Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Donald R Battles

Eugene G Joseph

Justin M Johnson

Gregg A Patnode

Robert D Lorentz

Lori-Ann S Prioleau

Francois C D'Haese

Steven J Perron

James C Vanous

Brinda B Badri

Jacob D Chatterton

Donald H Lucast

John F Reed

Cheryl L Moore

Byron M Jackson

Richard J Goetz

Mary L Brown

Scott M Purrington

Richard H Ferber

Joseph A Tucker

Stuart L Eynon

Dan J Morse

Dyfrig E Clement

Audrey S Huang

Matthew T Scholz

David S Hays

Steven S Kantner

Joon Chatterjee

Bradley W Eaton

Badri Veeraraghavan

James K Young

Torrence B Stahl

Francois C D'HAESE

A wetness sensor includes a substrate that carries a tuned RF circuit. The circuit includes a conductive pattern applied to the substrate, a capacitor, and a jumper all disposed on a same side of the substrate. The conductive pattern includes an inductive coil, and an inner and outer terminus. The jumper electrically couples the inner terminus to the outer terminus. The jumper also includes a frangible link which, when contacted by a target fluid, produces a drastic change in the operation of the RF circuit. The drastic change can be interpreted by a remote reader as a 'wet' condition. Contact of the frangible link by the target fluid may change the impedance or resistance of the RF circuit by at least a factor of 5, 10, 100, or more, and/or may cause the frangible link to disintegrate to produce an open circuit, and/or may substantially render the RF circuit inoperative.

Wetness sensor using RF circuit with frangible link

A wetness sensor includes a self-supporting substrate and an electrically conductive trace carried by the substrate. The trace is patterned to provide at least a portion of a tuned RF circuit, which may be disposed on only one side of the substrate and characterized by an impedance or resistance. The trace is not self-supporting. The substrate is adapted to dissolve, swell, or otherwise degrade when contacted by a target fluid. Such degradation produces a drastic change in the operation of the RF circuit, which can be interpreted by a remote reader as a 'wet' condition. Contact of the substrate by the target fluid may change the impedance or resistance of the RF circuit by at least a factor of 5, 10, 100, or 1000, and/or may cause the trace to disintegrate so as to provide the RF circuit with an open circuit, and/or may substantially render the RF circuit inoperative.

Wetness sensors

The present invention pertains to nonwoven webs, and multi-component fibers comprising polydiorganosiloxane polyamide as well as method of making microfibers and multi-component fibers comprising a polydiorganosiloxane polyamide copolymer.

Nonwoven webs and multi-component fibers comprising a polydiorganosiloxane polyamide and methods of melt blowing

The present invention relates to a closure tape tab for an absorbent article, particularly for a disposable diaper, for fastening the article on the body of a person. The closure tape tab comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion being connected by an inner tab portion, wherein the inner tab portion has a first major surface and a second major surface. The proximal and distal end portions are connected to the inner tab portion and the first major surface thereof such that opposing ends of the proximal and distal end portions are spaced apart from each other. The distal end portion is folded over toward the proximal end portion such that at least a part of the first major surface of the inner tab portion in the space is covered. The proximal end portion is preferably not folded. The present invention furthermore relates to a prelaminated closure tape, preferably in a stable roll, from which such closure tape tabs can be cut. The closure tape of the present invention is adapted to be level-wound on a roll so that an increased amount of tape can be stored on the roll.

Closure tape tab for absorbent article, prelaminated closure tape, and method of manufacturing a closure tape

A low trauma pressure-sensitive adhesive coated substrate comprising a sheet material, tape or laminate structure designed to adhere to skin or like surfaces. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of this adhesive coated substrate is a fibrous adhesive layer generally having a basis weight of from 5 to 200 g/m applied to a conformable backing or substrate. The fibrous adhesive layer has a textured outer face and persistent porosity between discrete adhesive fibers. Generally, the fibrous adhesive layer has a MVTR (measured by ASTM E 96-80 at 40&deg; C.) of at least 1000 g/m /day, preferably at least 6000 g/m /day.

