The present invention discloses methods for producing a surgical suture having a reduced cross-sectional area portion from monofilaments fibers of various polymeric and metallic materials. Also disclosed are novel sutures having novel tips. Novel suture tipping apparatuses are also disclosed. The monofilament is subjected to the application of thermal treatment coupled with application of mechanical shaping of the fiber element to produce a deformed cross sectional portion of the suture body. The deformed suture body region is subsequently subjected to a trimming operation within a punching/stamping die. The reduced section of the suture body region and is severed to form a suture having a reduced-cross sectional area end portion. Preferably, each reduced region is severed approximately in the center of the trimmed reduced cross sectional area portion to form a suture having both ends of a reduced cross-sectional area.

A compression member for use in a showerhead electrode assembly of a capacitively coupled plasma chamber. The member applies a compression force to a portion of a film heater adjacent a power supply boot on an upper surface of a thermal control plate and is located between the thermal control plate and a temperature-controlled top plate. The member is composed of an electrically insulating elastomeric material which can work over a large range of compressions and temperatures.

A pipe assembly includes an inner pipe member and an outer pipe member that is externally fixed to an end portion of the inner pipe member. The inner pipe has a thickness that is less than that of the outer pipe which is placed outside the end portion of the inner pipe member. An additional fixture member is placed outside the portion where the inner and outer pipes are fitted to each other. While the inner pipe, the outer pipe, and the additional fixture are in this state, an electromagnetic coil is placed inside the inner pipe at a position where the outer pipe and the additional fixture are to be fixed. The diameter of the inner pipe increases by applying a pulse current to the electromagnetic coil. The diameter of the outer pipe increases by the action of force applied when the diameter of the inner pipe is increased.

A plurality of additional fixture members placed outside a pipe member at a plurality of positions of the pipe member, where the plurality of fixture members are fixed, and a plurality of electromagnetic coils placed inside the pipe member at the plurality of positions of the fixed pipe member. In this state, a pulse current is applied to the plurality of electromagnetic coils located at a first joint, where the fixture member is joined to the outside of the portion where first and second pipe elements of the pipe member are fitted to each other, is swaged and fixed to the pipe member before an fixture member located at a second joint, wherein fixture member is joined to at least one of the first and second pipe elements at a different position, so the plurality of fixture members are swaged and fixed to the pipe member by electromagnetic forming.

A compression member for use in a showerhead electrode assembly of a capacitively coupled plasma chamber. The member applies a compression force to a portion of a film heater adjacent a power supply boot on an upper surface of a thermal control plate and is located between the thermal control plate and a temperature-controlled top plate. The member is composed of an electrically insulating elastomeric material which can work over a large range of compressions and temperatures.

A method for producing a multi-layer sliding bearing includes: providing a carrier body with a carrier body connecting surface, a surface structure being formed on the carrier body connecting surface, and the carrier body on the carrier body connecting surface having a carrier body material with a carrier body strength; providing a bearing body with a bearing body connecting surface, the bearing body on the bearing body connecting surface having a bearing body material with a bearing body strength; applying the bearing body to the carrier body, a carrier body connecting surface being turned towards a bearing body connecting surface; pressing the bearing and carrier bodies together, wherein the bearing body, on the bearing body connecting surface, is plastically deformed and forms a positive locking connection with the carrier body connecting surface from the effect of the surface structure of the carrier body connecting surface.

A compression member for use in a showerhead electrode assembly of a capacitively coupled plasma chamber. The member applies a compression force to a portion of a film heater adjacent a power supply boot on an upper surface of a thermal control plate and is located between the thermal control plate and a temperature-controlled top plate. The member is composed of an electrically insulating elastomeric material which can work over a large range of compressions and temperatures.

The present invention discloses methods for producing a surgical suture having a reduced cross-sectional area portion from monofilaments fibers of various polymeric and metallic materials. Also disclosed are novel sutures having novel tips. Novel suture tipping apparatuses are also disclosed. The monofilament is subjected to the application of thermal treatment coupled with application of mechanical shaping of the fiber element to produce a deformed cross sectional portion of the suture body. The deformed suture body region is subsequently subjected to a trimming operation within a punching/stamping die. The reduced section of the suture body region and is severed to form a suture having a reduced-cross sectional area end portion. Preferably, each reduced region is severed approximately in the center of the trimmed reduced cross sectional area portion to form a suture having both ends of a reduced cross-sectional area.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an apparatus comprising a first end fitting. The first end fitting comprises a tube engagement portion. The tube engagement portion comprises an outer coupling surface. The outer coupling surface comprises a first virtual cross-section. The first virtual cross-section comprises a first transverse inflection point. Each point along the first virtual cross-section has a first virtual tangent line coplanar with the first virtual cross-section.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an apparatus comprising a first end fitting. The first end fitting comprises a tube engagement portion. The tube engagement portion comprises an outer coupling surface. The outer coupling surface comprises a first virtual cross-section. The first virtual cross-section comprises a first transverse inflection point. Each point along the first virtual cross-section has a first virtual tangent line coplanar with the first virtual cross-section.