Tubular structure and method for making the same
First Claim
1. A method of braiding a plurality of strands into a tubular structure comprising:
- braiding at least a first set of strands and at least a second set of strands onto a mandrel;
moving the mandrel along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel; and
rotating the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel such that at least a portion of the braided strands exhibit a wave pattern that includes crests and troughs along a length of the tubular structure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tubular structure and method for making a tubular structure are provided, where the tubular structure includes at least one layer of braided strands. In general, at least one portion of the braided strands exhibits a braid pattern of crests and troughs (e.g., a wave pattern, which may include sinusoidal, square, and/or sawtooth waves) along a length of the tubular structure. The wave pattern can be created by rotating the mandrel onto which the tubular structure is braided during the braiding process, such as by angularly oscillating the mandrel about its longitudinal axis or about its transverse axis. As a result, the tubular structures may have increased radial strength, collapse resistance, torque transmission, column strength, and kink resistance. The tubular structures may be used in medical devices, such as stent-grafts, as well as in other medical and non-medical devices, such as in hoses, tubing, filters, and other devices.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A method of braiding a plurality of strands into a tubular structure comprising:
-
braiding at least a first set of strands and at least a second set of strands onto a mandrel; moving the mandrel along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel; and rotating the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel such that at least a portion of the braided strands exhibit a wave pattern that includes crests and troughs along a length of the tubular structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of braiding a plurality of strands into a tubular structure comprising:
-
braiding a first set of strands extending from first spools and a second set of strands extending from second spools onto a mandrel, the step of braiding including; rotating the first spools in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the mandrel; rotating the second spools in a second direction about the longitudinal axis; and translating the first and second spools radially with respect to the longitudinal axis; moving the mandrel along the longitudinal axis as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel; and rotating the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method of braiding a plurality of strands into a tubular structure comprising:
-
braiding a first set of strands and a second set of strands onto a mandrel; moving the mandrel along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel; and rotating the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel by angularly oscillating the mandrel. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification