Abstract: A dryer for drying a liquid feed into a powder comprises a drying chamber defined by a chamber wall including a bottom wall portion; a feed inlet for receiving the liquid feed and dispersing particulate feed into the drying chamber; at least one air inlet for entering drying air into the drying chamber; and at least one drying chamber outlet for dried powder and/or spend drying air from the drying chamber. The feed inlet comprises a decanter centrifuge with an axis of rotation; a first axial end; a second axial end; and a solid phase outlet at the first axial end.

Abstract: A stress dispersing device includes an attachment section forming a first zone, a common section forming a second zone, and a plurality of rays extending from the common section in different directions and forming a third zone, wherein the first zone has a first stiffness, the second zone has a second stiffness and the third zone has a third stiffness, the first stiffness being greater than the second stiffness, and the second stiffness being greater than the third stiffness.

Abstract: A method of closing a wound includes providing a first bridging portion comprising a first insert having at least one first eyelet, and a first upper layer of material at least partially disposed over the first insert, and a first lower layer of material disposed below the first insert, the first lower layer of material having an adhesive disposed on a first lower surface, wherein the first insert, the first upper layer and the first lower layer form three zones of different elasticity and stiffness than others of the zones.

Abstract: A suture securing device having a plurality of zones includes a first zone, a second zone and a third zone. The device includes a lower layer extending across each of the first zone, the second zone and the third zone, an upper layer disposed in the first zone and the second zone, and an insert having at least one eyelet disposed in the first zone, the insert being sandwiched between the upper layer and the lower layer.

Abstract: A suture bridge includes an elongated rigid insert including a first material, and a deformable shell including a second material, the second material being different than the first material, the shell at least partially surrounding the rigid insert, the insert and the shell collectively forming a bridge body having a first leg including a first patient contacting surface configured to contact a patient's skin, a second leg spaced from the first leg and including a second patient contacting surface configured to contact the patient's skin, a first support connected to the first leg, a second support connected to the second leg, and a traversing member extending between the first support and the second support, the traversing member being connected to the first support distal the first leg and connected to the second support distal the second leg.

Abstract: A dryer for drying a liquid feed into a powder comprises a drying chamber defined by a chamber wall including a bottom wall portion; a feed inlet for receiving the liquid feed and dispersing particulate feed into the drying chamber; at least one air inlet for entering drying air into the drying chamber; and at least one drying chamber outlet for dried powder and/or spend drying air from the drying chamber. The feed inlet comprises a decanter centrifuge with an axis of rotation; a first axial end; a second axial end; and a solid phase outlet at the first axial end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screw press apparatus (1) comprising an outer casing (2) surrounding a screening tube (6a) with a plurality of liquid discharge holes, a slurry inlet port (3) at one end of the screening tube and a solids discharge port (4) at an opposite end of the screening tube, the screening tube housing an axially located auger (5), the outer casing (2) having a first opening in fluid communication with the slurry inlet port (3), a second opening in fluid communication with the solids discharge port (4), and a third opening (8) in fluid communication with the liquid discharge holes of the screening tube (6), a cleaning device (20) located between the outer casing and the screening tube, a device (10) for axially moving the cleaning device.

Abstract: A suture securing device having a plurality of zones includes a first zone, a second zone and a third zone. The device includes a lower layer extending across each of the first zone, the second zone and the third zone, an upper layer disposed in the first zone and the second zone, and an insert having at least one eyelet disposed in the first zone, the insert being sandwiched between the upper layer and the lower layer.

Abstract: A suture elevating device includes an insert having at least one eyelet, an upper layer of material at least partially disposed over the insert, and a lower layer of material disposed below the insert, the lower layer of material having an adhesive disposed on a lower surface, wherein the insert, the upper layer and the lower layer form three zones, each of the three zones having a different elasticity and stiffness than others of the three zones.

Abstract: A suture bridge includes an elongated rigid insert including a first material, and a deformable shell including a second material, the second material being different than the first material, the shell at least partially surrounding the rigid insert, the insert and the shell collectively forming a bridge body having a first leg including a first patient contacting surface configured to contact a patient's skin, a second leg spaced from the first leg and including a second patient contacting surface configured to contact the patient's skin, a first support connected to the first leg, a second support connected to the second leg, and a traversing member extending between the first support and the second support, the traversing member being connected to the first support distal the first leg and connected to the second support distal the second leg.

