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;
• the mandrel adapted to hold a plurality of filaments extending radially from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc;
• a means for engaging each filament at a point of engagement along the circumferential edge of the disc at a plurality of discrete radial locations a distance d from points of engagement;
• a means for capturing a subset of the filaments, said means positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc and extending toward the circumferential edge of the disc;
• a means for moving the captured subset of filaments away from the circumferential edge of the disc in a generally radial direction;
• and
• a means for rotating the disc and captured subset of filaments relative to one another.

A method for braiding, comprising the steps of:

• providing a braiding mechanism comprising a disc defining a plane and a circumferential edge having a plurality of notches, each notch separated from the next adjacent notch by distance d;
• a mandrel extending from a center of the disc and generally perpendicular to the plane of the disc;
• 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;
• loading a plurality of filaments on the mandrel extending toward the circumferential edge of the disc, each filament being placed within a notch, wherein each filament rests within a different notch;
• operating the plurality of catch mechanisms to engage every other filament and pull the engaged filament away from the circumferential edge of the disc in a generally radial direction, thereby emptying every other notch;
• rotating the disc in a first direction by a circumferential distance;
• and
• operating the plurality of catch mechanisms to release each engaged filament radially toward the circumferential edge of the disc,
• wherein each filament is placed in an empty notch located a circumferential distance from the notch formerly occupied.