Abstract: A battery cell having a cell casing in which a number of electrodes are arranged. The cell casing has an opening that is is covered by a gas-permeable membrane. An exterior of the membrane is covered by a cover element in order to restrict the ingress of matter into the cell casing.

Abstract: A battery cell having a cell casing in which a number of electrodes are arranged. The cell casing has a rupture region. The rupture region having an opening. The opening being covered by a gas-permeable membrane.

Abstract: A cable unit is provided comprising: a jacket comprising at least one cable housing and at least one support housing; the or each cable housing having a tubular structure, extending in a longitudinal direction, each support housing in the plurality of support housings having a tubular structure, extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the at least one support housing being disposed on one side of the at least one cable housing; and at least one support element retained within each support housing of the plurality of support housings, wherein the at least one support element retained within each support housing of the plurality of support housings comprises at least one portion that has an arcuate cross section in the width direction.

Abstract: There is presented herein a closed container comprising at least one container wall, a seam connecting two edges of the at least one container wall and a vent, wherein at least a portion of the seam is formed around the vent.

Abstract: An implantable containment apparatus for receiving and retaining a plurality of cells for insertion into a patient, such as into a tissue bed, is disclosed. The device includes a chamber having structural spacers therein to maintain an average distance between the first interior surface and the second interior surface of the chamber and to define at least one reservoir space for the placement of cells within the chamber.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing process is provided to produce integral 3-dimensional (3D) articles by laminating together a plurality of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes. The process includes repetitive cycles of ePTFE membrane lamination paired with laser cutting/bonding to produce a desired geometry based on a predefined pattern. The process may be practiced manually or may be configured to work with commercially available LOM machines/systems developed for use with other roll-to-roll processible materials, such as paper.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to dielectric elastomeric composites that include a retainable processing membrane, an elastomer material, and an electrically conductive material. The elastomer layer may be partially imbibed into the retainable processing membrane. The retainable processing membrane may be porous. The retainable processing membrane is compacted in the transverse direction, machine direction, or in both directions prior to the application of an elastomer material and an electrically conductive material. The compaction of the retainable processing membrane may form structured folds or folded fibrils in the membrane, giving the retainable processing membrane a low modulus and flexibility. In some embodiments, the dielectric composites are positioned in a stacked configuration. Alternatively, the dielectric elastomeric composites may have a wound configuration. The dielectric composites have a total thickness less than about 170 ?m.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to dielectric elastomeric composites that include a retainable processing membrane, an elastomer material, and an electrically conductive material. The elastomer layer may be partially imbibed into the retainable processing membrane. The retainable processing membrane may be porous. The retainable processing membrane is compacted in the transverse in direction, machine direction, or in both directions prior to the application of an elastomer material and an electrically conductive material. The compaction of the retainable processing membrane may form structured folds or folded fibrils in the membrane, giving the retainable processing membrane a low modulus and flexibility. In some embodiments, the dielectric composites are positioned in a stacked configuration. Alternatively, the dielectric elastomeric composites may have a wound configuration. The dielectric composites have a total thickness less than about 170 ?m.

Abstract: A supported elastomeric foam (100) includes an elastomeric matrix (102) formed of an elastomer and including a reinforcement region (104) and a foamed region (106). The foamed region includes gas filled cells (108) in the elastomer, and the reinforcement region includes a porous layer (204) having an interconnected network of pores at least partially imbibed with the elastomer. The foam can include an adhesive at a surface of the foam. A compressible seal (802) including a compressible body, which can be elastomeric foam, can also include a pattern of discontinuous adhesive regions about which the compressible body can deform to form a sea. The supported elastomeric foam can form a gas tight seal in an interface when placed under minimal compression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fluoropolymer article having a high surface roughness and high coarseness which comprises the following steps: a) forming a paste comprising a fluoropolymer into a paste-formed fluoropolymer product at a temperature lower than 50° C., b) densifying the paste-formed product, and c) stretching the densified paste-formed fluoropolymer product in at least one direction. The present invention further relates to a fluoropolymer article obtainable by a process according to the invention. The present invention furthermore relates to a fiber comprising, or consisting of, a fluoropolymer having a surface roughness expressed as a peak to valley distance (Rt) greater than 10 micrometer and/or an average surface roughness (Ra) greater than 1.5 micrometer. The present invention furthermore relates to a membrane comprising, or consisting of, a fluoropolymer having a coarseness index ?/EBP of at least 0.

Abstract: Disclosed are protective hoods including particle barrier layers to reduce or prevent penetration of the hoods by particulates in the environment of a wearer. The particle barrier layer of a hood is accessible when the hood is intact. A hood described herein optionally includes an aperture for accessing the particle barrier layer. A hood described herein optionally includes a face opening that engages with a face mask to form a protective seal. A hood described herein optionally includes a visual indicator to indicate when the hood is properly positioned with respect to a face mask.

