Abstract: A sterilization enclosure to be placed within a sterilizer, the sterilization enclosure defining an interior for accommodating at least one surgical instrument and maintaining sterility of the at least one surgical instrument after the sterilization enclosure is removed from the sterilizer. The enclosure comprising a light source and a transparent window. The light source to illuminate the interior and the transparent window positioned such that the interior and the at least one surgical instrument are visible through the transparent window. A process indicator that is either disposed within the interior or coupled to an external surface of the sterilization enclosure. The process indicator in fluid communication with the interior of the sterilization enclosure such that the process indicator is exposed to a sterilant agent disposed within the interior of the sterilization enclosure to measure a characteristic within the interior during a sterilization process.

Abstract: Fabrication of thin-film metal oxide layers is performed by combining deposition of an oxidant-containing precursor, combustion of the precursor to form a thin-film metal oxide layer, and plasma treating the thin-film metal oxide layer. In one example, rapid fabrication of high-quality indium tin oxide thin films is demonstrated.

Abstract: A stamping machine configured to shape a sheet material including an upper binder including first teeth, a lower binder including second teeth, and a punch. A first cylinder is positioned between a lower binder and a support surface. A second cylinder is positioned between the upper binder and the lower binder. A cushion pin is positioned at the support surface that is configured to contact and control movement of the lower binder relative to the punch. A force exerted by the second cylinder is greater than that exerted by the first cylinder, and the force exerted by the cushion pin is greater than that exerted by the second cylinder. The first and second cylinders and the cushion pin are used to control when the first and second teeth are permitted to engage the sheet material, which assists in preventing or minimizing spring back of the sheet material through post-stretching.

Abstract: A device includes an ion-conducting membrane with ion-conducting ceramic particles, and an ion-conducting polymer that surrounds the ion-conducting membrane. The ion-conducting polymer includes a pressure-deformable film with a glass transition temperature lower than an operation temperature of the device.

Abstract: A medical device comprising a device that covers at least a portion of a patient's skin and has an inner surface designed to be in contact with the patient's skin. It contains a multi-ply knit fabric that contains a first knit ply and a second knit ply. The first knit ply contains a plurality of first yarns and forms the upper surface of the fabric. The second knit ply contains a plurality of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) yarns which forms the lower surface of the fabric. The first and second ply are integrated through combined portions formed by interlacing first yarns among the PTFE yarns, interlacing PTFE yarns among the first yarns, and interlacing a plurality of third yarns among the first and the PTFE yarns. The multi-ply knit fabric also contains a composition comprising at least one silver ion-containing compound on at least the upper surface of the multi-ply knit fabric.

Abstract: The application relates to a fire-resistant textile composite having an upper surface and a lower surface. The composite contains a nonwoven layer and a knit layer. The nonwoven layer has a first and second side and contains a nonwoven textile. The nonwoven textile contains a plurality of first fire-resistant fibers, where the first fire-resistant fibers are non-thermoplastic. The nonwoven layer forms the lower surface of the textile composite. The knit layer contains a knit textile having a first and second side and the second side of the knit layer is adjacent to the first side of the nonwoven layer. The knit textile contains a plurality of second fire-resistant yarns, where the second fire-resistant yarns are non-thermoplastic. At least a portion of the first fire-resistant fibers from the nonwoven layer extend through the first side of the knit layer and form the upper surface of the textile composite.

Abstract: A stamping apparatus that includes an upper die, a blank-holding binder, and fixed lower die. The fixed lower die features a drawing punch and the upper die features a corresponding cavity. The fixed lower die includes a stake bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. The blank-holding binder includes a draw bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. In the stamping process, the draw bead engages a blank in a first stage, causing the blank to begin to stretch into the shape of the drawing punch with a greater tightened partially finished panel shape. In a second stage, the draw bead disengages the blank as the blank is drawn towards the drawing punch. In a final stage, the stake bead engages the blank to tighten the blank around the drawing punch into a final shape.

Abstract: A method includes applying to a substrate a solution including a polymeric compound to form a release layer on the substrate; applying ion-conducting elements on the release layer; applying a matrix polymer on the release layer, wherein the matrix polymer surrounds at least some of the ion-conducting elements; and removing the release layer to separate the matrix polymer from the substrate such that the ion-conducting elements remain embedded in a carrier layer of the matrix polymer and form an ion-conducting membrane.

Abstract: A stamping apparatus that includes an upper die, a blank-holding binder, and fixed lower die. The fixed lower die features a drawing punch and the upper die features a corresponding cavity. The fixed lower die includes a stake bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. The blank-holding binder includes a draw bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. In the stamping process, the draw bead engages a blank in a first stage, causing the blank to begin to stretch into the shape of the drawing punch with a greater tightened partially finished panel shape. In a second stage, the draw bead disengages the blank as the blank is drawn towards the drawing punch. In a final stage, the stake bead engages the blank to tighten the blank around the drawing punch into a final shape.

Abstract: A wound dressing containing a multi-ply knit fabric, where the fabric contains a first and a second knit ply. The first knit ply contains a plurality of first yarns and forms the upper surface of the fabric. The second knit ply contains a plurality of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) yarns, where the PTFE yarns have a transmission in the IR region of 8-10 ?m at least about 40%, and a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.2 W/(m·K) forms the lower surface of the fabric. The first ply and the second ply are integrated through combined portions formed by interlacing first yarns among the PTFE yarns of the second knit ply, interlacing PTFE yarns among the first yarns of the first knit ply, or interlacing a plurality of third yarns among the first yarns and the PTFE. The multi-ply knit fabric also contains a composition containing at least one silver ion-containing compound.

