WO2012036998A1 - Method of making prefastened refastenable disposable absorbent articles - Google Patents
WO2012036998A1
WO2012036998A1 PCT/US2011/051150 US2011051150W WO2012036998A1 WO 2012036998 A1 WO2012036998 A1 WO 2012036998A1 US 2011051150 W US2011051150 W US 2011051150W WO 2012036998 A1 WO2012036998 A1 WO 2012036998A1
PCT/US2011/051150
2010-09-14 Priority to US38259310P priority Critical
2010-09-14 Priority to US61/382,593 priority
2011-09-12 Application filed by The Procter & Gamble Company filed Critical The Procter & Gamble Company
2012-03-22 Publication of WO2012036998A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012036998A1/en
210000001624 Hip Anatomy 0 abstract description 124
230000002745 absorbent Effects 0 claims description title 54
239000002250 absorbent Substances 0 claims description title 54
METHOD OF MAKING PREFASTENED REFASTENABLE DISPOSABLE
In some converting configurations, discrete chassis spaced apart from each other are advanced in a machine direction and are arranged with a longitudinal axis parallel with the cross direction. Opposing waist regions of discrete chasses are then connected with continuous lengths of elastically extendable front and back belts advancing in the machine direction. While connected with the chassis, the front and back belts are maintained in a fully stretched condition along the machine direction. As such, the positions of the advancing chassis and associated belts can be controlled more easily to allow for more accurate registration and phasing of subsequent converting operations, such as folding, seaming, and cutting. However, introducing discrete elastically extendable components in one or both of the waist regions presents a different challenge with regard to maintaining control and positioning of the advancing discrete elastically extendable components relative to other components, such as an article chassis, can be difficult. For example, when manufacturing refastenable diaper pants with chassis connected with discrete lengths of elastically extendable panel material disposed in one or both waist regions, some processes utilize a sheet that interconnects the discrete lengths of extendable panel material together during manufacturing, and in turn, enhances the ability to control the advancing components. The sheet is included as part of the manufactured diapers and must be removed by the user before using the refastenable features of the diapers. However, including such a removable sheet on manufactured diaper pants may have a negative impact on costs and aesthetics. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refastenable pant diaper in a pre-fastened configuration.
Figure 2B is a partially cut away plan view of a second embodiment of a diaper pant.
Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a first converting apparatus adapted to manufacture pre- fastened, refastenable pant diapers.
Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a second converting apparatus adapted to manufacture pre-fastened, refastenable pant diapers.
Figure 5 A is a view of a continuous length of chassis assemblies from Figures 3 and 4 taken along line A-A.
Figure 5B1 is a view of a discrete chassis from Figures 3 and 4 taken along line Bl-Bl.
Figure 5B2 is a view of a discrete chassis from Figures 3 and 4 taken along line B2-B2. Figure 5C is a view of a continuous length of advancing back side panel material from Figure 3 taken along line C-C.
Figure 5D is a view of a continuous length of front side panel material from Figures 3 and 4 taken along line D-D.
Figure 5E is a view of a discrete length of front side panel material from Figures 3 and 4 taken along line E-E.
Figure 5F is a view of a continuous length of connection zone material from Figures 3 and 4 taken along line F-F.
Figure 5G is a view of a discrete length of connection zone material from Figures 3 and 4 taken along line G-G.
Figure 5J1 is a view of multiple discrete chassis spaced from each other along the machine direction MD connected with each other by the back side panel material and discrete lengths of front side panel material from Figure 3 taken along line Jl-Jl.
Figure 5J2 is a view of multiple discrete chassis spaced from each other along the machine direction MD connected with each other by the discrete lengths of back side panel material and discrete lengths of front side panel material from Figure 4 taken along line J2-J2.
Figure 5H is a view of discrete lengths of connection zone material releasably connected with discrete lengths of front side panel material from Figure 5 taken along line H-H.
Figure 5K is a view of the back side panel material bonded with a portion of the front side panel material from Figures 3 and 4 taken along line K-K.
Figure 5L is a view of two discrete absorbent articles advancing the machine direction MD from Figures 3 and 4 taken along line L-L.
Figure 5M is a view of a continuous length of advancing back side panel material from Figure 4 taken along line M-M.
Figure 5N is a view of a discrete length of advancing back side panel material from Figure 4 taken along line N-N.
The term "pant" (also referred to as "training pant", "pre-closed diaper", "diaper-pant", "pant diaper", and "pull-on diaper") refers herein to disposable absorbent articles having a continuous perimeter waist opening and continuous perimeter leg openings designed for infant or adult wearers. A pant can be configured with a continuous or closed waist opening and at least one continuous, closed, leg opening prior to the article being applied to the wearer. A pant can be preformed by various techniques including, but not limited to, joining together portions of the article using any refastenable and/or permanent closure member (e.g., seams, heat bonds, pressure welds, adhesives, cohesive bonds, mechanical fasteners, etc.). A pant can be preformed anywhere along the circumference of the article in the waist region (e.g., side fastened or seamed, front waist fastened or seamed, rear waist fastened or seamed). Example diaper pants in various configurations are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1995080023A published March 8, 1995.
Figures 1 and 2A show an example of a refastenable pant diaper 100 that may be constructed in accordance with the methods disclosed herein. In particular, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a refastenable pant diaper 100 in a pre-fastened configuration, and Figure 2A shows a plan view of the pant diaper 100 with the portion of the diaper that faces away from a wearer oriented towards the viewer. The pant diaper 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2A includes a chassis 102, first front ear panels 112a, 112b, and second back ear panels 114a, 114b.
With continued reference to Figure 2A, the chassis 102 includes a first waist region 116, a second waist region 118, and a crotch region 120 disposed intermediate the first and second waist regions. The first waist region 116 may be configured as a front waist region, and the second waist region 118 may be configured as back waist region. In some embodiments, the length of each of the front waist region, back waist region, and crotch region may be 1/3 of the length of the absorbent article 100. The diaper 100 may also include a laterally extending front waist edge 120 in the front waist region 116 and a longitudinally opposing and laterally extending back waist edge 122 in the back waist region 118. To provide a frame of reference for the present discussion, the diaper 100 and chassis 102 of Figure 2A is shown with a longitudinal axis 124 and a lateral axis 126. In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis 124 may extend through the front waist edge 120 and through the back waist edge 122. And the lateral axis 126 may extend through a first longitudinal or right side edge 128 and through a midpoint of a second longitudinal or left side edge 130 of the chassis 102.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2A, the pant diaper 100 may include an inner, body facing surface 132, and an outer, garment facing surface 134. The chassis 102 may include a backsheet 136 and a topsheet 138. An absorbent assembly 140 including an absorbent core 142 may be disposed between a portion of the topsheet 138 and the backsheet 136. As discussed in more detail below, the diaper 100 may also include other features, such as leg elastics and/or leg cuffs to enhance the fit around the legs of the wearer.
