3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Kurt Allenberg

Charles C Polta

Joel D Oxman

F Andrew Ubel

Andrew J Callinan

Anthony J Campagna

Melvin Y Wong

Johannes Schuren

Lim Fang Pek

Balbir Singh

Custom footbed devices, methods of constructing the devices and kits for constructing custom footbeds are disclosed that may be particularly advantageous in the treatment of plantar ulcers. The devices offer the advantage of off-loading pressure from the plantar ulcers in a device that is easy to construct, reusable, lightweight, and custom-made to improve patient comfort. The footbeds are constructed using a curable substrate that is formed to the plantar surface of the foot except in the areas occupied by spacers designed to off-load wounds on the bottom of the foot.

Curable off-loading footwear and methods

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for storing moisture-sensitive products such as moisture-curable orthopedic splinting/casting product, in flexible, preferably elongated, pouches. The product is folded into a repeating series of discrete sections where each section has at least one segment that extend along the pouch length. By configuring the product in this way, it can be efficiently packaged, stored, and dispensed. Other embodiments of the invention include closure systems that permit sealing the pouch opening when product is not being dispensed and substantially sealing the pouch around the product during dispensing.

Apparatus and methods for packaging and storing moisture-sensitive products in resealable pouches

Curable adhesive splints, methods of manufacturing the splints and methods of using the splints are disclosed. The splints include a curable splinting layer and an exposed pressure sensitive adhesive proximate a first major side of the splinting layer. The pressure sensitive adhesive is used to secure the curable layer in position to provide the desired immobilization. The curable splinting layer may be of any material that can be shaped and cured to provide the desired level of stiffness required for immobilization, such as, e.g., moisture-curable splinting material, etc. The curable adhesive splints may be molded or formed to a desired shape while still providing the stiffness required for immobilization after curing.

Curable adhesive splints and methods

The present invention provides a reinforceable orthopedic casting article comprising a backing and a curable resin having an activator capable of assisting in the initiation of the cure of an addition polymerizable reinforcement compound. Reinforced casts are made by providing a curable casting tape comprising a backing and a curable resin containing an activator capable of assisting in the initiation of the cure of an addition polymerizable reinforcement compound; initiating the cure of the casting tape; wrapping the casting tape into the form of a cast; applying a hardenable reinforcement compound to at least a portion of the casting tape; and allowing the casting tape to cure and the reinforcement compound to harden to form a reinforced orthopedic cast. In another method a reinforced soft cast is made by wrapping a soft casting tape into the form of a cast, wherein the casting tape comprises a backing and a curable resin; initiating the cure of the casting tape; applying an activated addition polymerizable reinforcement compound to at least a portion of the casting tape; and allowing the casting tape to cure and the reinforcement compound to harden to form a reinforced orthopedic cast.

Soft orthopedic casting article with reinforcement system

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Kurt Allenberg