An apertured nonwovens having a first nonwoven layer is described. The first nonwoven layer includes cellulose-based fibers and a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality apertures have a minimum aperture distance between two adjacent apertures which has a relative standard deviation no greater than about 40%, as measured according to the Aperture Quality Test. The apertures have an aperture size no greater than about 2.2 mm.sup.2 and have an occlusion no greater than about 9%, as measured according to the Aperture Quality Test, or the apertures have an aspect ratio no greater than about 2.5 as measured according to the Aspect Ratio Test.

Pierced thermal interface constructions including a thermal interface material (TIM) structure comprising: a TIM sheet comprising a plurality of piercings, where each of the plurality of piercings comprises a cavity and displaced material, and where the displaced material from each of the plurality of piercings protrudes away from the TIM sheet.

Method for manufacturing fine hollow protruding tool by: bringing a projecting mold part with a heating means into contact from one surface side of a base sheet including a thermoplastic resin, and, while heat-softening the contact section, inserting the projecting mold part into the base sheet, to form a protrusion protruding from the other surface side; and, after a cooling step, withdrawing the projecting mold part from the interior of the protrusion, forming the fine hollow protruding tool. In the protrusion forming step, the protrusion is formed by using a first warp-suppressing means that suppresses warping of the base sheet when the projecting mold part is inserted into the base sheet. In the release step, the fine hollow protruding tool is formed by using a second warp-suppressing means that suppresses warping of the base sheet when the projecting mold part is withdrawn from the interior of the protrusion.

Method for manufacturing fine hollow protruding tool by: bringing a projecting mold part with a heating means into contact from one surface side of a base sheet including a thermoplastic resin, and, while heat-softening the contact section, inserting the projecting mold part into the base sheet, to form a protrusion protruding from the other surface side; and, after a cooling step, withdrawing the projecting mold part from the interior of the protrusion, forming the fine hollow protruding tool. In the protrusion forming step, the protrusion is formed by using a first warp-suppressing means that suppresses warping of the base sheet when the projecting mold part is inserted into the base sheet. In the release step, the fine hollow protruding tool is formed by using a second warp-suppressing means that suppresses warping of the base sheet when the projecting mold part is withdrawn from the interior of the protrusion.

A method of making a barbed microcatheter having fluid egress openings includes obtaining a barbed microcatheter blank having a hollow tube with a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongated lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the hollow tube, and first and second flattened regions that extend along opposite sides of the hollow tube. The method includes removing material from the first and second flattened regions of the barbed microcatheter blank to form barbs projecting outwardly from the opposite sides of the hollow tube, and using cutting elements for forming fluid egress openings in a wall of the hollow tube that are in fluid communication with the elongated lumen of the hollow tube. The method includes forming a tissue anchor that is connected with the proximal end of the hollow tube, and securing a surgical needle with the distal end of the hollow tube.

A method of making a barbed microcatheter having fluid egress openings includes obtaining a barbed microcatheter blank having a hollow tube with a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongated lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the hollow tube, and first and second flattened regions that extend along opposite sides of the hollow tube. The method includes removing material from the first and second flattened regions of the barbed microcatheter blank to form barbs projecting outwardly from the opposite sides of the hollow tube, and using cutting elements for forming fluid egress openings in a wall of the hollow tube that are in fluid communication with the elongated lumen of the hollow tube. The method includes forming a tissue anchor that is connected with the proximal end of the hollow tube, and securing a surgical needle with the distal end of the hollow tube.

A pressure equalising device (10) which has a squat shape and which has three positions which are a first unlocked and retracted position, a second locked and retracted position, and a third unlocked and extended position wherein the device comprises a spike (14) for piercing a container, a biasing member (12) to bias the device into the first position from the third position, an upper body (20) which supports the spike and which has a locking formation (28), and a lower body (40); wherein the device has a twist lock such that the device can be rotated to and from its first and second positions; wherein the twist lock comprises a slot (52) in the lower body which is positioned to receive the locking formation (28) to immobilise the upper body (20) in relation to the lower body (40); the invention provides an ergonomically acceptable and safe way to reduce the torque force required to open the typical jar to less that 2 Nm by equalising the pressures inside and outside the jar.

A pressure equalising device (10) which has a squat shape and which has three positions which are a first unlocked and retracted position, a second locked and retracted position, and a third unlocked and extended position wherein the device comprises a spike (14) for piercing a container, a biasing member (12) to bias the device into the first position from the third position, an upper body (20) which supports the spike and which has a locking formation (28), and a lower body (40); wherein the device has a twist lock such that the device can be rotated to and from its first and second positions; wherein the twist lock comprises a slot (52) in the lower body which is positioned to receive the locking formation (28) to immobilise the upper body (20) in relation to the lower body (40); the invention provides an ergonomically acceptable and safe way to reduce the torque force required to open the typical jar to less that 2 Nm by equalising the pressures inside and outside the jar.

Methods of ultrasonic drilling may be used to form perforated sheets by forming holes through a workpiece using a needle or needle array operatively coupled to an ultrasonic actuator. The needle is brought to repeatedly contact the surface of the workpiece at an ultrasonic operating frequency, thereby forming the hole through the workpiece. Such steps are repeated to form a plurality of holes in the workpiece, thereby forming a perforated sheet which may be used in an acoustic liner for noise attenuation. The workpiece may be heated while the holes are formed, via a remote heating unit that locally heats a portion of the workpiece.

Needle arrays for forming ultrasonic perforations may be formed from additive manufacturing and with non-circular cross-sectional areas for forming a plurality of holes, or perforations, in a thin sheet material. Methods of forming a plurality of perforations in a thin sheet of a composite material may include positioning the thin sheet under the needle array, repeatedly contacting the surface of the thin sheet to form perforations therein, translating the thin sheet and/or the needle array such that a different area of the thin sheet is positioned under the needle array, and again repeatedly contacting the surface of the thin sheet to form the perforations therein. Related systems may include an ultrasonic actuator, a needle array, and a remote heating unit configured to heat the workpiece while the perforations are formed therein.