As shown in Figure 2 A, the periphery of the chassis 102 may be defined by the first longitudinal side edge 128, a second longitudinal side edge 130; a first laterally extending end edge 144 disposed in the first waist region 116; and a second laterally extending end edge 146 disposed in the second waist region 118. Both side edges 128 and 130 extend longitudinally between the front waist edge 120 and the back waist edge 122. The laterally extending end edges 144 and 146 of the chassis may form a portion of the laterally extending front waist edge 120 in the front waist region 116 and a portion of the longitudinally opposing and laterally extending back waist edge 122 in the back waist region 118. When the pant diaper 100 is worn on the lower torso of a wearer, the front waist edge 120 and the back waist edge 122 of the chassis 102 may encircle a portion of the waist of the wearer. At the same time, the chassis side edges 128 and 130 may encircle at least a portion of the legs of the wearer. And the crotch region 120 may be generally positioned between the legs of the wearer with the absorbent core 142 extending from the front waist region 116 through the crotch region 120 to the back waist region 118.
As previously mentioned, the pant diaper 100 may include a backsheet 136. The backsheet 136 may also define the outer surface 134 of the chassis 102. The backsheet 136 may be impervious to fluids (e.g., menses, urine, and/or runny feces) and may be manufactured from a thin plastic film, although other flexible liquid impervious materials may also be used. The backsheet 136 may prevent the exudates absorbed and contained in the absorbent core from wetting articles which contact the diaper 100, such as bedsheets, pajamas and undergarments. The backsheet 136 may also comprise a woven or nonwoven material, polymeric films such as thermoplastic films of polyethylene or polypropylene, and/or a multi-layer or composite materials comprising a film and a nonwoven material (e.g., having an inner film layer and an outer nonwoven layer). The backsheet may also comprise an elastomeric film. An example backsheet 140 may be a polyethylene film having a thickness of from about 0.012 mm (0.5 mils) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mils). Exemplary polyethylene films are manufactured by Clopay Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio, under the designation BR- 120 and BR- 121 and by Tredegar Film Products of Terre Haute, Ind., under the designation XP-39385. The backsheet 136 may also be embossed and/or matte-finished to provide a more clothlike appearance. Further, the backsheet 136 may permit vapors to escape from the absorbent core (i.e., the backsheet is breathable) while still preventing exudates from passing through the backsheet 136. The size of the backsheet 136 may be dictated by the size of the absorbent core 142 and/or particular configuration or size of the diaper 100.
As mentioned above, the pant diaper 100 may also include an absorbent assembly 140 that is joined to the chassis 102. As shown in Figure 2A, the absorbent assembly 140 may have a laterally extending front edge 148 in the front waist region 116 and may have a longitudinally opposing and laterally extending back edge 150 in the back waist region 118. The absorbent assembly may have a longitudinally extending right side edge 152 and may have a laterally opposing and longitudinally extending left side edge 154, both absorbent assembly side edges 152 and 154 may extend longitudinally between the front edge 148 and the back edge 150. The absorbent assembly 140 may additionally include one or more absorbent cores 142 or absorbent core layers. The absorbent core 142 may be at least partially disposed between the topsheet 138 and the backsheet 136 and may be formed in various sizes and shapes that are compatible with the diaper 100. Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent core of the present disclosure are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,610,678; 4,673,402; 4,888,231; and 4,834,735.
Some absorbent core embodiments may comprise fluid storage cores that contain reduced amounts of cellulosic airfelt material. For instance, such cores may comprise less than about 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, or even 1% of cellulosic airfelt material. Such a core may comprises primarily absorbent gelling material in amounts of at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or even about 100%, where the remainder of the core comprises a microfiber glue (if applicable). Such cores, microfiber glues, and absorbent gelling materials are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,599,335; 5,562,646; 5,669,894; and 6,790,798 as well as U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2004/0158212 and 2004/0097895. As previously mentioned, the diapers 100 may also include elasticized leg cuffs 156. It is to be appreciated that the leg cuffs 156 can be and are sometimes also referred to as leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, elastic cuffs or gasketing cuffs. The elasticized leg cuffs 156 may be configured in various ways to help reduce the leakage of body exudates in the leg regions. Example leg cuffs 156 may include those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,860,003; 4,909,803; 4,695,278; 4,795,454; 4,704,115; 4,909,803; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0312730A1.
As previously mentioned, pant diapers may be configured with side panels connected with the chassis in one or both of the waist regions. For example, the pant diaper 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2A includes first side panels 112a, 112b connected with second side panels 114a, 114b, respectively. The first side panels 112a, 112b are refastenably connected with the chassis 102 in the first waist region 116 and extend laterally outward from the side edges 128, 130 of the chassis. The second side panels 114a, 114b are permanently connected with the chassis 102 in the second waist region 118 and extend laterally outward from the side edges 128, 130 of the chassis. As shown in Figure 2A, the second side panels 114a, 114b are defined by opposing end regions of a continuous belt 114 that is permanently connected with the chassis 102 along the second waist region 118. The first side panel 112a is connected with the second side panel 114a, and the first side panel 112b is connected with the second side panel 114b. The first side panels 112a, 112b each include proximal regions 174a refastenably connected with the first waist region 116 of the chassis 102. And second ear panels 114a, 114b each include proximal regions 174b defined by the continuous belt 114 permanently connected with the second waist region 118 of the chassis 102. With reference to Figures 1 and 2A, a distal region 176a of the first side panel 112a and a distal region 176b of the second side panel 114a may be connected with each other along a first side seam 178. And a distal region 176a of the first side panel 112b and a distal region 176b of the second side panel 114b may be connected with each other along a second side seam 180.
It is to be appreciated that the second side panels may be configured in different ways other than as depicted in Figure 2A. For example, Figure 2B shows a plan view of a pant diaper 100 having the same components as described above with reference to Figure 2A, except the second side panels 114a, 114b shown in Figure 2B are not defined by opposing end regions of a continuous belt 114. Instead, the second side panels 114a, 114b shown in Figure 2B are defined by two separate and discrete pieces of material connected with the second waist region 118 of the chassis 102. In particular, the second ear panels 114a, 114b each include proximal regions 174b permanently connected with the second waist region 118 of the chassis 102.
The side panels 112a, 112b and 114a, 114b may be substantially rectangular in shape or the side panels may be shaped in such a way as to provide an integral tab for ease of opening and refastening. The side panels may also be extensible in at least the lateral direction. The side panels may also be elastically extensible in the lateral direction. Furthermore, the side panels may be elastically extensible in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. The side panels may comprise a film, a nonwoven or a combination of film and nonwoven. The side panels may also comprise a plurality of strand- like filaments and a nonwoven. The strand-like elements may also be elastically extensible in at least the lateral direction.
It is to be appreciated that the side panels may include various types of materials, such as disclosed with respect to the elastic belts described in U.S. Patent 7,569,039, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. For example, the side panels may include plastic films; apertured plastic films; nonwoven or nonwoven webs of natural materials (e.g., wood or cotton fibers); synthetic fibers (e.g. polyolefins, polyamides, polyester, polyethylene, and/or polypropylene fibers); or combinations of natural and/or synthetic fibers; or coated woven or nonwoven webs. In some embodiment, the side panels may include a stretchable nonwoven. In other embodiments, the side panels may include an inner hydrophobic non- stretchable nonwoven material and an outer hydrophobic, non-stretchable nonwoven material. In addition, the side panels may include waist elastic material and side elastic material including one or more of elastic elements such as strand or panels extending in a transverse direction. The side panel elastic material may also be interposed between an outer layer and inner layer.
