Kimberly-clark Corporation

Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

J Gavin MacDonald

Ronald S Nohr

Dennis Stein Everhart

Jason Lye

Stephanie Michelle Martin

David Charles Potts

Molly K Smith

George A Young

William E Maycock

David William Koenig

Andrew Mark Long

Scott W Wenzel

Jeffery Richard Seidling

Curtis Sayre

Kimberlee Fay Thompson

Michael Schubert

A lateral flow device for analyzing a whole blood sample is provided. More specifically, the lateral flow device contains a porous membrane that defines a barrier zone for separating red blood cells from blood plasma (includes plasma in which clotting factors haven been removed), which may then flow to a subsequent detection zone for analysis. The barrier zone is formed from a blood cell barrier composition that includes an unsaturated aliphatic fatty acid or an ester thereof. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe such unsaturated aliphatic fatty acid molecules undergo autoxidation in the presence of air and hemoglobin to release peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) via oxidative saturation of double bonds. In turn, the released peroxides are believed to induce the formation of echinocytes or crenated blood cells. The crenated red blood cells are distorted in shape and less flexible and malleable than normal red blood cells, making them less able to penetrate into the pores of the porous membrane of the lateral flow device. Consequently, the stiffer, less flexible cells cannot move easily into the porous and become trapped at the surface of the membrane, while the liquid components of the sample flow and penetrate through the membrane to the detection zone for analysis.

Blood cell barrier for a lateral flow device

A decolorizing composition that can discharge the color of blood, menses, or other stains is provided. More specifically, a peroxide, cell lysing agent, chelating agent, antioxidant, and other optional ingredients are selectively employed to achieve an aqueous composition that exhibits good shelf stability and stain removal properties. The composition, for example, may maintain about 70% or more, in some embodiments about 80% or more, and in some embodiments, about 90% or more of its initial hydrogen peroxide (H0) content subsequent to being aged at ambient temperature (&#x2dc;25&#xb0; C.) for 2 weeks.

Stabilized decolorizing composition

A method and system for rapidly detectingon the skin of a host, such as an infant with diaper rash, is provided. The method includes contacting a dermal sample with a colorant that exhibits a certain spectral response (e.g., color change) in the presence of. For example, the colorant may change from a first color to a second color, from colorless to a color, or from a color to colorless. The colorant is typically capable of differentiating between(e.g.,) and other microorganisms commonly associated with diaper rash, such asand. Thus, when a dermal sample is placed into contact with the colorant, the color change may simply be observed to determine whether the infection is caused by. If the color change occurs to a certain extent (e.g., from yellow to bright red), it may be determined that the test sample contains. Likewise, if a color change occurs to a lesser extent (e.g., from yellow to faint orange) or not at all, it may be determined that the dermal sample contains other microorganisms (e.g.,or), no infection is present, or that the infection is simply due to other causes. Regardless, it will become readily apparent whether or not treatment foris needed.

Method for detecting candida on skin

A method for detecting a microorganism or class of microorganisms is provided. More specifically, the method employs an array that contains a plurality of discrete regions (referred to as 'addresses') spaced apart on a solid support in a predetermined pattern. The addresses are selected so that the array provides a distinct spectral response (e.g., pattern of colors) or 'fingerprint' for a particular microorganism or class of microorganisms. For example, the array may provide a certain spectral response in the presence of one microorganism or class of microorganisms (e.g., gram-negative bacteria), but provide a completely different spectral response in the presence of another microorganism or class of microorganisms (e.g., gram-positive bacteria). Detection of the spectral response provided by the array may thus allow for differentiation between microorganisms.

Array for rapid detection of a microorganism

The present invention relates to improved methods of making Cu-meso-tetra-(4-sulfanatophenyl)-porphine (designated p-CuTPPS4). The improved processes allow the production of p-CuTPPS4 at lower cost and higher yields compared to conventional methods of making p-CuTPPS4. The present invention further relates to methods of making Cu-meso-tetra-(2-sulfanatophenyl)-porphine (designated o-CuTPPS4) and the use of o-CuTPPS4 as a colorant stabilizer for a variety of colorants, especially magenta colorants. The o-CuTPPS4, according to the present invention, provides a more stable and more &ldquo;blue&rdquo; colorant stabilizer compared to known colorant stabilizers, such as Cu-meso-tetra-(p-phenylcarboxylic acid)-porphine.

