Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods and systems for producing a preferably strand-like extrudate.

Abstract: A process unit and methods are disclosed. One process unit including a pultrusion unit having a pultrusion channel, with the pultrusion channel being limited by at least one shaping wall. The process unit further includes an extrusion unit having an extrusion channel and an opening for removing the extrudate out of the extrusion channel, a cutting unit having a moving cutting element for cutting off the extrudate with the moving cutting element, and a conveying device for conveying a raw extrudate from the pultrusion unit into the extrusion unit. The cutting unit comprises a component that can be caused to move in a rotational manner and the component is mechanically coupled to the cutting element by a mechanical coupling device, such that the rotational movement of the component determines the movement of the cutting element.

Abstract: A system for percutaneous delivery of a stented prosthetic heart valve. The system includes a delivery device with a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve attached thereto and a delivery sheath with an opening on a distal end thereof. The delivery sheath includes a funnel on a proximal end thereof. The delivery device is inserted into the funnel of the delivery sheath. As the delivery device is advanced into the funnel, the expanded heart valve is compressed by the shape of the funnel into a crimped arrangement. The delivery device further advances the heart valve distally within the delivery sheath past the delivery sheath opening. The delivery device is advanced relative to the delivery sheath in transitioning the heart valve from a crimped arrangement to the expanded and deployed arrangement.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an elongated element (200) is provided. The method comprises arranging a molding cavity (101), defined by a mold (103) and a mold insert (104), said mold insert (104) comprising a mold core (105) and a displaceable mold cavity wall (106), said displaceable mold cavity wall (106) being arranged between the mold (103) and the mold core (105), such that the molding cavity has a start volume in a start position of the displaceable mold cavity wall (106). Then a liquid material is injected into a proximal end (102) of the molding cavity (101), where after the displaceable mold cavity wall (106) is displaced in relation to and along with the mold (103) and the mold core (105), distally during said injection, to increase the molding cavity volume from the start volume into an end volume at an end position of the displaceable mold cavity wall (106), wherein the molding cavity (101) in said end position of the displaceable mold cavity wall (106) corresponds to the elongated element (200).

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a blow molding apparatus provides that portions of the parison are engaged by one or more clamping devices disposed on or adjacent to the blow mold parts, and that the blow mold is opened whereby the parison is torn apart between the clamping devices, into two or more pieces of the parison. In other implementations, the clamping devices may be moved relative to the blow mold to tear the parison, or the parison may be torn by a combined movement of the blow mold parts and clamping devices.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a blow molding process provides that portions of the parison are engaged by one or more clamping devices disposed on or adjacent to the blow mold parts, and that the blow mold is opened whereby the parison is torn apart between the clamping devices, into two or more pieces of the parison. In other implementations, the clamping devices may be moved relative to the blow mold to tear the parison, or the parison may be torn by a combined movement of the blow mold parts and clamping devices.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a plastic hollow body by molding two sheets of molten plastic in a mold including two cavities, the process including: a) two molten plastic sheets are manufactured by extrusion of at least one stream of molten plastic and transverse cutting thereof; b) these sheets are introduced between the mold cavities; c) the mold is closed and the hollow body is manufactured by conforming the two sheets to the mold cavities; d) the hollow body thus obtained is removed from the mold; e) all of operations a) to d) are repeated to manufacture another hollow body from two new sheets; and before, during, or after the transverse cutting operation, the lower portion of the two new sheets is cooled using a specific device that makes possible a local cooling of the sheets in the lower portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a long stretched film, including at least the steps of: forming a long film containing a thermoplastic resin; stretching the long film in an oblique direction; and winding the long film having been subjected to the oblique stretching. The oblique stretching is performed in a heating section including a preheating section, a stretching section, and a thermosetting section, the preheating section and the stretching section are separated from each other by a partition wall. The stretching section and the thermosetting section are separated from each other by a partition wall, each of the partition walls has an opening for permitting the long film to pass, and slide members independently movable on the opposite sides of the opening and in widthwise directions of the long film, the slide members can adjust the width of the opening and the widthwise position of the opening.

