1. An intermediate transfer medium which comprises a substrate, protective layers which have a layered structure comprising two or more of layers, and a receiving layer; wherein these are layered in that order;
wherein one protective layer in the protective layers having the layered structure is a durable layer which mainly comprises a polyester of high polymerization degree which has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of not less than 12,000 and Tg of not lower than 60\xb0 C. or a mixture of a polyester of high polymerization degree which has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of not less than 12,000 and Tg of not lower than 60\xb0 C. and polycarbonate, andor polyester urethane;
wherein another protective layer in the protective layers having the layered structure is a plasticizer-resistive layer which comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or comprises a cationic resin; and
wherein the receiving layer contains a side-chain type aralkyl-modified silicone in a proportion of from 0.5 to 5% by weight on a base of the total weight of the receiving layer.
2. The intermediate transfer medium according to claim 1, wherein the protective layers having the layered structure comprises the plasticizer-resistive layer and the durable layer, which are layered in that order from the substrate side.
3. The intermediate transfer medium according to claim 1, wherein an exfoliate layer is provided between the substrate and the protective layers having the layered structure.
4. The intermediate transfer medium according to claim 1, wherein an exfoliate layer is provided between the substrate and the protective layers having the layered structure.
5. An intermediate transfer medium which comprises a substrate, and at least a protective layer and a receiving layer which are layered in that order on one surface side of the substrate;
wherein the protective layer mainly comprises a polyester of high polymerization degree which has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of not less than 12,000 and Tg of not lower than 60\xb0 C. or a mixture of a polyester of high polymerization degree which has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of not less than 12,000 and Tg of not lower than 60\xb0 C. and polycarbonate, andor polyester urethane.
6. An intermediate transfer medium which comprises a substrate, and at least a protective layer and a receiving layer which are layered in that order on one surface side of the substrate;
wherein the receiving layer contains a side-chain type aralkyl-modified silicone, the modifying group of which consists of an aralkyl group, in a proportion of from 0.5 to 5% by weight on a base of the total weight of the receiving layer.
7. The intermediate transfer medium according to claim 6, wherein a side-chain type epoxy-modified silicone is further contained in a proportion of from 0.5 to 5% by weight on a base of the total weight of the receiving layer.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What I claim is:
1. An apparatus for stabilizing at least one medical device entering at least one facial cavity of a patient’s face comprising:
a transverse stent having a superior border with a first end and a second end, an inferior border opposed to the superior border, the inferior border having a first end and a second end, an outer surface extending between the superior border and the inferior border from the first end of the superior border and the inferior border to the second end of the superior border and the inferior border, an inner surface extending between the superior border and the inferior border from the first end of the superior border and the inferior border to the second end of the superior border and the inferior border, the outer surface facing away from the facial cavity and opposed to the inner surface;
a first facial interface attached to a first end of the transverse stent, the first end extending between the first end of the superior border of the transverse stent and the first end of the inferior border of the transverse stent, wherein the first facial interface includes a surface positioned adjacent a first side of the patient’s face;
a second facial interface attached to a second end of the transverse stent, the second end extending between the second end of the superior border of the transverse stent and the second end of the inferior border of the transverse stent, wherein the second facial interface includes a surface positioned adjacent a second side of the patient’s face;
a docking platform attached to the outer surface of the transverse stent at a preselected angle, the docking platform for supporting at least one medical device; and
means for attaching the first and second facial interfaces to the first and second sides of the patient’s face.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the first and second facial interfaces to the first and second sides of the patient’s face is selected from the group consisting of adhesively adhering, mechanically clasping and combinations thereof.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for attaching includes a hydrocolloid adhesive.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for attaching includes a pectin based adhesive.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for attaching includes a substantially transparent, hypoallergenic adhesive.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transverse stent is of a predetermined length sufficient to provide mechanical clasping to the first and second sides of the patient’s face.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second facial interfaces further includes an inferior border, at least a portion of each of the inferior borders of the first and second facial interface mechanically clasping an area of the patient’s face overlying at least a portion of an inferior border of a patient’s mandible.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least a portion of the inferior border of the first and second facial interface are each offset medially about 5 degrees to about 35 degrees from a plane substantially parallel to the respective first and second side of the patient’s face to mechanically clasp an area of the patient’s face overlying at least a portion of the inferior border of a mandible of the patient.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the first and second facial interfaces to the first and second sides of the patient’s face is a pre-applied adhesive intermediate the facial interface and the patient’s face.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first and second facial interfaces are substantially contoured to a contour of the respective first and second side of the patient’s face.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the first and second facial interfaces to the first and second sides of the patient’s face is an adhesive applied to the first and second sides of the patient’s face intermediate the facial interface and the face.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first and second facial interfaces are substantially contoured to a contour of the respective first and second side of the patient’s face.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transverse stent is substantially arch shaped to position the transverse stent a predetermined distance above a maxillary lip of the patient.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the transverse stent is positioned about 1 mm to about 3 mm above the patient’s maxillary lip.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transverse stent is comprised of a material that is substantially transparent and hypo-allergenic.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the apparatus is fabricated from a pliable, activatable material capable of being activated to achieve a permanent predetermined shape after the apparatus is contoured to the predetermined shape.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least one anchorage attachment to receive an attachment point from at least one additional anchorage.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one anchorage attachment is positioned on a surface opposed to the surfaces adjacent to the patient’s face.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one anchorage attachment is selected from the group consisting of button, hook, loop, slot, tab and combinations thereof.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transverse stent further comprises a first and second gutter positioned on the inner surface of the transverse stent proximate to the respective first and second facial interfaces, positioned to channel oral fluids away from the respective first and second facial interface after attachment to the patient’s face.