The ability to refasten an initially pre-fastened pant diaper may offer convenience to the caregiver. In some instances, it may be more convenient to apply the absorbent article like a traditional tape style diaper when away from home or when it is inconvenient to remove the clothing and/or shoes. Because it is difficult to predict when a change will be necessary and therefore when a particular mode of application will be needed, it is beneficial to have a disposable pant diaper that is adaptable to being applied either as a traditional tape style diaper or as a disposable pant diaper, pull- on. In addition, an absorbent article that can be applied like a traditional tape style diaper or a disposable pant diaper also permits inspection of the interior of the product without having to pull the product down. These refastenable structures may also provide dual functionality enabling the wrapping and disposal of the used product.
As previously mentioned, the bonds of the side edge seams 178 and 180 may be permanent and can be formed in various ways appropriate for the specific materials employed. Thus, example bond types may include discrete bonds such as sonic sealed bonds, heat sealed bonds, high pressure bonds, radio frequency bonds, adhesive or cohesive bonds, sewed bonds, autogeneous bonds, and combinations thereof. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, the permanent side edge seams 178 and 180 may be joined by a predetermined pattern of heat/pressure or ultrasonic welds which withstands the forces and stresses exacted onto the side edge seam during application and wear of the pant. The permanent side edge seams 178, 180 may be formed as disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,779,831; 5,772,825; 5,607,537; 5,622,589; 5,662,638; 6,042,673; and 6,726,792.
As mentioned above, the first side panels 112a, 112b may be refastenably connected with the first waist region 116 of the chassis 102. As such, the first side panels 112a, 112b may be configured to include fastening components 162, such as shown in Figure 2A. The fastening components 162 may form a portion of or may be permanently bonded, adhered or otherwise joined directly or indirectly to the first side panels 112a, 112b at or adjacent the proximal edge regions 174a of the first side panels 112a, 112b. In some embodiments, the fastening components 162 may be permanently bonded to the first side panels 112a, 112b in various ways, such as for example, by adhesive bonds, sonic bonds, pressure bonds, thermal bonds or combinations thereof.
The fastening components 162 are adapted to refastenably connect with the first waist region 116 of the chassis 102. As such, the fastening components 162 may include various types of refastenably engageable fasteners and various types of refastenable fastening structures. For example, the fastening components 162 may include mechanical fasteners, 166, in the form of hook and loop fasteners, hook and hook fasteners, macrofasteners, buttons, snaps, tab and slot fasteners, tape fasteners, adhesive fasteners, cohesive fasteners, magnetic fasteners, hermaphrodidic fasteners, and the like. Some examples of fastening systems and/or fastening components 162, 164 are discussed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,848,594; 4,662,875; 4,846,815; 4,894,060; 4,946,527; 5,151,092; 5,221,274; 6,251,097; 6,669,618; 6,432,098; and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2007/0078427 and 2007/0093769.
As previously mentioned, the fastening components 162 may be adapted to refastenably engage or connect with another portion of the diaper 100. For example, as shown in Figure 2A, the diaper 100 may include a connection zone 168, sometimes referred to as a landing zone, in the first waist region 116. As such, when the taped diaper 100 is placed on a wearer, the fasteners 162 are refastenably connected with the connection zone 168 in the first waist region 116 to form a closed waist circumference and a pair of laterally opposing leg openings. It is to be appreciated that the connection zone 162 may be constructed from a separate substrate that is connected with the chassis 102 of the taped diaper. In some embodiments, the connection zone may be integrally formed as part of the backsheet 136 of the diaper 100 or may be formed as part of the first and second ears in one or both of the waist regions, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,735,840 and 5,928,212.
As previously mentioned, the apparatuses and methods according to the present disclosure may be utilized to assemble various components of pre-fastened, refastenable pant diapers 100. For example, Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a converting apparatus 300 adapted to manufacture pant diapers 100. The method of operation of the converting apparatus 300 may described with reference to the various components of pant diapers 100 described above and shown in Figures 1 and 2A.
As described in more detail below, the converting apparatus 300 shown in Figure 3 operates to advance discrete chassis 102 along a machine direction MD such that the lateral axis of each chassis 102 is parallel with the machine direction, and wherein the chassis 102 are spaced apart from each other along the machine direction. In addition, the apparatus 300 refastenably connects the front side panels 112a, 112b with advancing lengths of connection zones 168, which in turn, are permanently connected with first waist regions 116 of advancing chassis 102. The apparatus 300 also permanently connects the back side panels 114a, 114b with the back waist regions 118 of advancing chassis 102.
As shown in Figures 3 and 5A, a continuous length of chassis assemblies 302 are advanced in a machine direction MD to a carrier apparatus 308 and cut into discrete chassis 102 with knife roll 306. The continuous length of chassis assemblies may include absorbent assemblies 140 sandwiched between topsheet material 138 and backsheet material 136, leg elastics, barrier leg cuffs and the like. A portion of the chassis assembly is cut-away to show a portion of the topsheet material 138 and an absorbent assembly 140.
After the discrete absorbent chassis 102 are cut by the knife roll 306, the carrier apparatus
308 rotates and advances the discrete chassis 102 in the machine direction MD in the orientation shown in Figure 5B1, wherein the longitudinal axis 124 of the chassis 102 is generally parallel with the machine direction MD. While the chassis 102 shown in Figure 5B1 is shown with the first laterally extending end edge 144 as a leading edge and the second laterally extending end edge 146 as the trailing edge, it is to be appreciated that in other embodiments, the chassis 102 may be advanced in other orientations. For example, the chassis may be oriented such that the first laterally extending end edge 144 is a trailing edge and the second laterally extending end edge 146 is a leading edge. The carrier apparatus 308 also rotates while at the same time changing the orientation of the advancing chassis 102. The carrier apparatus 308 may also change the speed at which the chassis 102 advances in the machine direction MD. It is to be appreciated that various forms of carrier apparatuses may be used with the methods herein, such as for example, the carrier apparatuses disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,587,966. Figure 5B2 shows the orientation of the chassis 102 on the carrier apparatus 308 while advancing in the machine direction. More particularly, Figure 5B2 shows the chassis 102 with the lateral axis 126 of the chassis 102 generally parallel with the machine direction MD, and wherein the first longitudinal side edge 128 as the trailing edge and the second longitudinal side edge 130 as the leading edge.
As discussed below with reference to Figures 3, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5J1, 5K, and 5L, the chassis 102 are transferred from the carrier apparatus 308 and combined with materials that form first side panels 112a, 112b and second side panels 114a, 114b.
With reference to Figures 3 and 5C, the chassis 102 are transferred from the carrier apparatus 308 to a nip 316 between the carrier apparatus 308 and a transfer roll 319 where the chassis 102 is combined with a continuous length of advancing back side panel material 310. The back side panel material 310 defines a wearer facing surface 312 and an opposing garment facing surface 314. And the wear facing surface 312 of the back side panel material 310 may be combined with the garment facing surface 134 of the chassis 102 along the second waist region 116. As shown in Figure 3, adhesive 320 may be intermittently applied to the wearer facing surface 312 before combining the back side panel material 310 with the discrete chassis 102.
