An assembly and associated method for a commissure of a prosthetic heart valve is disclosed. As one example, a method includes forming each of a plurality of commissures with a plurality of leaflets by pairing a first commissure tab of a first leaflet with an adjacent, second commissure tab of a second leaflet, folding a support strip over an inner reinforcing element, positioning the folded support strip between the first and second commissure tabs, and attaching first and second outer reinforcing elements to the first and second commissure tabs, respectively, via stitching, the stitching extending over at least a portion of the first reinforcing element opposite a fold region of the support strip, and, for each commissure, securing end portions of the support strip to a respective support portion of a frame of the prosthetic heart valve.

An assembly and associated method for a commissure of a prosthetic heart valve is disclosed. As one example, a method includes forming each of a plurality of commissures with a plurality of leaflets by pairing a first commissure tab of a first leaflet with an adjacent, second commissure tab of a second leaflet, folding a support strip over an inner reinforcing element, positioning the folded support strip between the first and second commissure tabs, and attaching first and second outer reinforcing elements to the first and second commissure tabs, respectively, via stitching, the stitching extending over at least a portion of the first reinforcing element opposite a fold region of the support strip, and, for each commissure, securing end portions of the support strip to a respective support portion of a frame of the prosthetic heart valve.

A plastic thread bonding method and structure for folding edge of a FIBC includes setting the folding edge of the FIBC flatly on a metal solid surface; using a cooling device to maintain a condensation temperature of the solid surface; performing a needle insertion action of the folding edge by a plastic injection needle, and condensing and crystallizing at the eyelet to form a base point; performing a needle withdrawal action by the plastic injection needle to fill up a melted plastic into the eyelet, applying a pressurized cold air to condense the melted plastic to from a thread post; performing a horizontal translation action of the plastic injection needle or the folding edge, and applying the pressurized cold air to condense the melted plastic to form a thread bridge; and repeating the aforementioned procedure to form a next base point, a next thread post and a thread bridge.

A plastic thread bonding method and structure for folding edge of a FIBC includes setting the folding edge of the FIBC flatly on a metal solid surface; using a cooling device to maintain a condensation temperature of the solid surface; performing a needle insertion action of the folding edge by a plastic injection needle, and condensing and crystallizing at the eyelet to form a base point; performing a needle withdrawal action by the plastic injection needle to fill up a melted plastic into the eyelet, applying a pressurized cold air to condense the melted plastic to from a thread post; performing a horizontal translation action of the plastic injection needle or the folding edge, and applying the pressurized cold air to condense the melted plastic to form a thread bridge; and repeating the aforementioned procedure to form a next base point, a next thread post and a thread bridge.

An embolic filter balloon is disclosed. The embolic filter balloon may comprise an inflatable balloon portion. Further, the inflatable balloon portion may be coupled to a filter member. The embolic filter balloon may be disposed in a body lumen. In some embodiments, the embolic filter balloon may be configured such that when the inflatable balloon portion is at least partially inflated the filter member extends at least partially across the body lumen. Such a configuration may allow the embolic filter balloon, when deployed, to filter particles greater than a predetermined size from a fluid in the body lumen.

Interfaces for positive pressure therapy having a mask assembly, a headgear assembly and a connection port assembly are disclosed herein. The connection port assembly has a ball joint connection with the mask assembly and includes a quick release button for easily disconnecting the gases source conduit from the mask assembly. The mask assembly may include a bias flow vent that is formed separately and attached to the mask assembly. The headgear assembly encircles the rear region of the user’s head and may include at least some portions that are substantially non-stretchable.

An automatic splicing apparatus and methods thereof are provided herein for splicing together two ends of a sheet of tire material on a tire building drum. The apparatus comprises a frame, a splicer foot assembly, and a splicer roller assembly. The frame is configured to support the apparatus relative to the drum. The splicer foot assembly and the splicer roller assembly are independently longitudinally translatable relative to the frame. The splicer foot assembly includes a splicer foot having forward lower preparation rollers and rearward lower splicer rollers, and upper preparation rollers configured to operate in coordination with the forward lower preparation rollers to pull the two ends of the sheet of tire material together over the splicer foot. The splicer roller assembly includes upper splicer rollers configured to act in coordination with the rearward lower splicer rollers to splice the two ends together.

A method of constructing an inflatable fluidic actuator that includes generating a tube configuration with one or more shapes of fluid-impermeable membrane material, the tube configuration having a first tube end and a second tube end and an internal tube face and an external tube face. The method also includes coupling a first and second interface to the tube configuration at the first and second tube ends by respectively coupling each interface to the tube configuration at a respective tube end by generating at least one of: a first circumferential bond between the fluid-impermeable membrane material and one or more sidewalls of the interface; and an external face bond between fluid-impermeable membrane material at the tube end onto an external face of the interface.

A method of constructing an inflatable fluidic actuator that includes generating a tube configuration with one or more shapes of fluid-impermeable membrane material, the tube configuration having a first tube end and a second tube end and an internal tube face and an external tube face. The method also includes coupling a first and second interface to the tube configuration at the first and second tube ends by respectively coupling each interface to the tube configuration at a respective tube end by generating at least one of: a first circumferential bond between the fluid-impermeable membrane material and one or more sidewalls of the interface; and an external face bond between fluid-impermeable membrane material at the tube end onto an external face of the interface.

A composite product substantially reduced the impact force imposed by hard impactor which travelled at the speed in the range of 400 m/s to 1400 m/s simultaneously damping the vibrations and shocks appeared therein is disclosed. At the same time it is light weight with the weight lower than that of 22 to 38 kg/m2and is flexible to adopt the shape suitable for the end applications. A method of manufacturing the composite product of the invention is also disclosed.