A vertical additive processing system for use with a blow molding machine having a flow head from which a plastic parison is delivered to a mold and producing an article. The system has a servo-controlled accumulation technology (SCAT) unit including (a) an accumulator collecting plastic material when retracted and delivering plastic material when extended, and (b) an actuator directing the accumulator to retract and extend. The system further has a tooling unit including a bushing body adapted to engage the flow head, a distribution ring, a bushing cap, a central aperture defining a main parison flow path, and a distribution channel delivering additional plastic material received from the accumulator to the main parison flow path. The system still further has a material duct connecting the two units through which plastic material delivered by the SCAT unit is transported to and received by the tooling unit.

Drug delivery devices having a drug-permeable component and methods of making and using the same are provided. Drug delivery devices include a housing having a first and second wall structures that are adjacent one another and together form a tube defining a drug reservoir lumen. The second wall structure, or both the first wall structure and the second wall structure, are permeable to water, and the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug while the second wall structure is permeable to the drug, such that the drug is releasable in vivo by diffusion through the second wall structure.

A system and method are presented in which a flow of plastic is extruded to obtain nano-sized features by forming multiple laminated flow streams, flowing in parallel through the non-rotating extrusion system. Each of the parallel laminated flow streams are subjected to repeated steps in which the flows are compressed, divided, and overlapped to amplify the number of laminations. The parallel amplified laminated flows are rejoined to form a combined laminated output with nano-sized features. The die exit is formed to provide a tubular shape.

A system and method are presented in which a flow of plastic is extruded to obtain nano-sized features by forming multiple laminated flow streams, flowing in parallel through the non-rotating extrusion system. Each of the parallel laminated flow streams are subjected to repeated steps in which the flows are compressed, divided, and overlapped to amplify the number of laminations. The parallel amplified laminated flows are rejoined to form a combined laminated output with nano-sized features. The die exit is formed to provide a tubular shape.

Polymeric coatings comprising microcapillary structures are applied to a wire or optic fiber using a wire coating apparatus comprising a die (13) assembly comprising a mandrel assembly (16) comprising: (A) a housing (12) comprising: (1) a housing (12) wire tubular channel extending along (a) the length of the housing (12), and (b) the longitudinal centerline axis of the housing (12); (2) a fluid annular channel encircling the wire tubular channel; (3) a fluid ring (28) in fluid communication with the fluid annular channel, the fluid ring (28) positioned at one end of the housing (12); and (B) a cone-shaped tip having a wide end and a narrow end, the wide end of the tip attached to the end of the housing (12) at which the fluid ring (28) is positioned, the tip comprising: (1) a tip wire tubular channel extending along (a) the length of the tip, and (b) the longitudinal centerline axis of the tip; (2) a tip fluid channel (27) in fluid communication with the fluid ring (28); and (3) one or more nozzles (29A) in fluid communication with the tip fluid channel (27), the nozzles (29A) located at the end and extending beyond the narrow end of the tip; the housing (12) wire tubular channel and the tip wire tubular channel in open communication with one another such that a wire can pass from one to the other in a straight line and without interruption.

A device has isolated structures on a substrate, the isolated structures formed of a first material, the structures extending vertically from the substrate, and a second material on the substrate surrounding the isolated structures. A method of forming isolated structures includes depositing a first material and a second material on a substrate using a co-extrusion print head by applying pressure to the first material and the second material, periodically reducing the pressure applied to the first material to stop deposition of the first material while continuing to apply pressure to the second material to form isolated structures of the first material extending vertically from the substrate surrounded by the second material on the substrate, and removing the second material to leave isolated structures on the substrate.

A device has isolated structures on a substrate, the isolated structures formed of a first material, the structures extending vertically from the substrate, and a second material on the substrate surrounding the isolated structures. A method of forming isolated structures includes depositing a first material and a second material on a substrate using a co-extrusion print head by applying pressure to the first material and the second material, periodically reducing the pressure applied to the first material to stop deposition of the first material while continuing to apply pressure to the second material to form isolated structures of the first material extending vertically from the substrate surrounded by the second material on the substrate, and removing the second material to leave isolated structures on the substrate.

An extrusion system including an edge encapsulation block is disclosed. The edge encapsulation block includes a housing that defines a central extrusion channel having an inlet for receiving a central material and an outlet for emitting an encapsulated material that includes the central material and an edge material, and an edge encapsulation channel for receiving the edge material. The encapsulation block also includes an edge blocker that includes an edge actuator at a first end of the edge blocker and an edge block at a second end of the edge blocker that is opposite the first end. Actuation of the edge actuator causes the edge block to translate from a first position to a second position spaced from the first position along an axis that extends through the central extrusion channel.

An extrusion system including an edge encapsulation block is disclosed. The edge encapsulation block includes a housing that defines a central extrusion channel having an inlet for receiving a central material and an outlet for emitting an encapsulated material that includes the central material and an edge material, and an edge encapsulation channel for receiving the edge material. The encapsulation block also includes an edge blocker that includes an edge actuator at a first end of the edge blocker and an edge block at a second end of the edge blocker that is opposite the first end. Actuation of the edge actuator causes the edge block to translate from a first position to a second position spaced from the first position along an axis that extends through the central extrusion channel.

Drug delivery devices having a drug-permeable component and methods of making and using the same are provided. Drug delivery devices include a housing having a first and second wall structures that are adjacent one another and together form a tube defining a drug reservoir lumen. The second wall structure, or both the first wall structure and the second wall structure, are permeable to water, and the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug while the second wall structure is permeable to the drug, such that the drug is releasable in vivo by diffusion through the second wall structure.