Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Lei Huang

Shu-Ping Yang

Yanbin Huang

Kelly Davis Arehart

Sharon Linda Greene

Xuedong Song

Rosann Marie Kaylor

Bin Wu

Jeffrey Eldon Fish

Kevin Peter McGrath

Curtis Sayre

Julie M Villanueva

Robert B Johnson

John Gavin MacDonald

Stephanie Michelle Martin

Jaeho Kim

Naveen Agarwal

John Albert Shuty

Jeffrey Dean Lindsay

Herb F Velazquez

Fung-jou Chen

Christopher Peter Olson

Ali Yahiaoui

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

Shirlee Ann Weber

Mark G Kupelian

Prasad Shrikishna Potnis

Molly K Smith

Ning Wei

Sheng-Hsin Hu

John Herbert Conrad

Sohail Malik

Ilona F Weart

Hue Scott Snowden

Dean M Wydeven

Cheryl A Perkins

Simon K Poruthoor

Jeffrey Jennings Krueger

Robert John Lyng

Rosann Marie Matthews Kaylor

Rebecca Willey Griffin

Balaji Kovil Kandadai

Irene Kuznetsov

Suzanne Murray

Ray A Sterling

Mark Gilbert Kupelian

Curtis Neil Sayre

Kelly Arehart

Sharon Greene

A nonwoven web that contains a plurality of fibers formed from a polyolefin composition is provided. The polyolefin composition contains a rigid propylene polymer that has a relatively high melting temperature and modulus of elasticity, which can provide good strength and durability to the nonwoven web. The polyolefin composition also contains a ductile propylene polymer that has a relatively high melt flow index, which can help achieve relatively fine fibers that minimize the stiffness of the web. In addition to a rigid and ductile polymer, the polyolefin composition also contains a slip additive (e.g., fatty acid derivative). Among other things, such an additive can even further enhance the overall softness of the composition.

Soft and durable nonwoven web

An absorbent article having an outwardly body-facing surface and an outwardly garment-facing surface Is provided. The absorbent article contains a topsheet, backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The backsheet contains a nonwoven facing laminated to a film. The nonwoven facing contains a first nonwoven web containing a plurality of fibers formed from a first polyolefin composition and a second nonwoven web containing a plurality of fibers formed from a second polyolefin composition. The first polyolefin composition contains at least one ethylene polymer and the second polyolefin composition contains at least one rigid propylene polymer and at least one ductile propylene polymer. The second nonwoven web defines the garment-facing surface of the article.

Absorbent article containing a soft and durable backsheet

A nonwoven composite that contains a first nonwoven web positioned adjacent to a second nonwoven web is provided. The first nonwoven web contains a plurality of fibers that are formed from a first polyolefin composition, and the second nonwoven web contains a plurality of fibers that are formed from a second polyolefin composition. The first polyolefin composition contains an ethylene polymer, which and car; provide a soft feel to a surface of the first nonwoven web. The second polyolefin composition likewise contains a rigid propylene polymer, which can provide good strength and durability to the second nonwoven web. The second polyolefin composition also contains a ductile propylene polymer and a fatty acid derivative.

Soft and durable nonwoven composite

An absorbent article has a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a first major surface which forms a body-facing surface of the absorbent article, and a second major surface disposed distally from the first major surface which forms a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article. The article includes an absorbent core positioned between the first major surface and the second major surface. The article also includes at least one heat-activatable expandable structure. The at least one heat-activatable expandable structure is disposed on or below the first major surface. Application of heat to the heat-activatable expandable structure causes the heat-activatable expandable barrier structure to form distinctive designs, barriers and/or channels.

Article with heat-activatable expandable structures

A biodegradable biodelivery device is disclosed. The biodelivery device is formed from a polymer comprising the reaction product of a polyol and a polyacid. When exposed to water, the polymer degrades through hydrolysis. Of particular advantage, the polymer can be formed so as to be elastic and flexible. In one embodiment, the polymer is formed into a vaginal insert. As the polymer degrades, the polymer releases acid to a vaginal environment for decreasing the pH of the environment.

Degradable therapeutic delivery device

A wound or surgical dressing is disclosed. The wound or surgical dressing is configured to cover or surround a wound, a surgical incision, or any type of skin irritation. In accordance with the present disclosure, the wound or surgical dressing is treated with a bacteriostatic composition that is capable of binding and trapping negatively charged matter, such as bacteria, pathogens, and the like. The bacteriostatic composition comprises a cationic polymer, a cationic oligomer, or particles coated with a cationic material. The bacteriostatic composition is bonded to the wound or surgical dressing in a manner such that the bacteriostatic composition is not substantially transferred to a patient being treated.

