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US 9,872,795 B2Granted
Thermoformable medical member with heater and method of manufacturing same
AssigneeRechargeable Battery Corporation
InventorsAdam Laubach, Alberto Macias Barrio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermoformable medical member and heater and method for manufacturing same. A thermoplastic material is converted from a relatively rigid state to a formable state over a narrow temperature range, and, which reverts back to a clinically rigid state within a relatively short period of time, and, which remains in that state even at elevated ambient temperatures.
Claims128
A thermoformable medical member and heater comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 2.3 GPa, a heat deflection temperature less than 70 degrees C.;
- and a thermoformable temperature in the range of 35-70 degrees C.;
- and
- a heater operatively associated with at least one of the top and bottom sides of the thermoplastic material,
- wherein the thermoplastic material contains a polylactic acid (PLA) polymer and the PLA polymer has an L-lactide/D-lactide ratio of 24:1 to 30:1.
2 more elements
A method for achieving an effect on a thermoformable medical member from an integrated heater for use on a patient comprising the steps of:
- heating a thermoformable medical member fabricated from a thermoplastic material with at least one of an oxygen activated heater and a water activated heater in a range of 48-70 degrees C., wherein the thermoplastic material prior to heating is in a relatively rigid, non-thermoformable phase;
- converting the thermoplastic material from a non-thermoformable state to a thermoformable state within the heated range;
- forming the thermoplastic material to a desired shape while in its thermoformable state;
- converting the thermoplastic material back toward and into a relatively rigid non-thermoformable phase;
- and
- maintaining the desired shape of the thermoplastic material at a temperature imparted to the thermoplastic material of less than 48 degrees C.
3 more elements
A thermoformable medical member and heater comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 2.3 GPa, a heat deflection temperature less than 70 degrees C.;
- and a thermoformable temperature in the range of 35-70 degrees C.;
- and
- a heater operatively associated with at least one of the top and bottom sides of the thermoplastic material,
- wherein the thermoplastic material further includes at least one of an organic and inorganic filler.
2 more elements
A thermoformable medical member and heater comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 2.3 GPa, a heat deflection temperature less than 70 degrees C.;
- and a thermoformable temperature in the range of 35-70 degrees C.;
- and
- a heater operatively associated with at least one of the top and bottom sides of the thermoplastic material,
- wherein the thermoplastic material further includes at least one of an organic and inorganic filler, and the filler has a thermal conductivity greater than 0.12 W/(meter ° C.) at 48 degrees C.
2 more elements
A thermoformable medical member and heater comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 2.3 GPa, a heat deflection temperature less than 70 degrees C.;
- and a thermoformable temperature in the range of 35-70 degrees C.;
- and
- a heater operatively associated with at least one of the top and bottom sides of the thermoplastic material,
- wherein the thermoplastic material has at least a portion of at least one of the top and bottom sides has a textured surface.
2 more elements
A thermoformable medical member and heater comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 2.3 GPa, a heat deflection temperature less than 70 degrees C.;
- and a thermoformable temperature in the range of 35-70 degrees C.;
- and
- a heater operatively associated with at least one of the top and bottom sides of the thermoplastic material,
- wherein the thermoplastic material has at least a portion of at least one of the top and bottom sides has a textured surface, and the textured surface is corrugated.
2 more elements
A thermoformable medical member and heater comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 2.3 GPa, a heat deflection temperature less than 70 degrees C.;
- and a thermoformable temperature in the range of 35-70 degrees C.;
- and
- a heater operatively associated with at least one of the top and bottom sides of the thermoplastic material,
- wherein the thermoplastic material has an internal structure, having a volume, located between the top and bottom sides, wherein 40% or less of the volume is defined by an open cell structure.
2 more elements
A thermoformable medical member and heater comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 2.3 GPa, a heat deflection temperature less than 70 degrees C.;
- and a thermoformable temperature in the range of 35-70 degrees C.;
- and
- a heater operatively associated with at least one of the top and bottom sides of the thermoplastic material,
- wherein the heater comprises one of an oxygen activated heater and a water activated heater.
2 more elements
A thermoformable medical member and heater comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 2.3 GPa, a heat deflection temperature less than 70 degrees C.;
- and a thermoformable temperature in the range of 35-70 degrees C.;
- and
- a heater operatively associated with at least one of the top and bottom sides of the thermoplastic material,
- wherein the heater comprises one of an oxygen activated heater and a water activated heater and the heater is integrated with the thermoformable medical member.
2 more elements
A thermoformable medical member and heater comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 2.3 GPa, a heat deflection temperature less than 70 degrees C.;
- and a thermoformable temperature in the range of 35-70 degrees C.;
- and
- a heater operatively associated with at least one of the top and bottom sides of the thermoplastic material,
- wherein the thermoplastic material contains a reinforcing fiber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.