A decorative splint material includes a moisture-curable material adapted to be wetted and molded into a splint configuration that conforms to an anatomical body part. The material hardens via a curing process to retain the splint configuration. The splint material includes a plurality of decorative elements integrated with the splint material. The decorative elements are provided on a substrate which is overlaid onto the moisture-curable material, and the substrate is overlaid with a flexible sheet having a plurality of openings which align with the decorative elements. The decorative elements are retained by the sheet of splint material when the sheet is wetted, molded into a splint configuration, and hardened.

A decorative splint material includes a moisture-curable material adapted to be wetted and molded into a splint configuration that conforms to an anatomical body part. The material hardens via a curing process to retain the splint configuration. The splint material includes a plurality of decorative elements integrated with the splint material. The decorative elements are provided on a substrate which is overlaid onto the moisture-curable material, and the substrate is overlaid with a flexible sheet having a plurality of openings which align with the decorative elements. The decorative elements are retained by the sheet of splint material when the sheet is wetted, molded into a splint configuration, and hardened.

The present technology relates to composites, apparatuses, systems, and methods that are based on a photocurable composite useful for stabilizing, supporting, or otherwise healing an injured limb. The photocurable composite includes a light-curable resin and a filler material, where the light-curable resin includes about 50 vol % to about 99 vol % (based on the volume of the light-curable resin) of an acrylate-functionalized oligomer, wherein the backbone of the oligomer comprises a polyurethane, a polyether, a polyester, or a combination of any two or more thereof; about 1 vol % to about 50 vol % of a radical-reactive diluent; about 0.001 vol % to about 2 vol % of a photoinitiator; and optionally about 0.05 to about 25 vol % of a surface cure protection agent.

The present technology relates to composites, apparatuses, systems, and methods that are based on a photocurable composite useful for stabilizing, supporting, or otherwise healing an injured limb. The photocurable composite includes a light-curable resin and a filler material, where the light-curable resin includes about 50 vol % to about 99 vol % (based on the volume of the light-curable resin) of an acrylate-functionalized oligomer, wherein the backbone of the oligomer comprises a polyurethane, a polyether, a polyester, or a combination of any two or more thereof; about 1 vol % to about 50 vol % of a radical-reactive diluent; about 0.001 vol % to about 2 vol % of a photoinitiator; and optionally about 0.05 to about 25 vol % of a surface cure protection agent.

A method is for making a hemostat device. The method includes preparing a homogenous solution of gelatin and chitosan by adding gelatin to water to form a gelatin solution, adding an acid to the gelatin solution to provide an acidified gelatin solution, and adding chitosan to the acidified gelatin solution to form the homogenous solution of gelatin and chitosan. The method also may include air drying the homogenous solution of gelatin and chitosan to provide an air dried scaffold, processing the air dried scaffold to provide a porous sponge, loading the porous sponge with a clotting agent by exposing the porous sponge to the clotting agent in an aqueous solution, and drying the loaded porous sponge.

A method is for making a hemostat device. The method includes preparing a homogenous solution of gelatin and chitosan by adding gelatin to water to form a gelatin solution, adding an acid to the gelatin solution to provide an acidified gelatin solution, and adding chitosan to the acidified gelatin solution to form the homogenous solution of gelatin and chitosan. The method also may include air drying the homogenous solution of gelatin and chitosan to provide an air dried scaffold, processing the air dried scaffold to provide a porous sponge, loading the porous sponge with a clotting agent by exposing the porous sponge to the clotting agent in an aqueous solution, and drying the loaded porous sponge.

A thermoplastic cast, which is easy to reuse or implant, and a production method for same, are described. The cast includes a core material to which is attached polycaprolactone while being made in a mesh shape by the mutual crossing over and connecting of threads having a predetermined diameter, with the weaving of a plurality of strands of thin threads; and a structure which is made using a polycaprolactone composite and is formed so as to surround the outer part of the core material by means of insert injection. The patient experiences no discomfort despite the cast being structurally robust, because ventilation properties are improved due to the cast being formed in a mesh shape and because the structure, which is made using the polycaprolactone composite, is formed so as to surround the outer part of the core material by means of insert injection.

A thermoplastic cast, which is easy to reuse or implant, and a production method for same, are described. The cast includes a core material to which is attached polycaprolactone while being made in a mesh shape by the mutual crossing over and connecting of threads having a predetermined diameter, with the weaving of a plurality of strands of thin threads; and a structure which is made using a polycaprolactone composite and is formed so as to surround the outer part of the core material by means of insert injection. The patient experiences no discomfort despite the cast being structurally robust, because ventilation properties are improved due to the cast being formed in a mesh shape and because the structure, which is made using the polycaprolactone composite, is formed so as to surround the outer part of the core material by means of insert injection.

The present invention provides an electronically-activated, self-molding and re-shapeable load-bearing support structure system includes a first composite structure which includes a first layer of a first thermally-responsive polymer; one or more first heating elements positioned adjacent to the first layer on a first heating element side; a second layer of the first thermally-responsive polymer positioned adjacent to the one or more first heating elements on a second heating element side; a temperature sensor communicating with at least the first layer or the second layer of the first thermally-responsive polymer; one or more electrical connectors electrically communicating with the one or more heating elements; and an electrical controller detachably connectable to at least one of the one or more electrical connectors of the composite for providing an electrical current to the one or more heating elements. A method of molding the load-bearing support structure system is also provided.

The present invention provides an electronically-activated, self-molding and re-shapeable load-bearing support structure system includes a first composite structure which includes a first layer of a first thermally-responsive polymer; one or more first heating elements positioned adjacent to the first layer on a first heating element side; a second layer of the first thermally-responsive polymer positioned adjacent to the one or more first heating elements on a second heating element side; a temperature sensor communicating with at least the first layer or the second layer of the first thermally-responsive polymer; one or more electrical connectors electrically communicating with the one or more heating elements; and an electrical controller detachably connectable to at least one of the one or more electrical connectors of the composite for providing an electrical current to the one or more heating elements. A method of molding the load-bearing support structure system is also provided.