Abstract: A medical device for regulating fluid flow within one or more lungs of a patient is disclosed. The medical device includes an elongate tubular member, a first extension, a second extension, and a valve member. The elongate tubular member includes a first plurality of channels extending between a proximal and distal ends. The first and second extensions defines a second and third plurality of channels, respectively, each extending from the distal end of the elongate tubular member and configured for placement in a first and second passageway of a lung. The valve member operably couples to the elongate tubular member and is configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The valve member prevents fluid flow to first set of the first plurality of channels in the first position and prevents fluid flow to second set of the first plurality of channels in the second position.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a product, including extruding a parison, and separating the parison into parison halves by cutting a partially expanded parison or by pulling apart a longitudinally weakened parison, and forming the parison halves against corresponding mold halves. The method may also include applying a film against the parison halves and/or the mold halves, and forming the film and parison halves against the mold halves to produce multi-layer product halves. Apparatuses for performing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical tube catheter and to a method for manufacturing same. The medical tube catheter according to the present invention includes PVC resin (polyvinyl chloride resin), a plasticizer, a stabilizer, and NBR (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber). Also, the method for manufacturing the medical tube catheter according to the present invention comprises: a first step of preparing a composition by mixing 80 to 120 parts by weight of a plasticizer, 1 to 3 parts by weight of a stabilizer, and 3 to 20 parts by weight of NBR with respect to 100 parts by weight of PVC resin at room temperature; a second step of blending the composition at 140° C. to 170° C. into a blended compound; a third step of extruding the blended compound through an extruder into a tube shape; a fourth step of cooling the tube; and a fifth step of cutting the cooled tube into predetermined lengths.

Abstract: An extensible-retractable helically reinforced hose is formed by helically wrapping a freshly extruded bead of thermoplastic material about a rotating mandrel to form a helical array of spaced reinforcing coils, and by helically wrapping a freshly extruded thin yet wide web of thermoplastic material so edge regions of the wide web are placed onto and bond continuously with the peripheries of each adjacent pair of the reinforcing coils, with a leading edge region of each new wrap of the web overlying and bonding to a trailing edge region of a prior web wrap. Central portions of each web wrap extend radially inwardly and are sandwiched between adjacent reinforcing coils when the hose is retracted to a minimal axial length.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter tube includes extruding a first resin having a first predetermined rigidity through a first extruder; extruding a second resin having a second predetermined rigidity through a second extruder; controlling a mixing ratio of the first and second resins extruded from the first and second extruders; and molding the first and second extruded resins to form an integrally molded tube having at least a first region, a second region which possesses a rigidity greater than the first region, and a transition region between the first region and the second region and which possesses a rigidity varying from the same rigidity as the rigidity of the first region to the same rigidity as the rigidity of the second region.

Abstract: The use of nucleating agents to manufacture polymeric stents is disclosed. The resulting stents may have increased crystallinity, decreased crystal size, increased mechanical properties, and faster degradation times.

Abstract: Described herein are extrusion processes to produce hollow pellets. Also disclosed are pelletizer devices that can be used to produce the hollow pellets. The processes and devices make use of an extrusion die having a die orifice and an insert that is placed in the die orifice to produce the hollow pellets.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a flexible drinking straw. The straw allows a user to easily suction liquid while preventing foreign bodies in the liquid from entering the mouth of a user. The straw comprises a tube defining a substantially constant cross-sectional inner channel, The tube has a multitude of fins extending from an inner wall of the tube to a distance from the inner wall. The fins create either a single or multiple liquid-way(s) that allow the liquid to flow freely while blocking foreign bodies that may be in the liquid. The straw comprises a tube with a cut and crimped end creating either single or multiple liquid-way(s) that allow liquid to flow freely while blocking foreign bodies.

Abstract: A method for producing a connecting part (30), such as a connecting rod for an aircraft, made from a composite material, the connecting part including at least one hollow body (32) and at least one yoke (34) at each of the ends (36) of the body (32), is characterized in that the body (32) and the yokes (34) of the connecting part (30) are produced from a single section (P, P1, P2) made from a composite material and obtained using a continuous production process.

Abstract: A formulation includes a polymeric material and can be used to form an insulated container.

Abstract: Polymeric pipe loaders and polymeric pipe loading methods are disclosed. A polymeric pipe loader may include a support frame, a positioning platform coupled to the support frame, and a vacuum lift mechanism coupled to the support frame, the positioning platform, or both. A polymeric pipe loading method may include extruding a length of polymeric pipe, cutting the length of polymeric pipe, receiving the length of polymeric pipe on a conveyor chain of a positioning platform, engaging the length of polymeric pipe with a vacuum lift mechanism, and transferring the length of polymeric pipe to a bundling cart.

