Abstract: Systems and methods for the manufacture of an hourglass shaped stent-graft assembly having an hourglass shaped stent, graft layers, and an assembly mandrel having an hourglass shaped mandrel portion. Hourglass shaped stent may have superelastic and self-expanding properties. Hourglass shaped stent may be encapsulated using hourglass shaped mandrel assembly coupled to a dilation mandrel used for depositing graft layers upon hourglass shaped mandrel assembly. Hourglass shaped mandrel assembly may have removably coupled conical portions. The stent-graft assembly may be compressed and heated to form a monolithic layer of biocompatible material. Encapsulated hourglass shaped stents may be used to treat subjects suffering from heart failure by implanting the encapsulated stent securely in the atrial septum to allow blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium when blood pressure in the left atrium exceeds that on the right atrium. The encapsulated stents may also be used to treat pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract: A repair device is a device configured to repair a plate-shaped composite material formed by laminating fiber-reinforced resin sheets. The repair device includes a main body portion that covers a portion to be repaired that is formed in an end surface configured to connect plate surfaces of the composite material so as to be recessed from the end surface such that a closed space is formed between the end surface and the main body portion, a securing portion configured to secure the main body portion to the composite material, and a resin supply portion configured to inject a resin into the closed space with a pressure. The main body portion is formed of a member with rigidity that is not deformed due to the pressure from the resin supply portion.

Abstract: Various method for repairing a tire tread are provided. In one embodiment, a method for repairing a tire tread comprises: providing a tire having a tire tread portion wherein the tire tread portion includes a tread element that is at least one of a tread block and a tread rib, and wherein the tread element includes a void resulting from wear or damage of the tire tread portion; removing a material from at least a portion of the tread element adjacent to the void to create a removed material portion, wherein the removed material portion includes a specific shape corresponding to a replacement element; applying an adhesive to at least one surface of the removed material portion; applying the replacement element to the removed material portion; and curing the adhesive.

Abstract: A system for repairing polymer structures, for example, polypropylene storage tanks for liquid, includes the application of a unique primer in connection with a plurality of layers of other adhesives to attach a liquid-impermeable elastomeric liner. The system permits the liquid-impermeable elastomeric liner to expand and contract along with the polymer tank, thus resisting separation of the liner from the polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an insulating layer for a semiconductor package which can improve reliability and have excellent heat resistance by removing pores generated in the insulating layer during manufacture of an insulating layer for a semiconductor package using magnetic characteristics, and an insulating layer for a semiconductor package obtained using the method for manufacturing the insulating layer for a semiconductor package.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the manufacture of an hourglass shaped stent-graft assembly comprising an hourglass shaped stent, graft layers, and an assembly mandrel having an hourglass shaped mandrel portion. Hourglass shaped stent may have superelastic and self-expanding properties. Hourglass shaped stent may be encapsulated using hourglass shaped mandrel assembly coupled to a dilatation mandrel used for depositing graft layers upon hourglass shaped mandrel assembly. Hourglass shaped mandrel assembly may have removably coupled conical portions. The stent-graft assembly may be compressed and heated to form a monolithic layer of biocompatible material. Encapsulated hourglass shaped stents may be used to treat subjects suffering from heart failure by implanting the encapsulated stent securely in the atrial septum to allow blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium when blood pressure in the left atrium exceeds that on the right atrium.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for an aircraft. The system includes a rail having a bottom surface, and a first and a second sidewall extending from the bottom surface. The first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the bottom surface define a channel. The rail also includes blind holes, located in the bottom surface. The system also includes spacers, each comprising a stem and a top portion, extending substantially perpendicular to the stem. The stem of each of the spacers is configured to be positioned in a respective one of the blind holes such that a longitudinal axis of the top portion of each of the spacers is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel. The system also includes a structural component, a portion of which is configured to be positioned into the channel such that the structural component rests on the top portion of each of the spacers.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for performing in situ repairs of internal components of a gas turbine engine may generally include inserting a repair tool within an interior of the gas turbine engine such that a tip end of the repair tool is positioned within the gas turbine engine and an exterior end is positioned outside the gas turbine engine. The method may also include positioning the tip end of the repair tool adjacent to a defect of an internal component, wherein the defect defines a fillable volume along a portion of the internal component. In addition, the method may include intermixing two or more constituents of a repair agent within the repair tool at a mixing location defined within the gas turbine engine, and expelling the repair agent from the tip end such that the fillable volume is at least partially filled with the repair agent.

Abstract: A laminate is made by first making by melt-blowing or spunbonding of multicomponent, thermoplastic, and endless filaments a first nonwoven layer lying generally in a plane and having a predetermined shrinkage capacity or potential parallel to the plane and making of thermoplastic and endless filaments a second nonwoven layer also lying generally in a respective plane and having a shrinkage capacity or potential that is smaller than that of the first nonwoven layer. The two layers are directly juxtaposed flatly on each other, and the directly juxtaposed first and second layer are bonded together only at bonded regions while leaving an array of unbonded regions distributed over a surface of the two bonded-together nonwoven layers. Then only the first nonwoven layer is shrunk so that the second layer bunches in the unbonded regions and is there raised transverse to a plane of the bonded-together layers.

