Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Avent, Inc.

Molly K Smith

John Gavin MacDonald

Shu-Ping Yang

J Gavin MacDonald

Yanbin Huang

Lei Huang

Kelly Davis Arehart

Ilona F Weart

Hristo Angelov Hristov

David William Koenig

Scott W Wenzel

Jeffrey Eldon Fish

Jeffery Richard Seidling

Kevin Peter McGrath

Jason Lye

Phillip A Schorr

Stephanie Michelle Martin

Michael Z Sleva

Brian Joseph Cuevas

Rameshbabu Boga

Teuta Elshani, Iii

Jeffrey R Seidling

Allison Salyer Bagwell

Michael Schubert

Teuta Elshani

John Gavin Macdonald

Hristo A Hristov

A composition for a medium that can discharges organic unsaturated colorant molecules that may stain is described. The composition can quickly and effectively neutralize a discoloration that results from, in particular, blood or blood-based, ink, or grease stains. The composition can remove the stain within, typically about 20-30 minutes, and can achieve color contrast of a &#x394;E value of about 15-20 or greater. The composition can be adapted for different uses and embodied in various cleaning, stain-fighting, cosmetic, personal hygiene, or medical products.

Colorant neutralizer

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 thermoplastic polymeric composition having a xanthene or xanthenes-based compound as a plasticizer, a method to modify the thermoplastic polymeric materials to increase their relative plasticity while maintaining good strength or 'toughness' characteristics, and various articles of manufacture that can be made using the polymer composition are described.

Plasticizer for thermoplastic polymer materials

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 thermoplastic polymeric composition including a xanthene or xanthenes-based compound as a plasticizer, a method to modify the thermoplastic polymeric materials to increase their relative plasticity, and various articles of manufacture that can be made using the polymer composition are described.

Plasticizer for thermoplastic materials

A method for rapidly detecting the presence of formaldehyde in a urine sample (e.g., urine or a urinary material associated therewith, such as headspace gas located associated with urine) is provided. The method includes contacting the urine sample with a substrate on which is disposed a colorant that is capable of undergoing a detectable color change in the presence of formaldehyde. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that oxidation of the colorant by formaldehyde induces either a shift of the absorption maxima towards the red end of the spectrum ('bathochromic shift') or towards the blue end of the spectrum ('hypsochromic shift'). The absorption shift provides a color difference that is detectable, either visually or through instrumentation, to indicate the presence of formaldehyde within the urine sample. For example, prior to contact with a urine sample, the colorant may be colorless or it may possess a certain color. However, after contacting the urine sample and reacting with formaldehyde, the colorant exhibits a color that is different than its initial color. The color change may thus be readily correlated to the presence of formaldehyde in the urine sample.

Detection of formaldehyde in urine samples

There is provided a moisture indicator for a heat and moisture exchange (HME) device that uses a pre-colorant and an activator applied to an inner surface of the HME device. The colorant undergoes a color change of Delta E (&#x394;E) of equal to or greater than 3 units upon exposure to moisture but not upon exposure to high humidity. The colorant is visually obvious to the unaided human eye under normal light conditions through the body of the device. The HME device with the visual indicator for moisture can indicate to the care-giver that it is time to change the HME device.

Moisture indicator for heat and moisture exchange devices

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

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Molly K Smith