A marked guide includes an elongated body having a bendable core with a length dimension and made of material that is bendable along the length dimension to selectively form various bent shapes, and that retains the bent shapes without external support. The elongated body also has at least one layer of second material provided around the core, the second material being elastomeric or resiliently flexible. An outer surface of the body has a plurality of markings, including a first line marking positioned at a 0-degree point, a second line marking positioned at a 90-degree point, a third line marking positioned at a 180-degree point and a fourth line marking positioned at a 270-degree point.

The present invention is directed to a fully biodegradable material based on a plant protein. The present invention is also directed to a process method of making a gluten-based biodegradable material by a water induced flocculation step. A fully hydrated gluten dough with or without an additive or/and a filler formed from the flocculation step, which has low viscoelasticity, is further molded into an article with desired shapes under a low shear stress in a relatively low temperature range. A rigid or flexible biodegradable plastic article is obtained by removing extra water at a temperature lower than decomposition temperature of the gluten.

The present invention is directed to a fully biodegradable material based on a plant protein. The present invention is also directed to a process method of making a gluten-based biodegradable material by a water induced flocculation step. A fully hydrated gluten dough with or without an additive or/and a filler formed from the flocculation step, which has low viscoelasticity, is further molded into an article with desired shapes under a low shear stress in a relatively low temperature range. A rigid or flexible biodegradable plastic article is obtained by removing extra water at a temperature lower than decomposition temperature of the gluten.

A production device for manufacturing a product in the form of a sheet or a block, including: an initial agitator (1), a primary conveyor belt (2) and a mixing agitator (3); each of initial agitators (1) is configured with the primary conveyor belt (2), one or more stones or a stone-like granular material having a selected particle size and a binder are initially mixed in the initial agitator (1) and then an initial mixture is obtained; the mixing agitator (3) includes a rotating container for undertaking a material; the initial mixture is conveyed to the mixing agitator (3) through the primary conveyor belt (2); more than one initial agitator and matched primary conveyor belts thereof are disposed around the mixing agitator (3) at intervals.

Methods and apparatus comprising a dewetting phase and a polymerization liquid that are immiscible, and can be used for the formation of three-dimensional objects, wherein the method does not require a dead zone. Additionally, methods and apparatus that employ an optically transparent cooling apparatus to mitigate heat generated during the fabrication process, and the use of a mobile phase to provide a shearing interface to reduce interfacial adhesive forces.

Methods and apparatus comprising a dewetting phase and a polymerization liquid that are immiscible, and can be used for the formation of three-dimensional objects, wherein the method does not require a dead zone. Additionally, methods and apparatus that employ an optically transparent cooling apparatus to mitigate heat generated during the fabrication process, and the use of a mobile phase to provide a shearing interface to reduce interfacial adhesive forces.

Embodiments herein relate to prosthetic heart valves constructed with animal tissue wherein the leaflets are unitary with the inner skirt. In an embodiment, an implantable heart valve assembly is included having a plurality of valve leaflets, an inner skirt, and a metal frame, wherein the plurality of valve leaflets and the inner skirt are formed of a continuous piece of animal tissue. In another embodiment, a method of making an implantable heart valve assembly is included, the method including placing a piece of pericardial tissue over a mold, cross-linking the pericardial tissue in place over the mold, removing the pericardial tissue from the mold, and attaching the pericardial tissue to a frame, wherein the pericardial tissue forms a seamless junction between a plurality of valve leaflets and an inner skirt. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Embodiments herein relate to prosthetic heart valves constructed with animal tissue wherein the leaflets are unitary with the inner skirt. In an embodiment, an implantable heart valve assembly is included having a plurality of valve leaflets, an inner skirt, and a metal frame, wherein the plurality of valve leaflets and the inner skirt are formed of a continuous piece of animal tissue. In another embodiment, a method of making an implantable heart valve assembly is included, the method including placing a piece of pericardial tissue over a mold, cross-linking the pericardial tissue in place over the mold, removing the pericardial tissue from the mold, and attaching the pericardial tissue to a frame, wherein the pericardial tissue forms a seamless junction between a plurality of valve leaflets and an inner skirt. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A three-dimensional (3D) object and a 3D object production process is disclosed comprising depositing the thermosetting resin along the deposition path during at least a portion of which the thermosetting resin is produced and deposited according to the one or more deposition parameters to form one or more layers of the thermosetting resin according to the predefined design; scanning at least a portion of the one or more of the deposited layers of the thermosetting resin to detect one or more perturbations present therein, which differ from the predefined design to form a perturbation profile; adjusting the one or more deposition parameters of one or more subsequent layers based the perturbation profile; and depositing the subsequent one or more layers of thermosetting resin according to the adjusted deposition parameters to form the 3D object according to the predefined design.

The present invention provides particular a novel composition for manufacturing plastic composites and a process thereof. Said invention provides a composition and a process utilizes any or all kind of plastic waste in manufacturing composites and thereby is economical and environment friendly. It utilizes any or all kind of plastic wastes includes road waste, soft & hard form of plastic waste. Moreover, it eliminates the use of cement and utilizes plastic wastes in manufacturing composites; therefore is environment friendly. Said present compositions utilizes plastic waste in manufacturing light weight composites that are highly stable with increased strength, shelf life and durability. Said composition is fire resistant with increased strength withstanding heavy load.