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Patents are a virtue: injectable bandages, scooter sacks and collapsible instruments

Emergency blood stopper

In many emergency situations, a bandage is not enough to prevent haemorrhage from a large wound. The inventor, Charles Kerber, of US patent 8,858,593 describes a device which inserts an expandable bandaging material directly into a wound, to quickly seal it, stop blood loss and reduce the risk of infection.

The device claimed has a tube and plunger. The tube contains a compressed sponge-like absorbent material and a separate break-seal vessel, such as an ampoule 24, containing a liquid which polymerises upon contact with bodily fluids. When the plunger is depressed, the sponge-like material is expelled into the open wound. At the same time, the break-seal vessel is broken, so that the liquid is also inserted into the wound, and diffuses within the sponge-like material, polymerising as it contacts blood and setting the material within the wound.

The patent describes various materials which may be used for the sponge-like filler, such as common surgical pads, gauze or absorbent bioabsorbable material. The specification also provides a list of suitable pre-polymer components which set upon contact with bodily fluids. 

Bag on a scooter or a scooter in a bag?

Or both.

US patent 8,833,777 issued to Turner and Murphy, describes a combination scooter and bag, which can be collapsed into a compact, portable form. With the scooter handle tucked away into a rigid frame, and the scooter footboard hidden under the bag, the device can be carried like a messenger bag.

To use the scooter, the handle is extended which moves the bag away from the handle, uncovering the footboard. The bag remains on one side of the scooter, but the scooter may driven from the other side as normal.

There is certainly utility in not having to carry a bagpack while on the scooter. But it would appear that the combined weight of the scooter and contents of the bag might be too heavy to comfortably carry on one shoulder for long periods of time.

Collapsible musical drum

Continuing with the theme of collapsible, portable devices, here’s a great idea for a musical drum.

US patent 8,829,320 issued to Abdelilah Tahour, claims a collapsible drum which has multiple telescoping shell extension members. The base shell has the largest diameter, so the remaining shell extension members telescope from within it. The shells lock into place via a protrusion in the shell extension member which engages a dent in the base shell.

In addition to the portability, the drum can also be adjusted to produce different sounds by extending the shell to various degrees, thus changing the volume of the drum.

It will be interesting to see what the sound quality is like, and whether the drum can stay consistently tuned considering the sliding nature of the different parts.

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