Surgery – Truss – Perineal
Patent
1983-10-19
1987-06-16
Schofer, Joseph L.
Surgery
Truss
Perineal
427 2, 4273899, 428264, 428265, 428268, 4283115, 4283197, 428255, A61F 504
Patent
active
046729569
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an orthopaedic bandage which hardens as a result of polymerisation of vinylic groups, prepolymers for use in such bandages and to the use of such bandages for immobilising parts of the body and to splints formed therefrom.
Traditionally, Plaster of Paris has been used in orthopaedic bandages or splinting bandages. However, in recent yeaars there has been a tendency to seek lighter materials. One approach to providing such orthopaedic bandages has been to employ isocyanate containing compounds which polymerise on exposure to water and in doing so harden and set. Bandages of this kind are described in DT No. 2651089, GB No. 1578895, EPO No. 0057988 and PCT WO 81/00671. However isocyanates are highly reactive towards moisture and require complicated manufacturing and storage processes to prevent premature setting. An alternative approach to provide a lightweight synthetic splinting agent is to employ material which can polymerise on exposure to ultra violet light. Such systems are disclosed on GB No. 1407795, GB No. 1512553, U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,473 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,128 but such systems have not proved entirely satisfactory and require a light source which is not always convenient. A third approach which avoids the water sensitivity of the isocyanate system and does not require the light source of the ultra violet activatable system employs solid, water-soluble vinylic monomers which can be caused to polymerise and, in so doing, to harden and set. Bandages of this kind which employ vinylic polymerisation are described in GB No. 1592228, GB No. 2021128A, EP No. 008195, U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,194, U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,791, U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,397 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,578. Such bandages comprise a support carrying a cast-forming composition comprising a solid, water-soluble vinyl monomer which polymerises when exposed to a water-activated vinyl polymerisation catalyst, thereby causing the cast to set, some require disadvantageously elevated temperatures to cause setting. A related system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,644 but that required somewhat hazardous solvents to be employed for the catalyst system described. These various known vinylic orthopaedic bandages can suffer from problems pertaining to low strength, shelf life, difficulties in their application due to their being brittle, emloying crystalline solids or volatile liquids, and the like. It has now been found that by avoiding the necessity of using such monomers it is possible to provide bandages which have an acceptable shelf life and which do not suffer from other problems associated with the use of known bandages.
Clearly there is a need for a synthetic splinting system which can be employed without recourse to highly water sensitive materials such as polyurethane being present in the bandage, which does not require a light source to activate the system, which does not employ toxic solvents in order to activate the system, which can be activated at room temperature, which can produce a strong cast and which does not require complicated packaging.
In one aspect, the present invention provides an orthopaedic bandage which comprises a support carrying a vinyl compound, which compound polymerises when exposed to a water-activated vinyl polymerisation catalyst characterised in that the vinyl compound is a hydrophilic prepolymer which contains not less than two polymerisable vinylic groups.
It has been discovered that by using hydrophilic prepolymer which contains not less than two polymerisable vinylic groups that a storage stable, readily activatable bandage can be produced which on exposure to a water activated polymerisation catalyst produces a cast of good strength.
The water activated vinyl polymerisation catalyst used in the bandage will usually comprise more than one component. It is believed that the most effective catalyst for use in the bandages of this invention will be a redox catalyst which will comprise an oxidising component and a reducing component. If desired neither of these components need
REFERENCES:
patent: 3630194 (1971-12-01), Bourdman
patent: 3874376 (1975-04-01), Dart et al.
patent: 3908644 (1975-09-01), Neinart et al.
patent: 4052282 (1977-10-01), Kubushiro
patent: 4214578 (1980-07-01), Gianakakos et al.
patent: 4286586 (1981-09-01), Potts
patent: 4316457 (1982-02-01), Liegeois
patent: 4344423 (1982-08-01), Evans et al.
patent: 4376438 (1983-03-01), Straube et al.
patent: 4465713 (1984-08-01), Lock et al.
Kiamil Sinan B.
Potter William D.
White Nicholas D.
Reddick J. M.
Schofer Joseph L.
Smith and Nephew Associated Companies p.l.c
LandOfFree
Bandages, components thereof and use does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bandages, components thereof and use, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bandages, components thereof and use will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-677884