As shown in Figures 3, 5D, and 5E, a continuous length of front side panel material 322 advances in a machine direction MD to a carrier apparatus 318, where a knife roll 324 cuts the continuous length of front side panel material 322 into discrete lengths of front side panel material 322a. As shown in Figure 3, the discrete lengths of front panel material 322a are spaced from each other in the machine direction by the carrier apparatus 318. An example carrier apparatus 318 for achieving the spacing between discrete components is disclosed in disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,587,966.
With continued reference to Figures 3 and 5D, the front side panel material 322 also defines a wearer facing surface 326 and an opposing garment facing surface 328. And fastening components 162 are intermittently spaced along the machine direction MD on the wearer facing surface 326 of the front side panel material 322. As shown in Figure 5D, the fastening components 162 are arranged in pairs 330 of fastening components 162 in close proximity to each other, and the pairs 330 are spaced apart from other pairs 330 along the machine direction MD. With reference to Figures 3 and 5E, the knife 324 cuts the front side panel material 322 at locations between the two fastening components 162 of each pair 330, thus creating discrete lengths or patches of front side panel material 322a. As shown in Figure 5E, fastening components 162 are located in opposing end portions each discrete length or patch of front side panel material 322a. As such, the discrete length of front side panel material 322a includes a leading end fastening component 162' and a trailing end fastening component 162".
As shown in Figures 3, 5F, and 5G, a continuous length of connection zone material 350 defining a wearer facing surface 356 and an opposing garment facing surface 358 advances in a machine direction MD to anvil roll 352. At anvil roll 352, knife roll 354 cuts the continuous length of connection zone material 350 into discrete lengths or patches of connection zone material 168. As shown in Figure 5G, each discrete length or patch of connection zone material 168 includes a leading end portion 360a and a trailing end portion 360b. As shown in Figure 3, the discrete lengths of connection zone material 168 are spaced from each other in the machine direction by the anvil roll 352. An example operation for achieving the spacing between discrete components is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,702,551. It is to be appreciated that other types of operations and equipment may be used to cut and space the discrete lengths of connection zone material 168, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,811,019.
As shown in Figure 3, the anvil roll 318 advances the discrete lengths of front side panel material 322a to the nip 362 between anvil roll 318 and anvil roll 352. At the same time, anvil roll 352 advances the discrete lengths of connection zone material 168 to the nip 362, where each discrete length of front side panel material 322a is connected with two discrete lengths of connection zone material 168. More particularly, the leading end fastening component 162' is refastenably connected with the trailing end portion of 360b of an advancing connection zone 168. And the trailing end fastening component 162" is refastenably connected with the leading end portion 360a of a subsequently advancing connection zone 168. As such, opposing end portions of each discrete length of front side panel material 322a are refastenably connected with two connections zones 168 traveling in the machine direction, such as shown in Figure 5H. From nip 362, the continuous length of connection zones 168 and front side panel material 322a are advanced to nip 316 where the connection zones 168 are connected with the first waist regions 116 of discrete chassis 102. As shown in Figure 3, adhesive 364 may be intermittently applied to the wearer facing surface 356 of the connection zones 168 before combining the connection zone with the discrete chassis 102.
Once the connection zones 168 and back side panel material 310 are connected with the chassis 102 at nip 316, multiple discrete chassis 102 spaced from each other along the machine direction MD are connected with each other by the back side panel material 310 and discrete lengths of front side panel material 322a, such as shown in Figures 3 and 5J1. The chassis 102 are then advanced from the nip 316 to a folder 332. Various folder embodiments may be used, such as for example disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,913,664, which is incorporated by reference herein. At the folder 332, each chassis 102 is folded in the cross direction CD along a lateral axis 126 to place the first waist region 116, and specifically, the inner, body facing surface 132 into a facing, surface to surface orientation with the inner, body surface 132 of the second waist region 118. The folding of the chassis also positions the wearer facing surface 312 of the back side panel material 310 extending between each chassis 102 in a facing relationship with the wearer facing surface 326 of the front side panel material 322a extending between each chassis 102. As shown in Figures 3 and 5K, the discrete chassis 102 connected with the back side panel material 310 and discrete lengths of front side panel material 322a are advanced from the folder 332 to a bonder 334. The bonder 334 operates to bond a portion of the back side panel material 310 extending between each chassis 102 with a portion of the front side panel material 322a extending between each chassis 102, thus creating discrete bond regions 336. It is to be appreciated that various types of bonders can be used to bond the back side panel material 310 with the front side panel material 322a, such as for example disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,383,865 and 6,546,987, which are incorporated by reference herein,
As shown in Figures 3 and 5L, the discrete chassis 102 connected with the continuous back side panel material 310 and discrete lengths of front side panel material 322a are advanced from the bonder 334 to a knife roll 338 where the discrete bond regions 336 are cut into along the cross direction to create a first side seam 178 on an absorbent article 100 and a second side seam 180 on a subsequently advancing absorbent article.
Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of a converting apparatus 300' adapted to manufacture pant diapers 100, such as shown in Figure 2B. As discussed in more detail below, the method of operation of the converting apparatus 300' differs from the converting apparatus described above with respect to Figure 3 with respect to the connection of two separate and discrete second ear panels 114a, 114b with the second waist region 118 of the chassis 102. Other aspects of the assembly process shown in Figure 4 are the same as described above with reference to Figures 3, 5 A, 5B1, 5B2, 5D, 5E, 5G, 5H, 5K, and 5L.
With reference to Figures 4 and 5M, a continuous length of back side panel material 310 defining a wearer facing surface 312 and an opposing garment facing surface 314 advances in a machine direction MD to a carrier apparatus 340. At carrier apparatus 340, a knife roll 342 cuts the continuous length of back side panel material 310 into discrete lengths of back side panel material 310a. As shown in Figure 5N, each discrete length of back side panel material 310a includes a leading end portion 344a and a trailing end portion 344b. As shown in Figure 3, the discrete lengths of back panel material 310a are spaced from each other in the machine direction by the carrier apparatus 340. An example carrier apparatus 340 for achieving the spacing between discrete components is disclosed in disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,587,966. As shown in Figure 3, adhesive 346 may be intermittently applied to the wearer facing surface 312 before combining the back side panel material 310a with the discrete chassis 102.
After applying adhesive, the wearer facing surface 312 of the back side panel material 310a may be connected with the garment facing surface 134 of the chassis 102 along the second waist region 116 at nip 316. More particularly, each discrete length of back side panel material 310a is connected with two chassis 102, wherein the leading end portion 346a is bonded with the second waist region 116 of a chassis 102 being transferred from the carrier apparatus 308 at the nip 316 and the trailing end portion 346b is bonded with the second waist region of another chassis 102 subsequently transferred from the carrier apparatus 308 at the nip 316. As such, opposing end portions of each discrete length of back side panel material 310a are bonded with two chassis 102 traveling in the machine direction, such as shown in Figure 5J2. And the leading end portions 344a and the trailing end portions 344b of the back side panel material 310a correspond with the proximal regions 174b the second ear panels 114a, 114b discussed above with reference to Figure 2B. From the nip 316, the discrete chassis connected with each other by the discrete lengths of back side panel material 310a and discrete lengths of front side panel material 322a are advanced from the nip 316 to folder 332, bonder 334, and knife roll 338 as discussed above with reference to Figures 5J1, 5G, and 5H.
