The invention relates to methods and apparatus for manufacturing intravascular stents wherein the intravascular stent has its inner surface treated to promote the migration of endothelial cells onto the inner surface of the intravascular stent. In particular, the inner surface of the intravascular stent has at least one groove formed therein.

Formation of a deformation along a surface of a sheet metal panel of an electronic device is minimized or prevented by determining an area of the surface to which a deformation has developed or is predicted to develop, where the deformation forms or is predicted to form in response to one or more of the surface features being provided into the surface. A score line is provided along the surface that is at or proximate the area.

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for manufacturing intravascular stents wherein the intravascular stent has its inner surface treated to promote the migration of endothelial cells onto the inner surface of the intravascular stent. In particular, the inner surface of the intravascular stent has at least one groove formed therein.

A groove forming station configured to simultaneously form a groove on an end of a plurality of tubes includes a conveyor system configured to receive one of the plurality of tubes and align the one of the plurality of tubes for a subsequent grooving process; a first groove forming device configured to form a first groove on one end of a plurality of tubes; a second groove forming device configured to form a second groove on another end of the plurality of tubes. The conveyor system is configured to convey the plurality of tubes to the first groove forming device; and the conveyor system being further configured to convey the plurality of tubes to the second groove forming device.

A punching tool comprising a punch (42) and a die (46), in particular for manufacturing a creasing plate (24), the die having a straight recess (50) for accommodating material deformed by the punch (42), characterized in that the die (46) has an outer contour which extends, adjacent the open end of the recess (50), at an angle of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the recess (50).

A tube and method for sizing the effective inside diameter of the tube to a smaller effective inside diameter is provided. The method uses rollers that apply focused pressure to the tube to create a crease that reduces the effective inside diameter without substantially changing the outside envelope of the tube. The crease may be either a radius or squared. Reducing the effective inside diameter of the tube creates radiused surfaces for a self-tapping screw to cut threads.

A tube and method for sizing the effective inside diameter of the tube to a smaller effective inside diameter is provided. The method uses rollers that apply focused pressure to the tube to create a crease that reduces the effective inside diameter without substantially changing the outside envelope of the tube. The crease may be either a radius or squared. Reducing the effective inside diameter of the tube creates radiused surfaces for a self-tapping screw to cut threads.

A pipe connection device according to the present invention includes: a connection member including a projection in which an insertion space is formed in the projection and a pipe is inserted through one side and which is bent in a circumferential direction at the other side and a separation preventing unit which is spaced apart from the projection and protrudes in the circumferential direction; and a flange member coupled to the circumference of the connection member between the projection and the separation preventing unit so as to contact the projection and having a joining hole penetrated by a joining member.

A method for producing a component element for a furniture fitting, in particular a rail, includes the following steps to be carried out in chronological order: providing a planar sheet having a longitudinal extension, two top surfaces and two side surfaces spaced apart by a width of the sheet, as a semifinished product of the component element. The sheet has a wall thickness in the range of 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, and is formed, preferably by an embossing stamp and/or an embossing roller, on at least one top surface with an indentation. The indentation is arranged transversely, preferably substantially orthogonally, to the longitudinal extension. The sheet is bent such that, in a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal extension, a profile of the component element arises, and the bent sheet is mechanically separated in the region of the indentation.

A form-rolling device for processing a tubular member may include a shaft rotatable around a first axis, a first grooving portion that protrudes from an outer circumference of the shaft; a second grooving portion that is rotatable around a second axis parallel to the first axis; a flange-shaped tube-end positioning member that is attached to a position of the outer circumference of the shaft nearer to a base end than the first grooving portion, and a supporting member that supports an outer circumference of a ring member held on an outer circumference of the tubular member.