Abstract: In an elastomeric tube and a method for making such a tube, two medical-grade silicone rubber compositions are coaxially coextruded to form a tube. The compositions respectively differ in at least one physical property and respectively have similar curing conditions. The two compositions are blended at an interface formed between the two compositions during the coextruding, so that between 1-99% of the tube forms a blended gradient. The coextruded tube is then cured.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an embodiment of a medical device comprising the steps of: preparing a biodegradable polymeric structure; coating the biodegradable polymeric structure with a polymeric coat including a pharmacological or biological agent; cutting the structure into patterns configured to allow for crimping of the cut structure and expansion of the cut structure after crimping into a deployed configuration.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a separated tip catheter having a separated tip configuration includes the steps of: extruding an extrusion material through a die to form a catheter including a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a first lumen and a second lumen, the catheter body having a septum positioned between the first and second lumens; and feeding a strip into the die so that the strip is positioned between the first lumen and the second lumen along a length of the catheter, the strip having a first proximal section formed of a first material capable of bonding with the extrusion material and a second distal section formed of a second material incapable of bonding with the extrusion material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are multiwall sheets and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, a multiwall sheet comprises: main layers and transverse walls. The multiwall sheet comprises: a total thickness of greater than or equal to about 45 mm, a weight of greater than or equal to about 4.5 kg/m2, and/or greater than or equal to about 8 cells and a U-value of less than or equal to about 1.2 W/m2K. The multiwall sheet further comprises greater than 75 wt % branched polycarbonate resin, based upon a total weight of the multiwall sheet.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an assembly and process for creating a co-extruded pipe which includes the steps of extruding a first elongated component exhibiting an open interior. Additional process steps include co-extruding at least one, and typically a pair, of additional elongated components each having an arcuate or lobe cross sectional shape or profile. The additional components are bonded to exterior locations of the first component to establish a pair of additional open interiors between the components and prior to cooling and hardening.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a medical tubular object, such as a catheter, for insertion into a body passageway. The method comprises the steps of extruding a tube by pushing tube material though an extrusion nozzle and cutting the extruded tube at a predetermined length. Further, an initial part of the extruded tube is advanced onto a tapered mandrel arranged adjacent the extrusion nozzle such that a flared end is formed, and after a predetermined length of the extruded tube has been advanced onto the tapered mandrel, the tapered mandrel is moved away from the extrusion nozzle to prevent that the rest of the extruded tube is expanded by the tapered mandrel.

Abstract: A ceramic mass transfer packing element that includes a planar end surface which intersects an internal wall's geometric plane at an acute angle is disclosed. A process for making the packing element and an apparatus that uses the packing element are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a connecting part (30), such as a connecting rod for an aircraft, made from a composite material, the connecting part including at least one hollow body (32) and at least one yoke (34) at each of the ends (36) of the body (32), is characterized in that the body (32) and the yokes (34) of the connecting part (30) are produced from a single section (P, P1, P2) made from a composite material and obtained using a continuous production process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic coolant applied in thermal aerosol fire suppression apparatuses and processing method thereof. The coolant mainly comprises endothermic cooling material, catalytic additive, processing aid and bonding agent; compared to that in the prior art, the catalytic coolant prepared from appropriate materials at appropriate proportions has high strength, delivers good cooling effect and can reduce secondary impairment to the fire suppressant, reduce or even eliminate toxic gases in the products of the fire suppressant and enhance environmental safety.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a plastic hollow body, said process comprising the following steps: a) a molten plastic parison is extruded, in an extruder, through a die; b) at least one longitudinal cut is made in the parison; c) the parison is introduced into a mold comprising two cavities; and d) the hollow body is molded by conforming the parison to the mold cavities, said die being equipped with a passage for the molten plastic which gradually modifies the shape of the parison so that it is substantially flattened on exiting. Die suitable for implementing this process.

Abstract: The use of nucleating agents to manufacture polymeric stents is disclosed. The resulting stents may have increased crystallinity, decreased crystal size, increased mechanical properties, and faster degradation times.

Abstract: An extrusion device is described herein, including an inventive die and mandrel that enable the production, using a conventional ram extruder, of strong coherent extremely thin-walled tubes having a wall thickness in the range of about 0.020 mm and about 0.080 mm.

Abstract: The method comprises a) an extrusion stage wherein a extruded tube made of a thermoplastic material is formed by extrusion with the aid of an extrusion die having a diameter D0, a slit width E0 and a section S0; b) a stage wherein the extruded tube is radially expanded in order to form a radially expanded tube having a diameter D2, a thickness E2 and corresponding section of area S1; c) a truncating stage wherein the expanded tube is broken down into tube portions; d) a stage in which the tube portions are formed in such a way that a heat-shrinkable cap is obtained and in which an axial drawing stage is incorporated, between extrusion stage a) and expansion stage b), at the output of the extrusion die, in order to obtain an axially drawn tube having a diameter D1 which is typically smaller than D0 and D2, and a thickness E1 which is typically lower than E0, such that S0/S1 typically ranges between 2 and 10.

