Hydrogel materials for hot and cold therapy and method for forming same

Abstract

A hot or cold compress a layer of substituted urea/urethane hydrogel material bonded to a porous substrate. The hydrogel material is made up of a high molecular weight polyol, a toluene diisocyanate prepolymer and water. Generally, the water and polyol each comprises between about 40 to 50% by weight of the hydrogel, with the diisocyanate prepolymer making up the remaining 12-16% by weight. The hot or cold compresses of the present invention are formed by preparing the hydrogel material and then placing a porous substrate in contact with the hydrogel prior to the time that gel formation is complete. In this manner, the hydrogel becomes integrally bonded to the porous substrate. Other materials such as terrycloth can be bonded to the porous substrate prior to bonding the substrate to the hydrogel. Articles useful in therapy can then be formed by attaching the edges of the cloth/porous substrate to form the desired object.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.