Braiding mechanism and methods of use

A method for forming a tubular braid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a braiding mechanism comprising a circular array of filament guiding members generally defining a plane and a circumferential edge, a mandrel extending from a center of the circular array of filament guiding members and generally perpendicular to the plane of the circular array of filament guiding members, the mandrel defining an axis and adapted to carry one or more filaments extending from the mandrel to the circular array of filament guiding members, a plurality of actuators disposed operably about the circular array of filament guiding members, and a rotating mechanism adapted to rotate one or more filaments;
• loading a plurality of filaments onto the mandrel, each of the plurality of filaments extending radially toward and contacting the circumferential edge of the circular array of filament guiding members and forming a radial array of filament engagement points;
• operating the plurality of actuators and the rotating mechanism to move the filaments about the mandrel axis in a path comprising a series of discrete arcs and radial movements for each filament.