A process for assembling disposable pre-fastened pant diapers, each pant diaper (100) comprising a chassis (102) having a first waist region (116) longitudinally opposed to a second waist region (118), and having a longitudinal axis (124) and a lateral axis (126), the chassis comprising: a topsheet (138), a backsheet (136), and an absorbent core (142) disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, each pant diaper further comprising laterally opposed first side panels (112a, 112b) refastenably connected with the first waist region (116); and laterally opposed second side panels (114a, 114b) permanently connected with the second waist region (118) and permanently connected with corresponding first side panels to form a waist opening, the process comprising the steps of:
cutting the first continuous web (322) into first discrete patches (322a), each first patch having a leading end region, a trailing end region, and a central region disposed between the leading and trailing end regions, wherein a first fastener (162') is located in the leading end region and a second fastener (162") is located in the trailing end region;
cutting the second continuous web (350) into second discrete patches (168), each second patch having a leading end region (360a) and a trailing end region (360b);
refastenably connecting the first fasteners (162') on the first discrete patches (322a) with the trailing end regions (360b) of the second discrete patches (168);
refastenably connecting the second fasteners (162") on the first discrete patches (322a) with the leading end regions (360a) of the second discrete patches (168);
advancing a third continuous web (310) in the machine direction;
advancing a fourth continuous web (302) in the machine direction;
cutting the fourth continuous web (302) into discrete chassis (102), wherein each chassis (102) advances such that the longitudinal axis (124) is parallel with the machine direction; turning each chassis such that the lateral axis (126) is parallel with the machine direction; bonding the second discrete patches (168) with the first waist region (116) of each chassis (102); permanently connecting the second waist region (118) of each chassis (102) with the third continuous web (310);
folding each chassis along the lateral axis to position the central region of each first patch (322a) into a facing relationship with the third continuous web (310);
bonding a portion of the central region of each first patch (322a) with the third continuous web (310) to create discrete bond regions (336); and
cutting the third continuous web (310) and the patches (322a) along the bond regions (336) to create discrete pre-fastened refastenable pant diapers.
3. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second waist region is a back waist region.
4. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first continuous web comprises a continuous length of front side panel material.
5. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first patches comprise discrete lengths of front side panel material.
6. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second continuous web comprises a continuous length of connection zone material.
7. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second patches comprise discrete connection zones.
8. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the third continuous web comprises a continuous length of back side panel material.
9. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fourth continuous web comprises a continuous length of chassis assemblies.
PCT/US2011/051150 2010-09-14 2011-09-12 Method of making prefastened refastenable disposable absorbent articles WO2012036998A1 (en)
US38259310P true 2010-09-14 2010-09-14
US61/382,593 2010-09-14
BR112013004381A BR112013004381A2 (en) 2010-09-14 2011-09-12 manufacturing method of resealable pre-closed disposable absorbent articles
CA2811417A CA2811417A1 (en) 2010-09-14 2011-09-12 Method of making prefastened refastenable disposable absorbent articles
CN201180043210.3A CN103079512B (en) 2010-09-14 2011-09-12 Method of making prefastened refastenable disposable absorbent articles
EP11758064.7A EP2616026B1 (en) 2010-09-14 2011-09-12 Method of making prefastened refastenable disposable absorbent articles
JP2013528365A JP2013539667A (en) 2010-09-14 2011-09-12 Method for manufacturing a pre-fastened refastenable disposable absorbent article
WO2012036998A1 true WO2012036998A1 (en) 2012-03-22
ID=44653603
PCT/US2011/051150 WO2012036998A1 (en) 2010-09-14 2011-09-12 Method of making prefastened refastenable disposable absorbent articles
US (2) US20120061015A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2616026B1 (en)
JP (2) JP2013539667A (en)
CN (1) CN103079512B (en)
BR (1) BR112013004381A2 (en)
CA (1) CA2811417A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2012036998A1 (en)
JP2015521500A (en) * 2012-06-29 2015-07-30 ザ プロクター アンド ギャンブルカンパニー Method for manufacturing a refastenable article
US10059015B2 (en) * 2012-10-23 2018-08-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Method and apparatus for positioning a cutting apparatus
EP2968022B1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2017-06-21 The Procter and Gamble Company Method and apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent articles
JP6240640B2 (en) 2015-09-14 2017-11-29 矢崎総業株式会社 Wire harness and method of manufacturing wire harness
US10285869B2 (en) * 2015-12-10 2019-05-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Apparatuses and methods for transferring and bonding substrates
JP2019502497A (en) * 2016-02-03 2019-01-31 ザ プロクター アンド ギャンブル カンパニー Wearable article having an elastic belt
US20020151422A1 (en) * 2001-04-13 2002-10-17 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Pant-type personal care articles, and methods of making and using such personal care articles
CN100333705C (en) * 2002-12-18 2007-08-29 株式会社瑞光 Method for producing disposable wearing article
2011-08-30 US US13/221,104 patent/US20120061015A1/en not_active Abandoned
2011-09-12 BR BR112013004381A patent/BR112013004381A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
2011-09-12 EP EP11758064.7A patent/EP2616026B1/en active Active
2011-09-12 CN CN201180043210.3A patent/CN103079512B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
2011-09-12 JP JP2013528365A patent/JP2013539667A/en active Pending
2011-09-12 WO PCT/US2011/051150 patent/WO2012036998A1/en active Application Filing
2011-09-12 CA CA2811417A patent/CA2811417A1/en not_active Abandoned
2015-05-29 JP JP2015110516A patent/JP2015180285A/en active Pending
2016-08-18 US US15/239,859 patent/US9999549B2/en active Active
JP2013539667A (en) 2013-10-28
US20160354255A1 (en) 2016-12-08
US9999549B2 (en) 2018-06-19
EP2616026A1 (en) 2013-07-24
CN103079512B (en) 2015-01-21
EP2616026B1 (en) 2014-08-13
US20120061015A1 (en) 2012-03-15
CN103079512A (en) 2013-05-01
BR112013004381A2 (en) 2018-01-23
CA2811417A1 (en) 2012-03-22
JP2015180285A (en) 2015-10-15
EP1991191B1 (en) 2014-01-15 Disposable pull-on garment
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+ £2.71 postage	J. R. R. Tolkien The Lord Of The Rings The Hobbit 4 Books Collection Box Set NEW
+ £9.70 postage	Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien £21.99
+ £1.79 postage	Lord of the Rings / Hobbit Pictorial Quality Metal Bookmark J R R Tolkien *NEW*
+ £5.99 postage	The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set by J. R. R. Tolkien 9780261103566
+ £4.72 postage	J. R. R. Tolkien The Lord Of The Rings The Hobbit 4 Books Collection Boxed Set
+ £25.00 postage	The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien (Multiple copy pack)
+ £16.99 postage	The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set, J. R. R. Tolkien, [4 Volumes]
+ £35.55 postage	J. R. R. Tolkien Quote & Photo Framed Hobbit Lord of the Rings
+ £9.97 postage	The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Paperback Book (English)
+ £14.19 postage	The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set by J. R. R. Tolkien
+ £5.14 postage	The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Collection by J. R. R. Tolkien (CD-Audio, 2
+ £11.95 postage	The Hobbit & the Lord of the Rings Boxed Set J. R. R. T
+ £5.14 postage	The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings: Deluxe Pocket Box - Tolkien, J. R. NEW Pa
+ £14.49 postage	Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings: Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set 9780544445789, Tolkien
+ £14.02 postage	Hobbit / Lord of the Rings Movie Film Quality Metal Bookmark J R R Tolkien *NEW*

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_.mj=function(){this.H=[];this.R=[]};_.g=_.mj.prototype;_.g.Cf=function(){return this.H.length+this.R.length};_.g.ke=function(){return _.zb(this.H)&&_.zb(this.R)};_.g.clear=function(){this.H=[];this.R=[]};_.g.contains=function(a){return _.yb(this.H,a)||_.yb(this.R,a)};_.g.remove=function(a){var b=this.H;var c=(0,_.oba)(b,a);0<=c?(_.Bb(b,c),b=!0):b=!1;return b||_.Cb(this.R,a)}; _.g.Fe=function(){for(var a=[],b=this.H.length-1;0<=b;--b)a.push(this.H[b]);var c=this.R.length;for(b=0;bCarmen Gallegos - Google+Press question mark to see available shortcut keysHomeCollectionsJoin Google+Send FeedbackHelpRegionPrivacy Policy - Terms of Service - Maps Terms©2017 GoogleSearchSign inAboutSearchSign inCarmen GallegosAboutCarmen Gallegos's postsLooks like you've reached the endLooks like you've reached the endUnable to load more. RetryWait while more posts are being loaded

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I see your stingray photobombs, and I play the trump card! : funny
3798 · 40 comments
1954 · 49 comments
I see your stingray photobombs, and I play the trump card! (t2.gstatic.com)
submitted 5 years ago by wiscofosho
I hunted for that barb a while back. I wonder if the owner will sell.