Abstract: A sensor including a surface plasmon resonance detector with a reservoir for containing a liquid sample. The sensor further includes a sensing metallic film positioned within the reservoir so that at least a majority of a surface of the sensing metallic film is to be in contact with the liquid sample being housed within the reservoir. The sensory also includes a semiconductor device having a contact in electrical communication with the sensing metal containing film that is positioned within the reservoir. The semiconductor device measures the net charges of molecules within the liquid sample within a Debye length from the sensing metallic film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid applied roofing membrane which contains a textile with a compatibility coating covering essentially all of the fibers of the textile forming a coated textile, a first membrane, and a second membrane. The textile contains a plurality of yarns, the yarns comprising a plurality of fibers. The compatibility coating has a weight of between about 0.5 and 10% of the weight of the textile and contains a first chemistry. The first membrane contains a second chemistry and is located on the first side of the textile, forms the lower surface of the roofing membrane, and covers at least a majority of the second side of the textile. The second membrane contains a third chemistry and is located on the second side of the textile. The first, second, and third chemistries comprise the same class of polymeric material.

Abstract: A sensor including a surface plasmon resonance detector with a reservoir for containing a liquid sample. The sensor further includes a sensing metallic film positioned within the reservoir so that at least a majority of a surface of the sensing metallic film is to be in contact with the liquid sample being housed within the reservoir. The sensory also includes a semiconductor device having a contact in electrical communication with the sensing metal containing film that is positioned within the reservoir. The semiconductor device measures the net charges of molecules within the liquid sample within a Debye length from the sensing metallic film.

Abstract: A laser beam is scanned along spaced apart side-by-side laser tracks to form corresponding spaced apart side-by-side hardened metal tracks across a binder surface of the forming die. Each hardened metal track is oriented to extend longitudinally in a direction that is normal to the metal flow direction across the binder surface during a sheet metal forming operation. The scanning forms the corresponding hardened metal tracks across the binder surface without needing to perform a post-hardening machining operation on the sheet metal forming die to remove distortion caused by the laser hardening process.

Abstract: A device includes an ion-conducting membrane with ion-conducting ceramic particles, and an ion-conducting polymer that surrounds the ion-conducting membrane. The ion-conducting polymer includes a pressure-deformable film with a glass transition temperature lower than an operation temperature of the device.

Abstract: A stamping machine configured to shape a sheet material including an upper binder including first teeth, a lower binder including second teeth, and a punch. A first cylinder is positioned between a lower binder and a support surface. A second cylinder is positioned between the upper binder and the lower binder. A cushion pin is positioned at the support surface that is configured to contact and control movement of the lower binder relative to the punch. A force exerted by the second cylinder is greater than that exerted by the first cylinder, and the force exerted by the cushion pin is greater than that exerted by the second cylinder. The first and second cylinders and the cushion pin are used to control when the first and second teeth are permitted to engage the sheet material, which assists in preventing or minimizing spring back of the sheet material through post-stretching.

Abstract: A device includes an ion-conducting membrane with ion-conducting ceramic particles, and an ion-conducting polymer that surrounds the ion-conducting membrane. The ion-conducting polymer includes a pressure-deformable film with a glass transition temperature lower than an operation temperature of the device.

Abstract: A metal blank is clamped between upper and lower binders with the metal blank engaging against a protrusion extending from a binder surface of any of the upper binder, the lower binder, and both upper and lower binders, to create a binder gap between the metal blank and the binder surface adjacent the protrusion. The binder gap prevents cooperating springback control binder elements of the binder surface from actively engaging the metal blank. The metal blank is drawn into a cavity, with the protrusion riding on the metal blank until the protrusion falls off an edge of the metal blank, which closes the binder gap between the metal blank and the binder surface causing the cooperating springback control binder elements to actively engage the blank for the post-forming stretching operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid applied roofing membrane which contains a textile with a compatibility coating covering essentially all of the fibers of the textile forming a coated textile, a first membrane, and a second membrane. The textile contains a plurality of yarns, the yarns comprising a plurality of fibers. The compatibility coating has a weight of between about 0.5 and 10% of the weight of the textile and contains a first chemistry. The first membrane contains a second chemistry and is located on the first side of the textile, forms the lower surface of the roofing membrane, and covers at least a majority of the second side of the textile. The second membrane contains a third chemistry and is located on the second side of the textile. The first, second, and third chemistries comprise the same class of polymeric material.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal part that includes placing a metal blank in a stamping apparatus having a first die including a plurality of metal gainers and a second die including a plurality of recesses that correspond to the plurality of metal gainers, and compressing the metal blank such that the metal gainers and the corresponding recesses provide the metal blank with regions of localized stretching. Each of the metal gainers and recesses includes a flat surface such that during the compressing of the metal blank to provide the metal blank with the regions of localized stretching, a strain exerted on the metal blank by the metal gainers and recesses is less than a strain exerted on the metal blank by metal gainers and recesses that do not include the flat surface.