Inhalers have been used to deliver medication through the body for several centuries. They were first developed in the late 1700’s so that people could have a better medication administration experience. The first inhalers were invented by an English doctor by the name of John Mudge, but many of the medications that were taken by inhalation were associated with lung problems later on. It wasn’t for another 200 years that inhalation medication would be utilized for the treatment of asthma.
The first metered dose inhalers that were specifically used to deliver asthma medication were developed by Riker Laboratories in 1955. Owned by the 3M Corporation, there are a number of additional inventions that this corporation has produced. Here is just a brief look at some of their best known work.
#1. Scotchguard
When you make a spill on your carpet, how fast do you react to get that stain out? What about the stains that happen in your clothing? 3M helped to develop the well-known fabric protector called Scotchguard, which proactively works to keep stains from sticking to the material. Although the product has a finite life and in carpets will typically only last between 7-10 years in most instances, this invention has helped to keep homes and clothing aesthetically pleasing, even when there’s a spill that’s been made.
#2. Videotape
If you’ve ever watched a VHS movie, then you’ve got 3M to thank for that experience. It doesn’t just stop there, however, because those old home movies and other recordings also utilize the videotape that 3M created. It’s different from film that is used by the movie industry because it is cheaper to produce, yet still retains the information that is copied from the recording or film so that every household can enjoy a movie when they want a couple hours of entertainment.
#3. Non-Woven Fibers
Perhaps the best invention that ever came out of the 3M household was the creation of non-woven fibers. Instead of having a textile-based application, these fibers could be molded into a wide variety of items. The first successes were seen in the gift wrapping industry as 3M produced the first commercially viable Sasheen ribbons from these fibers. As technology improved, these fibers were also developed into curtains, drapes, and even surgical masks.
#4. Thermo-Fax Copying
One of the biggest innovations in the copying niche of the office products industry is Thermo-Fax copying. It is a dry silver copying process that removed the chemicals from the process, a first for the industry at the time. It uses a thin sheet of heat sensitive paper instead and the copy is made through infrared energy. The image is then transferred to create a blackened copy. Over the years, these machines became an excellent product to create transparencies and although the copies made aren’t something that will store well, they did provide businesses and individuals with the hardcopy they might need for any given situation.
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