Abstract: A process for the formation of an assembly comprising a structured or compacted porous film (c) comprising a) application of a porous film (d) onto an elastic substrate (a) in a stretched state such that a reversible adhesion of the film on the stretched substrate (a) occurs, and b) relaxing the substrate (a) with the applied film thereon to obtain a structured or compacted porous film (c), c) applying a support material (e) to a part of the structured or compacted film (c) so that the structured or compacted film to which no support material (e) is attached is releasable.

Abstract: A check valve (1) for a through hole in a compartment wall (100) comprises an elastic membrane (20) covering an open end (16) of a flow passage (14), a base (11) to which the elastic membrane (20) is fixed, and a protector (30) covering at least a portion of the elastic membrane (20), wherein the elastic membrane is fixed to the base in a state where it is elastically stretched over and forced against a sealing surface (17) surrounding the open end (16) so as to seal the flow passage (14). The elastic membrane lifts from the sealing surface when the pressure in the flow passage is high. The elastic membrane may be air- or gas-permeable and, preferably, waterproof so as to impart a low pressure venting functionality to the check valve.

Abstract: A vent, preferably made of metal, comprises a body (10) having an aperture (24) for the passage of a fluid and a sealing surface (11) surrounding the aperture. A porous membrane (50) lies against the sealing surface (11) and covers the aperture (24). A clamp arrangement may comprise a spring (30) pressing the membrane against the sealing surface (11) to prevent liquid from passing through between the sealing surface (11) and the membrane (50), e.g. by means of a cap (40) secured to the body (10) of the vent. The clamp arrangement is such that upon a reduction of the membrane thickness by 50% in the clamping area the compressive force per unit area does not change by more than 50%.

Abstract: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite articles that have a macro textured surface. The composite articles include at least two different PTFE membranes in a layered or stacked configuration. The composite article has a macro textured surface characterized by a plurality of strands raised from the surface of the PTFE membrane. The strands may be formed of either interconnected nodes of PTFE or of at least one nodal mass of PTFE and have a length equal to or greater than about 1.5 mm. The macro textured surface provides a topography to the first PTFE membrane. The composite articles have a bubble point from about 3.0 psi to about 200 psi, a thickness from about 0.01 to about 3.0 mm, and a bulk density from about 0.01 g/cm3 to about 1.0 g/cm3.

Abstract: An assembly (1) for protecting an acoustic device comprises an expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE) membrane (3) and first and second polymeric substrates (2, 4) disposed on opposing sides (5, 6) of the membrane (3). The first substrate (2) is transmissive for laser light of a predetermined wavelength, and the membrane (3) is joined to the first and second substrates (2, 4) by first and second laser weld joints (9, 10) on the first side (5) of the membrane (3) and the second side (6) of the membrane (3), respectively, that are created in a single laser transmission welding step through the first polymeric substrate (2) towards the second polymeric substrate (4). The first side (5) of the membrane (3) may be at least partially absorbent for the laser light and the second side (6) may be at least partially transmissive for the laser light. This may be achieved by a color gradient from black to white from the first side (5) to the second side (6).

Abstract: An O-ring seal consists of an elastomeric core (1) and a sheathing enclosing the core, said sheathing consisting preferably of two shell-like, thermoplastically coated PTFE films (3, 4). In the overlapping region (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) of the films, the latter are connected together in a sealing manner, in that the thermoplastic coatings thereof are welded together by the laser transmission welding method. The sheathing is not connected to the elastomeric core (2).

Abstract: An implantable containment apparatus for receiving and retaining a plurality of cells for insertion into a patient, such as into a tissue bed, is disclosed. The device includes a chamber having structural spacers therein to maintain an average distance between the first interior surface and the second interior surface of the chamber and to define at least one reservoir space for the placement of cells within the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a waterproof and water vapor permeable laminate, comprising: an first functional layer comprising a first water vapor permeable membrane; a second functional layer comprising a second water vapor permeable membrane; and a water vapor permeable intermediate textile layer arranged in between the first membrane and the second membrane and attached to the outer and inner functional layers in a water vapor permeable manner; the intermediate textile layer being hydrophobic.

Abstract: Fluoropolymer articles having a high surface roughness and high coarseness are provided. In one embodiment, a fiber is provided that has a surface roughness expressed as a peak-to-valley distance (Rt) greater than 10 micrometers and an average surface roughness (Ra) greater than 1.5 micrometers. In another embodiment, a membrane having a coarseness index ?/EBP of at least 0.3 g/cm3/psi and an air permeability of 15 ft3/ft2/min or higher is provided. The fluoropolymer articles are produced by a process that includes forming a paste-formed fluoropolymer product at a temperature lower than 50° C., densifying the paste-formed product, and then stretching the dens Pied paste-formed fluoropolymer product in at least one direction. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer may be polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a modified PTFE, a TFE copolymer, a fluorothermoplastic, a fluoroelastomer, or combinations thereof.