Abstract: A beverage-ingredient cartridge for storing and dispensing beverage ingredients. The cartridge includes a container for storing a first beverage ingredient, and a cap secured within an open upper end of the container that seals the open upper end. The cap includes a storage compartment for storing a second beverage ingredient having a base and a sidewall extending from a the base. A line of weakness defines a separable region of the base, and a column extends from the separable region of the base and is spaced apart from the sidewall. A plastic film is secured to the sidewall and to the column that seals the storage compartment. Upon application of a force to the column, the separable region separates from the base and the plastic film tears such that the storage compartment and container are open to the outside of the beverage-ingredient cartridge.

Abstract: A beverage-ingredient cartridge for storing and dispensing beverage ingredients. The cartridge includes a container for storing a first beverage ingredient, and a cap secured within an open upper end of the container that seals the open upper end. The cap includes a storage compartment for storing a second beverage ingredient having a base and a sidewall extending from a the base. A line of weakness defines a separable region of the base, and a column extends from the separable region of the base and is spaced apart from the sidewall. A plastic film is secured to the sidewall and to the column that seals the storage compartment. Upon application of a force to the column, the separable region separates from the base and the plastic film tears such that the storage compartment and container are open to the outside of the beverage-ingredient cartridge.

Abstract: An integral seal system includes a body that defines a central opening, and an asymmetric seal extending into the central opening and including a diaphragm and an annular flange that extends between the body and the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm has a cross-sectional thickness larger than a cross-sectional thickness of the annular flange. A duckbill seal extends distally from a bottom of the body and defines one or more parting lines that separate opposing seal flaps. The diaphragm complements insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the duckbill seal against a surgical tool shaft extended therethrough such that total insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the integral seal system are equalized.

Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar that includes a trocar housing and a cannula that extends distally from the trocar housing, and an integral seal system positioned within a central passageway extending axially through the trocar and engageable against a surgical tool shaft extended therethrough. The integral seal system includes an asymmetric seal and a duckbill seal arranged distal to the asymmetric seal, and the asymmetric seal defines a diaphragm that complements insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the duckbill seal against the surgical tool shaft such that total insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the integral seal system are equalized.

Abstract: A beverage ingredient cartridge for releasing beverage ingredients into a bottle to create a mixed beverage includes a body defining a liquid-ingredient chamber, a cap defining a solid-ingredient chamber, and an opening mechanism disposed on the cap. Upon a force applied to the beverage ingredient cartridge, a piercer of the bottle drives through the dispensing end of the cartridge, causing teeth of the opening mechanism to tear through films sealing the liquid-ingredient chamber and solid-ingredient chamber. This mixes contents of the liquid-ingredient chamber with contents of the solid-ingredient chamber and releases the mixed contents from the beverage ingredient cartridge into a bottle below that is filled with a liquid, creating a mixed beverage.

Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar that includes a trocar housing and a cannula that extends distally from the trocar housing, and an integral seal system positioned within a central passageway extending axially through the trocar and engageable against a surgical tool shaft extended therethrough. The integral seal system includes an asymmetric seal and a duckbill seal arranged distal to the asymmetric seal, and the asymmetric seal defines a diaphragm that complements insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the duckbill seal against the surgical tool shaft such that total insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the integral seal system are equalized.

Abstract: A method comprises steps of: providing an initial package design, providing an initial package-handling element design, modeling the interaction of the package and the package-handling element, and altering one of the package design or the package-handling element design according to the results of the model. Wherein the initial package-handling element design comprises at least one item selected from the group consisting of: a motion transfer component comprising a combination of discrete geometrically defined elements, package guide rails, package guide rail supports, vacuum conveying components, and combinations thereof. And wherein the interaction reflects the package interaction with the discrete elements of a multi-element motion transfer component or the package guide rails having a flexibility greater than zero, or package guide rail supports having a finite stiffness, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method comprises steps of: providing an initial package design, providing an initial package-handling element design, modeling the interaction of the package and the package-handling element, and altering one of the package design or the package-handling element design according to the results of the model. Wherein the initial package-handling element design comprises at least one item selected from the group consisting of: a motion transfer component comprising a combination of discrete geometrically defined elements, package guide rails, package guide rail supports, vacuum conveying components, and combinations thereof. And wherein the interaction reflects the package interaction with the discrete elements of a multi-element motion transfer component or the package guide rails having a flexibility greater than zero, or package guide rail supports having a finite stiffness, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method comprises steps of: providing an initial package design, providing an initial package-handling element design, modeling the interaction of the package and the package-handling element, and altering one of the package design or the package-handling element design according to the results of the model. Wherein the initial package-handling element design comprises at least one item selected from the group consisting of: a motion transfer component comprising a combination of discrete geometrically defined elements, package guide rails, package guide rail supports, vacuum conveying components, and combinations thereof. And wherein the interaction reflects the package interaction with the discrete elements of a multi-element motion transfer component or the package guide rails having a flexibility greater than zero, or package guide rail supports having a finite stiffness, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method comprises steps of: providing an initial package design, providing an initial package-handling element design, modeling the interaction of the package and the package-handling element, and altering one of the package design or the package-handling element design according to the results of the model. Wherein the initial package-handling element design comprises at least one item selected from the group consisting of: a motion transfer component comprising a combination of discrete geometrically defined elements, package guide rails, package guide rail supports, vacuum conveying components, and combinations thereof. And wherein the interaction reflects the package interaction with the discrete elements of a multi-element motion transfer component or the package guide rails having a flexibility greater than zero, or package guide rail supports having a finite stiffness, or a combination thereof.