A method of automatically advancing a polymer cut-board, such as cellular polyvinyl chloride, through a stationary, non-spinning sealing element having a rounded or cylindrical surface that contacts and compresses a cut edge of the board to provide a sealed skin surface to the cut edge.

A system for peen-forming of thermoplastic composite material is provided. The system includes a tool, a heater, and a peen-forming device. The thermoplastic composite material is positioned on the tool, which supports the thermoplastic composite material as it is being process. The tool has a surface to which a portion of the thermoplastic composite material is intended to conform. The heater is configured to heat the thermoplastic composite material while it is positioned on the tool to make the thermoplastic composite material more malleable. The peen-forming device directs particles against the thermoplastic composite material positioned on the tool so that the portion of the thermoplastic composite material conforms to the surface of the tool.

Embodiments herein relate to prosthetic heart valves constructed with animal tissue wherein the leaflets are unitary with the inner skirt. In an embodiment, an implantable heart valve assembly is included having a plurality of valve leaflets, an inner skirt, and a metal frame, wherein the plurality of valve leaflets and the inner skirt are formed of a continuous piece of animal tissue. In another embodiment, a method of making an implantable heart valve assembly is included, the method including placing a piece of pericardial tissue over a mold, cross-linking the pericardial tissue in place over the mold, removing the pericardial tissue from the mold, and attaching the pericardial tissue to a frame, wherein the pericardial tissue forms a seamless junction between a plurality of valve leaflets and an inner skirt. Other embodiments are also included herein.

An apparatus for making a three-dimensionally curved object, said apparatus comprising a membrane having a moulding surface, which is configurable into a predetermined shape by individually adjusting an array of actuators acting on the surface opposite the moulding surface of said membrane, wherein the membrane is a ferromagnetic membrane and the actuators are provided with magnetic joints at the distal ends of said actuators.

A support for supporting a workpiece from below efficiently while reducing the amount of necessary materials, and a shaping method for shaping the workpiece and support efficiently includes a hollow state support for supporting a workpiece from below, and the hollow state support has a lattice form with crossing of straight linear or curved columnar bodies, wherein a sintered strength at a connecting region with the workpiece is lower than the sintered strength at the other regions.

Microstructure manufacturing apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein that enable the production of microstructures in an efficient, cost-effective manner that produces precise, high-quality microstructure products. In the manufacturing process for a microneedle array, for example, a template can be contacted against a surface of a continuous layer of a viscous polymer and separated from the surface to form a plurality of projections. The projections can then be solidified and later cut at a predetermined distance from the surface to form the microstructure.

The present invention concerns an apparatus for making a three-dimensionally curved object, said apparatus comprising a membrane having a moulding surface, which is configurable into a predetermined shape by individually adjusting an array of actuators acting on the surface opposite the moulding surface of said membrane, wherein the membrane is a ferromagnetic membrane and the actuators are provided with magnetic joints at the distal ends of said actuators.

A grafted polyvinyl alcohol polymer includes a polyvinyl alcohol main chain and a plurality of side chains grafted to the polyvinyl alcohol main chain. One or more of the side chains from the plurality of side chains include one or more units selected from: an aliphatic carboxylic acid, an aliphatic amide, an amino alkyl (meth)acrylate, a hydroxylated alkyl (meth)acrylate, or any combinations thereof. The grafted polyvinyl alcohol polymer can be included in a formulation that also includes water, and the formulation can be used as an adhesive in a creping process.

To provide a data conversion device capable of generating data necessary for shaping a target object using an inkjet method from three-dimensional data in accordance with an impact diameter. Grid data generation section of data conversion device generates grid data obtained by defining layer data by each grid region indicating a position to which a droplet is ejected by the inkjet method. Ejection position change section changes the position (ejection region) to which the droplet is ejected on grid data, based on impact diameter when the droplet is ejected and length of grid regions.

A support for supporting a workpiece from below efficiently while reducing the amount of necessary materials, and a shaping method for shaping the workpiece and support efficiently includes a hollow state support for supporting a workpiece from below, and the hollow state support has a lattice form with crossing of straight linear or curved columnar bodies, wherein a sintered strength at a connecting region with the workpiece is lower than the sintered strength at the other regions.