Abstract: A bifurcated sleeve formed of interlaced filamentary members and having two or more flexible tubes joined together at a junction region is disclosed. The junction region is also formed of interlaced filamentary members and reinforced by the presence of elongated strengthening elements interlaced with the filamentary members forming the junction region. The strengthening elements may be multiple filamentary members which are plied or single filamentary members which have a relatively larger denier or increased tensile strength. The sleeve may be woven, knitted or braided. When knitted, the strengthening elements may be laid in or interknitted, and a locking stitch or a denser knit may be used at the junction region.

Abstract: An intraluminal filter for vascular use during medical procedures is disclosed. The filter is formed of a plurality of flexible, resilient monofilament wires interbraided in a relatively open mesh forming a basket with a plurality of multifilament yarns braided in a relatively closed mesh having a predetermined porosity forming a filter element. The filter element is positioned distally of the basket forming a concave portion, the remaining portion of the basket being unobstructed and forming openings facing the concave portion. The filter is elastically deformable between two shape states, the first having a small diameter enabling the filter to slide within the bore of a catheter for positioning the filter in the lumen of an artery, the second shape state having a substantially larger diameter sized to sealingly interfit within the artery lumen. The filter is biased and will expand upon release from the catheter to the second shape state.

Abstract: A bag for use in the intravascular treatment of saccular aneurysms and a method of forming the bag are disclosed. The bag is formed from a plurality of flexible, resilient filamentary members braided into a tubular sleeve and biased into a first shape having an expanded first diameter sized to substantially fill the aneurysm. The bag is resiliently deformable into a second shape having a diameter smaller than the first and sized to slidingly interfit within the lumen of a catheter. An opening is provided in the bag to receive a clotting medium, such as a platinum wire, on which blood clots can be induced to form by mechanical or electrolytic means. A closure is provided by biasing the filamentary members to form a constriction around the opening. In use the, bag is inserted into a saccular aneurysm via the catheter and expands to its first diameter upon release therefrom.

Abstract: A method of forming a textile having an undulating wire member therein. The method includes forming a wire which exhibits shape memory behavior into an undulating wire member, training the wire to remember its shape, causing the undulating wire member to straighten by undergoing a shape-memory transformation, securing the straightened wire member in a conventional textile and then causing the straightened wire to undergo a shape memory transformation back to the remembered undulating shape.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a woven textile having a structural member integrally woven therein. The structural member may be either straight or an undulating member which, although straight when secured to the textile, is trained to undergo a shape memory transformation back to its remembered undulating shape. The structural member is secured to the woven textile by displacing one or more given warp yarns in a first direction to create a structural member receiving gap, inserting the structural member into the gap by passing a structural member-insertion shuttle therethrough, and thereafter returning the displaced warp yarn or yarns to secure the structural member.

Abstract: A combined stent/graft structure for repair of a body tube in a living body. The structure includes a textile graft adapted to enhance fluid integrity of the body tube and a stent expandable between a first position permitting easy insertion of the stent into the body tube and a second position wherein the stent presses securely against the inside surface of the body tube. The stent includes a first elongate wire-shaped stent member with both a stent member global axis and a stent member local axis, and is integrally secured to the graft by at least one graft yarn of which the graft is formed. Substantial portions of the first stent member global axis form a non-orthogonal angle with the graft main portion axis when projected into a plane containing the graft main portion axis. A woven textile is also part of the invention as is a method of manufacturing such a woven textile, which can be used to produce stent/graft structures according to the invention.

Abstract: Embodiments of weaving shuttles are disclosed which are adapted for use in producing woven textile structures. The shuttles may be used to dispense weft yarns when weaving with a loom, and are particularly adapted to insert a wire-like structural member integrally into the woven textile.

Abstract: An apparatus attached to a fuel hose and deployed rearwardly of a tanker craft, the apparatus for inflight refueling of an aircraft and includes a fuel valve for controlling the flow of fuel through the valve, a coupler attached to the fuel valve for receiving and locking onto the probe of a receiving aircraft and for conveying fuel through the coupler and to the probe of the receiving aircraft, and a plurality of struts attached to the coupler, the struts configured and arranged to compress inwardly when acted upon by sufficient compressive forces and to expand outwardly against aerodynamic forces when located in the airstream, the struts forming a bell shaped target for guiding the probe of the receiving aircraft into the coupler.