A process and apparatus for producing a dimensionally stable melt blown nonwoven fibrous web. The process includes forming a multiplicity of melt blown fibers by passing a molten stream including molecules of at least one thermoplastic semi-crystalline (co)polymer through at least one orifice of a melt-blowing die, subjecting at least a portion of the melt blown fibers to a controlled in-flight heat treatment operation at a temperature below a melting temperature of the at least one thermoplastic semi-crystalline (co)polymer immediately upon exiting from the at least one orifice, and collecting at least some of the melt blown fibers subjected to the controlled in-flight heat treatment operation on a collector to form a non-woven fibrous structure. The nonwoven fibrous structure exhibits a Shrinkage less than a Shrinkage measured on an identically-prepared structure including only fibers not subjected to the controlled in-flight heat treatment operation, and generally less than 15%.

A nozzle has a body having a face extending in a longitudinal direction and transversely thereto in a transverse direction. The nozzle plate is provided with an array of melt openings and compressed-air openings on the face in a plurality of longitudinally extending rows and a plurality of transversely extending rows. A polymer melt to the nozzle openings to extrude the polymer melt downstream from the melt openings as polymer filaments and compressed air to the compressed-air openings to form air jets issuing downstream from the compressed-air openings between the polymer filaments. Only the polymer melt and no air is supplied to the melt openings such that only the polymer melt issues from the melt openings. Only compressed air and no polymer melt is supplied to the compressed-air openings such that only the compressed air issues from the compressed-air openings.

A medical device including a plasma-treated porous substrate that is functionalized to provide a hydrophilic surface, and a process for preparing such a medical device, are disclosed. The method includes plasma treating at least a portion of a surface of a porous substrate with a gas species selected from oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and combination thereof. The gas species is configured to functionalize the surface of the medical device and form a hydrophilic surface.

A surgical stapling instrument including staples and an implantable layer is disclosed. The implantable layer comprises fibers which have undergone a kinking process. The kinked fibers, once interwoven together, create a resilient body that can dynamically adapt to the thickness of the tissue captured within the staples.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

A surgical instrument includes a jaw member having a slot, a first outer surface on a first side of the slot, and a second outer surface on a second side of the slot opposite the first side. The surgical instrument includes an adjunct assembly having an attachment layer including a first section on the first side of the slot attached to the first outer surface, a second section on the second side of the slot attached to the second outer surface, and an intermediary section extending between the first section and the second section, the intermediary section at least partially bridging the slot. The adjunct assembly further includes a first compressible adjunct on the first side and a second compressible adjunct on the second side, the compressible adjuncts spaced apart, the first section attached to the first compressible adjunct, and the second section attached to the second compressible adjunct.

A process and apparatus is used for making a fibrous nonwoven web with uniform, directionally-oriented projections by depositing fibrous material onto a first forming surface with holes positioned above a second forming surface with both forming surfaces traveling at different speeds to one another. As the fibers are deposited onto the first forming surface, a portion of the fibers are drawn down into the holes of the first forming surface forming the projections which contact the second forming surface. Due to the speed differential between the two forming surfaces the projections are uniformly skewed in the same direction. The resultant material is particularly suited for use as a wiping material which can be more abrasive in one direction but which is softer to the touch when wiped in the opposite direction thus making it a dual purpose material.

A compressible adjunct has a first portion, a second portion, and a middle portion. The middle portion is disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The middle portion comprises a first pillar, a second pillar, and an interconnecting member. The first pillar and the second pillar extend substantially between the first portion and the second portion. The interconnecting member is configured to engage at least the first pillar and the second pillar. When the compressible adjunct is compressed by a force, the first pillar is configured to deflect a first deflection and the second pillar is configured to deflect a second deflection. The first deflection differs from the second deflection.

The invention relates to a nonwoven laminate fabric comprising a meltblown nonwoven layer sandwiched between first and second spundbond nonwoven layers, wherein at least one of the spundbond layers is a high loft spunbond nonwoven layer comprising or consisting of crimped multicomponent fibers.

A staple cartridge assembly comprising an implantable layer is disclosed. The implantable layer comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, and structural walls interwoven between the top portion and the bottom portion.