Wound or surgical dressing

There is provided a lateral flow diagnostic device that employs a phosphorescent particle. The particle includes, for example, an organic phosphorescent material encapsulated in a cross-linked halogen-containing polymeric matrix. The cross-linked halogen-containing polymeric matrix has at least one percent by mass weight of halogen atoms, and the cross-linked halogen-containing polymeric matrix shields the encapsulated phosphorescent material from phosphorescence quenchers.

Lateral flow diagnostic device that contains a phosphorescent material encapsulated in a crosslinked polymer matrix

A method for reducing odors is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting a substrate containing a thin coating of colloidal nanoparticles with an odorous compound. The colloidal nanoparticles have an average size of less than about 500 nanometers, a surface area of from about 50 to about 1000 square meters per gram, and a pore volume of less than about 0.5 milliliters per gram. The colloidal nanoparticles may adsorb at least about 25% of the odorous compound when contacted therewith.

Method for reducing odor using colloidal nanoparticles

A diagnostic test system for detecting the presence or absence of an analyte within a test sample is provided. For instance, the system may include a swab and a detection unit. The detection unit includes a first component that is capable of receiving the swab, the first component defining an insertion chamber within which a fluid is capable of being retained. The detection unit also includes a second component that defines a detection chamber within which an assay for detecting the presence or absence of the analyte is capable of being contained. The first component is rotatable relative to the second component from an inactive position to an active position. In the inactive position, the fluid remains substantially contained within the insertion chamber. In the active position, the fluid may flow from the insertion chamber to the detection chamber and contact the assay.

Swab-based diagnostic systems

A vaginal treatment composition that rapidly forms a gel when placed into contact with monovalent or polyvalent cations, such as sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) cations naturally found in vaginal mucosa, is provided. The gel may form in less than about 1 hour, in some embodiments less than about 1 minute, and in some embodiments, less than about 30 seconds. Among other things, such rapid gelation reduces the likelihood of leakage during use. In addition, because the gel may form intravaginally, it is more likely to retain its structure and shape over an extended period of time. In this manner, the gel may provide the prolonged release of a therapeutic agent that inhibits and/or treats vaginal infection. For instance, the gel may remain within the vagina for about 2 to about 48 hours to provide the desired effect.

Vaginal treatment composition containing xylitol

A vaginal treatment composition that employs a therapeutic agent to inhibit and/or treat vaginal infection is provided. The therapeutic agent is capable of inhibiting and/or killing(e.g.,),(e.g.,), and/or(e.g.,) pathogens. Desirably, such antimicrobial efficacy is achieved without substantially inhibiting the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus. For instance, sugars and/or sugar alcohols may be employed in the present invention as a therapeutic agent for inhibiting and/or treating vaginal infection. In one particular embodiment, D-xylitol is used as the therapeutic agent.

Xylitol for treatment of vaginal infections

A composition and method for encapsulating colorant molecules in polymeric particles are described. Colorant molecules, such as dye, are doped or embedded in a particle, at least in part, composed of a halogen-containing polymeric matrix that can effectively isolate the dye molecules from reaction with photo-oxidizing or reducing agents. The isolated colorant molecule is protected from photo-bleaching and other color degradation, and show superior photo-stability. The encapsulating polymer matrix can be cross-linked and can have a variety of surface functional groups, which may be adapted to help achieve either strong ionic or covalent binding to desired substrates. Also described are methods for producing protective particles, and ink mediums for applying the particles to substrates.

Photo-stable and surface-functionalizable colorant particles

A composite material comprising a plurality of nanofibers intertwined with a plurality of coarse fibers to form one or more layers is provided. The nanofibers can be any suitable type of nanofiber, including electrospun fibers. A composite material comprising a plurality of electrospun fibers intertwined with a plurality of coarse fibers to form a single layer is also provided. A composite material comprising a plurality of electrospun fibers combined with a plurality of coarse fibers to form a plurality of layers, i.e., a multi-layer material, is also provided. In some embodiments, gradients in one or more directions are produced. Embodiments of the invention also provide processes for producing the composite nanofiber material. The materials are useful for any type of disposable garment, wipe, hospital garment, face mask, sterile wrap, air filter, water filter and so forth. Materials described herein can provide strong and varying surface effects, such as wicking. In one embodiment, hydrophobic fibers have a sufficiently small diameter to create a lotus effect.

Composite nanofiber materials and methods for making same

The present invention is directed to anti-microbial compositions and methods for treating fungal and yeast infections.

Anti-microbial composition and methods of use thereof

Growing community of inventors

Duluth, GA, United States of America

Lei Huang