A sealed, empty pouch, wherein the interior of the pouch is particle and pyrogen free, is made by (i) molding a tubular film including an inner surface and an outer surface, and blowing or otherwise directing micro-filtered air and/or other gas through the tubular film during molding; (ii) flattening the molded tubular film; (iii) sealing the flattened tubular film at spaced locations, cutting the sealed film at the spaced locations, and forming a plurality of empty pouches; (iv) over-molding a fitment to the outer surface of each of a plurality of empty pouches and forming a fluid-tight seal between the fitment and the interior of the pouch; and (v) preventing the collection of particles on the inner surface of each pouch, and the exposure of each such inner surface to an ambient atmosphere throughout steps (i) through (iv).

A method and a system of devices for continuous sterilization or pasteurization of foodstuffs contained in specific rigid containers, followed by continuous deep-vacuum sealing of the containers. The evacuation is obtained by rotary steam injection between the lids and the receptacles followed by sealing of the containers and cold showering that brings about condensation of the steam inside the container and consequently a deep vacuum. This results in a long-lasting deep-vacuum preservation of the food under organoleptic and nutritional quality conditions with a drastic reduction in the cooling time of the containers after sterilization or pasteurization, The reduction in cooling time is obtained by a low-temperature boiling under vacuum, which boiling is homogeneously distributed throughout the whole of the container. It is particularly suitable for pasty or liquid products or products in chunks included in a liquid or pasty mixture.

A microwave heating system configured for heating a plurality of articles is provided. One or more of the microwave launchers can be offset slightly, such that the microwave energy introduced into the heating chamber is discharged at a launch tilt angle of at least 2. Additionally, each launcher can include a microwave-transparent window disposed between the microwave chamber and the one or more launch openings and at least 50 percent of the chamber-side surface of the window can be oriented at an angle of at least 2 from the horizontal.

A microwave heating system configured for heating a plurality of articles is provided. One or more of the microwave launchers can be offset slightly, such that the microwave energy introduced into the heating chamber is discharged at a launch tilt angle of at least 2. Additionally, each launcher can include a microwave-transparent window disposed between the microwave chamber and the one or more launch openings and at least 50 percent of the chamber-side surface of the window can be oriented at an angle of at least 2 from the horizontal.

A microwave heating system configured to heat a plurality of articles is provided. The microwave heating system includes a microwave splitter, a pair of microwave launchers, and at least one inductive iris disposed between the splitter and the launch opening of one of the launchers. A microwave launcher suitable for use in such a heating system is also provided. The launcher includes an inductive iris disposed within the interior of the launcher, spaced between its inlet and outlet and obstructing at least a portion of the microwave pathway.

A microwave heating system configured to heat a plurality of articles is provided. The microwave heating system includes a microwave splitter, a pair of microwave launchers, and at least one inductive iris disposed between the splitter and the launch opening of one of the launchers. A microwave launcher suitable for use in such a heating system is also provided. The launcher includes an inductive iris disposed within the interior of the launcher, spaced between its inlet and outlet and obstructing at least a portion of the microwave pathway.

The present invention relates to improved contact lens products which not only have an improved and sustainable wettability. The contact lens product of the invention comprises a soft hydrogel contact lens immersed and autoclaved in a packaging solution including a polyoxyethylene-polyoxybutylene block copolymer and a high molecular weight copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and at least one amino-containing vinylic monomer. The present invention also provides methods for making contact lens products of the invention.

The present invention relates to improved contact lens products which not only have an improved and sustainable wettability. The contact lens product of the invention comprises a soft hydrogel contact lens immersed and autoclaved in a packaging solution including a polyoxyethylene-polyoxybutylene block copolymer and a high molecular weight copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and at least one amino-containing vinylic monomer. The present invention also provides methods for making contact lens products of the invention.

A PET bottle sterilization method for consecutively sterilizing multiple PET bottles (B) while conveying them, includes introducing hydrogen peroxide into a PET bottle (B) so as to sterilize its interior, and introducing hot air into the sterilized PET bottle (B) so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside it. This method includes introducing plasma into a PET bottle (B) by injecting plasma through a nozzle at at least one time point among a time point before hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the PET bottle (B), a time point after hydrogen peroxide was introduced into the PET bottle (B) and furthermore before hot air is introduced into the PET bottle (B), and a time point after hot air was introduced into the PET bottle (B).

A microwave heating system configured for heating a plurality of articles is provided. One or more of the microwave launchers can be offset slightly, such that the microwave energy introduced into the heating chamber is discharged at a launch tilt angle of at least 2. Additionally, each launcher can include a microwave-transparent window disposed between the microwave chamber and the one or more launch openings and at least 50 percent of the chamber-side surface of the window can be oriented at an angle of at least 2 from the horizontal.