Abstract: The process for the preparation of articles from polymer materials having a medicamentous depot effect is performed by mixing the starting materials, shaping the mixture, cross-linking the polymer material at least until a sufficient dimensional stability is reached, performing all the necessary processing work, introducing the article into a protective package, sterilizing the packaged article, optionally with further cross-linking of the polymer material.

Abstract: An earbud (10) for carrying sound from a source (16) to a person's ear canal, includes a soft foam body (20) and a sleeve (26) of stiffer material lying within the body. The body is molded around the sleeve and is chemically bonded to the sleeve without an adhesive between them. The earbud is molded around the sleeve by placing the sleeve on a mandrel pin (42) within a mold cavity (32) placing foamable material in the mold and closing the mold. The mold has shoulders with one mold shoulder (52) that abuts one end (46) of the sleeve and another mold shoulder (60) that lies within 0.1 millimeter of the other sleeve end (62), to prevent foaming material from leaking into the space (64) between the mandrel pin and the sleeve passage.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding molten resin includes a holding unit that moves on a track and at least a pair of holders capable of holding and releasing the molten resin accompanying the opening and closing of the holding unit. A base portion is utilized for supporting the holders so as to be opened and closed and for holding the molten resin together with the holders. The molten resin discharged from an extrusion-forming machine and cut by a cutter is held by the holding unit, and it fed from the holding unit to a female mold of a compression-0molding machine. At the time of cutting the molten resin, a cutter mark is formed by the cutter on a cut surface of the molten resin.

Abstract: A cannula comprising a polymeric material which is phthalate-free, yet retains flexibility, workability and elongation properties so as to avoid kinking when bent. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a cannular device comprising extruding a flexible, biocompatible, phthalate-free polymeric composition through a round die into a tube, pulling the tube through a water bath at a rate established according to a predetermined function, and cutting the tube to for a cannular device, wherein the predetermined function periodically modulates a pulling rate.

Abstract: A biodegradable and biocompatible nontoxic polymeric composition is provided which includes a base material such as a crystallizable polymer, copolymer, or terpolymer, and a copolymer or terpolymer additive. Medical devices manufactured from the composition are also provided.

Abstract: An extruded multilayer seal member having an expanded temperature range and an improved compression set resistance wherein the seal member comprises a first fluoroelastomer as the inner layer of the multilayer seal member and a second elastomer as the outer layer of the multilayer seal member; and a method for manufacturing the multilayer seal member which comprises extruding a multilayer tubular structure, crosslinking the extruded multilayer tubular structure on a mandrel, cutting the multilayer tubular structure to provide a plurality of uniform seal members and recovering the seal members, are described.

Abstract: A multipolymeric mixture is provided that includes a hydrophobic polymer, two different grades of a water-soluble polymer, water as non-solvent and a solvent suitable for all polymers involved. The dissolved hydrophobic polymer has the affinity to enmesh the water-soluble polymers to form a clear and viscous dope. Water-soluble polymers contribute to the pore formation process and hydrophilicity of the finally coagulated membrane according to the makeup of their molecular weight distribution. Water as a non-solvent takes the dope very near towards unstable zone, which helps in speeding up the membrane formation process in a diffusion induced phase inversion technique. The dope is then spun through a concentric orifice spinneret and solidified by passing it through a coagulation bath to form hollow fiber asymmetric membranes of ultra filtration grade with superior water permeability and separation characters even at higher feed turbidity.

Abstract: An extrusion device is described herein, including an inventive die and mandrel that enable the production, using a conventional ram extruder, of strong coherent extremely thin-walled tubes having a wall thickness in the range of about 0.020 mm and about 0.080 mm.

