Albany International Corporation

Baxter International Inc.

Meadox Medicals, Inc.

Albany Research (uk) Limited

David S Brookstein

John Skelton

Donald J Rose

Robin W Dent

John R Dent

Peter J Schmitt

Garrett C Sharpless

Glenn A Freitas

David M Fronk

De Witt Petterson

The present invention provides a vascular prosthesis which comprises a braided tubular fabric comprising a plurality of braid layers wherein each layer includes at least one interlocking yarn which extends from that layer into another layer to form an interlock therewith. In one aspect of the invention, the plurality of braid layers may include a substantially non-absorbable first surface layer and a substantially resorbable second surface layer.

Vascular prosthesis and method of implanting

The invention concerns a braid structure comprising a plurality of braided layers of stranded material in which the layers are laid down in a single pass of a braiding machine, with at least one strand of each layer extending into a contiguous layer to form an interlock between the layers. The invention also concerns a machine and a method of making the structure by supplying groups of strands, (R, B, G, O, W), to a braid forming station, whereby each group of strands forms a braid layer. A strand (R) from one of the groups passes into or through the strands (B) of a group of an adjacent layer to form an interlock therebetween.

Apparatus for making a braid structure

A fiber reinforced composite roll which utilizes a thin metal outer shell and in the interior thereof reinforced foam elements and resin and wherein each of said elements extends longitudinally the length of said shell.

Composite roll and method of making

A solid braid structure comprising a plurality of interlocked layers is created by causing a plurality of package carriers of yarn to move along a plurality of defined serpentine paths by track modules. The track modules extend in a first direction to define a longitudinally extending path corresponding to a first layer of the braid structure and in a second direction to provide at least one crossover path between adjacent serpentine paths. The package carriers which move in the first direction create a first layer of braid and, at a crossover path, move between adjacent serpentine paths to cause the yarn forming the first layer of braid to interlock with the braid of an adjacent layer.

Solid braid structure

A structural member formed from a plurality of layers of interwoven fibrous material. The plurality of layers intersect and join each other along lines of contact. The lines of contact form axes of the member. A hollow central portion having a perimeter is defined by the plurality of intersecting layers and the lines of contact. A plurality of points are formed on the perimeter of the hollow central portion defined by the lines of contact formed by the axes. At least one flange extends outwardly of the hollow central portion at each of the points, wherein each of the plurality of layers extends beyond the axes of the member to define the flanges.

Structural member

An artificial ligament device is provided for joining the ends of two bones wherein at least one of the bones has a tunnel extending therethrough. The device comprises a multilayered or tubular woven ligament having an intra-articular region, at least one bend region, and at least one end region, each region being woven so as to possess qualities of flexibility and strength suitable to the particular types of stresses it receives during use. The end region and a portion of the bend region are encased within a polymer bone block, usually by thermomolding, and the bone block is inserted into the bone tunnel to attach the ligament. The bone block is molded to provide a fixed bend radius for the ligament at the point of exit therefrom so as to control the amount of bending stress on the ligament during flexure and extension of the joint.

Prosthetic anterior cruciate ligament design

A braider having a braider bed. The bed has first and second closed tracks defining an intersecting serpentine path. The tracks define an average path which is non-circular. A plurality of yarn package carriers travel along said tracks. Yarns fed from the packages form a braid at a location substantially central of the bed.

Braiders

The present invention envisions a concentric structural combination of elements, consisting of an elongate core component, which is terminated at each end on the internal surface of a chambered coupling, and a elongate sheath component which consists of an interlaced configuration of assemblies of non-metallic filamentary elements embedded in a polymer matrix, the sheath component being bonded at each end to the external surface of the coupling, the load-elongation characteristics of the core and sheath components being chosen so as to ensure that both components share substantially in the load-bearing under the working load conditions, with at least 50% of the load being borne by the aggregate of the non-metallic elements, and the sheath and matrix being disposed so as to substantially cover and protect the core and coupling components.

Sucker rod

A rod assembly comprising a core component and a sheath component and having an elongate cross-section, the sheath component consisting of an anisotropic assembly of non-metallic filamentary elements embedded in a polymeric matrix whereby the bending stiffness for deformations about an axis parallel to the major axis of the rod assembly is less than the bending stiffness of the same core and sheath components in a radially symmetrical configuration, and in which the core and sheath components have load-elongation characteristics so that the ratio of the strain to the strain-to-break in the sheath is essentially equal to the ratio of the strain to the strain-to-break in the core throughout the working load range.

Growing community of inventors

Wellesley, MA, United States of America

David S Brookstein