Braiding mechanism and methods of use

A mechanism for braiding, comprising:

• a disc defining a plane and a circumferential edge;
• a mandrel extending from a center of the disc and generally perpendicular to the plane of the disc;
• a plurality of filaments extending from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc, each filament contacting the circumferential edge at a point of engagement, each point of engagement being spaced apart a discrete distance from adjacent points of engagement;
• and
• a plurality of catch mechanisms positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc, each catch mechanism extending toward the circumferential edge of the disc, wherein each catch mechanism is adapted to engage a filament and pull the filament away from the circumferential edge of the disc in a generally radial direction,
• wherein the plurality of catch mechanisms are coupled to a plurality of actuators that are actuated pull the catch mechanisms away from the circumferential edge of the disc in a generally radial direction.

A mechanism for braiding, comprising:

• a disc defining a plane and a circumferential edge;
• a mandrel extending from a center of the disc and generally perpendicular to the plane of the disc;
• a plurality of filaments extending from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc, each filament contacting the circumferential edge at a point of engagement, each point of engagement being spaced apart a discrete from adjacent points of engagement;
• and
• a plurality of catch mechanisms positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc, each catch mechanism extending toward the circumferential edge of the disc, wherein each catch mechanism is adapted to engage a filament and pull the filament away from the circumferential edge of the disc in a generally radial direction,
• wherein each catch mechanism is angled relative to the plane of the disc.

A mechanism for braiding, comprising:

• a disc defining a plane and a circumferential edge;
• a mandrel extending from a center of the disc generally perpendicular to the plane of the disc;
• a plurality of filaments extending from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc, each filament contacting the circumferential edge at a point of engagement, each point of engagement being spaced apart a discrete distance from adjacent points of engagement;
• and
• a plurality of catch mechanisms positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc each catch mechanism extending toward the circumferential edge of the disc, wherein each catch mechanism is adapted to engage a filament and pull the filament away from the circumferential edge of the disc in a generally radial direction,
• wherein each catch mechanism comprises a hook.

A mechanism for braiding, comprising:

• a disc defining a plane and a circumferential edge;
• a mandrel extending from a center of the disc and generally perpendicular to the plane of the disc;
• a plurality of filaments extending from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc, each filament contacting the circumferential edge at a point of engagement, each point of engagement being spaced apart a discrete distance from adjacent points of engagement;
• and
• a plurality of catch mechanisms positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc, each catch mechanism extending toward the circumferential edge of the disc, wherein each catch mechanism is adapted to engage a filament and pull the filament away from the circumferential edge of the disc in a generally radial direction,
• wherein the disc and the plurality of catch mechanisms are configured to move relative to one another.

A method for braiding, comprising the steps of:

• loading a plurality of filaments on a mandrel extending from a disc defining a plane and a circumferential edge, the plurality of filaments extending toward a circumferential edge of the disc, each filament contacting the circumferential edge at a point of engagement, each point of engagement being spaced apart a discrete distance from adjacent points of engagement;
• engaging a subset of the plurality of filaments;
• moving the engaged subset of filaments away from the circumferential edge of the disc in a generally radial direction;
• rotating the disc in a first direction by a circumferential distance;
• moving the engaged subset of filaments toward the circumferential edge of the disc in a generally radial direction;
• and
• releasing the engaged subset of filaments, wherein each released filament contacts the circumferential edge of the disc at a point of engagement a circumferential distance from its previous point of engagement.