Ducting and/or duct couplings can be formed from shape memory polymer material, with the material for example being additively manufactured. The use of shape memory polymer material for one or more of the duct portions may allow for easier installation of the ducting, for example allowing the ducting to be warped and/or bent to fit into or through places that are hard to reach or hard to maneuver through, with the ducting then heated to cause it to return to a predetermined memory shape. The coupling of duct portions together may be accomplished by the duct portions including a shape memory polymer material, with for example ends of the duct portions fitted together, and then heated to use a shape memory property of the material to effect coupling. Heating of the shape memory polymer material also softens the material, allowing it to move to a previously set shape.

The present disclosure relates to a method of sealing ports of medical devices, e.g., filtration and/or diffusion devices like ultrafilters and capillary dialyzers.

The present disclosure relates to a method of sealing ports of medical devices, e.g., filtration and/or diffusion devices like ultrafilters and capillary dialyzers.

A joined member assembly method includes: a step in which a substrate is inserted in a gap between a superposed first component and a second component, said substrate being configured from a multilayer fabric that is capable of expanding as a result of heating and that is flexible after expansion and a reinforcing material woven into the multilayer fabric; a step in which the substrate is heated and made to expand in the thickness direction; a step in which the gap is filled with a resin and the substrate is impregnated with the resin; and a step in which the resin is cured. A step in which a seam is created by machining in accordance with a measured gap shape is omitted.

A heat shrink component includes a heat shrink layer and a heating unit in thermal contact with at least a part of the heat shrink layer and heating the heat shrink layer to a heat shrink temperature. The heat shrink component has a first dimension in an expanded state and a second dimension in a shrunk state after heating, the first dimension is larger than the second dimension. The heating unit includes an electrically conductive lead heated by an electrical current flowing through the electrically conductive lead and a heat spreading layer arranged in thermal contact with the electrically conductive lead and distributing a heat generated by the electrically conductive lead.

A heat shrink component includes a heat shrink layer and a heating unit in thermal contact with at least a part of the heat shrink layer and heating the heat shrink layer to a heat shrink temperature. The heat shrink component has a first dimension in an expanded state and a second dimension in a shrunk state after heating, the first dimension is larger than the second dimension. The heating unit includes an electrically conductive lead heated by an electrical current flowing through the electrically conductive lead and a heat spreading layer arranged in thermal contact with the electrically conductive lead and distributing a heat generated by the electrically conductive lead.

An attachment configuration for a vascular filter assembly including a self-expanding filter member attached to a catheter body and constrained from expansion in a first configuration by a constraining sheath is presented. The attachment configuration includes an outer tube of material that is overlaid over an end of the filter member and bonded to the catheter body through cutouts disposed through the end of the filter member.

A first structure made of a first polymer is joined to a second structure made of an incompatible second polymer by the steps of welding small bands of compatible tubing or material to the first structure to create raised structures or ribs, and mechanically linking the second structure with the ribs or raised structures at the desired attachment point. The mechanical linkage may be accomplished by using heat shrinking or mechanical compression (such as crimping) to force the incompatible second polymer around the ribs or raised structures or, in the case of raised structures formed as threads or nubs, by inter-engagement between the threads or nubs on the first structure and corresponding structures, such as internal threading, nub-receiving slots, or internal surfaces, of the second structure. The option of using the welded raised structures as threads or nubs for a threaded, bayonet, pin-and-slot, snap-fit, or similar connection enables the second structure to be removed from the first structure and replaced whenever the second structure becomes worn during use. The first structure may be an surgical laser fiber with an ETFE buffer layer, and the second structure is a protective structure may be made of PTFE, PET, FEP or PFA.

A method for joining braids that are used for a braid-reinforced hollow fiber membrane, produced by the method inserting a core material into the hollow parts of ends of two braids to be joined to connect the two braids, covering the joint part with a heat-shrinkable tube, and shrinking the heat-shrinkable tube by heating at 120 to 160 C., thereby joining the braid ends together, and that can exhibit sufficient joint strength when load is applied during spinning, or when a porous hollow fiber membrane is used as a treatment membrane for water purification treatment, sewage and waste water treatment, etc. A braid-reinforced porous hollow fiber membrane is produced by allowing braids whose ends are joined by the above method to pass through the inner nozzle of a double annular spinning nozzle, applying a membrane-forming dope discharged from the outer nozzle of the double annular spinning nozzle to the outer surfaces of the joined braids passing through the inner nozzle of the double annular spinning nozzle for impregnation, then coagulating the braids in a coagulating liquid, and winding the braids on a bobbin.

Apparatus and methods are provided for creating tubular devices, e.g., as components for catheters, sheaths, and or other devices sized for introduction into a patient. In one embodiment, a method is provided for making a tubular device using a sheet of material including a coated first surface. The sheet is rolled around a mandrel until longitudinal edges of the sheet are disposed near or adjacent one another, e.g., without attaching the longitudinal edges together. A tubular braid is positioned over the sheet-wrapped mandrel, one or more tubular segments are positioned over the tubular braid, and heat shrink tubing is positioned over the tubular segments. The resulting assembly is heated to cause the tubular segments to at least partially reflow and/or otherwise laminate the tubular segments to the tubular braid and sheet. The heat shrink tubing and mandrel are then removed to create the tubular device.