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.

A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device which includes a cylindrically shaped body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter, the body including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape. One or more of the predetermined density and the predetermined diameter in combination with the predetermined shape of the projections optimize mobilization of soft tissue structures of the human body.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods for fabricating tubular structures from a combination of fibrous materials for use in, for example, tissue engineering scaffold applications. These materials may also be useful in other biological or non-biological applications in which such tubular fibrous structures may be applicable, examples including conventional medical devices, filters, fiber optics, cable wraps, geotextiles, batteries, fuel cells, armor, and other diverse applications.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods for fabricating tubular structures from a combination of fibrous materials for use in, for example, tissue engineering scaffold applications. These materials may also be useful in other biological or non-biological applications in which such tubular fibrous structures may be applicable, examples including conventional medical devices, filters, fiber optics, cable wraps, geotextiles, batteries, fuel cells, armor, and other diverse applications.

A duct that, in cross section, has one or more rounded portions is disclosed together with a method and a machine for producing it. The duct can be made from rigid foam panels with a facing on at east one side of the panels. A crimping element is used to form several substantially parallel indentations or crimps on a faced side of a panel, without breaching the facing, so that the crimped panel can be manipulated to form a section of duct with the crimps extending longitudinally. Depending on the number of crimps, the duct will appear more or less round in cross section although the crimped foam panels can be manipulated to have cross sections of different shapes such as oval. Adjacent duct sections may be joined, for example, with tape or bands, several of which are described.

A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device which includes a cylindrically shaped body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter, the body including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape. One or more of the predetermined density and the predetermined diameter in combination with the predetermined shape of the projections optimize mobilization of soft tissue structures of the human body.

A method for manufacturing a blood pressure information measurement apparatus includes the following steps: forming a hole in a flexible resin sheet; inserting a connecting pipe into the hole; overlaying a first end portion and a second end portion of the flexible resin sheet such that an inner side of the first end portion contacts an outer side of the second portion; welding a location at which the first end portion and the second end portion overlap to form a first welded portion, such that the flexible resin sheet forms a tube-shaped body having a first end and a second end; flattening the tube-shaped body; welding the first end and the second to form two second welded portions, such that the tube-shaped body forms a bladder having two long sides and two short sides; and welding portions of the resin sheet which overlap along a first long side to form one or more partial welded portions.

A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length. The length of the fibers of the second group varies progressively in accordance to their proximity to the fibers of the first group; the fibers of the second group closest to the fibers of the first group being longer than the fibers of the second group further from the fibers of the first group. The fiber of the second fiber layer winds circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the balloon substantially over the entire length of the balloon.

An apparatus configured to produce a letterbox using a strip of material including: a processor configured to measure a first plurality of hole positions on a first end of the strip of material and a second plurality of hole positions on flanges of the strip of material; a puncher configured to punch the first plurality of holes on at least one of the first end and the second end of the strip of material according to the first plurality of hole positions, the puncher configured to punch the second plurality of holes on the flanges according to the second plurality of hole positions; a support structure; an auto rivet machine coupled to the support structure, the support structure configured to support and hold the auto rivet machine such that the auto rivet machine can be moved above the first and second plurality of holes on the letterbox to be riveted.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a tubular body (2) for a packaging in tube form (1), comprising the following steps: ) definition of the geometrical characteristics of the tubular body (2) to be produced; ) creation of an initial image (6) covering the surface of the tubular body (2) to be produced, said initial image (6) having a right lateral edge and a left lateral edge; ) creation of an intermediate image (8) from the initial image (6) by adding a lateral strip (13) to one of said edges of the initial image (6), said lateral strip (13) comprising a copy of the other of said edges of the initial image (6); ) printing of at least one intermediate image (8) on a sheet, the intermediate image (8) being disposed such that the lateral edges of the image are parallel to the direction of unwinding of the sheet; ) cutting of a small strip on each lateral side of the intermediate image (8) to form a final image (10); ) shaping of the sheet as tubular body (2) and edge-to-edge assembly to obtain a continuity of the design between the right edge and the left edge of the image.