A method and apparatus for distributing a number of utilities. The number of utilities may be coupled between a number of utility sources and a utility fixture. The number of utilities may be coupled between the utility fixture and a mobile system.

Microneedle arrays and methods of forming the same can include one or more bioactive components bonded to a biocompatible material such that the one or more bioactive components are cleavable in vivo to release the bioactive component from the biocompatible material.

A method and apparatus for performing an assembly operation. A tool may be macro-positioned relative to an exterior of a fuselage assembly. The tool may be micro-positioned relative to a particular location on the exterior of the fuselage assembly. An end effector is removably associated with an external robotic device associated with an external mobile platform. The tool is removably associated with the end effector. An assembly operation may be performed at the particular location on the panel using the tool.

A damper member may include a gel-like member and a first film joined to a first surface of the gel-like member in a thickness direction, in which a side surface of the gel-like member located between a second surface opposite to the first surface of the gel-like member in the thickness direction and the first surface is opened.

A dual-interface coupler includes a utilities unit, a number of utility cables configured to provide a number of utilities to the utilities unit, a first coupling unit associated with the utilities unit, and a second coupling unit associated with the utilities unit. The first coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the utilities unit to a first corresponding coupling unit and comprises a utility interface. The number of utilities are configured to flow from the utilities unit through the utilities interface. The second coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the second coupling unit to a second corresponding coupling unit.

Described herein are shaped articles comprising a monolayer of microspheres partially embedded in its surface. The shaped articles are made via a transfer article (20), which comprises a microsphere monolayer (22) comprising a plurality of microspheres partially embedded in a first major surface of a transfer polymer layer (23), which is disposed on a support layer (21). The transfer article is shaped and a conformable substrate is contacted with the shaped transfer article, transferring the microspheres to the conformable substrate forming a shaped finished article having a surface comprising a monolayer of partially embedded microspheres.

Multilayer structures including a porous layer and a non-porous layer are useful as buttresses when associated with a surgical stapling apparatus.

A method of manufacturing composite laminate panel sub-elements (34) for subsequent assembling into a modular assembly structure (37), comprises the preprocessing steps of casting an elongate composite laminate sheet panel (18) having opposite first and second fiber-reinforced plastic face skins (19,21) sandwiching a core (35), a free first elongate edge (22) and an opposite second elongate free edge (24), demolding the elongate composite laminate sheet panel (18), cutting the demolded elongate composite laminate sheet panel (18) into (n) shorter sections (Sn), thereby providing sections (Sn) with at least one free cut edge (26; 32), a free first edge (22) having the same profile as the free first elongate edge, and a free second edge (22) parallel to the free first edge and having the same profile as the free second elongate edge, and machining at least a first coupling profile (27) along the at least one free cut edge (26; 32).

A manufacturing procedure for ceiling trims for vehicles. The ceiling trims comprise at least one first coating sheet and at least one second coating sheet that extend along one of the sides of the first sheet, joined via a layer of heat-stable polyurethane adhesive, comprising a step of applying a gas-phase catalyst on such sheets through a thermoforming mould that starts before the mould is completely closed and ends before the mould is completely opened. As a result of the application of a gas-phase catalyst we prevent the use of demoulding agents to facilitate extraction of the ceiling trim formed inside the mould.

Multilayer structures including a porous layer and a non-porous layer are useful as buttresses when associated with a surgical stapling apparatus.