Abstract: A suture bridge includes an elongated rigid insert including a first material, and a deformable shell including a second material, the second material being different than the first material, the shell at least partially surrounding the rigid insert, the insert and the shell collectively forming a bridge body having a first leg including a first patient contacting surface configured to contact a patient's skin, a second leg spaced from the first leg and including a second patient contacting surface configured to contact the patient's skin, a first support connected to the first leg, a second support connected to the second leg, and a traversing member extending between the first support and the second support, the traversing member being connected to the first support distal the first leg and connected to the second support distal the second leg.

Abstract: A suture bridge includes an elongated rigid insert including a first material, and a deformable shell including a second material, the second material being different than the first material, the shell at least partially surrounding the rigid insert, the insert and the shell collectively forming a bridge body having a first leg including a first patient contacting surface configured to contact a patient's skin, a second leg spaced from the first leg and including a second patient contacting surface configured to contact the patient's skin, a first support connected to the first leg, a second support connected to the second leg, and a traversing member extending between the first support and the second support, the traversing member being connected to the first support distal the first leg and connected to the second support distal the second leg.

Abstract: A suture securing device includes a body connected to an arm by a hinge and is useable to secure a suture without requiring the tying of a knot. The body includes a bottom surface that contacts a patient's skin when in use, an eversion recess formed in the bottom surface, and a first gripping surface. The arm is connected to the body by the hinge and includes a second gripping surface that contacts at least a portion of the first gripping surface when the hinge is in the closed configuration. The device may also include an engagement structure configured to secure the arm to the body in the closed configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screw press apparatus (1) comprising an outer casing (2) surrounding a screening tube (6a) with a plurality of liquid discharge holes, a slurry inlet port (3) at one end of the screening tube and a solids discharge port (4) at an opposite end of the screening tube, the screening tube housing an axially located auger (5), the outer casing (2) having a first opening in fluid communication with the slurry inlet port (3), a second opening in fluid communication with the solids discharge port (4), and a third opening (8) in fluid communication with the liquid discharge holes of the screening tube (6), a cleaning device (20) located between the outer casing and the screening tube, a device (10) for axially moving the cleaning device.

Abstract: A suture securing device includes a body connected to an arm by a hinge and is useable to secure a suture without requiring the tying of a knot. The body includes a bottom surface that contacts a patient's skin when in use, an eversion recess formed in the bottom surface, and a first gripping surface. The arm is connected to the body by the hinge and includes a second gripping surface that contacts at least a portion of the first gripping surface when the hinge is in the closed configuration. The device may also include an engagement structure configured to secure the arm to the body in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A suture bridge includes a first leg including a first patient contacting surface configured to contact a patient's skin, a second leg spaced from the first leg and including a second patient contacting surface configured to contact the patient's skin, a pair of supports, each of the pair of supports being connected to one of the first leg and the second leg, and a traversing member extending between the pair of supports, the traversing member being elevated from the patient's skin. The pair of supports have a first stiffness, and the first leg and the second leg have a second stiffness, the first stiffness being greater than the second stiffness.

Abstract: A suture bridge to accommodate many common types of sutures, including a first leg and a second leg, where first leg and second leg include a patient contacting surface configured to contact a patient's skin. A first support connects to the first leg and second support connects to the second leg. A traversing member connects to the first support and the second support, and the first support and the second support elevate the traversing member away from the patient contacting surfaces of the first leg and the second leg creating a wound eversion void below the traversing member. This forms a wound eversion void which is a void configured to accept an everting wound. In some examples, the suture bridge includes notches on the first leg and the second leg to accommodate more types of sutures.

Abstract: A staple is disclosed. The staple includes a crown extending substantially along an axis between a first end and a second end, a first leg extending from the first end of the crown, the first leg ending in a point, and a second leg extending from the second end of the crown, the second leg ending in a point. The first leg and the second leg are deformably moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the first leg and the second leg are positioned substantially parallel with the crown. In the second configuration the first leg and the second leg positioned are substantially perpendicular to the crown. The staple also includes a pad disposed on at least a portion of the crown.