Enhanced body conformance with the use of free flowing particles

US7858841B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Patsy Krautkramer · Omro, US
• William G. Reeves · Appleton, US
• Heather Sorebo · Appleton, US
• Garry Roland Woltman · Appleton, US
• Wendy L. Hamilton · Neenah, US
• Emmanuelle C. Damay · Neenah, US
• Bernhardt E. Kressner · Appleton, US
• William George Stoeger · Appleton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 2002
• Grant date: Dec 28, 2010
• Expiry date: Mar 9, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F13/534
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A body conformance system (22) includes at least one liquid-permeable, flexible containment layer (24), and an operative quantity of substantially free-flowing particulate material (28) constrained by the flexible containment layer (24). In a particular aspect, the substantially free-flowing particulate material (28) can exhibit a selected avalanche-time between avalanches. In another aspect, the particulate material can exhibit a selected, minimum retention capacity. In a further aspect, the system can exhibit a distinctive gap-protrusion area (104). In yet another aspect, the containment layer (24) can include a material that has a relatively high permeability to liquid, but a relatively high resistance to a passage of the particulate material.