Reflective Medical Markers and Methods of Manufacture

• US 20120281283A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X12 Company Limited
• Original Assignee: X12 Company Limited
• Inventors: Jordanov, Jordan Danchov, Jordanov, Dancho Iliev
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/515
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/008 without using a mould, e.g. ballooning as prestretching step B29C51/06
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/16 Lining or labelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1028 by bending, drawing or stretch forming sheet to assume shape of configured lamina while in contact therewith

Abstract

Identical plastic hemispheres are first treated with organic solvent, which is smeared by a pillow of microporous silicon rubber to achieve a slippery surface upon the hemispheres. The slippery surface upon the hemispheres may comprise a layer of melted plastic. Hemispheres are then placed under an application chamber, where hot gas under pressure softens, deforms and transports a sheet of marker foil over the hemisphere. Two hemispheres are then joined together by use of asymmetric voids and a clip pin inserted, while under compression, into the hemispheres.

Claims

1. A method of attaching a reflective foil to a hemisphere, the method comprising:

a) attaching a hemisphere to a rotating support, such as a mandrel;

b) rotating the hemisphere;

c) applying a quantity of between 1 to 3 drops of organic solvent to the hemisphere;

d) rubbing the organic solvent to the hemisphere using a pad of microphorous silicone rubber and continuing such rubbing until the hemisphere achieves a lower coefficient of friction as compared to the hemisphere'"'"'s condition prior to rubbing;

e) placing the hemisphere under an foil marker application device; and

f) using hot gas under pressure to heat and soften the marking foil material and to blow the marking foil material off of the application device and to deform the foil to fit upon the hemisphere.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of using a plastic hemisphere and rubbing the plastic hemisphere with the organic until a slippery layer of degraded plastic covers the hemisphere.

3. method of claim 2 used to create a marker sphere , the further steps comprising:

a) trimming off any excess marking foil;

b) obtaining two hemispheres with that have undergone the process described above;

c) creating a relatively large void within a hemisphere designated as a bottom hemisphere, with the void being of sufficient diameter to accept clip;

d) creating a relatively smaller void section with a hemisphere designated as a top hemisphere; and

e) securing the bottom and top hemispheres to together by us of a snap pin, with the snap pin held in compression while inserted through the top hemisphere and expanding within the bottom hemisphere and thus rigidly attaching the upper hemisphere to the lower hemisphere.

4. A reflective marker, the marker comprising:

a) two hemispheres, rubbed with organic solvent by use of a pillow of microporous silicone rubber until the surface of the hemispheres have a lower coefficient of friction;

b) each hemisphere having a reflective coating comprising reflective foil applied to the hemispheres by use of hot and compressed gas used to soften, deform and transport the reflective foil to a hemisphere;

c) the hemispheres being trimmed of any excess reflective foil;

d) the two hemispheres having asymmetric voids such that a bottom hemisphere has a larger void and a top hemisphere has a more narrow void;

e) a snap pin, attaching the hemispheres by use of the hemisphere'"'"'s asymmetric voids; and

f) the snap pin having a center void.

5. The reflective marker of claim 4, wherein the snap pin has a top collar section located concentrically from the center void of the snap pin, with the top collar section being relatively flush with the outer surface of the reflective marker.