothy C Sandvig

Anthony J Campagna

Richard S Buckanin

Dean A Ersfeld

Katherine E Reed

Michael D Delmore

Wayne K Larson

Gerald E Drake

Jason L Edgar

Patricia A Eull

Mark A Berman

Barry J Novak

Paul E Hansen

Alton J Gasper

Peter M Graf

Richard M Stess

Wayne E Larson

Chris J Libbey

Matthew T Sholz

The present invention provides novel casting tapes incorporating water soluble liners. The liners of the present invention may be used for a number of purposes including: use as an interlayer film liner in a casting tape article to prevent undesirable resin pooling; use as an interlayer liner to lubricate a casting tape when immersed in water, use in a method of producing a decorative casting tape either by retarding layer-to-layer migration of a colored resin or by transferring a design preprinted on the liner to an adjacent casting tape; use as an interlayer liner in a casting tape article to prevent adhesion between adjacent layers of the article; and use as a release liner to facilitate removal of a roll of casting tape from its package. The liners employed in this invention are rapidly soluble in water and may be provided as a continuous or semi-continuous sheet structure.

Water soluble films used in synthetic casting tapes

The present invention relates to an easy-to-use and effective magnetically resealable moisture-proof pouch containing moisture-curable orthopedic splinting/casting product in bulk form or in individually packaged rolls. The preferred pouch incorporates a frame disposed about an opening into the pouch which provides a mounting place for a moisture-proof magnetic seal. Also disclosed are containers for the preferred pouches which are adapted for use with the magnetic sealing system according to the present invention.

Moisture-proof resealable pouch and container

The present invention provides a method of using novel casting tapes incorporating water soluble liners. The liners of the present invention may be used for a number of purposes including: use as an interlayer film liner in a casting tape article to prevent undesirable resin pooling; use as an interlayer liner to lubricate a casting tape when immersed in water; use in a method of producing a decorative casting tape either by retarding layer-to-layer migration of a colored resin or by transferring a design preprinted on the liner to an adjacent casting tape; use as an interlayer liner in a casting tape article to prevent adhesion between adjacent layers of the article; and use as a release liner to facilitate removal of a roll of casting tape from its package. The liners employed in this invention are rapidly soluble in water and may be provided as a continuous or semi-continuous sheet structure.

Method of using water soluble films in curable casting tapes

A kit for use in preparing a last, i.e., an anatomical model of the human foot for use in the contruction of custom footwear, as well as a method of preparing lasts, the lasts prepared by such a method, and the custom footwear constructed by the use of such lasts. The kit includes a hardenable, shell-forming fabric that can be conformed to the shape of the foot, hardened in its conformed shape, and removed from the foot in a manner that does not substantially destroy its conformed shape. The resultant shell, being sufficiently smooth and being of substantially the same size and shape as the foot, can be used directly as a positive model of the foot.

Last for preparing custom footwear

The present invention relates to an orthotic blank comprising an open-celled foam sheet impregnated with a water curable, isocyanate functional, polyurethane prepolymer resin. The orthotic blank can be used according to the method of this invention to prepare an orthotic pad bearing the impression of a body part to be supported and/or cushioned. The resultant orthotic pad exhibits both proper weight-bearing strength and cushioning properties for effective and comfortable use.

Orthotic pads and methods

A curable orthopedic support material is disclosed wherein a flexible sheet material is impregnated with a liquid resin system; the resin-impregnated material cures upon exposure to a curing agent into a resilient, semi-rigid support device. In one preferred embodiment, one or more layers of a cushioning material such as foam is associated with the support material. The cured support is especially designed for orthopedic applications where conventional rigid casts are neither necessary not desirable, such as athletic uses.

Resilient semi-rigid orthopedic support devices

The present invention relates to an orthotic blank that includes an open-celled foam sheet impregnated with a water curable, isocyanate functional, polyurethane prepolymer resin. The orthotic blank can be used according to the method of this invention to prepare an orthotic pad bearing the impression of a body part to be supported and/or cushioned. The resultant orthotic pad exhibits both proper weight-bearing strength and cushioning properties for effective and comfortable use.

A curable orthopedic support material is disclosed comprising a flexible sheet material impregnated with a liquid resin system which cures upon exposure to a curing agent to a resilient, semi-rigid support device. The cured support is especially designed for orthopedic applications where conventional rigid casts are not desirable and/or necessary.

Curable material for semi-rigid resilient orthopedic support

The present invention relates to orthopedic splinting articles and methods for forming orthopedic splints at least part way around an animal body part. The splinting articles comprise a unitary blank formed of an open-celled foam sheet impregnated with a water curable, isocyanate functional, polyurethane prepolymer resin. The blank is dimensioned to extend the length of the body part to be immobilized and to partially, but preferably not completely, extend around the circumference of the body part. Upon activation of the resin impregnated foam sheet and molding the same around the body part, an orthopedic splint is formed.

Orthopedic splinting articles and methods

The present invention relates to orthopedic splinting articles and methods for forming orthopedic splints at least part way around an animal body part. The splinting articles comprise a unitary blank formed of an open-celled foam sheet impregnated with a water curable, isocyanate functional, polyurethane prepolymer resin. The blank is dimensioned to extend the length of the body part to be immobilized and to partially, but preferably not completely, extend around the circumference of the body part. Upon activation of the resin impregnated foam sheet and molding the same around the body part, an orthopedic splint is formed. The present invention further relates to the use of such resin-impregnated foam materials as walking heels or laminates betweeen casts and walking heels, as supports for orthotic devices such as arch supports for foot orthotics, and as protective coverings for animal hoofs.

Resin-impregnated foam materials and methods

The present invention relates to orthopedic casting materials having reduced tack and methods for preparing and using such orthopedic casting materials, wherein the materials comprise a nonwoven, stretchable fabric which is impregnated with a curable prepolymer resin. The nonwoven fabric comprises fiber bundles and apertures between the fiber bundles, with each of the fiber bundles comprising a plurality of fibers having interstices therebetween. The curable prepolymer resin is impregnated into the nonwoven fabric such that the interstices between the fibers receive the resin, while leaving the apertures between fiber bundles substantially unoccluded. Such orthopedic casting materials are relatively inexpensive and exhibit improved properties.

Curable resin coated sheets having reduced tack

A curable resin coated sheet useful as an orthopedic bandage which has reduced tack is provided. The resin coated sheet is pre-lubricated with a lubricant which is (a) bonded to the resin, (b) added to the resin or applied to the surface of the coated sheet, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b). The lubricant is present in an amount to reduce the kinetic coefficient of friction of a surface of the coated sheet to less than 1.2.

Curable resin coated sheet having reduced tack

The disclosed self-emulsified polyurethane polyurethane-polyurea latices are formed by chain extending in water a prepolymer which contains per molecule about two isocyanate groups at the ends of a chain and attached to some of the prepolymer chains a pendant group having at its remote end a salt-forming group or a hydrophilic group which produces the self-emulsifying characteristic.

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Dennis C Bartizal