Printed Fiberglass Bandages as Orthopaedic Fiberglass Casting Tapes (2)
Polyurethane orthopaedic fiberglass casting tapes materials which have experienced widespread commercial acceptance are disclosed in U.S. Patent to Yoon. These casting materials employ a water-activatable, polyurethane, prepolymer which contains a catalyst. The compositions have a long shelf life during which the polyurethane prepolymer remains in the resin state. When the bandage is to be used, it is dipped in water for several seconds and then is removed from the water and applied to the patient usually over a tubular, knitted fabric and a padding. The bandage will set rapidly to a condition where it is capable of immobilizing a fracture. U.S. Patent No. 5,088,484 discloses a cast bandage which comprises an open-mesh fibrous tape having a hardenable resin coated on the fibrous tape which is capable of curing to form a hardened plastic. The tape has applied thereto at least one coloring agent which is visibly disposed on at least a portion of the fibrous tape, the coloring agent is stablely retained by the fibrous tape in the presence of hardenable liquid resin.
