Disclosed herein are expandable introducer sheaths and methods of making and using the same. The sheaths minimize trauma to a patient's vasculature by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the sheath to accommodate passage of a delivery system for a cardiovascular device, then return to a non-expanded state after the passage of the device. The sheath includes an elongated annular member through which the cardiovascular device and its delivery system pass. In an embodiment, the annular inner member can be formed by coextruding a first and second material. The first material includes a fold, and the second material radially spaces the different parts of the fold from each other during fabrication and provides support for maintaining the tubular structure. The second material is removed once the coextrusion process is complete.

A device comprises a first portion including a first polymer, and a second portion that is relatively flexible in comparison to the first portion and includes a second polymer that is substantially not bondable to the first polymer. A chamber of the device is hermetically sealable with respect to ambient atmosphere and is defined by (i) an interior of the second portion, and/or (ii) a space formed between the first and second portions. A third portion of the device includes a third polymer that is bondable to the first and second polymers and fixedly secures the first and second portions to each other.

Disclosed herein is a resin pellet and a process to make said resin pellet. The resin pellet comprises a major polyester comprising a catalytic titanium compound, and a minor polyester comprising a phosphorus compound. The major polyester is present in a first compartmentalized zone of the resin pellet and the minor polyester is present in a second compartmentalized zone of the resin pellet.

The present invention provides an LCP extruded film comprising a thermoplastic liquid crystal polymer and having a thickness of 15 m or more and 300 m or less, wherein coefficients of linear thermal expansion in a MD direction and a TD direction at 23 to 200 C. as measured by a TMA method according to JIS K7197 are each within a range of 30 to 55 ppm/K, and the following conditions (A) and/or (B) are satisfied, and a method for manufacturing the same, an LCP extruded film for stretch treatment, an LCP stretched film, a heat-shrinkable LCP stretched film, an insulating material for a circuit substrate, and a metal foil-clad laminate: (A) a degree of orientation 1(%) of a film surface S1 exposed and a degree of orientation 2(%) of a film surface S2 located at a depth of 5 m from the film surface S1 satisfy a relationship of 4.0[(21)/1]1000.0; (B) a hardness H1 at a point of a depth of 1 m located at a position of 1 m from a film surface in a thickness direction and a hardness H2 at a thickness center point, as measured by subjecting a film cross section in parallel with a MD direction to a nanoindentation method, satisfy 10.0100(H2H1)/H10.0.

Article comprising first and second continuous polymeric layers having at least one polymeric layer exhibiting a random network of strands and connective regions disposed between the first and second continuous polymeric layers. In some embodiments, the article is a tape and polymeric multilayer film having a slip resistant surface.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. The deflection can include curling the spacer at or near the peripheral edge.

Disclosed herein is a resin pellet and a process to make said resin pellet. The resin pellet comprises a major polyester comprising a catalytic titanium compound, and a minor polyester comprising a phosphorus compound. The major polyester is present in a first compartmentalized zone of the resin pellet and the minor polyester is present in a second compartmentalized zone of the resin pellet.

The invention provides a thermoplastic film comprising: a base film wherein the base film comprises a stretchable polyolefin material comprising one or more layers; and a plurality of extruded fiber elements; wherein the extruded fiber elements are located on at least one surface of the base film; wherein the extruded fibers form one or more protrusions relative to the plane of the base film; wherein at the location where the fiber elements are provided on the base film, a domain of a material mixture comprising the base film material and the fiber material is present between a domain of pure base film material and a domain of pure fiber material, and wherein the average thickness of the base film is less than the average thickness of the protrusion.

A device comprises a first portion including a first polymer, and a second portion that is relatively flexible in comparison to the first portion and includes a second polymer that is substantially not bondable to the first polymer. A chamber of the device is hermetically sealable with respect to ambient atmosphere and is defined by (i) an interior of the second portion, and/or (ii) a space formed between the first and second portions. A third portion of the device includes a third polymer that is bondable to the first and second polymers and fixedly secures the first and second portions to each other.

Disclosed herein are dual ovenable, high-hermecticity sealable films for packaging uses, such as form-fill-and-seal packages (e.g., bags). The films disclosed herein can have hermetic seal characteristics and hot tack strength at elevated temperatures for cooking and/or reheating operations. The films disclosed herein can be made comprising a heat stable base layer (e.g., a cast, monoaxially oriented, or biaxially oriented polypropylene, polyester, or polyamide film); a heat sealable layer; and/or a lap sealable layer.