Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for braiding fine denier yarns to form a braided suture product which includes a frame, and a main carrier support plate supported on the frame and having a pair of undulating guide channels intersecting each other for guiding a plurality of yarn carriers. A plurality of yarn carriers are supported on the main carrier support plate, and each supports a bobbin for dispensing fine denier yarn. The yarn carriers are directed over intersecting paths corresponding to the shape of the guide channels, with a first set of the carriers being directed in a first direction and a second set of the carriers being directed in the opposite direction. The yarns are received in a common braiding zone above the yarn carriers while the yarn carriers are directed through the intersecting paths of the guide channels to form a braided sheath from the yarns. The tension of the final braided product is controlled within predetermined ranges to permit formation of a braided product of predetermined appearance. A method of producing the braided product on the inventive braiding apparatus is also disclosed.

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First Claim