Method of making sulfanatophenyl substituted porphines

The present invention is directed to new, energy-efficient photoinitiators in the form of organic sulfur-containing compounds. The present invention is also directed to a method of generating reactive species which includes exposing one or more photoinitiators to radiation to form one or more reactive species. Also described are methods of polymerizing unsaturated monomers, methods of curing an unsaturated oligomer/monomer mixture, and methods of laminating using the photoinitiators of the present invention.

Photoinitiators and applications therefor

A surface-segregatable, melt-extrudable thermoplastic composition is provided which includes at least one thermoplastic polyolefin and at least one additive having the general formula, ##STR1## in which: (A) R.sub.1 -R.sub.9 are independently selected monovalent C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl groups;

Surface-segregatable compositions and nonwoven webs prepared therefrom

A nonwoven laminiferous structure is provided which has at least two melt-extruded nonwoven layers:

Multilayer nonwoven laminiferous structure

A nonwoven composite structure is provided which has at least two melt-extruded nonwoven layers:

Multilayer nonwoven composite structure

A surface-segregatable, melt-extrudable thermoplastic composition suitable for processing by melt extrusion to form a fiber or film having a differential, increasing concentration of an additive from the center of the fiber or film to the surface thereof, which differential, increasing concentration imparts to the surface of the fiber or film at least one desired characteristic which otherwise would not be present, which composition includes at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one defined additive. During formation of the fiber or film, the additive rapidly segregates in a controllable manner toward the newly-formed surface of the fiber or film, thereby resulting in a controllable differential concentration of the polymeric material, which concentration increases with increasing distance from the center of the fiber or film to its surface. The weight ratio of the polymer to the additive is in the range of from about 1 to about 1,000. The preferred polymer is a polyolefin such as polyethylene and polypropylene. The thermoplastic composition is useful in the preparation of fibers or films which have at least one surface characteristic which is different from that of the polymer component of the thermoplastic composition. The thermoplastic composition is particularly useful in the formation of nonwoven webs which are used in the construction of such disposable absorbent products as diapers, feminine care products, incontinence products, and the like.

Surface-segregatable, melt-extrudable thermoplastic composition

A method comprising melting a mixture of at least one thermoplastic polyolefin and at least one additive having the general formula, ##STR1## and extruding the resulting melt through a die at a shear rate of from about 50 to about 30,000 sec.sup.-1 and a throughput of no more than about 5.4 kg/cm/hour, in which:

Method of increasing the delay period of nonwoven webs having delayed

A nonwoven wipe having improved grease release is provided which includes a meltblown polyolefin web having a basis weight of from about 17 to about 204 g/m.sup.2, in which: A. the meltblown polyolefin web has at or on the surfaces of the fibers thereof at least one additive having the general formula, ##STR1## in which: (1) R.sub.1 -R.sub.9 are independently selected monovalent C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl groups;

Nonwoven wipe having improved grease release

Processing by melt extrusion a surface-segregatable, melt-extrudable thermoplastic composition to form a fiber or film having a differential, increasing concentration of an additive from the center of the fiber or film to the surface thereof, which differential, increasing concentration imparts to the surface of the fiber or film at least one desired characteristic which otherwise would not be present, which composition includes at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one defined additive. During formation of the fiber or film, the additive rapidly segregates in a controllable manner toward the newly-formed surface of the fiber or film, thereby resulting in a controllable differential concentration of the polymeric material, which concentration increases with increasing distance from the center of the fiber or film to its surface.

Process for melt extruding a surface-segregatable thermoplastic

A method of cleaning melt-processing equipment which comprises processing in such equipment a thermoplastic composition which comprises at least one thermoplastic polyolefin and at least one siloxane-containing additive having at least two moieties, A and B, in which:

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Decatur, GA, United States of America

J Gavin MacDonald