Abstract: A medical article is heated to a temperature of at least 80 degrees F. Then, the medical article is loaded into a housing. After loading, the medical article may be heated within a sterilization-sealing station, by pressurizing the housing with steam through gas injection pins. The steam is supplied through gas injection pins. A sterilizing gas is also supplied to the medical article within the sterilization-sealing station. A determination is made as to how much time is required for the residual sterilizing gas to dissipate from the housing. The medical article is maintained in a degassing area until residual sterilizing gas dissipates from the housing. The housing may be formed between the first and second webs, which are sealed together after sterilization.

Abstract: An electrically conductive shoe insole is disclosed for cushioning a user's foot and for transferring electrical charges from the wearer's foot to a conductive shoe. The shoe insole includes a cushioned layer, which contains an electrically conductive material, and a fabric, which is bonded to the top surface of the cushioned layer by a nonconductive adhesive. The fabric contains a noncorrosive electrically conductive fiber interwoven therein. The adhesive is applied such that the electrically conductive fibers in the fabric contact the cushioned layer. This allows transfer of electrical charges from the fabric to the cushioned layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cushion for absorbing energy to dampen vibration, distribute pressure and absorb shock. The cushion has a deformable polyurethane bladder which defines a chamber adapted to contain a fluid, such as air. A piece of viscoelastic material, such as a highly plasticized PVC gel, may be located inside the bladder so that when air is introduced into the chamber, the cushion is capable of absorbing energy to dampen low amplitude vibration, distribute pressure and absorb high amplitude shock. The cushion has a valve in fluid communication with the chamber for selectively varying the amount of air so that the shock absorbing capability of the cushion may be varied.Various embodiments incorporating the cushion are disclosed, including a removable bicycle saddle pad, a bicycle saddle, a wheelchair seat pad and a cyclist's glove.