A nicotine lozenge includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and nicotine or a derivative thereof dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. A nicotine lozenge may include at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber in a nicotine lozenge may include maltodextrin. The nicotine lozenge is adapted to release the nicotine or a derivative thereof from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making nicotine lozenges includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, nicotine, and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150? C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of nicotine lozenges. The ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.

A method of making an indexed prepreg composite sheet is disclosed. The method comprises forming discrete regions in a resin film layer. The discrete regions are arranged in an indexing pattern. The method also includes forming a precursor prepreg composite sheet by impregnating a fiber reinforcement with the resin film layer having a viscosity. The discrete regions of the resin film layer form non-impregnated regions of the precursor prepreg composite sheet. The method additionally includes replacing the non-impregnated regions of the precursor prepreg composite sheet with indexing openings.

Methods of manufacturing a medical article that include radial deformation of a polymer tube are disclosed. A medical article, such as an implantable medical device or an inflatable member, may be fabricated from a deformed tube.

A medical device-includes a scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes inflating the delivery balloon during a diameter reduction to improve scaffold retention and maintaining an inflated balloon during the diameter reduction and prior and subsequent dwell periods.

A nicotine lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and nicotine or a derivative thereof dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, a nicotine lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in a nicotine lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The nicotine lozenge is adapted to release the nicotine or a derivative thereof from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making nicotine lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, nicotine, and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150? C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of nicotine lozenges. In some cases, the ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.

A medical device includes a balloon expanded scaffold crimped to a catheter having a balloon. The scaffold has a network of rings formed by struts connected at crowns and links connecting adjacent rings. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes using protective polymer sheaths or sheets during crimping, and adjusting the sheaths or sheets during the crimping to avoid or minimize interference between the polymer material and scaffold struts as the scaffold is reduced in size.

To guard against injury to persons engaging the trim edges of a hinged container, a protective flap extends from the lid on either end of the axial hinge. The flaps extend from the corners of the lid adjacent respective trim edges of the hinge. The flaps have a rounded bottom portion which is extended past the axial hinge line. The curved structure of the protective flaps helps to gently deflect objects, such as fingers, away from any sharply angled trim edges of the hinge, thereby guarding handlers from accidental injury.

A method for thermoforming synthetic paper is provided, more concretely for thermoforming holding strips of synthetic paper, the strips being used to produce sheet-holding devices of a specific configuration. The devices can be used in the assembly of sheet holders such as calendars, white sheet dispensers or information cards.

The invention relates to a stretch-blow-molded plastic container (100) with a container body (20), which forms a filling volume (F), and a handle (21), which is formed on the container body. In order to form the handle (21), a first sub-region (221) of a first wall (22) of the container body (20) is bonded to a second sub-region (231) of a second wall (23) of the container body (20) lying opposite the first wall (22). The filling volume (F) extends circumferentially about the bonded connection. A bead (31) made of melted material is arranged within the filling volume between the first wall (22) and the second wall (23).

The mat of the present invention includes a main body integrally formed by a plastic material. The main body at least has a first surface and a second surface adjacent to the first face. The first face and the second face have different surface physical characteristics. The first surface and the second surface are shaped into a third surface and a fourth surface respectively. The third surface and the fourth surface have a substantially same surface physical characteristic. An angle between the third surface and the fourth surface outside the main body is a specific value.