Medical bandaging product

1. A splint product in roll form for being dispensed in predetermined lengths suitable for a given medical use, comprising:

(a) an elongate sleeve formed of moisture-impervious material and sealable to prevent entry of moisture;

(b) an elongate medical material positioned in said sleeve and sealed therein against entry of moisture until use, said medical material comprising:

(i) a substrate;

(ii) a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto said substrate, said system remaining stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardening upon exposure to sufficient moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure; and

(iii) a soft, flexible, protective tubular wrapping enclosing said substrate along its length to provide a cushioning barrier between the substrate and the skin of a patient when the material is in use, said soft, flexible protective wrapping comprising a rib-knitted fabric constructed of synthetic yarns selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polyester and polypropylene yarns, said tubular wrapping comprising an inner surface having longitudinally extending ribs arranged around the inner surface and extending along the length thereof and that separate when applied to channel air flow and remove moisture from the skin between the ribs, and an outer surface having a plush texture; and

(c) means for resealing said sleeve against entry of moisture after a predetermined length of said bandaging product has been dispensed for use to prevent hardening of said substrate remaining in said sleeve.

2. A splint product according to claim 1 , wherein said rib-knitted fabric of the protective wrapping is circular-knitted to define a tube, with the ribs extending longitudinally along the length of the tube.

3. A splint product according to claim 1 , wherein said rib-knitted fabric of the protective wrapping is circular-knitted to define a tube, with the ribs extending radially around the periphery of the tube.

4. A splint product according to claim 3 , and including an elastic yarn incorporated into the fabric to provide elasticity to the fabric.

5. A splint product in roll form for being dispensed in predetermined lengths suitable for a given medical use, comprising:

(a) an elongate sleeve formed of moisture-impervious material and sealable to prevent entry of moisture;

(b) an elongate medical material positioned in said sleeve and sealed therein against entry of moisture until use, said medical material comprising:

(i) a substrate;

(ii) a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto said substrate, said system remaining stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardening upon exposure to sufficient moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure; and

(iii) medical bandaging product comprising a soft, flexible protective wrapping enclosing said substrate along its length to provide a cushioning barrier between the substrate and the skin of a patient when the material is in use, said soft, flexible protective wrapping comprising a rib-knitted fabric constructed of synthetic yarns selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polyester and polypropylene yarns, said wrapping comprising an inner surface having longitudinally extending ribs arranged around the inner surface and extending along the length thereof and that separate when applied to channel air flow and remove moisture from the skin between the ribs, and an outer surface having a plush texture; and

(c) means for resealing said sleeve against entry of moisture after a predetermined length of said bandaging product has been dispensed for use to prevent hardening of said substrate remaining in said sleeve.

6. A splint product according to claim 5 , wherein said rib-knitted fabric of the protective wrapping is circular-knitted to define a tube, with the ribs extending longitudinally along the length of the tube.

7. A splint product according to claim 5 , wherein said rib-knitted fabric of the protective wrapping is circular-knitted to define a tube, with the ribs extending radially around the periphery of the tube.

8. A medical bandaging product, comprising a rib-knitted fabric constructed of synthetic yarns selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polyester and polypropylene yarns, said fabric knitted into a tube for positioning over a limb and including an inner surface having longitudinally extending ribs arranged around the inner surface and extending along the length thereof and that separate when applied to the limb to channel air flow and remove moisture from the skin between the ribs, and an outer surface having a plush texture; and an effective amount of a water-repelling treatment applied to the fabric for imparting water-repellent characteristics to the fabric.

9. A medical bandaging product according to claim 8 , wherein said rib-knitted fabric is circular-knitted to define the tube, with the ribs extending radially around the periphery of the tube.

10. A medical bandaging product according to claim 8 , and including an elastic yarn incorporated into the fabric to provide elasticity to the fabric.

11. A medical bandaging product, comprising a knitted fabric constructed of synthetic yarns selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polyester and polypropylene yarns, said fabric knitted into a tube for positioning over a limb and including an inner surface having longitudinally extending ribs arranged around the inner surface and extending along the length thereof and that expand when applied to the limb to channel air flow and remove moisture from the skin between the ribs; said fabric further having a knit structure wherein a major surface of the fabric comprises regular courses and wales of soft, deformable tufts defined by yarn loops extending outwardly above a base of the fabric.

12. A medical bandaging product according to claim 11 , and including an elastic yarn incorporated into the fabric to provide elasticity to the fabric.

13. A medical bandaging product according to claim 11 , and including an effective amount of a water-repelling treatment applied to the fabric for imparting water-repellent characteristics to the fabric.