The present disclosure relates to a fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) tube, the tube comprising a plurality of concentric layers of an FRP material forming a shell of the tube. At least one blind threaded longitudinal bolt hole is provided from a transverse end surface of the shell. The bolt hole extends in at least three of the plurality of layers, a middle layer encompassing a plane passing through a center of the bolt hole, an inner layer encompassing a plane of an innermost extent of the bolt hole, and an outer layer encompassing a plane of an outermost extent of the bolt hole. The fibre filament of each of the inner and outer layers has been wound at a first angle to the longitudinal axis and the fibre filament of the middle layer has been wound at a second angle to the longitudinal axis.

The invention provides methods and apparatus for producing a spirally wound pipe or pipe liner, and also to a web for forming a spirally wound pipe or pipe liner. One aspect of the invention provides a method and an associated machine of winding a helically wound pipe from a web (200) having transversely spaced apart connecting formations (310, 320) adapted to interlock when the web is wound in a helical path and adjacent edge portions (300a. 300b) of the web overlap one another, wherein an exterior support means (400) for the connecting formation at the terminus of the pipe being helically wound from the web is provided, and a radially outwardly directed force is applied against an inner face (220) of the web and the support means (400) to pinch connecting formations into interlocking engagement. A further aspect of the invention provides an elongated web (200) comprising a wall portion (210) bound by edge portions (300a. 300b) and adapted to form a pipe by spirally winding said web and joining adjacent said edge portions, wherein a distal end of joined edge portions (330) of the web projecting from the wall portion (210) of the web is less than a spacing distance defined by a spacer rib (350) projecting from the wall portion, when the web is spirally wound and adjacent edge portions are joined together.

A method for creating tubular inserts is useful for creating custom fitted inserts that correspond to the anatomy of a patient and solve the problem of pressure points, wear of the implant, damage to surrounding tissue, and denting. Surface measurements of the affected portion of a patient's internal cavity are obtained. Those measurements are used to design a core. The core is 3D printed with a soluble material. The core is wrapped with a thin filament or film such that the contours from the core develop on the outer surface of the covering. The covering is hardened and the core is dissolved away, leaving a custom-made implant device that can be deposited in the patient's cavity.

A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between parts of a transmission shaft system comprises a tubular section of continuous-fibre-reinforced composite material which has been modified to form a living hinge section with reduced bending stiffness to allow flexion of the tubular section. The tubular section may be modified through the provision of a pattern of formations within the living hinge section. The formations may be in the form of apertures and/or recesses in the continuous-fibre-reinforced composite material to create a plurality of living hinges in the material between, in particular slots and/or grooves.

An endoprosthesis has an expanded state and a contracted state, the endoprosthesis includes a stent having an inner surface defining a lumen, having an outer surface, and defining a plurality of apertures through the outer surface, wherein the apertures are arranged in a micropattern; and a coating (e.g., polymeric coating) attached to the outer surface of the stent. The coating includes a base and a tissue engagement portion including a second surface facing outwardly from the stent, the tissue engagement portion including a structure that defines a plurality of holes extending inwardly from the second surface toward the base. The holes are arranged in a micropattern. When the endoprosthesis is expanded to the expanded state in a lumen defined by a vessel wall, the structure applies a force that may reduce stent migration by creating an interlock between the vessel wall and the endoprosthesis.

An improved composite structure and method for making same has been provided. The provided improved composite structure has locally strengthened areas within a reinforcement region. The locally strengthened areas within the reinforcement region have load distribution devices to redistribute load in order to (i) locally strengthen an area around damage induced by an initial momentary and direct transmitted load, and (ii) limit growth and propagation of damage induced by an initial momentary and direct transmitted load during a subsequent unbalance load. The improved composite structure reduces the impact of the fan blade out phenomenon in a weight efficient manner.

Plastic tubing including a thermoplastic ribbon helically wrapped and heat bonded to itself to form a tubing wall and a thermoplastic reinforcement located helically around and along the tubing wall. At least a thickness of the tubing wall or a size of the thermoplastic reinforcement is varied along the tubing wall.

A plastic tube has an inner tube, a stiffener layer, and an outer tube. The inner tube is arranged the support organ. A corrugated stiffener preform is formed with corner area walls shaped thinner than the other walls. The preform is fed upon the inner tube to form a stiffener layer that advances with a certain pitch upon the inner tube. The corner parts of every stiffener yield and the brush angle () between the lamellas of the outside gets greater than the corresponding brush angle between the lamellas of the inner side. The stiffener is joined to the inner tube with a melted plastic layer and fed upon the stiffener plastic tape joined to the stiffener with a melted plastic layer. Between the settled edges of the plastic tape a spiral weld joint is formed so that the plastic tape forms the outer tube.

Plastic tubing including a thermoplastic ribbon helically wrapped and heat bonded to itself to form a tubing wall and a thermoplastic reinforcement located helically around and along the tubing wall. At least a thickness of the tubing wall or a size of the thermoplastic reinforcement is varied along the tubing wall.

Plastic tubing including a thermoplastic ribbon helically wrapped and heat bonded to itself to form a tubing wall and a thermoplastic reinforcement located helically around and along the tubing wall. At least a thickness of the tubing wall or a size of the thermoplastic reinforcement is varied along the tubing wall.