Abstract:
A port (20) is formed in a thermoplastic container wall (22) by slitting the wall (22), inserting a thermoplastic tube (26) through the slit (24), placing a mandrel (34) in the tube, placing opposed dies (30, 32) defining a bore over the sheet (22) and tube (26), and dielectrically heating the thermoplastic to fuse the tube (26) and sheet (22). Preferably the bore defined by the dies (30, 32) is of a diameter slightly less than that of the tube (26), and has an enlarged central area which forms a thickened section (40) of material over the slit (24).
Abstract:
A flexible, three-dimensional container is made by a prescribed vacuum-molding and heat sealing process. The container possesses a precise, defined geometry before and during use. The container is formed from first and second walls. The first wall has a planar area and a vacuum-molded cavity area drawn out of the plane of the planar area into a predefined three-dimensional geometry. A second wall overlies the first wall to close the cavity area and thereby forms an interior compartment. A thermal seal joins the two walls together. The seal is formed by heating the second wall and the first wall in the planar area, while assuring that the cavity area of the first wall is not subject to heating and possible deformation of its precise vacuum-molded geometry.
Abstract:
A blood filtration device (16) encapsulates a filter pad assembly (20) within a flexible housing (18). The filter pad assembly (20) includes first and second filter media layers (44, 46). A first heat and pressure sealed region (28) integrally bonds the peripheries of the first and second media layers (44, 46) together. The flexible housing (18) comprises a peripheral rim (34) aligned with the first heat and pressure sealed region (28) of the first media layer (44). A second heat and pressure sealed region (32), formed after the first heat and pressure sealed region (28), joins the rim (34) of the flexible housing (18) to the first heat and pressure sealed region (28), thereby forming a composite seal that encapsulates the filter pad assembly (20) within the housing (18).