If that's Steve Irwin you're low-class.
[–]wiscofosho[S] -1 points0 points1 point 5 years ago (0 children)
Eh. Lower middle-ish. At least.
[–]Mod3stM -2 points-1 points0 points 5 years ago (0 children)
every Australian Redditor downvotes you....
π Rendered by PID 81342 on app-536 at 2018-01-22 00:56:32.299250+00:00 running b9fb900 country code: US.

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SOLD AEO Sateen Jeggings NWT
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Vintage Hugo buscati leather pants
Vintage Hugo buscati leather pants Super chic vintage leather pants by Hugo buscati. Great condition! Vintage Pants Boot Cut & Flare
Brand New Nike Legendary Tight Brand new Nike legendary tight. Size small. I took the tags off but still have them. I tried them on but have not worn them. Price is FIRM Nike Pants Ankle & Cropped
PRICE NEGOTABLE ASOS coat cocoon fit in texture NWT
PRICE NEGOTABLE ASOS coat cocoon fit in texture ASOS - Heavy -Weight,texture,super fluffy fabric ,silky feel lining. Notch lapels . Press stud plackets. OverSized fit- falls generously around the body. Dry cleaned. 68%Wool,28%Polyester 4%acrylic. ASOS Jackets & Coats Pea Coats
J Brand Velvet Bell Bottoms size 25 inseam 31.5"
J Brand Velvet Bell Bottoms size 25 inseam 31.5" J Brand black Martini velvet bell bottoms in size 25. These have been hemmed to a 31.5" inseam. Super comfy stretch velvet. The velvet does have some vertical lines probably from being stored in a drawer, might come out with wear (see the third pic, it's a bit hard to photograph). Actual waist is 13.5" across laying flat but these have stretch as well. Fitted through the leg and flares below the knee for e lean silhouette. J Brand Jeans Flare…
Dress Worn twice 2x fits 16/18 Dresses
Tie dye Sweater Cardigan Boutique
Tie dye Sweater Cardigan Tie-dye open drape cardigan in sky blue or charcoal. Sizes: S M L. True to Size comment below with your size and color choice and I will create a new listing for you to purchase. Sweaters Cardigans
NWT faux leather trimmed joggers NWT
NWT faux leather trimmed joggers Loved these! But I'm too short and it doesn't look as cool as I want it to on me lol I'm 4'11, pretty short lol NEW WITH TAGS! Bundle and save ❤ Forever 21 Pants Track Pants & Joggers
Lace bomber Very pretty baby blue and pink lace bomber jacket lined with pockets zips up the front Lauren conrad Jackets & Coats
MiH Grey + White Marble Skinny Jeans
MiH Grey + White Marble Skinny Jeans European based Premium Denim brand | Made in Italy | High Rise, Supreme Skinny Leg | Inseam approx. 28 inches | Worn Once (as seen above), perfect condition | old style, but brand's jeans typically retail for $200-$400 Jeans Skinny

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Firing up the Fitbit – Running With Hashimoto's
August 6, 2014 Posted in Post-baby, Uncategorized, Weight loss
The Fitbit has made a reappearance! While I wore it through some of my pregnancy to keep me motivated after I wasn’t running anymore, it’s been sitting in a drawer for the past couple of months — ever since the doctor told me I wasn’t allowed to do any physical activity anymore. But this past Friday I charged it up, referenced my tips about how to get the most out of a Fitbit, and have been wearing it everyday since.
I’m loosely aiming for 10,000 steps per day since I’ve been cleared to walk again, but I’m not being too strict for the next week or two since I’m still healing and want to take it easy. Here’s what the past few days have looked like:
Since I used to rely on running to get my steps in, I’ve been having fun just using walking to hit the 10,000 mark. On Saturday, I met my friend Mandy for coffee and we went for a 1.77 mile walk and then later in the day, J and I took Cole to the big dog park where I got another mile or so walk in. I topped off my steps with a quick trip to Ikea that afternoon. Sunday was pretty low key — we went to brunch and then after a mimosa (or two) I took a little nap. We did go for a nice long walk that evening, but not long enough to get in 10,000 steps. I did some shopping mall walking at the Mall of America on Monday and went for an afternoon 2.77 mile walk on Tuesday.
What’s also fun is that while I’ve been off of work, my co-workers have all gotten Fitbits and they’ve even set up a group to track all of our steps! I’m looking forward to seeing what kinds of numbers we can rack up! I’m kind of bummed though, the next badge I can get is for 45,000 steps. I don’t think I’ll be able to get that until the next time I run a marathon.
Do you have a Fitbit? Let’s be friends!
fitbitpost-baby weight loss
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Next: Next post: FAB Fitness: Week of 8/4 Workouts
3 thoughts on “Firing up the Fitbit”
When I got my Fitbit I couldn’t believe how hard it was to get to 10,000 steps without running. I am pretty sedentary during the day at work, so I found that I needed to walk a few miles after work plus go to the grocery store to get to 10,000. It’s crazy!
Are you going to come for the end of Ragnar? I want to give you a big Happy Birthday hug!
