Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid analysis module that comprises for blood analysis: a module housing with a fluid inlet port; at least one fluid sensor that is integrated within the module housing and comprises a sensor surface that is able to make a fluidic connection with the fluid inlet port; a chamber integrated within the module housing. The chamber can be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid analysis module that comprises the following components and, in particular, is suitable for blood analysis: a module housing with a fluid inlet port; at least one fluid sensor that is integrated within the module housing and comprises a sensor surface that is able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the fluid inlet port; a chamber integrated within the module housing, said chamber being able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor; at least one first liquid reservoir attached within the chamber, said liquid reservoir being able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor; and at least one module housing surface, on which an elastic, fluid-tight separating wall that is embodied in membrane-like fashion is attached, at least in portions, under which separating wall at least one fluidic functional element in the style of a flow valve and at least one fluidic func

Abstract: Methods of enhancing one or more physical properties of a thermoplastic film include incrementally stretching thermoplastic films in the machine direction and/or transverse direction. In one or more implementations, methods of incrementally stretching thermoplastic films include reducing the gauge of the films without reducing the films' machine-direction tear resistance. The methods can involve cold stretching the films and imparting rib patterns into the film. The linear ribs can have alternating thick and thin gauges. Incrementally stretched thermoplastic films can have a machine-direction tear resistance that is approximately equal to or greater than the machine-direction tear resistance of the film prior to stretching.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing one or more physical properties of a thermoplastic film include incrementally stretching thermoplastic films in the machine direction and/or transverse direction. In one or more implementations, methods of incrementally stretching thermoplastic films include reducing the gauge of the films without reducing the films' machine-direction tear resistance. The methods can involve cold stretching the films and imparting rib patterns into the film. The linear ribs can have alternating thick and thin gauges. Incrementally stretched thermoplastic films can have a machine-direction tear resistance that is approximately equal to or greater than the machine-direction tear resistance of the film prior to stretching.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing one or more physical properties of a thermoplastic film include incrementally stretching thermoplastic films in the machine direction and/or transverse direction. In one or more implementations, methods of incrementally stretching thermoplastic films include reducing the gauge of the films without reducing the films' machine-direction tear resistance. The methods can involve cold stretching the films and imparting rib patterns into the film. The linear ribs can have alternating thick and thin gauges. Incrementally stretched thermoplastic films can have a machine-direction tear resistance that is approximately equal to or greater than the machine-direction tear resistance of the film prior to stretching.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing one or more physical properties of a thermoplastic film include incrementally stretching thermoplastic films in the machine direction and/or transverse direction. In one or more implementations, methods of incrementally stretching thermoplastic films include reducing the gauge of the films without reducing the films' machine-direction tear resistance. The methods can involve cold stretching the films and imparting rib patterns into the film. The linear ribs can have alternating thick and thin gauges. Incrementally stretched thermoplastic films can have a machine-direction tear resistance that is approximately equal to or greater than the machine-direction tear resistance of the film prior to stretching.

Abstract: The storage bag includes an interior volume for containing food items and a one-way valve element through which air from the interior volume can be evacuated. To prevent fluids and juices from the stored food items from contaminating the valve element, a separator defining a chamber is included that sealingly connects the valve element to the interior volume. In the separator, fluids and juices separate from the evacuating air by gravitational separation and are returned to the interior volume. In an embodiment, to facilitate packaging and distribution of multiple storage bags, the separator is adjustable between an expanded position for providing the chamber and a collapsed position substantially eliminating the chamber. In an embodiment, the separator may be comprised of elastically expandable material.

Abstract: The storage bag includes an interior volume for containing food items and a one-way valve element through which air from the interior volume can be evacuated. To prevent fluids and juices from the stored food items from contaminating the valve element, a separator defining a chamber is included that sealingly connects the valve element to the interior volume. In the separator, fluids and juices separate from the evacuating air by gravitational separation and are returned to the interior volume. In an embodiment, to facilitate packaging and distribution of multiple storage bags, the separator is adjustable between an expanded position for providing the chamber and a collapsed position substantially eliminating the chamber. In an embodiment, the separator may be comprised of elastically expandable material.

Abstract: The storage bag includes an interior volume for containing food items and a one-way valve element through which air from the interior volume can be evacuated. To prevent fluids and juices from the stored food items from contaminating the valve element, a separator defining a chamber is included that sealingly connects the valve element to the interior volume. In the separator, fluids and juices separate from the evacuating air by gravitational separation and are returned to the interior volume. In an embodiment, to facilitate packaging and distribution of multiple storage bags, the separator is adjustable between an expanded position for providing the chamber and a collapsed position substantially eliminating the chamber. In an embodiment, the separator may be comprised of elastically expandable material.

Abstract: A storage bag for storing items such as food includes a flexible plastic sidewall configured to provide an interior volume, a sealable opening for accessing the interior volume, and a one-way valve element attached to the sidewall and communicating with the interior volume. The opening may be closed and latent air within the storage bag may be evacuated through the valve element. The valve element may also be flexible and its flexibility may be similar to that of the bag itself. In an aspect, the valve element can be a low profile valve element which has a height dimension that is relatively small with respect to the other dimensions of the storage bag and/or valve element. In other aspects, the valve element can have a compact size such that its width, surface area and other similar dimensions are relatively small compared to the other dimensions of the storage bag and/or valve element.

