Patent ID: 7854712

Claim:
A medical bandaging product comprising: (a) an enclosure formed of a moisture-impervious material sealable to prevent entry of moisture; and (b) a medical bandage material positioned in said enclosure and sealed therein against entry of moisture until use, said medical bandage material comprising: (i) a substrate comprising a knitted fabric layer that defines a major upper surface and a major lower surface having the same knit pattern in both the upper and lower surfaces, the knitted fabric layer including spaced apart edges and a plurality of interconnected knitted fabric yarns knitted such that at least one yarn extends from the major upper surface to the major lower surface along a width of the substrate in a back-and-forth pattern between the major upper surface and the major lower surface, thereby forming a single, integrated inseparable three-dimensional structure, and wherein the at least one yarn extends between non-adjacent needle positions in a back-and-forth pattern in successive courses to provide a continuous pattern on both the upper and lower major surfaces of the substrate; (ii) a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto said substrate, said system remaining stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardening upon exposure to sufficient moisture to cooperate with said three-dimensional structure to form a rigid, self supporting structure; and (iii) a soft, flexible protective wrapping enclosing the substrate along its length for providing a cushioning barrier interposed between the substrate and a patient when said medical bandage material is in use.