Abstract: Described herein are extrusion processes to produce hollow pellets. Also disclosed are pelletizer devices that can be used to produce the hollow pellets. The processes and devices make use of an extrusion die having a die orifice and an insert that is placed in the die orifice to produce the hollow pellets.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure comprises providing an aqueous ceramic solution, providing a batch cross-link agent, mixing the agent with the solution, extruding the aqueous ceramic solution containing the cross-link agent into a honeycomb structure, and drying the honeycomb structure via a single drying step thereby forming a hardened, substantially water resistant, honeycomb structure. The method may further comprise addition of a ceramic surfactant to the aqueous ceramic solution, as well as plugging channels within the honeycomb structure with a plugging material comprising an aqueous ceramic solution that includes batch cross-link agents and ceramic surfactants therein.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a plastic hollow body, the process comprising the following steps: a) a tubular stream of molten plastic is extruded; b) this stream is taken up by means of a tensioning device; c) a transverse cut is made in this stream so as to create a parison having one free edge that is not taken up by the tensioning device; d) the parison is moved relative to the tensioning device so that the free edge of the parison is also taken up by the tensioning device; and e) at least one longitudinal cut is made in the parison over its entire length. Equipment suitable for implementing this process.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing panel units may include applying a cover tape to a surface of a panel in such a way as to substantially extend along a periphery of the panel. An extrusion molding die may be moved relative to the panel in such a way that the extrusion molding die moves along the periphery of the panel while at least partially contacting the cover tape applied to the panel. At the same time, a molten molding material may be extruded from the extrusion molding die, thereby integrally forming a molded article on the periphery of the panel. The cover tape may be then removed from the surface of the panel in order to produce a panel unit having the molded article disposed along the periphery of the panel.

Abstract: A utility pole includes a thermoplastic composite material including: (a) at least one olefin polymer; and (b) at least one reinforcing fiber material embedded in the at least one olefin polymer, the thermoplastic composite material having a specific tensile strength higher than or equal to 15 MPa/(gr/cm3), preferably 20 MPa/(gr/cm3) to 200 MPa/(gr/cm3), and more preferably 30 MPa/(gr/cm3) to 150 MPa/(gr/cm3) and a specific tensile modulus higher than or equal to 2000 MPa/(gr/cm3), preferably 2500 MPa/(gr/cm3) to 20000 MPa/(gr/cm3), and more preferably 3000 MPa/(gr/cm3) to 15000 MPa/(gr/cm3).

Abstract: A medical device includes a body, a member in the body, and a contrast agent in the member. The device can be visible by magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide an apparatus for feeding resin capable of extinguishing angular traces formed at both end portions of the cutter mark or of preventing the angular traces from extending up to the side wall of the body portion of the preform at the time of forming a preform. [Means for Solution] An apparatus for feeding molten resin to a compression-molding machine, including a holding unit 17 that rotates on a track, the holding unit 17 having a pair of holders 22 and 23 capable of holding and releasing the molten resin. When the molten resin is cut by a cutter, a linear cutter mark 29 is formed on the cut surface of the resin in a direction at right angles with the direction in which the molten resin is cut. Protruded portions 32 and 33 are formed on the inner circumferential surfaces of the holders 22 and 23 to deform the end portions of the cutter mark 29 toward the inside of the cutter mark when the molten resin is held by the pair of holders 22 and 23.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of production of tubes comprising, on an extruder, extruding molten plastics through die formations of a die head so as to extrude tubes each including at least one internal longitudinal web, and subsequently cooling the extruded tubes. In addition, when advancing molten plastics through a die hole (110) of the die head, the die head includes a die mandrel (122) having a first portion (124) attached to the die body and a second portion (126) extending in the die hole (110) so as to extrude the tube with at least one internal longitudinal web, the advancing including conveying molten plastics along a flow passageway (134) in the first portion (124) of the die mandrel (122) towards a central longitudinal region of the die hole at the second portion (126). The die body advantageously has a die mandrel locating device (118) arranged at the upstream side of the die body for locating the die mandrel (122) centrally of the die hole (110) of the die body.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for manufacturing a balloon catheter in which a non-contact type laser perforator and printer are separately provided above a primary extruder such that inflation apertures can be uniformly perforated through a non-vulcanized lumen tube and simultaneously, tube cutting positions can be printed on the lumen tube at positions uniformly spaced apart from the inflation apertures without stopping a primary extrusion process. Also, a bond preventing agent layer is coated on the lumen tube at balloon inflating portions prior to cutting the tube, to facilitate a secondary extrusion of the tube. With this configuration, continuous and accurate perforation of inflation apertures is possible and automatic tube cutting can be achieved based on the printed tube cutting positions. Also, the present invention can compensate for a time delay due to a bond preventing agent application process and achieve high productivity and minimized loss of material.

Abstract: Mandrel supported IV tubing is inserted within a mold of a mold assembly to heat the IV tubing and form a tapered end of the tubing. The tip of the tubing extending beyond the tapered end of the tubing is severed by the mandrel bearing against the mold to lodge the tip in an outlet of the mold. Cooling air is introduced to the mold assembly to cool the mold and to create a flow of turbulent air about the outlet of the mold to extract the severed tips. The turbulent air is exhausted through a channel, pipe and fitting into a collection chamber and causes translation of the severed tip to and into the collection chamber. Sensors may be incorporated to sense the translation of the severed tips.