Abstract: Disclosed is a weaving method including placing a first section of a fill fiber between warp fibers, forming a pick, moving a base to reposition the warp fibers, and placing a second section of the fill fiber between the warp fibers to form a woven structure, wherein at least a portion of the warp fibers are introduced to the woven structure using a weave control grid. Also disclosed is a weaving assembly including a base, a base positional controller, a weave control grid, warp fiber arms, a warp fiber arm positional controller and a fill fiber wand.

Abstract: Disclosed is a weaving method including placing a first section of a fill fiber between warp fibers, forming a pick, moving a base to reposition the warp fibers, and placing a second section of the fill fiber between the warp fibers to form a woven structure, wherein at least a portion of the warp fibers are introduced to the woven structure using a weave control grid. Also disclosed is a weaving assembly including a base, a base positional controller, a weave control grid, warp fiber arms, a warp fiber arm positional controller and a fill fiber wand.

Abstract: An apparatus for making surgical braids comprises a plurality of bobbin carrier assemblies. An active track engages at least some of the bobbin carrier assemblies. A passive track arranged to selectively engage at least one of the bobbin assemblies, and a gate positioned between the active track and the passive track. The gate defines an inter-track path and an intra-track path. The gate has an open position wherein the inter-track path is aligned between the active and passive tracks. The gate further has a closed position wherein the intra-track path is aligned with the active track.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabrication of a woven tubular nanotextile used in vascular graft applications. The woven nanotextile conduit is 0.1 to 50 mm in diameter and includes a multitude of hierarchically arranged nanofibers. They are made from low strength bundled nanoyarns containing thousands of nanofibers with improved mechanical strength. The weaving apparatus interweaves the warp and weft yarns in longitudinal and transverse directions, resulting in a flexible and strong woven product. The physical and biological properties of the woven nanotextile were significantly enhanced when compared to non-woven nanofibrous form and conventional medical textiles. The nanotextile displayed superhydrophilic behavior in an otherwise hydrophobic material and when implanted as a vascular graft was robust, suturable, kink-proof and non-thrombogenic, with complete endothelialization of the graft luminal area.

Abstract: In an aspect, a braiding machine is provided, and has a set of spool shuttles that each dispense a strand of flexible material under tension. A strand retractor releasably retracts the strands from the spool shuttles. A plurality of shuttle stations at which the spool shuttles can be positioned are arranged in a circuit. At least one shuttle carriage, when driven, repeatedly selects an immediately previously unselected spool shuttle and moves the immediately previously unselected spool shuttle from an associated shuttle station to another shuttle station along the circuit spaced from the associated shuttle station by at least one shuttle station that is intermediate the associated shuttle station and the other shuttle station. At least one spool shuttle is parkable at the at least one shuttle station. A drive arrangement is coupled to the shuttle carriage to drive the shuttle carriage.

Abstract: In order to deflect a warp thread sheet (2) in a weaving machine, a deflecting device (18)is provided which is guided in guides (26) that also guide heald frames (13, 14, 15, 16). The deflecting device positions a segment (46) of the warp thread sheet (2) that starts at a beatup line (7) of the fabric (8) between the beatup line and the heald frames.

Abstract: The invention relates to a face-to-face weaving machine with face-to-face shed forming, a twister device (1) being provided and relates further to a twister device (1) for a face-to-face weaving machine with face-to-face shed forming, the twister device (1) being situated between weaving frames (11), mutually provided with a free space and a weaving reed (12) and the twister device (1) being provided with means (2) for positioning a first series of warp threads (101) in waving means, means (3) to wave the first series of warp threads (101) and means (4) to cause a second series of warp threads (100) to move up and down, said means (4) to cause a second series of warp threads (100) to move up and down being driven by a driving device (19) provided with a casing (7), and said means (2) for positioning a first series of warp threads (101) in waving means, said means (3) to wave the first series of warp threads (101) and said means (4) to cause a second series of warp threads (100) to move up and down being attac

Abstract: A method and machine whereby a continuous-thread disk element from which to form composite materials is formed by winding a thread of reinforcing material about an axis to form a flat coil having a number of turns, and by locking the turns with respect to one another by means of binding threads wound about each turn; the turns being equally spaced with a given spacing by forming, simultaneously with the formation of the coil, a further two flat coils of spacer thread, which are removed from the reinforcing-thread coil once the binding threads are wound about the turns.

Abstract: Continuous production of a long bias cloth is accomplished by manufacturing a tubular fabric on a circular loom having a circular frame, reeds arranged on the frame and a shuttle for a weft rotatable along the frame. The fabric is removed from the loom under tension by a removal device comprising a primary pillar core with a plurality of caterpillars adjacent its outer periphery. Removal under tension prevents the formation of any edge portion causing folds and wrinkles in the tubular fabric. The tubular fabric is then spirally cut by a cutting device which has a secondary pillar core with a plurality of feed rolls adjacent its outer periphery. The feed rolls are capable of moving the fabric forward relative to its length, while the cutter is capable of moving circumferentially relative to fabric lengbth. A long bias cloth of high quality can be manufactured continuously, even when the warp and weft fibers used have high-strength and poor or low elongation.

Abstract: A three dimensional fabric of substantially columnar shape having an axis. A plurality of substantially cylindrical axial yarn layers are arranged concentrically about and outward from the axis. Each of the axial yarn layers includes a plurality of axial yarns extending longitudinally relative to the axis. Circumferential yarn turns are inserted to extend circumferentially around the axis at several positions including outside of the outermost axial yarn layer. Inside of the innermost axial yarn layer, and between the inner and outer axial yarn layers. A plurality of radial yarns are woven between the circumferential yarn turns to extend zigzag succesively in the longitudinal and radial directions relative to the axis. The radial yarns are woven substantially perpendicular to the circumferential yarns, between the circumferential yarns, each of the radial yarns are woven in a particular plane that extends through the axis.

Abstract: A composite structure containing a weave and a rigidifying resin matrix is formed in a hollow configuration with inwardly directed ring stiffeners. This is achieved by arranging longitudinal strands in radial rows or groups around a base mandrel and weaving a circumferential strand through the longitudinal strands. When a wall section of normal width is desired, a submandrel is placed around the base mandrel and those longitudinal strands located innermost in their respective groups are passed behind the submandrel so that the circumferential strand is woven only through the longitudinal strands located outwardly from the submandrel. Where a ring stiffener is desired, the thickness of the weave is increased by weaving the circumferential strand through all of the longitudinal strands located beyond the base mandrel, and this of course takes place beyond the end of the submandrel. Longitudinal stiffeners may be provided along with the ring stiffeners by forming depressions in the submandrels.