The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 24, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2009
Ingrid A. Rousseau, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Elisabeth J. Berger, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
John N. Owens, Franklin, MI (US);
Hamid G. Kia, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
Ingrid A. Rousseau, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Elisabeth J. Berger, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
John N. Owens, Franklin, MI (US);
Hamid G. Kia, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A medical cast and methods of using the same are disclosed. The method of making includes providing a shape memory polymer (SMP) in a permanent shape which corresponds to a limb's general shape but has a diameter smaller than the limb's diameter. The SMP is converted from the permanent shape into a primary temporary shape, which has a diameter larger than both a diameter of the permanent shape and a diameter of the limb. The limb is at least partially surrounded with the SMP in its primary temporary shape. The SMP is then heated, which causes the primary temporary shape to i) attempt to revert to the permanent shape, and ii) conform to a secondary temporary shape having a diameter smaller than that of the primary temporary shape and larger than that of the permanent shape. The SMP in the secondary temporary shape conforms to the limb.