IP Library › Patent Application 13795055
Patent Application
App. No. 13/795,055

COMPACT PACKAGE FOR AN ORTHOPEDIC CAST

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/795,055
Abstract

A compact package for making an orthopedic cast is made from a fabric folded and compressed, having an initial over-all surface area, that, when saturated with water, expands to final over-all surface area that is larger by a factor greater than 50 than the initial over-all surface area. The package also includes a water-curable material, impregnated into the fabric, so that when the material is saturated with water, the material cures to become rigid. When the package is used, the fabric impregnated with the material may be immersed in water and expanded. Once expanded and unfolded, the fabric may be placed around a portion of a body for which the orthopedic cast is desired. The material then becomes rigid so as to form the orthopedic cast.

Claims (33)

1 . A compact package for making an orthopedic cast, the package comprising:

a fabric folded and compressed, having an initial over-all surface area prior to being saturated with water, that expands to final over-all surface area after saturation with water that is larger by a factor greater than 50 than the initial over-all surface area prior to water saturation in a first period of time;

a water-curable material, impregnated into the fabric prior to the fabric being folded and compressed, so that when the material is saturated with water, the material cures over a second period of time to become rigid, wherein the second period of time is substantially longer than the first period of time,

so that for use, the fabric impregnated with the material may be immersed in water and expanded, placed around a portion of a body for which the orthopedic cast is desired, and, after permitting the second period time to elapse, the material has become rigid so as to form the orthopedic cast.

2 . The compact package according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric is formed from non-woven fibers.

3 . The compact package according to claim 2 , wherein the non-woven fibers are viscose.

4 . The compact package according to claim 1 , wherein the water-curable material is a urethane.

5 . The compact package according to claim 1 , wherein the water-curable material includes polyisocyanate prepolymers.

6 . The compact package according to claim 1 , wherein second time is less than five minutes.

7 . The compact package according to claim 1 , wherein the package is enclosed in a waterproof packaging.

8 . The compact package according to claim 1 , wherein the package has a shape after compression selected from the group consisting of a coin, a sphere, a cylinder and a cube.

9 . A method of forming an orthopedic cast, the method comprising:

impregnating a fabric with a water-curable material, the fabric having a first surface area;

folding and compressing the fabric containing the water-curable material;

saturating with water the compressed fabric impregnated with the water-curable material having a first surface area;

allowing the compressed fabric to decompress over a first time period;

unfolding the compressed fabric into a sheet having a surface area that is a factor of 50 times larger than that of the first surface area;

applying the sheet to an appendage of patient; and

waiting a second time period for the water-activated curable material to cure the sheet into an orthopedic cast wherein the second time period is substantially longer than the first time period.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the compressed fabric is a non-woven material.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the non-woven material is cotton.

12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the compressed fabric is viscose.

13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the water-curable material includes polyisocyanate prepolymers.

14 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the water curable materials includes polyurethane.

15 . A method of forming a compact package that can be transformed into an orthopedic cast when saturated with water, the method comprising:

impregnating a fabric with a water-curable material, the fabric having a first surface area;

folding and compressing the fabric so that the fabric has a second surface area that is more than 50 times smaller than the first surface area; and

encapsulating the compressed fabric in water impermeable packaging.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the water-curable material includes polyurethane.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the water-curable material includes polyisocyanate prepolymers.

18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the fabric is viscose.

19 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the fabric is cotton.

20 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the fabric is made from non-woven fibers.