A multi-layer decorating element includes a base and a plurality of plates forming decorative elements. The base has a length between the first and second ends thereof and an increased width from the first end to the second end. The first end of the base is curved. The second end of the base is divided by a gap into two segments. The gap has a closed end and an open end. The open end is disposed at the second end of the base. The closed end has a smaller width than the open end. The plurality of plates includes a side with a hot melt glue layer and is hot pressed on a side of the base. The plurality of plates is disposed within peripheral edges of the base and includes a plurality of overlapped sections. The plurality of plates has different shapes.

Methods are disclosed for converting on a mass scale elongated material webs into finished parts or devices. Slits form strands in a web, the strands comprising interconnected objects which correspond to parts of finished devices. Strands are combined with additional webs to form a material laminate from which finished devices are die cut. The methods are suitable for a range of converting applications including medical devices, particularly the external nasal dilator. Complex dilator devices produced from the methods are formed as a single body truss having horizontal regions adapted to engage outer wall tissues of first and second nasal passages of a nose. When in use the dilator stabilizes or expands nasal outer wall tissues and prevents the outer wall tissues from drawing inward during breathing. Methods of manufacture comprise separate steps for fabricating and assembling the elements and layers of finished dilator devices and for packaging finished devices individually or in groups. Waste material is incorporated into subsequent fabrication processes to produce the same or complementary devices.

A wound dressing having a thin barrier layer of soft, pliant adhesive material with a flexible cover layer extending along one side of the adhesive layer and a removable release sheet on the opposite side is disclosed. The adhesive material has a center and border surrounding the center such that the adhesive is contoured. A method for making the contoured dressing using a gear pump and a laminating roller having a predetermined softness and firmness is also disclosed.

A reinforced stretch film obtained by a method of producing a reinforced stretch film comprising the steps of: providing an elongated base sheet of plastic stretch film having a longitudinal axis, forming a plurality of cord-like, elongated reinforcement members and a plurality of plastic film strip overlays, positioning the plurality of elongated reinforcement members on the elongated base sheet, positioning a single plastic film strip overlay over each of the elongated reinforcement members, folding each edge of the elongated base sheet inward toward a center of the elongated base sheet to further strengthen and reinforce each edge and attaching the plastic film strip overlays and the folded edges to the cord-like, elongated reinforcement members and to the elongated base sheet to fixedly sandwich the cord-like, elongated reinforcement members between the elongated base sheet and the narrow plastic film strip overlays.

A method for producing a multi-layered absorbent article is disclosed. At least two of the layers include a colored region.

A beaded composite panel is fabricated using composite plies. An opening is formed in each of plies, and each ply is laid up on a bead feature and drawn down over the bead feature in the area of the opening so as to widen the opening into a gap allowing the ply to conform to the contour of the bead feature. Patches are fabricated and placed on the plies overlying over the openings. The laid-up plies are compacted and cured.

A biocompatible structure includes one or more base structures for regeneration of different tissues. Each base structure includes alternately stacked polymer layers and spacer layers. The polymer layer includes a polymer and tissue forming nanoparticles. The polymer includes polyurethane. The tissue forming nanoparticles includes hydroxypatites (HAP) nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, or nanofibers. The spacer layer includes bone particles, polymeric nanoparticles, or nanofibers. The weight percentage of tissue forming nanoparticles to the polymer in the polymer layer in one base structure is different from that in the other base structures. A method of producing the biocompatible structure includes forming multiple base structures stacked together, coating the stacked multiple base structures, and plasma treating the coated structure.

A nasal dilator comprises adjacent, substantially parallel resilient members having mid-sections substantially parallel to the dilator longitudinal centerline and end portions that diverge obliquely away from the centerline. The dilator may comprise a laminate of vertically stacked material layers that each have a different peripheral shape, and greater or lesser surface area, from that of the others. The dilator may comprise resilient members that diverge or curve symmetrically about the dilator longitudinal centerline such that a shape of a resilient member on one side of a lateral centerline is a mirror image of its shape on the opposite side of the lateral centerline.

An electrochemical test device is provided having a base layer with a first electrode thereon and a top layer with a second electrode thereon. The two electrodes are separated by a spacer layer having an opening therein, such that a sample-receiving space is defined with one electrode on the top surface, the other electrodes on the bottom surface and side walls formed from edges of the opening in the spacer. Reagents for performing the electrochemical reaction are deposited on one of the electrodes and on the side walls of the sample-receiving space.

An apparatus and method for bonding sheet metal parts to a laminated core in which sheet metal parts are punched from an electrical steel strip, the punched sheet metal parts are stacked and bonded at least integrally to form a plurality of laminated cores, and in order to facilitate the separation of the integrally bonded sheet metal parts into laminated cores, a separating agent is provided at least between two stacked sheet metal parts in that with the punching stage for punching the sheet metal part, the separating agent is both punched from a separating agent support and provided to the sheet metal part. In order to embody the application of a geometrically accurate separating agent in a reproducible and simple way, it is proposed that the separating agent be punched from the sheet-like separating agent support that is supplied below the electrical steel strip.