US4639253A — Nonwoven surgical sponge with X-ray detectable el…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 115 words

A surgical sponge including an integral X-ray detectable element, said sponge comprising a fibrous, nonwoven fabric consisting essentially of entangled fibers arranged in an interconnecting patterned relationship in the plane of the fabric, and at least one visually colored X-ray detectable element positioned interiorly of said fibrous nonwoven fabric in the plane thereof, the fibers of said nonwoven fabric being intertwined about said X-ray detectable element to provide a fibrous covering of said X-ray detectable element on a first surface of said fabric which is lighter than the fibrous covering on the other surface of said fabric, whereby said X-ray detectable element is more readily visible on said first surface than on said other surface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 115 words

A surgical sponge including an integral X-ray detectable element, said sponge comprising a fibrous, nonwoven fabric consisting essentially of entangled fibers arranged in an interconnecting patterned relationship in the plane of the fabric, and at least one visually colored X-ray detectable element positioned interiorly of said fibrous nonwoven fabric in the plane thereof, the fibers of said nonwoven fabric being intertwined about said X-ray detectable element to provide a fibrous covering of said X-ray detectable element on a first surface of said fabric which is lighter than the fibrous covering on the other surface of said fabric, whereby said X-ray detectable element is more readily visible on said first surface than on said other surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

A sponge of claim 1 wherein said X-ray detectable element is a yarn and the fibers of said nonwoven fabric are intertwined with the fibers of said yarn.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

A sponge of claim 2 wherein said yarn is a multi-ply, twisted yarn of viscose fibers containing from 40 to 45 percent barium sulfate.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

A sponge of claim 1 wherein said X-ray detectable element is a monofilament comprising a thermoplastic polymeric material containing about 60% barium sulfate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

A sponge of claim 4 wherein said thermoplastic polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyisobutylene, polyvinyl chloride, and copolymers of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

A sponge of claim 5 wherein the nonwoven fibers crossing over and under said monofilament are imbedded into the surface of said monofilament.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

A sponge of claim 1 wherein said nonwoven fabric comprises fibrous material selected from the group consisting of cotton, rayon, cellulosics, acrylics, polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, and blends thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

A sponge of claim 7 wherein said nonwoven fabric comprises a blend of about 70% by weight rayon and 30% by weight polyester staple fibers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

A sponge of claim 8 wherein said nonwoven fabric has a weight of from about 30 to 100 g/m 2 .

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

A sponge of claim 1 wherein the arrangement of said entangled fibers define a substantially rectangular pattern in said nonwoven fabric having from about 8 to 25 openings per inch in both machine and cross-machine directions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 131 words

A folded, surgical sponge including an integral X-ray detectable element, said sponge comprising a fibrous, nonwoven fabric consisting essentially of entangled fibers arranged in an interconnecting patterned relationship in the plane of the fabric, and at least one visually colored X-ray detectable element positioned interiorly of said fibrous nonwoven fabric in the plane thereof, the fibers of said nonwoven fabric being intertwined about said X-ray detectable element to provide a fibrous covering of said X-ray detectable element on a first surface of said fabric which is lighter than the fibrous covering on the other surface of said fabric, whereby said X-ray detectable element is more readily visible on said first surface than on said other surface, said fabric being folded to place said first surface to the outside of said sponge.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 131 words

A folded, surgical sponge including an integral X-ray detectable element, said sponge comprising a fibrous, nonwoven fabric consisting essentially of entangled fibers arranged in an interconnecting patterned relationship in the plane of the fabric, and at least one visually colored X-ray detectable element positioned interiorly of said fibrous nonwoven fabric in the plane thereof, the fibers of said nonwoven fabric being intertwined about said X-ray detectable element to provide a fibrous covering of said X-ray detectable element on a first surface of said fabric which is lighter than the fibrous covering on the other surface of said fabric, whereby said X-ray detectable element is more readily visible on said first surface than on said other surface, said fabric being folded to place said first surface to the outside of said sponge.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

A sponge of claim 11 wherein said X-ray detectable element is a yarn or monofilament.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

A sponge of claim 11 wherein said X-ray detectable element is colored to contrast with blood.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-01-26	1990-07-28	1991-01-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-01-26	1994-07-28	1995-01-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-01-26	1998-07-28	1999-01-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Nonwoven surgical sponge with X-ray detectable element

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