21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transverse stent further comprises at least one mechanical retaining point to removably receive the at least one medical device, the at least one mechanical retaining point selected from the group consisting of a clip positioned on the stent outer surface, a channel positioned in the stent outer surface and combinations thereof.
22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transverse stent further comprises a hollow bore of predetermined diameter positioned to transport a gas, the bore comprising a first opening in the transverse stent to receive the supply of the gas and a second opening at the docking station to deliver the supply of the gas.
23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the docking platform is permanently attached to the outer surface.
24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the docking platform is removably attached to the outer surface.
25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a universal docking station is fabricated within a surface of the transverse stent to removably receive the docking platform.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the universal docking station is a recess that removably receives a projection extending from the docking platform.
27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the docking platform comprises a cantilevered finger extending from the transverse stent.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the cantilevered finger extends outward at an angle of about 95 degrees.
29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the cantilevered finger includes a substantially flexible section of predetermined length and a substantially rigid section of predetermined length, the rigid section extending from the stent and the flexible length extending from the rigid length.
30. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the cantilevered finger further includes at least one channel positioned on at least one surface of the cantilevered finger for receiving the at least one medical device.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the at least one channel includes a first channel positioned on a top surface of the cantilevered finger and a second channel positioned on a bottom surface of the cantilevered finger.
32. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the cantilevered finger further includes a clamp attached to a bottom surface of the cantilevered finger, the clamp removably engaging the at least one medical device.
33. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the docking platform is a CPAP cannula.
34. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transverse stent further includes a groove in the superior surface to support the at least one medical device.
35. An apparatus for stabilizing at least one medical device entering at least one facial cavity comprising:
a transverse stent positioned between a first and second facial interface, the first facial interface opposed to the second facial interface;
the first facial interface positioned adjacent a first side of a patient’s face;
the second facial interface positioned adjacent a second side of a patient’s face;
a means for supporting at least one medical device with the transverse stent;
a means for adhesively adhering the first and second facial interfaces to the first and second sides of the patient’s face; and
a means for mechanically clasping the first and second facial interfaces to the first and second sides of the patient’s face.
36. A method for stabilizing at least one medical device entering at least one facial cavity of a patient’s face comprising the steps of:
selecting at least one medical device;
inserting a first end of the at least one medical device into
the at least one facial cavity;
attaching a stabilizer to the patient’s face, the stabilizer comprising:
a transverse stent having a superior border with a first end and a second end, an inferior border opposed to the superior border, the inferior border having a first end and a second end, an outer surface extending between the superior border and the inferior border from the first end of the superior border and the inferior border to the second end of the superior border and the inferior border, an inner surface extending between the superior border and the inferior border from the first end of the superior border and the inferior border to the second end of the superior border and the inferior border, the outer surface facing away from the facial cavity and opposed to the inner surface;
a first facial interface attached to a first end of the transverse stent, the first end extending between the first end of the superior border and the first end of the inferior border, wherein the first facial interface is positioned adjacent a first side of the patient’s face;
a second facial interface attached to a second end of the transverse stent, the second end extending between the second end of the superior border and the second end of the inferior border, wherein the second facial interface is positioned adjacent a second side of the patient’s face;
a docking platform attached to the outer surface of the transverse stent at a preselected angle, the docking platform for supporting the at least one medical device; and
a means for attaching the first and second facial interfaces to the first and second sides of the patient’s face; and
affixing a second end of the at least one medical device to the stabilizer.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the at least one medical device is selected from the group consisting of endotracheal tubes, nasaltracheal tubes, nasogastric tubes, orogastric tubes, nasojejunal tubes, orojejunal tubes, nasal thermistors, nasal pneumotachometers, nasal capnographs oxygen tubing, oxygen cannula, nasal CPAP delivery systems, nasal mask and face mask.
38. A system for stabilizing at least one medical device entering at least one facial cavity formed by the method of claim 36.
39. A method for stabilizing at least one medical device entering at least one facial cavity comprising the steps of:
inserting a first end of the at least one medical device into the at least one facial cavity;
adhesively adhering and mechanically clasping a stabilizer to a patient’s face;
affixing a second end of the at least one medical device to the stabilizer.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein the step of adhesively adhering the stabilizer further includes adhering the stabilizer to a patient’s cheeks with a transparent hydrogel, the hydrogel extending about 10 mm beyond the stabilizer.