There is disclosed a tool (102) for forming a composite component having a curved body and an integral flange from a pre-form (200), the tool comprising: a curved body portion 104 having a lay-up surface (110); and a forming assembly (105) having a lay-up configuration and a forming configuration. The forming assembly comprises: a plurality of forming elements (106) each having a lay-up surface (120) and a primary flange-forming surface (122), the forming elements (106) being radially outwardly moveable between the lay-up configuration and the forming configuration, in which the forming elements are circumferentially spaced from one another; and a plurality of filler elements (107) each having a secondary flange-forming surface (156), the filler elements (107) being arranged to move into the circumferential gaps between the forming elements in the forming configuration so as to form a substantially continuous flange-forming surface. In use a pre-form (200) is disposed on the layup surfaces of the curved body portion (104) and the forming elements (106), and movement to the forming configuration causes the pre-form (200) to be deformed between the continuous flange-forming surface and a counteracting forming surface to form the integral flange (210).

Microscale valves for use in, e.g., micropump devices, may be formed of a slitted diaphragm bonded o the interior of a valve tube. A bump in the diaphragm and/or a backward-leakage stopper may increase the breakdown pressure of the valve. A push-rod may be used to pre-load the valve membrane to thereby increase the cracking pressure.

A method is provided for connecting hollow profiles (1-4) in a joint (10) to produce a load-bearing structure (5). The method includes placing ends of hollow profiles (1-4) in a mold and pressing the ends together with at least one semi-finished product to connect the ends of the hollow profiles to the semi-finished product.

A sealant for sealing a puncture through tissue includes a first section, e.g., formed from freeze-dried hydrogel, and a second section extending from the distal end. The second section may be formed from PEG-precursors including PEG-ester and PEG-amine, e.g., in an equivalent ratio of active group sites of PEG-ester/PEG-amine greater than one-to-one, e.g., such that excess esters may provide faster activation upon contact with physiological fluids and enhance adhesion of the sealant within a puncture. At least some of the precursors remain in an unreactive state until exposed to an aqueous physiological environment, e.g., within a puncture, whereupon the precursors undergo in-situ cross-linking to provide adhesion to tissue adjacent the puncture. For example, the PEG-amine precursors may include the free amine form and the salt form. The free amine form at least partially cross-links with the PEG-ester and the salt form remains in the unreactive state in the sealant before introduction into the puncture.

The present disclosure describes numerous example medical instruments that include an elongated portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and a passage defined therethrough and a soft tip coupled to the distal end of the elongated portion. The tip may be formed from a soft material. In some instances, the soft material may have a hardness less than the material forming the elongated portion. The tip may also include a passage that may be of a substantially equivalent size as the passage of the elongated portion. The tip may be coupled to the distal end of the elongated portion at an engagement site having a surface area greater than a cross-sectional area of the elongated portion.

The present disclosure describes numerous example medical instruments that include an elongated portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and a passage defined therethrough and a soft tip coupled to the distal end of the elongated portion. The tip may be formed from a soft material. In some instances, the soft material may have a hardness less than the material forming the elongated portion. The tip may also include a passage that may be of a substantially equivalent size as the passage of the elongated portion. The tip may be coupled to the distal end of the elongated portion at an engagement site having a surface area greater than a cross-sectional area of the elongated portion.

A method of manufacturing a composite (e.g. fibre-reinforced polymer) connector comprises: manufacturing a tubular hub portion which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C, the hub portion comprising a thermoplastic polymer reinforced with continuous, circumferentially-oriented fibre reinforcement; placing the hub portion into a mould featuring at least one cavity; and introducing polymer into the mould so as to fill the at least one cavity to form a flange portion around the hub portion.

A container for a cosmetic product can include a tubular skirt forming a reservoir for receiving the cosmetic product, a first end opening, and a second end opening opposite the first end opening. The first end opening can be located in a lower portion of the container and sealed by a cap having a rigidity greater than that of the tubular skirt. The lower portion of the container can include a moulding support fitted inside a circumferential wall of the first end opening. The cap can be arranged at one end of the moulding support and on the circumferential wall of the first end opening and over-moulded onto both the moulding support and onto said circumferential wall.

A sealant for sealing a puncture through tissue includes a first section, e.g., formed from freeze-dried hydrogel, and a second section extending from the distal end. The second section may be formed from PEG-precursors including PEG-ester and PEG-amine, e.g., in an equivalent ratio of active group sites of PEG-ester/PEG-amine greater than one-to-one, e.g., such that excess esters may provide faster activation upon contact with physiological fluids and enhance adhesion of the sealant within a puncture. At least some of the precursors remain in an unreactive state until exposed to an aqueous physiological environment, e.g., within a puncture, whereupon the precursors undergo in-situ cross-linking to provide adhesion to tissue adjacent the puncture. For example, the PEG-amine precursors may include the free amine form and the salt form. The free amine form at least partially cross-links with the PEG-ester and the salt form remains in the unreactive state in the sealant before introduction into the puncture.

The present disclosure provides for composite tank assemblies and related methods of fabrication and use. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for linerless composite tank assemblies for aircraft or fuel or the like, and related modular manufacturing methods. The present disclosure uses a multi-section manufacturing method and carbon fiber or equivalent material with epoxy or the like to fabricate the linerless composite tank assemblies (e.g., thermosetting epoxy; thermoplastic).