Abstract: A medical device delivery system can include a dilator including a tip having a taper in a distal direction, a coupler, and a flap that radially protrudes from the tip. The flap can be configured to bend against a body lumen to cover at least a portion of the delivery system when the dilator is tracked through the body lumen. A medical device delivery system can include a dilator including a tip having a lumen and a coupler having a lumen. The coupler can be configured to securely connect to the tip such that the lumen of the tip is aligned with the lumen of the coupler to allow a guide wire to pass therethrough. Methods for loading a medical device into a delivery catheter are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a gas pycnometer utilizing a custom volume reference standard are disclosed. The custom volume reference standard may include a material. The material may include a low CTE and high-accuracy dimensions. The material may have a high-aspect ratio reference shape corresponding to an inner area of a custom made sample cup. The custom volume reference standard may include a specified number of inclusions of the material, a high purity, and/or an accurately known density. The custom volume reference standard may include a known volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer structure including a starch layer (A), an adhesive layer (B), and a base material layer (C) in the order mentioned. In this multilayer structure, a material constituting the starch layer (A) comprises a starch and water; a material constituting the adhesive layer (B) comprises a thermoplastic resin having a density of 0.920 g/cm3 or lower and has an acid value of 0.3 mgKOH/g or higher; and the base material layer (C) is a layer having a tensile elastic modulus of 100 MPa or higher.

Abstract: A device including a housing having an access opening, a swing arm mounted to the housing and configured to be selectively pivoted toward and away from the access opening, and a closure captured by the swing arm. The closure can be configured to be selectively moved in a substantially vertical motion relative to the swing arm between a retracted position and an inserted position at least partially in the access opening and can have locking features for cooperating with engagement features in the device to move the closure into a closed and sealed configuration.

Abstract: A laminate comprising: a gas barrier layer (I) comprising a modified starch (A) having an average amylose content of 45% by mass or more and a water-soluble polymer (B); and a substrate (II) adjacent to the gas barrier layer (I), wherein the laminate exhibits a degree of biodegradation of 80% or more in a biodegradability test in accordance with ISO 14855-1.

Abstract: Provided herein are starch compositions, which comprise a first starch having a first weight average molecular weight between about 300,000 and about 4,000,000 Daltons, a second starch having a second weight average molecular weight between about 1,000 and about 290,000 Daltons, and a water-soluble polymer. Also provide herein are articles of manufacture and films comprising the starch composition, and methods of making the starch composition.

Abstract: Provided is a resin composition capable of forming a coated product that exhibits low adhesion to a metal roll during production and is superior in oxygen barrier property and capable of forming a film or sheet superior in oxygen barrier property, impact strength under low humidity and color tone. The resin composition of the present invention contains 50 to 98 parts by mass of a modified starch (A), 2 to 50 parts by mass of a polyvinyl alcohol (B), 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of a polyoxyalkylene (C), and optionally 0 to 5 parts of a polyol plasticizer (D), wherein the total content of the (A), (B), (C) and (D) is 100 parts by mass.

Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film comprising a starch layer and at least one other layer. The multilayer film has excellent barrier properties. The starch layer comprises a modified starch having a degree of substitution less than 1.5. Suitable other layers include polyolefins. The multilayer film finds use in packaging, particularly in packaging foodstuffs.

Abstract: Provided is a resin composition comprising a starch and a polyvinyl alcohol, which is excellent in the breaking strength and breaking elongation at a low temperature, and at the same time, has the good gas barrier property. The resin composition comprises modified starch and polyvinyl alcohol, and where in a cross section photograph by a transmission electron microscope, a cross-sectional area of each of particles of the polyvinyl alcohol dispersed is calculated, and a cross-sectional shape of each of the particles of the polyvinyl alcohol is postulated to be circular based on the cross-sectional area, the particles of the polyvinyl alcohol have a conversion particle diameter of 50 to 300 nm, and the conversion particle diameter has a dispersity of 3.0 or less.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a gas pycnometer utilizing a custom volume reference standard are disclosed. The custom volume reference standard may include a material. The material may include a low CTE and high-accuracy dimensions. The material may have a high-aspect ratio reference shape corresponding to an inner area of a custom made sample cup. The custom volume reference standard may include a specified number of inclusions of the material, a high purity, and/or an accurately known density. The custom volume reference standard may include a known volume.

Abstract: Extruded starch compositions and methods for their preparation are provided. The compositions possess a high degree of cook which imparts particular viscosity characteristics. The compositions may be formed into films having advantageous properties such as low haze, high strength and high gas barrier. The starch compositions find use in a wide range of applications, particularly, but not exclusively, in the manufacture of thin films for packaging.

Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film comprising a starch layer and at least one other layer. The multilayer film has excellent barrier properties. The starch layer comprises a modified starch having a degree of substitution less than 1.5. Suitable other layers include polyolefins. The multilayer film finds use in packaging, particularly in packaging foodstuffs.

Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film comprising a starch layer and at least one other layer. The multilayer film has excellent barrier properties. The starch layer comprises a modified starch having a degree of substitution less than 1.5. Suitable other layers include polyolefins. The multilayer film finds use in packaging, particularly in packaging foodstuffs.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for characterizing particles, comprising: a microscope objective with an optical axis and a depth of field; a holder cell (22) configured to position the particles in a generally planar volume below the microscope objective, the planar volume being substantially normal to the optical axis and having a depth that is less than or equal to the depth of field, wherein a portion of the cell holder (22) for positioning in the optical axis of the microscope objective is substantially free of significant spectral features in a Raman spectral range; an x-y stage (20) to move the microscope objective relative to the holder cell (22) in x and y directions to align particles with the optical axis of the microscope objective while the particles are held by the holder cell (22), a detector (18) for acquiring an image of a particle through the microscope objective, a laser operable to illuminate a particle held by the holder cell (22), a Raman spectrometer (16) arranged to obtain a spectrum including the R

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and device for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. A probe may be inserted into a first of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the first sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the first sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the first sample may be acquired. The probe may be inserted into a second of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the second sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the second sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the second sample may be acquired.

Abstract: Disclosed in one general aspect is a particle interaction characterization instrument that comprises a flow cell for a liquid sample that includes suspended particles and a light source positioned to illuminate the suspended particles in the liquid sample fluid in the sample vessel. A first scattering detector is positioned to receive light from the light source that has been scattered by the particles suspended in sample fluid in the sample vessel at at least one predetermined scattering angle. An ultraviolet transmittance detector is positioned to receive a portion of the light from the source that passes through the suspended particles without being absorbed or scattered. Interaction analysis logic is responsive to both the scattering detector and the ultraviolet detector, and is operative to derive at least one interaction property for the suspended particles.

Abstract: There is provided a starch composition comprising a crosslinked starch. The composition may be useful in a variety of applications, for example, in thermoformed articles or as a component in multilayer films.

Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film comprising a starch layer and at least one other layer. The multilayer film has excellent barrier properties. The starch layer comprises a modified starch having a degree of substitution less than 1.5. Suitable other layers include polyolefins. The multilayer film finds use in packaging, particularly in packaging foodstuffs.