A device for guiding and supporting a stent delivery catheter and other catheters is disclosed. The device may comprise a tubular guiding member and an elongated positioning member extending in a proximal direction beyond the tubular guiding member for advancing and retracting the tubular guiding member in distal and proximal directions. A distal portion of the elongate positioning member may be coupled to the proximal portion of the tubular guide. In embodiments, the device includes a ribbon having a distal portion and a proximal portion. In embodiments, the distal portion of the ribbon extends distally into the tubular guiding member and the proximal portion of the ribbon overlays an inner surface of the elongate positioning member.

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.

The present disclosure relates to techniques for facilitating termination of fiber optic cable ends, and consists of a fiber optic cable extension, based on a re-openable jacket sleeve, which is designed to support a multitude of spliced fibers. The sleeve, typically flexible, involves splicing of a multiple fiber optic cable with pigtails, where fiber splices are integrated onto the re-openable jacket sleeve.

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.

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 method for forming a vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The method includes conforming a planar body of fibre reinforced material (CFRM) (504), such as a sheet or unidirectional tape, to a shape of a shape defining member (506, 900). In effect, the shape defining member (506, 900) is a core that defines an internal volume of a closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The CFRM material (504) comprises continuous fibres in a synthetic matrix. The method further includes bonding a first edge portion (510) of the CFRM body (504) to a second edge portion (512) of the CFRM body (504) thereby to form the closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). An apparatus (800) for implementing the method, and components (e.g. vehicle reinforcing members (26, 28, 30), vehicle seats (10) and so forth) formed using the method are also described.

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.

An apparatus and its method of use in folding a ultrasound transducer assembly, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base which define two pivot channels therethrough, of which each support an axle. A folding platform has a first portion pivotally disposed about one axle and the second portion pivotally disposed about the other axle. The folding platform is moveable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position an interior faces of the first portion and second portion are in substantially parallel alignment with a top surface of the base. In the closed position the interior faces of each portion are substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the base and interior faces define a folding channel. A ultrasound transducer assembly positioned on the folding platform during actuation from the open position to the closed position is folded into a substantially taco-like shape within the folding channel.

Method and apparatus for making an outer skeleton for a container are provided. The outer skeleton includes bottom wall and a lateral wall The lateral wall has at least one pair of superposed panels between which a heat-activatable glue is present. The method includes inserting a pressing element inside the outer skeleton, wherein the pressing element is configured to expand and press on the superposed panels and cause activation of the heat-activatable glue and adhesive coupling between the pair of panels thanks to the heat supplied by the pressing element or by a supporting element coupled to it. The apparatus includes the pressing element and the supporting element configured to operate in this way.

Method and apparatus for making an outer skeleton for a container are provided. The outer skeleton includes bottom wall and a lateral wall The lateral wall has at least one pair of superposed panels between which a heat-activatable glue is present. The method includes inserting a pressing element inside the outer skeleton, wherein the pressing element is configured to expand and press on the superposed panels and cause activation of the heat-activatable glue and adhesive coupling between the pair of panels thanks to the heat supplied by the pressing element or by a supporting element coupled to it. The apparatus includes the pressing element and the supporting element configured to operate in this way.