Abstract: Continuous compression molding machines (CCMMs) and methods of continuous compression molding a consolidated thermoplastic matrix composite material are disclosed herein. The CCMMs include a mold, a heat zone heating structure, a consolidation zone heating structure, and a stress relaxation zone heating structure. The CCMMs also include a press structure, a demold structure, and a supply structure. The methods include providing a thermoplastic matrix composite material (TMCM) that includes a thermoplastic material to a CCMM. During the providing, the methods also include heating the TMCM within a heat zone of the CCMM, cooling and consolidating the TMCM within a consolidation zone of the CCMM, relaxing stress within the TMCM within a stress relaxation zone of the CCMM, demolding the TMCM within a demold zone of the CCMM at a mold temperature that is greater than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material, and periodically compressing the TMCM.

Abstract: A bone fragment manipulating tool with reversible pulling mechanism generally comprises an elongated shaft defining a shaft diameter and a drill bit at a distal end. An elongated tubular housing having a housing diameter greater than the shaft diameter encloses the shaft. As the shaft axially retracts in the direction of the tubular housing, a radially protruding structure secures the shaft to a chipped fragment of the bone. The tool then manipulates the fragments to their proper orientations. A method of manipulating a fragment of a fractured bone using a tool generally comprises drilling through the bone, deploying a radially protruding structure to secure the shaft to a chipped fragment, manipulating the chipped fragment to a proper orientation with respect to a primary fragment such that the fragments are aligned and joined, undeploying the radially protruding structure, and removing the tool in a locked, slender configuration from the bone.