Low trauma adhesive article

The present invention provides an adhesive article that includes a backing substrate and a discontinuous adhesive layer disposed thereon, wherein the backing substrate comprises a fibrous web and absorbent particulate material, and further wherein the article has an initial wet skin adhesion of at least 20 g/2.5 cm (0.08 N/cm).

Wet skin adhesive article

A low trauma pressure-sensitive adhesive coated substrate comprising a sheet material, tape or laminate structure designed to adhere to skin or like surfaces. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of this adhesive coated substrate is a fibrous adhesive layer generally having a basis weight of from 5 to 200 g/m,applied to a conformable backing or substrate. The fibrous adhesive layer has a textured outer face and persistent porosity between discrete adhesive fibers. Generally, the fibrous adhesive layer has a MVTR (measured by ASTM E 96-80 at 40&deg; C.) of at least 1000 g/m,/day, preferably at least 6000 g/m,/day.

Sterilization indicators utilizing moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesives are provided. The sterilization indicators comprise at least one backing strip, preferably water-dispersible, which is coated on at least one side with the moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesive. A sterilization indicator strip is affixed to the backing strip and is easily removable from the sterilization indicator. The indicator tapes are useful to maintain a sterilization wrapper containing articles to be sterilized in a closed position during sterilization, and normal pre- and post-sterilization handling, while also providing a means to indicate if the wrapped articles have passed through a sterilization cycle. After use, the sterilization indicator strip is easily removed, and the adhesives coating the sterilization indicators, and preferably also the backing strips, disperse an aqueous alkali solution, such as are found in commercial laundries. Methods of making and using the sterilization indicators are also provided.

Sterilization indicators and methods

A pressure sensitive adhesive tape that employs a water-dispersible polymer is provided. The adhesive can comprise microparticles and a water-dispersible component; or microparticles and a novel water-dispersible polymer that contains a plurality of poly(alkoxyalkyl)acrylate units as a major component. The tape may be used with labels for containers, sterilization indicator tapes and labels, surgical wrappers, mammalian body coverings, and in the preparation of paper web splices. The tape may be repulpable and/or laundearable.

Pressure sensitive adhesive(s) and articles(s)

The present invention provides a medical tape comprising a highly conformable and deformable nonwoven web coated with an adhesive. The non-adhesive side of the web may be heat bonded to many different polymeric film materials and is particularly useful with ostomy pouch films. The present invention also provides ostomy bags comprising an elastic, breathable nonwoven based medical tape.

Elastic and heat sealable medical tapes

Sterilization indicator tapes utilizing moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesives are provided. The indicator tapes comprise a non-water-dispersible backing having a sterilization indicator thereon, which is coated on at least one side with the moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesive. The indicator tapes are useful to maintain a sterilization wrapper containing articles to be sterilized in a closed position during sterilization, and normal pre- and post-sterilization handling, while also providing a means to indicate if the wrapped articles have passed through a sterilization cycle. After use, the adhesives coating the indicator tapes disperse in aqueous alkali solutions, such as are found in commercial laundries, while the backing remains intact. Methods of making and using the indicator tapes are also provided.

Method of making indicator tapes

A pressure sensitive adhesive that employs a water-dispersible polymer is provided. In one embodiment of the invention the adhesive comprises microparticles and the water-dispersible component. In another embodiment the adhesive comprises a novel water-dispersible polymer that contains a plurality of poly(alkoxyalkyl) acrylate units as a major component. The pressure sensitive adhesive may be provided as a tape and used with labels for containers, sterilization indicator tapes and labels, closure systems for envelopes, surgical wrappers, and mammalian body coverings. It may also be used in the preparation of paper web splices. In one embodiment of the invention the tape is repulpable. In another embodiment it is launderable.

Growing community of inventors

Arden Hills, MN, United States of America

Donald R Battles