Abstract: The flexible storage bag includes overlaying first and second sidewalls defining an internal volume that can be accessed from an open top edge. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall and communicating with the internal volume. To prevent the one-way valve element from becoming clogged by the opposing second sidewall, the bag also includes a clearance member that maintains at least a partial clearance between the first and second sidewalls proximate the valve element. The clearance member can take many forms such as a textured portion on the second sidewall that includes evacuation passages which provide air in the internal volume access to the valve element, a permeable element covering the valve element, and a rigid or compressible structure that spaces the second sidewall from the valve element.

Abstract: The flexible storage bag includes overlaying first and second sidewalls defining an internal volume that can be accessed from an open top edge. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall and communicating with the internal volume. To prevent the one-way valve element from becoming clogged by the opposing second sidewall, the bag also includes a clearance member that maintains at least a partial clearance between the first and second sidewalls proximate the valve element. The clearance member can take many forms such as a textured portion on the second sidewall that includes evacuation passages which provide air in the internal volume access to the valve element, a permeable element covering the valve element, and a rigid or compressible structure that spaces the second sidewall from the valve element.

Abstract: The flexible storage bag includes overlaying first and second sidewalls defining an internal volume that can be accessed from an open top edge. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall and communicating with the internal volume. To prevent the one-way valve element from becoming clogged by the opposing second sidewall, the bag also includes a clearance member that maintains at least a partial clearance between the first and second sidewalls proximate the valve element. The clearance member can take many forms such as a textured portion on the second sidewall that includes evacuation passages which provide air in the internal volume access to the valve element, a permeable element covering the valve element, and a rigid or compressible structure that spaces the second sidewall from the valve element.

Abstract: The flexible storage bag includes overlaying first and second sidewalls defining an internal volume that can be accessed from an open top edge. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall and communicating with the internal volume. To prevent the one-way valve element from becoming clogged by the opposing second sidewall, the bag also includes a clearance member that maintains at least a partial clearance between the first and second sidewalls proximate the valve element. The clearance member can take many forms such as a textured portion on the second sidewall that includes evacuation passages which provide air in the internal volume access to the valve element, a permeable element covering the valve element, and a rigid or compressible structure that spaces the second sidewall from the valve element.

Abstract: The flexible storage bag includes overlaying first and second sidewalls defining an internal volume that can be accessed from an open top edge. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall and communicating with the internal volume. To prevent the one-way valve element from becoming clogged by the opposing second sidewall, the bag also includes a clearance member that maintains at least a partial clearance between the first and second sidewalls proximate the valve element. The clearance member can take many forms such as a textured portion on the second sidewall that includes evacuation passages which provide air in the internal volume access to the valve element, a permeable element covering the valve element, and a rigid or compressible structure that spaces the second sidewall from the valve element.

Abstract: The flexible bag includes overlaying first and second sidewalls that provide an internal volume that can be accessed via an opening. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall. The bag is configured to prevent objects from clogging the valve element during evacuation. In one embodiment, the bag may include a plurality of ridges formed along the inner surface of at least one sidewall that can maintain separation of the sidewalls and contents from the valve element. In another aspect, the valve element is beneficially located at a top corner of the bag where the valve element is spaced apart from those locations in the bag where contents are likely to collect.

Abstract: The flexible storage bag includes overlaying first and second sidewalls defining an internal volume that can be accessed from an open top edge. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall and communicating with the internal volume. To prevent the one-way valve element from becoming clogged by the opposing second sidewall, the bag also includes a textured portion that maintains at least a partial clearance between the first and second sidewalls proximate the valve element. To prevent contamination of the valve element, the textured portion can also be configured to facilitate removal of liquids and juices from air exhausting from the storage bag.

Abstract: The storage bag includes an interior volume for containing food items and a one-way valve element through which air from the interior volume can be evacuated. To prevent fluids and juices from the stored food items from contaminating the valve element, a separator defining a chamber is included that sealingly connects the valve element to the interior volume. In the separator, fluids and juices separate from the evacuating air by gravitational separation and are returned to the interior volume. In an embodiment, to facilitate packaging and distribution of multiple storage bags, the separator is adjustable between an expanded position for providing the chamber and a collapsed position substantially eliminating the chamber. In an embodiment, the separator may be comprised of elastically expandable material.

Abstract: A flexible storage bag for storing food items and the like is provided with a separation material positioned to cover an aperture disposed in and/or a one-way valve element attached to the storage bag. The separation material may be a non-woven material. When latent air remaining in the interior volume of the storage bag is exhausted through the aperture and/or one-way valve element, the air passes through the separation material. The separation material functions to remove liquids that may be entrained in the exhausting air. In an embodiment, the separation material may be treated with a low surface energy substance to improve the liquid removal function. In another embodiment, the separation material may be provided as a plurality of layers or as part of the one-way valve element.

Abstract: A storage bag for food products with a venting structure to expel excess air trapped inside the bag after the bag has been closed or sealed. After the excess air is removed, the venting structure is covered and sealed to prevent air from re-entering the bag or other objects from entering the bag.