Patent ID: 8771209

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 the enclosure and sealed therein against entry of moisture until use, the medical bandage material comprising: (i) a substrate comprising a knitted fabric layer having a major upper surface and a major lower surface, the knitted fabric layer including spaced apart edges and a plurality of interconnected knitted fabric yarns knitted such that at least one yarn extends across a gap from the major upper surface to the major lower surface along a width of the substrate in a back-and-forth pattern across the gap 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, wherein needle bed gap spacing is between 7.1 mm and 8 mm to achieve a substrate rigidity that is greater than a substrate made from needle bed gap spacing falling outside of 7.1 mm to 8 mm, and a total thickness of the substrate is between 4.75 mm and 4.90 mm; (ii) a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto the substrate that remains stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardens upon exposure to moisture to cooperate with the three-dimensional structure to form a rigid, self-supporting structure; and (iii) a cushioning wrapping enclosing the substrate along its length.