YES! I’m definitely planning on it! And I’ll give you a belated one 😉

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EP1133261A4 - Helical fastener and applicator for surgical procedures - Google Patents
EP1133261A4
EP1133261A4 EP99962725A EP99962725A EP1133261A4 EP 1133261 A4 EP1133261 A4 EP 1133261A4 EP 99962725 A EP99962725 A EP 99962725A EP 99962725 A EP99962725 A EP 99962725A EP 1133261 A4 EP1133261 A4 EP 1133261A4
EP99962725A
EP1133261A1 (en
1998-11-18 Priority to US195312 priority
2001-09-19 Publication of EP1133261A1 publication Critical patent/EP1133261A1/en
2005-01-05 Publication of EP1133261A4 publication Critical patent/EP1133261A4/en
DESCRIPTION Helical Fastener And Applicator For Surgical Procedures
Field Of The Invention The present invention relates to surgical fasteners. In particular, the invention relates to helical fasteners and a means for containing and applying a plurality of them in the course of laparoscopic surgery.
The time consuming processing of traditional suturing necessitated the development of surgical fasteners . By shortening the time of the suturing process, surgical fasteners reduce blood loss and trauma to the patient. For open surgery, there has been a substantial amount of activity in developing staples and staple applicators to be used to secure tissue elements, e.g., in wound closure. Staples have also found use in attaching prostheses, e.g., the mesh patches used to repair hernias. The use of staples has now become widespread, but with the advent of minimally invasive, or laparoscopic, surgery, the amount of room available for fastening devices to operate in has decreased substantially. In addition, in some instances, e.g., laparoscopic hernia repair, the surgeon has access to only one side of the tissue to which the mesh patch is to be secured.
One answer to these problems was provided by the use of helical coil fasteners, such as those described in Gianturco United States Patent No. 5,258,000 and Bolduc United States Patents Nos . 5,582,616; 5,810,882; 5,824,008; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, which were developed as an alternative to staple fasteners. Some suture devices have also made use of helically coiled components, such as those disclosed in Yoon United States Patent No. 5,053,047 and Buzerak United States Patent No. 5,356,424, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties. Since a helical fastener is driven through the items to be attached, e.g., a mesh patch and underlying tissue, by the rotational driving force of the helical coil, the need for axial pressure is greatly reduced. The Bolduc embodiment of a helical coil fastener device includes a helical coil and an applicator. The helical coil has a distal end adapted to penetrate tissue and a proximal end capable of receiving longitudinal and rotational force from the applicator. The applicator can comprise a stationary hollow tube adapted to contain one or more fasteners. Additionally, there may be a movable rod within and sharing an axis with the hollow tube. The rod may have a groove running longitudinally along its length or be "D" shaped, whereby it is adapted to engage the fastener. The rod may further be adapted to be able to apply longitudinal and rotational force to the fastener. Helical coil fasteners may be applied to tissue accessible from one side and, also, have a large retentive surface area for securing a prosthesis, e.g., a mesh, to the tissue.
The preferred embodiment of the fastener comprises a short helical coil. At the distal end of the wire or similar material forming the coil is a point or other configuration suitable for passing through mesh and piercing tissue. At the proximal end of the coil is a protuberance extending outside the circumference of the helix, radially or obliquely. The protuberance must be extensive enough to engage a first coil engaging means such as a slot or keyway in or on the interior surface of the distal end of an applicator tube. Preferably, the protuberance does not extend beyond the exterior surface of the applicator tube. The fastener may be made of any material suitable for medical implantation, including but not limited to metal, plastic or absorbent materials. Titanium is a preferred material .
An alternate embodiment of the fastener provides a loop at the proximal end to prevent the fastener from continued migration through the tissue and/or to prevent disattachment of a mesh or other prosthetic element attached to the tissue by the fastener. The loop interrupts the continuous form of the helix, thereby providing greater resistance to undesired movement . When the distal end of the fastener is held against or in proximity to a mesh patch or other entity which is to be attached to tissue into which the fastener is to be placed, and the fastener is turned about its longitudinal axis, it will advance helically and pass through the mesh or other entity and into the tissue thereby attaching such entity to the tissue. The preferred embodiment of the applicator comprises a delivery tube that is adapted to contain a plurality of fasteners, but also contemplates a device having a delivery means adapted to hold only one fastener at a time. The applicator tube also functions as a driving means to rotate the fastener contained therein. The applicator tube is slotted or grooved along its longitudinal axis. This slot or groove engages the protuberance on the proximal portion of the fastener, allowing the tube to exert rotational force on the fastener. The length of the tube must be suitable to reach the operative site from outside the patient. The inside diameter of the tube should be large enough to allow translation of the fasteners contained therein while at the same time being small enough to maintain driving contact with the protuberance on the fastener.
The preferred embodiment further comprises a stationary stabilizer rod. The rod is contained within the tube. The rod is sized to slide within the helical coil of the fasteners. At or near the distal tip of the rod is a coil engaging means which engages the fastener. This means may be a radially outwardly extending pin, a thread form matching the helical coil of the fastener, a plurality of radially outwardly extending pins positioned to match the helical coil of the fastener or any other form that functions to engage the fastener. Once the protuberance on the fastener is in engagement with the slot in the tube and the coil of the fastener is in engagement with the coil engaging means, the tube is rotated, thereby rotating the fasteners, and the fasteners are thus advanced in the manner of a screw. If a multiple fastener device is desired, the fasteners may be stacked successively within a tube of desired length and in such a device the rod and coil engaging means will preferably be lengthened to engage all fasteners such that all are distally advanced together upon rotation of the applicator tube. In an alternate embodiment, a loading spring may operate in the annulus between the tube and rod. The loading spring functions to bias the fasteners toward the distal tip of the applicator tube. As a result, upon rotation of the tube, the fasteners are successively urged into engagement with the coil engaging means at or near the distal portion of the rod. The loading spring must be of adequate length and sufficient force to cause all fasteners, in turn, to engage the coil engaging means on the rod. Preferably, the loading spring may rotate with the tube. In an alternate embodiment, the loading spring may be stationary with respect to the tube. Advantageously, a means to provide a non-tangling interface such as a washer is provided at the distal end of the loading spring and is in contact with the most proximal fastener and may also optionally provide a visual indication when all fasteners have been ejected.
The applicator further comprises a handle at the proximal end of the applicator. A suitable handle must fix the stabilizer rod and must rotate the applicator tube. The handle may, advantageously, rotate a measured amount to eject one fastener at a time. Preferably, the handle further comprises a clutch mechanism which prevents counter- rotation of the tube. Although helical coil fasteners are preferred, other shapes which may be used according to the present invention include any suitable circular or cylindrical or conical shape in which generally circular loops are used.
Fig. 1 shows a slide view of a rotatable hollow tube according to the invention, with a slot running longitudinally along the distal portion. Fig. 2 shows a side view of a stationary stabilizer rod according to the invention, with a coil engaging means near the distal tip and a loading spring and washer near the proximal end. Fig. 3 shows a side view of a fastener according to the invention.
Fig. 5 shows an end view of a fastener engaged in a rotatable hollow tube according to the invention. A protuberance extending from the blunt end of the spring mates with a longitudinal slot in the tube.
Fig. 8 shows an alternate embodiment of a rotatable hollow tube having a slot or keyway that runs longitudinally along the distal portion.
