Construction of a sealed connection between an elastomeric or synthetic polymer flexible pipe or hose and a metallic coupling member. The coupling member surrounds an armor layer at a free end of the flexible pipe or hose. A sealing area is defined by a recessed portion of the pipe coupling into which a sealing material is introduced. An inner liner layer of the flexible pipe or hose may extend into the sealing area where it is bonded to the sealing material. The sealing material and the inner liner layer may each be comprised of a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material. Furthermore, a reinforcement material may be provided in the inner liner layer.

A process for joining two sheeting articles reinforced with unidirectionally aligned endless-fibres by ultrasonic welding, wherein the fibres are embedded in a matrix of polycarbonate and the sheeting articles have abutting ends that are substantially rectangular and substantially even. The process comprises (1) arranging the sheeting articles next to one another end-to-end in the region of the abutting ends in a welding apparatus between a sonotrode and an anvil, (2) welding the sheeting articles by means of ultrasound, wherein the sonotrode and the anvil exert pressure on the to-be-welded sheeting articles in the melting region between the sheeting articles and perpendicularly to the abutting ends of the sheeting articles, and (3) removing the sheeting articles that are welded to one another from the welding apparatus. Also provided is a second process for joining two sheeting articles, a sheeting article, an apparatus, and a multilayer composite.

A process for joining two sheeting articles reinforced with unidirectionally aligned endless-fibres by ultrasonic welding, wherein the fibres are embedded in a matrix of polycarbonate and the sheeting articles have abutting ends that are substantially rectangular and substantially even. The process comprises (1) arranging the sheeting articles next to one another end-to-end in the region of the abutting ends in a welding apparatus between a sonotrode and an anvil, (2) welding the sheeting articles by means of ultrasound, wherein the sonotrode and the anvil exert pressure on the to-be-welded sheeting articles in the melting region between the sheeting articles and perpendicularly to the abutting ends of the sheeting articles, and (3) removing the sheeting articles that are welded to one another from the welding apparatus. Also provided is a second process for joining two sheeting articles, a sheeting article, an apparatus, and a multilayer composite.

A process for manufacturing a ballistic resistant article including steps: a) stacking a stretchable lamina of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and a stretchable continuous film of a polymer as organic matrix material to form a lamina-film stack, the continuous film not being an UHMWPE film; b) elongating the stack at a temperature below the melting point of the lamina, to an elongation ratio of at least 2, thereby providing a UHMWPE film with an organic matrix material in which the UHMWPE film is co-stretched with the film of polymer as organic matrix material; c) aligning a plurality of films to form a layer of films; d) stacking at least two layers of films to form a sheet; e) stacking a plurality of sheets to form a stack of sheets, and consolidating the sheets prior to and/or after step e) by applying pressure and optionally heat. Also, a ballistic-resistant article.

A spacer for a knee replacement prosthesis may be provided. The spacer may include a lower surface, the lower surface having a locking component adapted to interlock with a tibial tray; an upper surface, the upper surface having an optional central femoral guide and a pair of condyle support platforms, each of the condyle support platforms being disposed on an opposite side of the central femoral guide, each of the condyle support platforms being smooth, the surface of each of the condyle support platforms further having a shallow concavity; and a body incorporating the upper and lower surfaces, the body having a hollow outer portion surrounding an internal reservoir, the body being impermeable to fluid; the body further having one or more ports, each with a channel, each channel extending through the hollow outer portion of the body directing the flow of fluid in and out of the port(s).

A prosthetic heart valve includes a support structure and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, each of the prosthetic leaflets being composed of a synthetic material. The prosthetic leaflets have a closed condition in which the prosthetic leaflets coapt to restrict blood from flowing in a retrograde direction through the support structure and an open condition in which the prosthetic leaflets allow blood to flow in an antegrade direction through the structure. The synthetic material may be heat set to bias the leaflets to the open or closed condition, or to bias one portion of the leaflet to the open condition and another portion of the leaflet to the closed condition.

A cable includes cable one or more conductors and a covering surrounding the one or more conductors. The covering is formed from a composition including polyethylene and a polyolefin elastomer, where the composition is crosslinked. A method of forming the cable is also provided.

A firearm holster includes a plate that is folded to form a cavity. The cavity is defined by a first sidewall, a trigger sidewall adjacent to the first sidewall, a second sidewall adjacent to the trigger sidewall, a barrel sidewall adjacent to both the first and second sidewalls, and a muzzle end wall. The muzzle end wall is adjacent to the first sidewall, the trigger sidewall, the second sidewall and the barrel sidewall. The firearm holster also includes a support wrap that at least partially surrounds the cavity and is fused to one or more of the first sidewall, the barrel sidewall, and the second sidewall.

A catheter shaft is produced by forming a first polymeric layer onto a flexible inner core while maintaining the inner core in a solid state, and solidifying the first polymeric layer, wherein the solidified first polymeric layer fails to bond with the inner core and is slidable thereon upon flexion of the shaft. A second polymeric layer may be formed over the first polymeric layer, and is slidable thereon when the shaft bends.

In at least one embodiment, a membrane filtration element is provided. The element may include at least one feed spacer including a first set of parallel strands extending in a first direction and including a plurality of first strands having a first thickness and a plurality of second strands having a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness. A second set of parallel strands may extend in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction. The second set of parallel strands may include a plurality of third strands having a third thickness and a plurality of fourth strands having a fourth thickness that is smaller than the third thickness. In one embodiment, the first and second sets of strands include alternating thick and thin strands, which reduce pressure drop in membrane filtration systems.