The Procter Gamble Company

Eugene Weinshenker

E Kelly Linman

John Joseph Curro

Robert S Dirksing

Thurman J Koger, Ii

Thomas J Flautt

Theodore E Farrington, Jr

Clarence O Clark

Kenneth F Deffren

Robert L DeAngelis

Erwin A Hofmann

Method for enhancing blood circulation in a predetermined portion of a patient's body remote from the patient's heart. In a preferred embodiment the method comprises: placing an isolated portion of the patient's body within a chamber comprised of substantially gas impervious material; forming a substantially airtight seal between the chamber and the isolated portion of the patient's body; constricting venous blood flow from the isolated portion of the patient's body; evacuating sufficient air from within the chamber to create a partial vacuum within the chamber; maintaining the partial vacuum within the chamber for a period of time sufficient for the patient's arterial pressure to engorge the blood vessels contained within the isolated portion of the patient's body with blood and to distend the blood vessels; releasing the constriction on venous blood flow; and allowing sufficient air to enter the chamber to at least partially dissipate the vacuum existing within said chamber, thereby allowing the engorged, distended blood vessels within the isolated portion of the patient's body to return from their distended condition to a non-distended condition and forcing blood contained within the blood vessels from the isolated portion of the patient's body. Upon completion of the engorgement cycle, restoration of unrestricted venous blood flow is preferably followed by the application of pressure to the limb to avoid stagnation of blood in the limb being treated, after which the engorgement cycle is automatically repeated.

Method and apparatus for augmenting blood circulation

A backing for an absorptive device such as a disposable diaper or a sanitary napkin, said backing comprising a combination of two layers. The first layer which does not contact the wearer's skin is preferably comprised of a liquid-impervious layer of polymeric film or the like. The second layer is also preferably comprised of a polymeric film which has been made pervious to liquid by providing a multiplicity of relatively small protuberances, each ending in an aperture, substantially across its entire surface. The apertured protuberances, which resemble a tiny volcano in cross-section, exhibit a soft, highly consumer preferred tactile impression which is sometimes characterized as 'silky'.In backsheets of the present invention, the second layer is oriented so that the tiny volcano-like cusps of the second layer constitute the exposed portion of the backsheet. This minimizes the area of contact between the backsheet and the wearer's skin. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second layer is macroscopically expanded to provide a three-dimensional pattern in its surface, thereby increasing the amount of stand-off between the wearer's skin and the liquid impermeable first layer of the composite backsheet. The tiny apertures in the second layer substantially prevent occlusion of the wearer's skin by providing circulation of air between the first liquid impervious layer of the backsheet of the wearer's skin. This effect is enhanced even further when the first layer is macroscopically expanded to enhance the amount of stand-off between the wearer's skin and the liquid impervious first layer. The reduced contact area and the enhanced air circulation between the backsheet and the wearer's skin reduce the tendency toward perspiration and sticking of the backsheet to the wearer's skin.

Non-occluding, liquid-impervious, composite backsheet for absorptive

Method and apparatus for distending the blood vessels comprising the veins and the arteries in an isolated portion of a patient's body remote from the patient's heart to facilitate puncture with a cannula. The preferred method comprises placing the isolated portion of the patient's body within a chamber capable of supporting at least a partial vacuum and forming a substantially airtight seal between the chamber and the isolated portion of the patient's body. Venous blood flow from the isolated portion of the patient's body is then gradually restricted by circumferentially constricting the patient's body at a point approximately coinciding with the point at which the substantially airtight seal is formed. The isolated portion of the patient's body in the chamber is then subjected to a partial vacuum for a period of time sufficient for the patient's systolic arterial blood pressure to engorge the blood vessels with blood, to substantially equalize the pressure of the blood in the veins and the arteries and to substantially distend the blood vessels. Constriction of the patient's body is thereafter gradually increased until the arterial blood flow to the isolated portion substantially ceases. Finally, the vacuum chamber is vented to atmosphere and removed while the circumferential constriction is maintained to substantially prevent the flow of blood to and from the isolated portion of the patient's body. As a result, the blood vessels in the isolated portion of the patient's body are in an engorged, highly visible and highly distended condition.

Subatmospheric method and apparatus for expanding blood vessels to

The present invention provides a process for debossing and perforating a substantially continuous web of substantially planar thermoplastic film, using a forming structure having a patterned forming surface with holes and an opposed surface. The forming structure is open from the holes in the forming surface to the opposed surface. The forming structure moves in a direction of the length of the web of film and carries the web of film in that direction. The web of film is substantially entirely molten. A fluid differential pressure is substantially continuously applied across the thickness of the web of film from a first position along the direction of movement of the forming structure to a second position. The first and second positions are fixed relative to the moving forming structure. The fluid differential pressure is sufficiently great to cause the first surface of the web of film to be urged against the forming surface and to cause perforations to be created in the web of film. Thus a web of debossed and perforated film is formed in the image of the forming surface from the web of film. Fluid differential pressure holds the web of debossed and perforated film against the forming surface without permitting substantial spring-back of the film. Cooling fluid is applied to the second surface of the web of debossed and perforated film after the film is debossed and perforated and before the web of debossed and perforated film passes the second position. Thus the web of debossed and perforated film is cooled without permitting substantial spring-back of the film and is set by the time the web of debossed and perforated film passes the second position.

Process for high-speed production of webs of debossed and perforated

A vessel, reflective to microwave electromagnetic energy, having at least one aperture to permit passage of said microwave energy to its contents and a shielding device, responsive to a preselected internal temperature of the vessel contents, to close said at least one aperture to prevent further passage of said microwave energy to the vessel contents.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Eugene Weinshenker