Abstract: A protective braided sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve includes a seamless, circumferentially continuous, tubular braided wall having a cavity extending lengthwise along a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends. The wall includes a plurality of yarns braided with one another, with at least one or more of the yarns including a bicomponent yarn including a core and an outer adhesive sheath adapted to be selectively melted to bond the wall to an elongate member extending through the cavity.

Abstract: A substrate holder having a fixing surface for holding a substrate, a system having such a substrate holder, a use of such a substrate holder, a method for bonding two substrates and a product, particularly a substrate stack, produced using such a method and also a use of such a substrate holder for such a method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the manufacture of an hourglass shaped stent-graft assembly having an hourglass shaped stent, graft layers, and an assembly mandrel having an hourglass shaped mandrel portion. Hourglass shaped stent may have superelastic and self-expanding properties. Hourglass shaped stent may be encapsulated using hourglass shaped mandrel assembly coupled to a dilation mandrel used for depositing graft layers upon hourglass shaped mandrel assembly. Hourglass shaped mandrel assembly may have removably coupled conical portions. The stent-graft assembly may be compressed and heated to form a monolithic layer of biocompatible material. Encapsulated hourglass shaped stents may be used to treat subjects suffering from heart failure by implanting the encapsulated stent securely in the atrial septum to allow blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium when blood pressure in the left atrium exceeds that on the right atrium. The encapsulated stents may also be used to treat pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract: A method for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic component includes inserting a fiber preform, which is arranged on a fluid-filled hollow core, in a mold that has at least two mold parts, closing the mold, the fiber preform and the hollow core being received in a mold cavity defined by the at least two mold parts, filling the cavity with a plastic material and curing the plastic material in the closed, heated mold. The internal pressure in the mold is measured during the curing of the plastic material and the distance between the at least two mold parts is increased when the pressure exceeds an upper threshold value.

Abstract: Methods for repairing composite component voids are provided. For example, one method comprises locating a void in a composite component and subjecting the composite component to a process for repair. The process for repair includes creating a flow path through the void, applying a filler material to the composite component at the flow path, and processing the composite component having the filler material. In some embodiments, the flow path has a first opening on a first side of the composite component and a second opening on a second, opposite side of the composite component. In other embodiments, at least one portion of the flow path extends at a first angle with respect to a lateral direction defined by the CMC component, and at least another portion extends at a second angle with respect to the lateral direction.

Abstract: A method of making at least a portion of at least one microfluidic actuator having a flexible diaphragm portion and an opposite surface portion, the diaphragm and opposite surface each having opposed faces, at least one of the faces comprising surface-activated PDMS, and the opposed faces being arranged such that when the opposed faces contact each other, they form a fluidic seal, including performing repeated make-and-break-contact protocol on the contacting opposed faces until the tendency for permanent bonds to form between the contacting faces has been neutralized, thereby enabling the diaphragm portion to perform actuated movements to engage and disengage with the opposite surface portion, without the diaphragm sticking to the opposite surface portion.

Abstract: A procedure for repairing a polymer matrix composite component is provided. The procedure includes the steps of: providing a polymer matrix composite component having a site prepared for repair by removal of damaged or defective material; locating an uncured, polymer matrix composite repair patch at the site to re-build the component thereat; and curing the polymer matrix of the repair patch by heating the patch using eddy currents induced by one or more alternating current coils. The repair patch is without metallic additives, such that the repaired polymer matrix composite after the curing step is also without metallic additives in the vicinity of the repair patch.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for making catheters having relatively larger distal and proximal regions and/or including intermediate layers that minimize or eliminate gaps during manufacturing, and to catheters or other tubular devices made using such apparatus and methods.

Abstract: A channel-less microfluidic pump includes a cartridge including a substrate and an actuatable film layer disposed on the substrate, and a manifold having at least three actuatable void volumes separated by a plurality of wall sections and an actuatable flexible layer disposed on the manifold interfacing the actuatable film layer. In operation, the pump can be in an unactuated state wherein the actuatable film layer is disposed against the surface of the substrate or an actuated state wherein at least a portion of the flexible layer and a corresponding portion of the actuatable film layer are deflected into a corresponding void volume thus forming a fluidic volume between the deflected portion of the actuatable film layer and the surface of the substrate. In the actuated state, there is a fluidic gap between immediately adjacent void volumes formed by a thinned region of the flexible layer at a point of contact with a top surface of a wall section.

Abstract: A method of joining panels is disclosed, including adhesively bonding a case in a slot of a first panel, the case having a channel on an inner side, and adhesively bonding a plate to a tab portion of a second panel, the plate having an external pin member. The method further includes inserting the tab portion of the second panel into the case in the slot of the first panel and sliding the external pin member of the plate along the channel on the inner side of the case, to a locking position.

Abstract: A process of heat shrinking an article is provided. The process includes shaping a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) into an article, the TPV having: a partially vulcanized rubber dispersed in a continuous thermoplastic phase, wherein more than 5 wt % of the rubber is extractable in boiling xylene, and wherein the thermoplastic phase comprises a thermoplastic resin having a Tm>110° C. and a propylene-based elastomer (PBE) having a Tm<110° C.; and heating the article to a temperature between about 100° C. and 250° C. to shrink the article.