Fig. 10a and 10b show an alternate embodiment of a fastener with a loop near the blunt end.
Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments As is shown in the drawings, which are offered for purposes of illustration and not be way of limitation, the invention is embodied by a helical fastener and an applicator therefor. One embodiment of the applicator of the present invention, as seen in Figures 1-5, comprises a rotatable hollow tube 10 that drives a fastener 30 into tissue. The tube 10 must be of a length suitable to reach the operative site from outside the patient. The fastener 30 may be further guided by a stationary stabilizer rod 20. It is preferred that the rotatable hollow tube 10 and the stationary stabilizer rod 20 are of such dimensions that the fasteners 30 can be placed between and in contact with both the tube 10 and the rod 20 and also slide without excess friction along the rod 20 and within the tube as shown in Fig. 6.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention (See Figure 2) , the stationary stabilizer rod 20 has a second coil engaging means such as pin 22 at the distal portion 24 of the rod. The pin 22 may be of any height 28, but is preferably of such a height that the pin 22 is flush with the outer portion of the rotatable hollow tube 10. The pin 22 is shown as having a generally square shape, but may be of any shape capable of engaging a fastener 30.
As seen in Figures 2 and 6, a loading spring 26 may operate at the proximal portion of the rod 20. The loading spring 26 acts to bias the fasteners 30 toward the pin 22. Advantageously, the loading spring 26 may rotate with the tube 10. However, the loading spring 26 may be stationary. The loading spring 26 should be of sufficient length and adequate force to urge all fasteners 30 in turn into engagement with second coil engaging means 22. Preferably, a washer 20 may be located at the distal tip of the loading spring 26. The washer 29 functions to provide a non- tangling interface with the most proximal of the fasteners 30 and, optionally, to provide visual indication when all fasteners 30 have been ejected. Additionally, in place of the washer 29, any other suitable means that may provide a non-tangling interface or visual indication may be used.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention (See Figures 3 and 4), the fastener 30 has a helical shape. The length, pitch, and diameter of the coil may be varied depending upon the application. Additionally, the fastener 30 may be of any suitable circular, cylindrical or conical shape in which generally circular loops are used. Moreover, the fastener 30 has a piercing end 38 that may be of varying form or sharpness, depending on the application. The proximal end 40 of the fastener 30 should have a protuberance 42 extending beyond the diameter 36 of the fastener. The protuberance 42 may extend any length outside the diameter 36 of the fastener 30, but preferably extends a length less than or equal to the thickness of the rotatable hollow tube 10 (See Figures 5 and 6) .
As shown in Figure 7, applicator 80 has a handle 81 and an actuator 82. The applicator is equipped with a tube member such as tube 10 having a slot such as slot 12. In operation, the actuator 82 functions to rotate tube 12 which drives the helically coiled fastener out of the applicator and into the tissue of the patient. The applicator is provided with lever 83. As shown in Fig. 7, the lower end 84 of the lever 83 is a trigger-like member suitable for manual manipulation. The other, or upper, end 85 of lever 83 engages driver 86. Lead screw 87 which has a helical thread thereon is rotatably mounted in the applicator and engages driver 62. The longitudinal axis of tube 10 is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of screw 87. When the trigger end 84 of the lever 83 is squeezed, the driver is moved along screw 87 causing it to rotate. This, in turn causes, tube 12 to rotate thereby causing the helical coil fasteners in tube 12 to move distally through the tube. Preferably, the length of travel of the coil fasteners resulting from one squeeze of the trigger will be just enough to force one coil fastener out of tube 12 and will then leave the next fastener at the distal end of tube 12 ready to be discharged on the next trigger squeeze.
When trigger portion 84 is squeezed, lever 83 pivots on its center of rotation 88. Lever 83 can be provided with a spring loaded pawl 89 adapted to engage teeth 90 such that one full pull of the trigger is required before the trigger can be returned to its undepressed position. This assures that each pull of the trigger will fully discharge one fastener. In one alternate embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8, the rotatable hollow tube 10 has a longitudinal groove or keyway 50 along the inner surface of tube 10 instead of a slot in the tube. The groove 50 acts to engage the protuberance 42 of the fastener 30, thereby applying rotational force to the fastener 30.
In another alternate embodiment of the invention, as seen in Figure 9, the stationary stabilizer rod 20 has a thread form 60 that mates with the coil of the fastener 30. Specifically, the thread form 60 engages the fastener helix, thereby cooperating with rotation of tube 10 to advance the fastener 30 into tissue in a screw-like manner upon rotation of tube 10. Optionally, a plurality of pins may be positioned to form a thread that mates with the fastener helix. If the length of the thread is at least as long as the stack of fasteners carried in the tube 10, the load spring may be eliminated.
In still another alternate embodiment of the invention, as seen in Figures 10a and 10b, a fastener 70 may have a loop portion 72 near the blunt end. Preferably, the loop portion 72 has a connected end 74 and a free end 76. Optionally, both ends may be connected (not shown) . In the embodiment having only one connected end, the loop portion 72 may extend beyond the diameter of the helical body of the fastener 70 at the connected end 74. The loop portion 72 may extend any length beyond the diameter of the fastener 70, but preferably extends a distance less than or equal to the thickness of the rotatable hollow tube 10.
1. An applicator for inserting a fastener into tissue comprising: a rotatable hollow outer tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion; and a stationary stabilizer rod contained substantially within said tube; a fastener mounted on said rod; said tube having a longitudinally extending coil engaging means along a distal portion thereof, said tube further being adapted to contain a fastener in engaging relationship with said slot; said rod having a member adapted to engage said fastener in the distal region of said rod.
6. An applicator for inserting a fastener into tissue comprising: a hollow tube having an interior and exterior surface; a substantially solid rod having a distal region; and a helically coiled fastener mounted on said rod; said tube being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof, and further having a longitudinal groove extending along said interior surface; said rod being substantially enclosed by said tube, and having a member adapted to engage said fastener at its distal region; and, said fastener having a protuberance in engagement with said groove.
10. A method of inserting a fastener into tissue comprising the steps of: providing a fastener with a piercing end and a blunt end; engaging the fastener with a means which will cause the fastener to advance when it is rotated, providing a tube containing at least one fastener which tube is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof; putting the fastener in engaging relationship with the tube ; rotating the tube, whereby the fastener is translated into the tissue in a screw like manner.
11. A fastener to stabilize tissue comprising: a helical body having at least one coil, said body having a proximal portion and a distal portion; said distal portion being suitable for piercing tissue; said proximal end having a loop portion extending from a first point on said coil to a second point on said coil, said proximal end further having a protuberance extending outside an area defined by the perimeter of said helical body.
EP99962725A 1998-11-18 1999-11-09 Helical fastener and applicator for surgical procedures Withdrawn EP1133261A4 (en)
US195312 1998-11-18
EP1133261A1 EP1133261A1 (en) 2001-09-19
EP1133261A4 true EP1133261A4 (en) 2005-01-05
EP99962725A Withdrawn EP1133261A4 (en) 1998-11-18 1999-11-09 Helical fastener and applicator for surgical procedures
See also references of WO0028902A1 *


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