A method of producing a continuous seam between first and second thermoplastic films is provided. The method includes disposing edge portions of first and second thermoplastic films adjacent to one another; disposing a joining process interface (JPI) layer adjacent to a surface of one of the edge portions; and using a heating and compaction device to produce a bonding between at least a portion of the edge portions, and using the heating and compaction device to apply a compaction force against the edge portions of the first and second thermoplastic films. The JPI layer is disposed between the heating and compaction device and the edge portions of the first and second thermoplastic films. At least one of the heating and compaction device and the first and second thermoplastic films are moved relative to the other to produce a continuous seam between the first thermoplastic film and second thermoplastic film.

An example system comprises a water-soluble unit dose article comprising a fibrous non-woven sheet shaped to form a sealed internal compartment and a granular laundry detergent comprised within the internal compartment. The sheet comprises fibres which comprise polyvinyl alcohol polymer. The granular laundry detergent comprises perfume particles. The system also comprises sealing jaws, whereby at least one of the sealing jaws is a heated sealing jaw. A top seal of the internal compartment is sandwiched between the jaws. A first of said jaws comprises a protruding portion along a longitudinal direction of the seal. The protruding portion has a base along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the seal. The base has a dimension of more than 3 times and of less than 20 times a thickness of the water-soluble fibrous non-woven sheet.

A household vacuum sealer contains: a base, a lid, and a hot-melt sealing element. The base includes a receiving chamber for accommodating a control circuit and a vacuum pump. The base also includes a vacuuming chamber and an accommodation chamber. The hot-melt sealing element includes a holder, a mica slice, a laminated heating layer, the insulated composite layer, and a protective cap. The insulated composite layer includes multiple insulated tape layers. The laminated heating layer includes a high-temperature resistance tapes made of polyimide, a metal resistance tape, two electrical connection films, and two alternating current (AC) electrodes. The mica slice is parallelly fixed on a top of the holder. The laminated heating layer includes the two electrical connections. Furthermore, the protective cap is covered on the insulated composite layer and includes a hollowly elongated zone.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture is extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.

Exclusion devices for anatomical structures, and related instruments and related methods, are disclosed. An application instrument for an exclusion device may include an end effector including a head configured to be disposed distally on a shaft, a stationary jaw fixedly disposed on the head and configured to releasably couple to a first clamping portion of an exclusion device, the exclusion device being biased in a closing direction, and a movable jaw movably disposed on the head and configured to releasably couple to a second clamping portion of the exclusion device. The movable jaw may be movable relative to the stationary jaw to reconfigure the exclusion device from a closed configuration to an open configuration. The movable jaw may be oriented generally parallel to the stationary jaw when the exclusion device is in the open configuration and the closed configuration.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system using an improved double-bubble blown-film extrusion process with water quenching and electron beam processing. A stream of polyethylene mixture is extruded through an extruder to orient molecules of polymer chains and provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam, crosslinking the polymer chains to produce a cross-linked film with enhanced mechanical properties. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope comprising multiple gores. The resulting balloon envelope exhibits superior characteristics including crystallinity greater than 50%, strength to weight ratio greater than 1 MPa/(dtg/cm.sup.3), thickness less than 1.5 mil, thermal emissivity less than 0.03 at 193K, and optical clarity greater than 95%. The manufacturing process may include water quenching to enhance optical clarity and dual electron beam treatment for uniform crosslinking throughout the film thickness.