Abstract:
The present invention provides a flowable material container closure assembly having a port tube and a membrane tube. The port tube (I) has a first layer and a second layer, (A) the first layer is a polymer blend and (B) the second layer is disposed coaxially within the first layer; and the membrane tube (II) is disposed coaxially within the port tube, the membrane tube has an outer layer, a core layer and an inner layer.
Abstract:
A device and method for inactivating pathogens in therapeutic fluids with sterilizing radiation in a continuous thin fluid flow arrangement that exhibits radiation dose uniformity for fluids having high optical densities. Radiation dose uniformity is achieved in part through a “carrying” mechanism that moves or carries the fluid, thereby eliminating a channel flow velocity profile where flow volumes near the channel walls run the risk of overexposure to the radiation due to very large residence times within the channel. The device comprises a relatively flat belt chamber (22) connected to a fluid flow through an inlet (24) and an outlet (26) on the belt chamber (22). The belt chamber (22) has a top surface (28) and a bottom surface (30). A radiation permeable plate (32) is disposed adjacent the top surface (28) of the belt chamber (22) and is in contact with the belt chamber (22). A radiation source (42) is provided adjacent to the plate (32) adjacent to a side opposite the belt chamber (22). A belt (34) having a plurality of flexible vanes (36) is disposed adjacent the bottom surface (30) of the belt chamber (22) such that the vanes (36) make contact with the belt chamber (22). The belt is driven by a roller mechanism (38) in the direction of the fluid flow. As the fluid flows through the belt chamber (22), the flexible vanes (36) provide a squeegee-like mechanism to move the fluid through the belt chamber (22) in discrete packets (40) defined by a pair of vanes (36). As the packets of fluid move through the belt chamber, they are exposed to sterilizing radiation passing through the plate (32).
Abstract:
The present invention provides a multiple layer thermoplastic structure of a (1) skin layer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, ethylene homopolymers having a density of from about 0.930 g/cc to about 0.960 g/cc, and ethylene homopolymers having a density of from about 0.930 g/cc to about 0.960 g/cc blended with an ethylene and a-olefin copolymers having a density less than about 0.930 g/cc, the skin layer having a thickness of greater than about 3.0 mils; (2) a radio frequency susceptible layer adhered to the skin layer, the radio frequency susceptible layer having a dielectric loss greater than 0.05 at 1-60 MHz and at temperatures of ambient to 250° C., the radio frequency susceptible layer having: (a) a first polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polypropylene copolymers, (b) a second polyolefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene copolymers, ultra-low density polyethylene, polybutene, and butene ethylene copolymers; (c) a radio frequency susceptible polymer selected from the group consisting of (i) ethylene copolymers having 50-85% ethylene content with comonomers selected from a first group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ester derivatives of acrylic acid with alcohols having 1-10 carbons, ester derivatives of methacrylic acid with alcohols having 1-10 carbons, vinyl acetate, and vinyl alcohol (ii) homopolymers and copolymers containing at least one segment of urethanes, esters, ureas, imides, sulfones, and amides, and (d) a compatibilizing agent of a styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer; wherein the structure when fabricated into a 50 ml container has a water vapor transmission rate of less than 8% by weight after the container has been autoclaved at 121° C. for 20 minutes and stored for 90 days in an environmentally regulated compartment having 15% relative humidity at 40° C.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a polymer blend for fabricating medical products. The blend has a first ethylene and &agr;-olefin copolymer obtained using a single-site catalyst present in an amount by weight of from about 0% to about 99% by weight of the blend and having a melt flow index from about 0.1 g/10 min to about 5 g/10 min, a second ethylene and &agr;-olefin copolymer obtained using a single-site catalyst and being present in an amount by weight of the blend from about 0% to about 99% and having a melt flow index from higher than about 5 g/10 min to about 20 g/10 min; and a third ethylene and &agr;-olefin copolymer obtained using a single-site catalyst and being present in an amount by weight of the blend from about 0% to about 99% and having a melt flow index greater than about 20 g/10 min.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a polymeric blend suitable for adhesive bonding to polar polymeric materials comprising an ultra-low density polyethylene in an amount by weight within the range of 99.999%-90.0%; and an additive selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene(5)oleylamine, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)soyaamine, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)oleylamine, and polyoxyethylene(5)octadecylamine, the additive in an amount by weight within the range of 0.001%-10%.
Abstract:
Multiple component polymer compositions for fabrication into articles. In particular, polymeric compositions comprising a heat resistant polymer; a radio frequency ("RF") susceptible polymer; a compatibilizing polymer; the composition having physical properties within the range a =70%; c 1.0; e =0.05; h
Abstract:
The coating of a RF active material on a non-RF active substrate material of typical thickness for packaging purposes, can generate sufficient thermal energy to effect strong bonding of the substrate materials. The RF active material may be-deposited on less than the entire inner surface area of the substrate material, preferably, at or near the portion of the substrate surface which represents the heat seal interface. In this manner of application, additional coating or printing of other substances on the substrate surface can be achieved without hampering the heat sealing process. Flexible medical containers capable of containing a product which is maintained and removed under sterile conditions, can be constructed on commercial production machines from these coated non-RF active substrate materials.
Abstract:
A flexible fluid junction that links three or more fluid ducts is provided. The junction includes a pair of flexible webs with at least three tubes or fluid ducts disposed between the flexible webs. The outer periphery of the webs is sealed together and around the tubes to define a chamber. An end of each tube terminates inside the chamber so that fluid may flow from each tube through the chamber. Still further, a method of manufacturing a flexible fluid junction and a method of using a flexible fluid junction are also provided.
Abstract:
A heat flow type differential calorimeter uses a planar thermoelectric disc as its major heat flow path for transferring heat to the sample and reference capsules. To improve the reproducibility of the calorimeter, two small discs of a thermoelectric material capable of forming a thermocouple with the thermoelectric disc are attached thereto in face-to-face relationship. Next a thermocouple pair made of the same material as the small disc and a third material, capable of forming a thermocouple with the disc, is attached to the center of each of the small discs. This converts the usual point contact temperature sensor to a large surface area temperature sensor and hence improves the reproducibility of the thermal analyzer.
Abstract:
A thermomechanical analyzer is adapted to measure stress or strain in a sample material by the use of a flat, passive spring, having a known modulus of elasticity, in conjunction with an axially displaceable shaft which mechanically links the spring and the sample together. The linkage is such that the sample under test and the spring are mechanically connected in parallel, i.e., each undergo equal displacement. A transducer senses axial displacement of the shaft such that the magnitude of the shaft displacement is related to the stress in the sample. The sample may be subjected to temperature variations during the test cycle.