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

A yarn tensioning device capable of delivering yarn under tension from a spool to a braiding, weaving or knitting machine consisting of a base and a center rod mounted perpendicular to the said base serving to locates the spool while allowing it to pivotally rotate. The device further includes a pawl jointed to the base either via a pin joint or via a flexural hinge and operates in conjunction with a ratchet solidly attached to the spool. The device further includes a compliant yarn guiding means which ensure that yarn reels off at an essentially constant tension. The yarn reel-off tension can be adjusted by modifying the operating length of a stiffening spring using a screw and jam-nut pair, and by limiting the maximum deflection of the compliant yarn guiding means.

A braided sleeve is formed having complex geometry, including multiple geometries along the braided sleeve's longitudinal axis. In particular, along a first portion of the braided sleeve's longitudinal axis, multiple tows are intertwined with each other. Along a second portion, at least one of the tows is removed from being intertwined with the other tows and is relocated to an interior or an exterior of the braided sleeve. A third portion of the braded sleeve along the longitudinal axis includes the removed tow being intertwined with the plurality of tows again. In this manner, the braided sleeve may provide coverage of preforms with varying diameters along the longitudinal axis of the preforms.

A method of making a surgical braid. The method comprises moving a plurality of bobbins along an active track, the active track being an endless track; and selectively moving a bobbin to a passive track while continuing to move the remaining bobbins along the active track.

A method of making a surgical braid. The method comprises moving a plurality of bobbins along an active track, the active track being an endless track; and selectively moving a bobbin to a passive track while continuing to move the remaining bobbins along the active track.

An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise a magnetic device arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. The apparatus may comprise a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The magnetic device may be configured to provide a magnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material. The apparatus may comprise a controller configured to control the magnetic device to modulate the magnetic field. The controller may be further configured to detect a position and/or motion of the carrier.

A system for making surgical braids. The apparatus comprises a braiding machine. The braiding machine comprises a plurality of horn gears and a plurality of bobbin carrier assemblies engaging the plurality of horn gears. A cutting machine is arranged to receive a continuous braid directly from the braiding machine. The cutting machine has a cutter. The braiding machine and cutting machine define a continuous path extending from the bobbin carrier assemblies and through at least a portion of the cutting machine.

A system for making surgical braids. The apparatus comprises a braiding machine. The braiding machine comprises a plurality of horn gears and a plurality of bobbin carrier assemblies engaging the plurality of horn gears. A cutting machine is arranged to receive a continuous braid directly from the braiding machine. The cutting machine has a cutter. The braiding machine and cutting machine define a continuous path extending from the bobbin carrier assemblies and through at least a portion of the cutting machine.

A braided sleeve with complex geometry, including changes to the geometry along the braided sleeve's longitudinal axis are described. In particular, along a first portion of the braided sleeve's longitudinal axis, multiple tows are intertwined with each other. Along a second portion, one of tows is removed from being intertwined with the other tows and is relocated to an interior or an exterior of the braided sleeve. A third portion includes the removed tow being intertwined with the plurality of tows again. In this manner, the braided sleeve may provide coverage of preforms with varying diameters along the longitudinal axis of the preforms.

A braider and a tube body in which braids are arranged on an outer peripheral surface of a mandrel uniformly even if the diameter of the mandrel is uneven. A braider 1 has bobbin carrier conveyance mechanisms 50A and 50B in which bobbin carriers 40A and 40B are conveyed from traveling tracks W1 and W2 to an outside of the traveling tracks W1 and W2 so as to stop winding of braids Y1 and Y2 onto a mandrel 2 and the bobbin carriers 40A and 40B are conveyed from the outside of the traveling tracks W1 and W2 to the traveling tracks W1 and W2 so as to start the winding of the braids Y1 and Y2 onto the mandrel 2.