K-Y Jelly
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'K-Y Jelly' is a water-based, water-soluble personal lubricant produced by Johnson & Johnson. The initials "K-Y" are not known to represent any words—they were described by their originator as "arbitrary letters"—but are retained for their brand-identity.
Introduced in January 1904 by pharmaceutical and suture maker Van Horn & Sawtell of New York City[1] and later acquired by Johnson & Johnson, its original stated purpose was for medical and surgical use, where it was often chosen by doctors because of its natural base. In contrast with petroleum-based lubricants, K-Y is generally biologically inert, and contains no colour or perfume additives. The lubricant has proved extremely popular as it does not stain and is easily cleaned up. The most recent group of commercials feature actress Erica Shaffer as the company spokesperson.
K-Y Jelly is now more widely used as a sexual lubricant. It does not react with latex condoms or silicone rubber-based sex toys. It can also be used for lubrication purposes when taking body temperature by rectum. It has a thick consistency and a tendency to dry out during use, but can be "reactivated" by the addition of saliva or more water. While it is not recommended for ingestion, it has a sweetish taste, so as to not interfere with oral sex. Contrary to popular belief, K-Y Jelly does not contain a spermicide.
The product has been available over the counter in the United States since 1980. [1]
Recently K-Y has expanded its range to include a liquid lubricant, K-Y Liquid and a warming lubricant, K-Y Warming.
K-Y Jelly uses glycerin and hydroxyethyl cellulose as the lubricant, with chlorhexidine gluconate, glucono delta-lactone, methylparaben and sodium hydroxide as antiseptic and preservative additivies. The liquid form of the product combines glycerin with propylene glycol, sorbitol, and Natrosol 250H (a brand of hydroxyethyl cellulose) for lubrication, with benzoic acid, methylparaben and sodium hydroxide as additives. An alternative glycerin-free formulation marketed as K-Y Ultra contains propylene glycol, sorbitol, Natrosol 250H and polysorbate 60 for lubrication, benzoic acid and methylparaben as preservatives, and vitamin E.
[edit] Other uses
- The jelly is also used in many special effects driven films to give the appearance of slime, such as in Ghostbusters, Alien, The Thing
- K-Y Jelly is also used in medicine for many procedures that involve insertion of an instrument or fingers into a small or narrow body cavity or past a muscular sphincter, including various small forms of intubation, nasal cavity inspection, endoscopy, and direct digital examinations (e.g., digital rectal examinations).
- K-Y Jelly is also a secret ingredient in Soap Bubble Solutions. The HEC in the jelly bolsters bubble life and adds a self-healing quality to the bubbles, allowing them to divide in a strong breeze rather than burst.[citation needed]
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Trade-mark for an antiseptic non-fatty and soluble lubricating jelly". Trademark certificate, US Registration Number 54,124. United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
[edit] External links
- K-Y.com (Official website)
| Johnson & Johnson | |
|---|---|
| William C. Weldon, Chairman & CEO | |
| Past CEOs and Presidents: Robert Wood Johnson I • James Wood Johnson • Robert Wood Johnson II • Robert Wood Johnson III • Philip B. Hofmann • Richard B. Sellars • James E. Burke • Ralph S. Larsen | |
| Selected Subsidiaries | |
| ALZA Corporation • Centocor • Cilag • DePuy, Inc. • Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. • Ethicon, Inc. • Independence Technology, LLC • Janssen Pharmaceutica • LifeScan • McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals • Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical • Ortho-Neutrogena • Penaten • Tibotec | |
| Selected Brands | |
| Acuvue • Aveeno • Band-Aid • Carefree • Clean & Clear • Johnson's Baby • K-Y • Neutrogena • OneTouch • Rembrandt • Stayfree • Tylenol | |
Annual Revenue: $53.3 billion USD  5.6% Annual Income: $11.1 billion USD 9.9% (FY 2006) | Employees: 116,200 | Stock Symbol: NYSE: JNJ | Website: www.jnj.com |
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