The present invention relates to methods for making wear and oxidation resistant polymeric materials by high temperature melting. The invention also provides methods of making medical implants containing cross-linked antioxidant-containing tough and ductile polymers and materials used therewith also are provided.

A formed tray for baking and transporting a food product is provided herein. In some embodiments, the formed tray includes two cavities surrounded by a peripheral flange. In addition, the formed tray also may include a rigid bridge extending between the cavities and recessed below the peripheral flange. The peripheral flange of the formed tray may include beveled corners and two concave sections. A pre-cooked food product may be disposed in the cavities and sealed within the formed tray by a flexible film. Also provided herein is a process for baking and sealing a food product within the formed tray to provide a pre-cooked packaged food product that may be stored and transported.

One object is to provide an electron beam sterilization apparatus including: an inner-surface sterilization chamber (5) including an inner-surface electron beam application device; and a blocking chamber (6) for receiving a preform product (P) from the inner-surface sterilization chamber (5) and blocking X-rays produced by application of the electron beam. The blocking chamber (6) includes an upstream opening (62) and a downstream opening (63) formed therein, the preform product (P) being received through the upstream opening (62) and transferred through the downstream opening (63). The blocking chamber (6) includes: a gripper (74) for gripping the preform product (P); a sterilized rotation table (71) for conveying the gripped preform product (P) in a circular path; and a blocking wall (81) not in contact with the sterilized rotation table (71) and configured to block the X-rays.

One object is to provide an electron beam sterilization apparatus including: an inner-surface sterilization chamber (5) including an inner-surface electron beam application device; and a blocking chamber (6) for receiving a preform product (P) from the inner-surface sterilization chamber (5) and blocking X-rays produced by application of the electron beam. The blocking chamber (6) includes an upstream opening (62) and a downstream opening (63) formed therein, the preform product (P) being received through the upstream opening (62) and transferred through the downstream opening (63). The blocking chamber (6) includes: a gripper (74) for gripping the preform product (P); a sterilized rotation table (71) for conveying the gripped preform product (P) in a circular path; and a blocking wall (81) not in contact with the sterilized rotation table (71) and configured to block the X-rays.

A sterilization process is performed on a preform or container made of resin after a corona discharge treatment is performed on an inner surface of the preform or container, the corona discharge treatment including applying a voltage produced in a corona discharge to an electrode that passes through an opening part of the preform or container, an insertion step of inserting the electrode to which the voltage is applied into the preform or container through the opening part, and a bottom part treatment step of treating an inner surface of a bottom part of the preform or container by bringing the electrode close to the bottom part until the corona discharge from the electrode changes discharge mode, and the sterilization process including a hydrogen peroxide supplying step of blasting a mist or gas of hydrogen peroxide solution or a mixture thereof to the preform or container.

There is described a packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages comprising a conveyor for advancing a web of packaging material along an advancement path, an isolation chamber, a tube forming device adapted to form a tube from the, in use, advancing web of packaging material, a sealing device adapted to longitudinally seal the tube, a filling device for continuously filling the tube formed by the tube forming device, a package forming unit adapted to form and seal the packages from the, in use, advancing tube formed by the tube forming device and filled by the filling device and a support platform supporting the isolation chamber from a first side of the support platform and carrying the package forming unit from a second side of the support platform opposite to the first side.

There is described a packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages comprising a conveyor for advancing a web of packaging material along an advancement path, an isolation chamber, a tube forming device adapted to form a tube from the, in use, advancing web of packaging material, a sealing device adapted to longitudinally seal the tube, a filling device for continuously filling the tube formed by the tube forming device, a package forming unit adapted to form and seal the packages from the, in use, advancing tube formed by the tube forming device and filled by the filling device and a support platform supporting the isolation chamber from a first side of the support platform and carrying the package forming unit from a second side of the support platform opposite to the first side.

In some embodiments, a sensor assembly for continuous measurement of at least one dose control parameter of an electron beam during a substantial part of the duration of a sterilizing process of package material includes an electron beam emitter adapted to emit electron beam (e−) from an electron exit window and a sensor device that includes: a sensor surface having an electron excitable material arranged to be radiated with at least a part of said electron beam (e−), so as to excite said electron excitable material so that said electron excitable material emits luminescence and a detector arranged and adapted to detect said luminescence. The electron beam emitter is adapted to emit a continuous electron beam (e−) during a predetermined time period so as to irradiate and sterilize package material.

A device and appliance is provided for the high-speed decontamination of objects by means of pulsed light, including: an illuminating structure suitable for illuminating a decontamination area in which the objects are arranged, the illuminating structure being suitable for producing streams of light pulses having wavelengths of 200 nm to 300 nm and an adjustable pulse rate; and a positioner suitable for positioning the objects in the decontamination area according to a predetermined arrangement, also including a cooler suitable for maintaining the temperature of the decontamination area substantially below a predetermined temperature when the decontamination area is illuminated, the cooler including an apparatus for circulating a cooling fluid built into the positioner.

A device and appliance is provided for the high-speed decontamination of objects by means of pulsed light, including: an illuminating structure suitable for illuminating a decontamination area in which the objects are arranged, the illuminating structure being suitable for producing streams of light pulses having wavelengths of 200 nm to 300 nm and an adjustable pulse rate; and a positioner suitable for positioning the objects in the decontamination area according to a predetermined arrangement, also including a cooler suitable for maintaining the temperature of the decontamination area substantially below a predetermined temperature when the decontamination area is illuminated, the cooler including an apparatus for circulating a cooling fluid built into the positioner.