3m Innovative Properties Company

Stanley Rendon

Michael R Berrigan

Stephen M Sanocki

Dennis Earl Ferguson

Satinder K Nayar

Donald L Pochardt

Peter T Benson

James N Dobbs

Daniel H Carlson

Ryan Patrick Simmers

Robert L W Smithson

Paul A Martinson

Daniel C Duan

Karl K Stensvad

Jayant Chakravarty

Thomas J Gilbert

Thomas Herdtle

Mark A Peltier

Neelakandan Chandrasekaran

Przemyslaw Pawel Markowicz

Shou-Lu G Wang

Kenneth A P Meyer

Daniel E Johnson

Ibrahim S Gunes

Samuel Kidane

Timothy J Rowell

Todd L Nelson

Joseph S Warner

Bernard G Rolstad

Jerald W Hall

A method of molding a composition comprising a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) comprising mesogens; providing a mold having a mold cavity, with a feature cavity comprising a fine feature chamber; heating the composition to form molten composition; filling the fine feature chamber with molten composition moving at a flow velocity that causes flow alignment of at least a portion of the mesogens in the molten TLCP filling the fine feature chamber, relative to a flow direction of the moving molten composition; and solidifying the molten composition such that mesogens of at least the solidified TLCP in the fine feature chamber maintain their flow alignment. A molded article comprising a body and a 3-dimensional structural feature protruding out from the body and comprising a fine feature element having a minor dimension, with TLCP mesogens across the minor dimension being in a flow aligned state.

Molding thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers and articles made therefrom

The present application provides articles () having a polymeric substrate () with a plurality of solid and/or hollow microneedles () extending therefrom. Each solid microneedle is formed by a molding process and the microneedle has body with first () and second cavities () extending therein. The hollow microneedles are formed by removing a portion of the polymeric material disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity. A method for determining the location of a microneedle in an article comprising solid microneedles is also provided. The method comprises directing electromagnetic radiation toward an article comprising a plurality of microneedles and imaging the article.

Article with hollow microneedles and method of making

Injection molding parts onto a carrier web located between mold halves, each mold half having a cavity, resulting in molded articles having parts on both sides of the carrier web. Polymer flow into the cavities is assisted by application of ultrasonic energy to the mold. After the molding operation, mold halves are separated, and the carrier web is advanced, or indexed, to a next position for another molding sequence. Articles produced include lenses with part of the carrier web between lens halves, and a carrier web bearing an array of molded parts.

Web with molded articles on both sides

A method of molding a composition comprising a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) comprising mesogens; providing a mold having a mold cavity, with a feature cavity () comprising a fine feature chamber; heating the composition to form molten composition; filling the fine feature chamber with molten composition moving at a flow velocity that causes flow alignment of at least a portion of the mesogens in the molten TLCP filling the fine feature chamber (), relative to a flow direction of the moving molten composition; and solidifying the molten composition such that mesogens of at least the solidified TLCP in the fine feature chamber maintain their flow alignment. A molded article comprising a body and a 3-dimensional structural feature protruding out from the body and comprising a fine feature element having a minor dimension, with TLCP mesogens across the minor dimension being in a flow aligned state.

Molding thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

A method of making hollow microneedle arrays is described. Also described are the articles therefrom and the use of the articles in applications such as delivering fluid to and/or extracting body fluid from a subject.

Methods of making hollow microneedle arrays and articles and uses therefrom

An ultrasonic-assisted injection molding system and method for making precisely-shaped articles. A source of ultrasonic energy is positioned to apply vibrational energy to a mold cavity connected to at least one gate in flow communication with a source of molten (co)polymer. The mold is heated to a temperature of 104-116&#xb0; C., and the molten (co)polymer is injected into the mold cavity. After cooling the mold until the molten (co)polymer within the gate has solidified, ultrasonic energy is applied to the mold without remelting the solidified (co)polymer within the gate until the temperature increases to 116-122&#xb0; C., thereby substantially relieving flow induced stresses. The mold is then cooled until the temperature decreases to 101-107&#xb0; C., and is thereafter heated until the temperature increases to 116-122&#xb0; C., thereby substantially relieving any thermally induced stresses. The mold is cooled until the molten (co)polymer has solidified, thereby forming a precision molded plastic optical element.

Ultrasonic-assisted molding of precisely-shaped articles and methods

A heatsink for use in injection molding, with at least one load-bearing path with a rearward segment, wherein at least a portion of at least one non-load-bearing, dynamic heat-transfer zone of the heatsink is laterally offset from the rearward segment of the load-bearing path.

Injection molding apparatus and method

Articles enabled by an injection molding process that molds parts on a carrier web located between mold halves and uses ultrasonic energy to assist flow of polymer melt into the mold cavity. One such article is a carrier web having a high density of molded parts, i.e., bearing an array of molded articles adhered to the web in rows and columns, the articles being spaced closer (center-to-center or edge-to-edge) than the diagonal spacing between articles in the next adjacent row and next adjacent column. Another such article is a microneedle array on a land no more than 250 &#x3bc;m thick on which at least 60% of the microneedles across the array are filled (i.e., completely formed).

Articles injection molded on a web

Ultrasonic injection molding on both sides of a web

Injection molding, parts onto a carrier web () located between mold halves (). Flow of polymer melt into the mold is assisted by application of ultrasonic energy to the mold cavity. After the molding operation, mold halves are separated, and the carrier web is advanced, or indexed, to a next position for another molding sequence. Molding apparatus comprises a moving mold face (), that can move toward and away from a first mold member () (which can be stationary) in which the mold cavity is located, a means () for moving and/or indexing carrier web between the first mold member and the moving mold face, means () to inject polymer melt into the mold cavity, and an ultrasonic system () providing ultrasonic energy to the mold cavity. The carrier web can transport molded parts to subsequent process steps, such as coating, drying, inspection, curing, assembly or packaging.

Ultrasonic injection molding on a web

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Eagan, MN, United States of America

Stanley Rendon