Patent US4522207A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5339796A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5339796A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator
Assignee: CooperSurgical Inc
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Filing: 1991-06-14
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Granted: 1994-08-23
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Expires: 2011-06-14
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides reusable warmers of the supersaturated solution type that are substantially free of saddlebagging. The warmers also exhibit a more sustained period of time during which the heat pack remains within a therapeutically useful temperature range. The reusable warmers of the present invention also maintain a substantial degree of flexibility during their useful heat cycle. The reusable warmers comprise a flexible container, and located within said container, a supercooled salt solution, an activator for initiating crystallization of said supercooled salt solution, and a gelling agent, said gelling agent being present in sufficient quantity to convert said salt solution to a gel.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles F. Manker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/02; A61F7/03; F; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F28D20/028; A61F2007/0292; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A reusable warmer comprising a flexible container, and located within said container, a supercooled salt solution of sodium acetate, an activator for initiating crystallization of said supercooled salt solution of sodium acetate, and a gelling agent, said gelling agent being present in sufficient quantity to convert said salt solution to a gel which remains deformable after crystallization of said salt solution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A reusable warmer comprising a flexible container, and located within said container, a supercooled salt solution of sodium acetate, an activator for initiating crystallization of said supercooled salt solution of sodium acetate, and a gelling agent, said gelling agent being present in sufficient quantity to convert said salt solution to a gel which remains deformable after crystallization of said salt solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The reusable warmer of claim 1 wherein the gelling agent is a non-ionic, water-soluble hydroxyethylcellulose polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The reusable warmer of claim 1 wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of cellulose ethers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The reusable warmer of claim 3 wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, polypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl propylcellulose, and hydroxybutyl methylcellulose.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reusable warmer of claim 1 wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of starch graft copolymers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reusable warmer of claim 1 wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic gums.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The reusable warmer of claim 6 wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of Irish moss, gum tragacanth, viscarin GMC, kappa- and iota carrageenan, sodium alginate, guar, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl-hydroxypropyl guar, hydroxy ethyl guar, alginates, carrageenan, xanthan gum, gelatin, agarose, gum arabic, carob, tragacanth, locust bean gum, karaya, pectin, agar, gum acacia, tara gum, polysuccrose, polyglucose, and zooglan.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The reusable warmer of claim 1 wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of synthetic polymers and copolymers which are hydratable and cross-linkable in solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The reusable warmer of claim 8 wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polymethylacrylates, polyacrylamides, acrylamide methyl propane sulfonic acid copolymers, polyvinyl alcohols, maleic anhydride-based copolymers, polyvinyl pyrollidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, copolymers of acrylic acid and a polyallyl sucrose, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene diol block copolymers carboxypolymethylene, and polyacrylamide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reusable warmer of claim 1 wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) polymers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reusable warmer of claim 1, wherein said sodium acetate is present in an amount of from about 40% to about 50% by weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reusable warmer of claim 1, wherein said sodium acetate is present in an amount of about 40% by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reusable warmer of claim 1, wherein said sodium acetate is present in an amount of about 50% by weight.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-22 | 1998-02-21 | 1998-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-22 | 2002-02-21 | 2002-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-22 | 2006-02-21 | 2006-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |