Systems and methods are provided for braiding Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) tape. One method includes drawing multiple lanes of MMC tape, comprising a matrix of metal reinforced by fibers, from bobbins arranged around a mandrel. The method also includes braiding the multiple lanes to form a preform at the mandrel for an MMC part and consolidating the preform via application of heat and pressure.

A braided tube formation apparatus and associated methods of use are disclosed for assisting in the manufacture of a braided tube. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides at least one elongated core mandrel, and at least one elongated, radially collapsible primary tube sized and configured for removably receiving the at least one elongated core mandrel therewithin. Each of the at least one primary tube provides a plurality of spaced apart primary tube portions circumferentially arranged and configured for cooperating to define said primary tube. During use, after the braided tube is circumferentially formed on an outer surface of the at least one primary tube, the at least one core mandrel is removed from within the at least one primary tube, thereby allowing the primary tube portions to radially move inwardly toward one another so that braided tube may be disengaged from the at least one primary tube.

A braided tube formation apparatus and associated methods of use are disclosed for assisting in the manufacture of a braided tube. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides at least one elongated core mandrel, and at least one elongated, radially collapsible primary tube sized and configured for removably receiving the at least one elongated core mandrel therewithin. Each of the at least one primary tube provides a plurality of spaced apart primary tube portions circumferentially arranged and configured for cooperating to define said primary tube. During use, after the braided tube is circumferentially formed on an outer surface of the at least one primary tube, the at least one core mandrel is removed from within the at least one primary tube, thereby allowing the primary tube portions to radially move inwardly toward one another so that braided tube may be disengaged from the at least one primary tube.

A last system and a method of making the last system are disclosed. The last system includes a last member and an exterior layer. The exterior layer becomes deformable when heated above a characteristic temperature. The method can include forming a braided footwear component on the last system. The exterior layer may be joined with the braided footwear component by heating the last system above the characteristic temperature.

A last system and a method of making the last system are disclosed. The last system includes a last member and an exterior layer. The exterior layer becomes deformable when heated above a characteristic temperature. The method can include forming a braided footwear component on the last system. The exterior layer may be joined with the braided footwear component by heating the last system above the characteristic temperature.

A tube includes a corrugated metal tubular member; and a first covering part that covers the outside of the tubular member, and forms a braided structure using a resin string member of which at least a part is covered by a metal having lower electrical resistance than that of a metal forming the tubular member. The tube can also include a third covering part made of an insulating resin arranged between the tubular member and the first covering part, and covers the tubular member, wherein the first covering part covers the third covering part.

A tube includes a corrugated metal tubular member; and a first covering part that covers the outside of the tubular member, and forms a braided structure using a resin string member of which at least a part is covered by a metal having lower electrical resistance than that of a metal forming the tubular member. The tube can also include a third covering part made of an insulating resin arranged between the tubular member and the first covering part, and covers the tubular member, wherein the first covering part covers the third covering part.

A braided vaso-occlusive member formed out of first plurality of filaments interwoven with a second plurality of filaments, wherein filaments of the first plurality are helically wound in a first rotational direction along an elongate axis of the braided member, and filaments of the second plurality are wound in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, such that filaments of the first plurality cross over and/or under filaments of the second plurality at each of a plurality cross-over locations axially spaced along the elongate axis of the braided member, wherein at each cross-over location, the filaments of the first plurality cross over at least two consecutive filaments of the second plurality, then cross under only a single filament of the second plurality, and then cross over at least two additional consecutive filaments of the second plurality.

A braided vaso-occlusive member formed out of first plurality of filaments interwoven with a second plurality of filaments, wherein filaments of the first plurality are helically wound in a first rotational direction along an elongate axis of the braided member, and filaments of the second plurality are wound in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, such that filaments of the first plurality cross over and/or under filaments of the second plurality at each of a plurality cross-over locations axially spaced along the elongate axis of the braided member, wherein at each cross-over location, the filaments of the first plurality cross over at least two consecutive filaments of the second plurality, then cross under only a single filament of the second plurality, and then cross over at least two additional consecutive filaments of the second plurality.

In this stent, two superelastic fine wires are disposed along the axial direction at a prescribed helical pitch so as to have a prescribed stent inner diameter D0, while a pair is formed between two helical fine wires that are disposed across a micro gap of a size not more than five times the wire diameter of the fine wires in such a manner as to include a mutually contacting state. A prescribed reticulation gap is formed by crossing a clockwise-wound helical fine wire pair and a counterclockwise-wound helical fine wire pair in a plain-woven fashion, so as to have an axial gap equal to [(prescribed helical pitch)−{2×(fine wire diameter)}−(micro gap)] and a circumferential gap equal to [{(stent inner circumferential length corresponding to stent inner diameter)/N}−{2×(fine wire diameter)}−(micro gap