Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a composite article is described wherein the process comprises the steps of (i) providing on a tool (22) a fibrous material (14) having associated therewith in at least one region thereof an in-situ polymerisable non-fibrous form of a thermoplastic material; (ii) applying heat and a vacuum to said material; and additionally (iii) drawing into the fibrous material, from a source external to the tool, additional thermoplastic pre-polymer material. The process described is particularly useful for the manufacture of a large composite structure such as thermoplastic composite wind turbine blade, for example.

Abstract: A retrieval catheter 1 for retrieval of an embolic protection filter from a vasculature. The catheter 1 comprises a proximal hypotube 3, a radially offset distal shaft 4 and a centering shank 9. A guidewire lumen 13 is provided through the shank 9 in communication with a larger guidewire lumen 7 through the shaft 4 for a continuous guidewire passageway to accommodate passage of a guidewire 21 through the shank 9, the shaft 4 and out through a proximal guidewire opening 6 to facilitate rapid exchange of the catheter 1 over a guidewire 21. The shank 9 is movable between an introduction configuration in which the shank 9 protrudes distally from the shaft 4 to centre the catheter 1 during advancement through a vasculature, and a retrieval configuration in which the shank 9 is located within the guidewire lumen 7 to facilitate retrieval of an embolic protection filter into the shaft 4.

Abstract: A delivery catheter 1 for rapid exchange delivery of a stent 7 through a vasculature over a guidewire 10, and for rapid exchange deployment of the stent 7 at a desired site in the vasculature. The catheter 1 comprises a hypotube 2, a distal sheath 4 which defines an internal reception space for the stent 7, and a push wire 3. The catheter body 2 is fixedly attached to the sheath 4 by means of a junction piece 9. At the distal end of the wire 3, the catheter 1 comprises a tubular inner core 5 and a coiled spring 6 which acts as an abutment means for engagement with the stent 7 in the reception space upon retraction of the sheath 4 to facilitate deployment of the stent 7. The guidewire 10 passes proximally from the inner core 5, through the junction piece 9, and out of the junction piece 9 through a proximal guidewire opening 11.

Abstract: A retrieval catheter 1 for retrieval of an embolic protection filter from a vasculature. The catheter 1 comprises a proximal hypotube 3, a radially offset distal shaft 4 and a centring shank 9. A guidewire lumen 13 is provided through the shank 9 in communication with a larger guidewire lumen 7 through the shaft 4 for a continuous guidewire passageway to accommodate passage of a guidewire 21 through the shank 9, the shaft 4 and out through a proximal guidewire opening 6 to facilitate rapid exchange of the catheter 1 over a guidewire 21. The shank 9 is movable between an introduction configuration in which the shank 9 protrudes distally from the shaft 4 to centre the catheter 1 during advancement through a vasculature, and a retrieval configuration in which the shank 9 is located within the guidewire lumen 7 to facilitate retrieval of an embolic protection filter into the shaft 4.

Abstract: A delivery catheter 1 for rapid exchange delivery of a stent 7 through a vasculature over a guidewire 10, and for rapid exchange deployment of the stent 7 at a desired site in the vasculature. The catheter 1 comprises a hypotube 2, a distal sheath 4 which defines an internal reception space for the stent 7, and a push wire 3. The catheter body 2 is fixedly attached to the sheath 4 by means of a junction piece 9. At the distal end of the wire 3, the catheter 1 comprises a tubular inner core 5 and a coiled spring 6 which acts as an abutment means for engagement with the stent 7 in the reception space upon retraction of the sheath 4 to facilitate deployment of the stent 7. The guidewire 10 passes proximally from the inner core 5, through the junction piece 9, and out of the junction piece 9 through a proximal guidewire opening 11.