Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090061718 | STABILIZED DECOLORIZING COMPOSITION - 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 (H | 03-05-2009 |
20090062764 | ZONED APPLICATION OF DECOLORIZING COMPOSITION FOR USE IN ABSORBENT ARTICLES - An absorbent article that contains a substrate treated with a decolorizing composition that can discharge the color of bodily exudates is provided. More specifically, a boundary zone located at the periphery of the substrate is treated with the decolorizing composition. Thus, when the substrate is incorporated into an absorbent article, the decolorizing composition may help discharge color at the edges of the article where leakage is most likely to occur. An interior zone of the substrate, however, is left substantially untreated with the decolorizing composition. This enables a user to observe and inspect the bodily exudates for infection or other health related conditions, and also allows the decolorizing composition to be applied only to those portions of the substrate needed to achieve the desired effect so that the untreated zone can continue to fulfill its other functions. | 03-05-2009 |
20090111088 | RAPID ASSESSMENT OF UPPER RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS - A method for rapidly assessing upper respiratory conditions is provided. More specifically, the method involves contacting a sample obtained from the upper respiratory tract of a host with a test strip. The test strip contains an indicator that provides a broad spectrum response in the presence of bacteria, mold, yeast, or other microorganisms that is different than its response in the presence of viruses. This allows for a rapid and simple assessment as to whether the test sample is infected with a virus or some other microorganism. To help a clinician identify the proper course of treatment, it may also be desirable to obtain further information about the particular type of microorganism present. In this regard, the test strip contains any array of one or more differentiating indicators that provides a certain spectral response in the presence of different types of microorganisms. For example, the array may provide a certain spectral response in the presence of gram-negative bacteria, but a completely different spectral response in the presence of gram-positive bacteria. Likewise, the array may provide a certain spectral response in the presence of Rhinoviruses (associated with the common cold), but a different response in the presence of Influenza viruses. Detection of the spectral response provided by the indicators may thus allow for rapid differentiation between different types of microorganisms. | 04-30-2009 |
20090124925 | Vein Identification Technique - A technique for identifying a vein in a patient is disclosed. The technique involves the application of a thermochromic ink to a venous area on the skin of a patient (e.g., human or animal). The thermochromic ink comprises thermosensitive color-changing microcapsules that contain a proton-accepting chromogen and a desensitizer. The desensitizer possesses a melting point above which the chromogen is capable of becoming protonated, thereby resulting in a color change. Thereafter, the venous area is observed for the color change. | 05-14-2009 |
20090142229 | Blood Cell Barrier for a Lateral Flow Device - 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. | 06-04-2009 |
20090142275 | Wound Suture Capable of Identifying the Presence of Bacteria - A wound suture containing a solvatochromatic indicator that undergoes a color change in the presence of bacteria often associated with surgical site infection is provided. Such a color change provides a “real time” indication of the onset of infection, which may alert medical staff to apply an appropriate antimicrobial treatment (e.g., antibiotic) to the patient (e.g., human or animal) before a more serious infection occurs. The patient may also be able to accurately monitor the condition of a wound after discharge from the hospital. Further, the lack of a color change may provide the medical staff or patient with the assurance that the area is generally free of infection and clean. | 06-04-2009 |
20090149772 | Temperature Indicator for Cooling Products - A cooling product (e.g., mask, glove, sock, etc.) configured to provide a cooling effect to the body part of a user is provided. The cooling product contains a thermochromic composition that undergoes a color change at a certain temperature. The color change may signal to a user that the cooling product is cold, thus providing an indication that the desired treatment is still functioning. Likewise, the color change may signal that the product is warm, thus providing an indication that the treatment is complete. | 06-11-2009 |
20090149925 | Temperature Indicator for Warming Products - A warming product (e.g., mask, glove, sock, etc.) configured to provide heat to the body part of a user is provided. The warming product contains a thermochromic composition that undergoes a color change at a certain temperature. The color change may signal to a user that the warming product is hot, thus providing an indication that the desired treatment is still functioning. Likewise, the color change may signal that the product is cool, thus providing an indication that the treatment is complete. | 06-11-2009 |
20090151849 | Cosmetic Wipe that Provides a Visual Indication of its Effectiveness - A cosmetic wipe that contains a first nonwoven layer having first and second opposing surfaces is provided. The first nonwoven layer contains fibers formed from a polymer composition and is generally opaque in nature. A second nonwoven layer is laminated to the first surface of the first nonwoven layer. The second nonwoven layer contains a colorant that imparts a certain color to the second layer. Prior to use, the colored second layer is not generally visible when viewed from the second surface of the first layer due to the opaque nature of the first layer. However, sebum or other bodily oils absorbed by the first layer during use can prevent light from adequately reflecting from the layer. Thus, at least a portion of the first layer becomes translucent or transparent so that the color of the second layer becomes visible to a user. This provides a variety of benefits, including the ability for a user to evaluate if or how much sebum was removed from the skin so that makeup, etc. can be applied with confidence. | 06-18-2009 |
20090221061 | Array for Rapid Detection of a Microorganism - A method for detecting a microorganism or class of microorganisms is provided. More specifically, the method employs an array that contains a plurality of discrete regions (referred to as “addresses”) spaced apart on a solid support in a predetermined pattern. The addresses are selected so that the array provides a distinct spectral response (e.g., pattern of colors) or “fingerprint” for a particular microorganism or class of microorganisms. For example, the array may provide a certain spectral response in the presence of one microorganism or class of microoryanisms (e.g., gram-negative bacteria), but provide a completely different spectral response in the presence of another microorganism or class of microorganisms (e.g., gram-positive bacteria). Detection of the spectral response provided by the array may thus allow for differentiation between microorganisms. | 09-03-2009 |
20100291670 | Method for Detecting Candida on Skin - A method and system for rapidly detecting | 11-18-2010 |