Abstract: A deposition apparatus comprises: an infeed chamber; a preheat chamber; a deposition chamber; and optionally at least one of a cooldown chamber and an outlet chamber. At least a first of the preheat chamber and the cooldown chamber contains a buffer system for buffering workpieces respectively passing to or from the deposition chamber.

Abstract: A method of weaving tubular textile articles, comprising: forming first, second, third and fourth superposed layers of warp threads; weaving by weft insertion through sheds formed in said layers, the weaving being performed by first and second weft threads inserted by first and second needles from one side of said warp layers; each weft thread being inserted alternately through a selected pair of said warp layers; and the weft loops at the other side of said layers being knitted together, the first layer with the second layer and the third layer with the fourth layer, to form a pair of selvedges. A tubular textile article formed by the method is provided. A needleloom for weaving such articles is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fabric for the construction of knitted tubular grafts for use in cardiovascular surgery and to methods of manufacturing these grafts. The fabric of the present invention is constructed so that grafts formed from it will have an increased hoop modulus due to the fabric having a underlap of greater than two needle spaces in the bar nearer to the technical face of the fabric.