1. An apparatus comprising:
a deformable sleeve comprising a first end portion having a first wall thickness, a second end portion having a second wall thickness, a bulbing portion having a third wall thickness, said bulbing portion being positioned between said first end portion and said second end portion, and a transition portion defining a groove in the outer surface of said deformable sleeve, wherein said transition portion is positioned between said bulbing portion and said first end portion, wherein said bulbing portion is constructed and arranged to form a flange upon application of a compressive load to at least one of said first and second end portions.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flange is bounded by said transition portion so that there is a non-canted transition between said flange and said first end portion.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said groove has an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of said first end.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said groove is radiused.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said deformable sleeve further comprises an internally threaded portion proximate to said second end portion.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said bulbing portion bulbs proximate to said transition portion so that said flange beings in said groove.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deformable sleeve further comprises an internally threaded portion proximate to said second end portion.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said third wall thickness is less than said first wall thickness.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bulbing portion bulbs proximate to said transition portion so that said flange beings in said groove.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flange is undercut by said transition portion.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bulbing portion comprises a frustoconical body.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first end portion is sufficiently thick to prevent buckling under the compressive load.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second end portion is sufficiently thick to prevent buckling under the compressive load.
14. A method of forming a deformable sleeve comprising the acts of:
providing a sleeve comprising a flanged end having a first outer diameter, a thin-walled portion having a second outer diameter and a second end having a third outer diameter, wherein the thin-walled portion is positioned between the flanged end and the second end and wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter and the third outer diameter;
deforming the sleeve by mechanical treatment to the flanged end until the first outer diameter is substantially equal to the third outer diameter.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the act of:
providing the sleeve further comprising a radiused transition between the thin-walled portion and the flanged end.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the act of:
providing the sleeve further comprising a tapered wall portion between the thin-walled portion and the second end.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the act of:
providing the sleeve further comprising an internally threaded portion proximate to the second end.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the deforming act transforms the thin-walled portion from a substantially cylindrical shape to a substantially frustoconical shape.
19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the act of:
providing the sleeve wherein the inner diameter of the bore of the flanged end and the thin-walled portion is substantially equal.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A textile implant material characterized in that it comprises monofilament threads of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or of a PVDF derivative.
2. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that it is mainly formed from monofilament threads.
3. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a porous structure.
4. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a pore size of from 1 to 5 mm, preferably from 1 to 3 mm.
5. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that the implant comprises a woven fabric, a knit fabric, a knitting, a layered fabric, a braided fabric or a nonwoven fabric.
6. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a flexible structure.
7. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the implant comprises a resorbable material.
8. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the implant comprises a biocompatible material.
9. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the implant comprises a coating.
10. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that, subjected to tensile load, the implant expands in a main direction of expansion at Fmax16 Ncm by 30 to 40% and in a main direction of expansion at Fmax32 Ncm by 15 to 25%.
11. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the main directions of expansion is marked by a distinguishable thread andor is color-marked.
12-13. (canceled).
14. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured as a body.
15. The textile implant material according to claim 14, characterized in that the diameter or edge length extensions of the body are in excess of 10 mm.
16. The textile implant material according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises protruding connection elements.
17 (canceled).