Embodiments of the present technology may permit for native, intact, natural, human-derived, or allograft-derived fibers to be used as threads for suturing. Embodiments may include a thread for suturing. The thread may include a first portion, which includes a fascia fiber. The first portion may have a first end that includes the fascia fiber. The thread may also include a second portion including a non-human-derived fiber. The second portion may have a first end that includes the non-human-derived fiber. The first end of the second portion may be attached to the first end of the first portion. Embodiments may include a method of forming a thread. The method may include attaching a first end of a fascia fiber to a first end of a first non-human-derived fiber. The method may also include attaching a second end of the fascia fiber to a first end of a second non-human-derived fiber.

A braided structure that includes a core and a sheath is provided. The core includes a yarn formed at least in part from an aromatic polymer (e.g., an aromatic polyester/liquid crystalline polymer or an aramid polymer), and the sheath, which includes a plurality of ultra high molecular weight polyolefin yarns, is braided around the core. The sheath has an overall diameter ranging from about 60 micrometers to about 650 micrometers. Despite its small diameter, the braided structure can be creep resistant and abrasion resistant while at the same time exhibiting low elongation, a high load at break, and high stiffness. The braided structure can be used in medical applications such as sutures, load bearing orthopedic applications, artificial tendons/ligaments, fixation devices, actuation cables, components for tissue repair, etc.

A braided structure that includes a core and a sheath is provided. The core includes a yarn formed at least in part from an aromatic polymer (e.g., an aromatic polyester/liquid crystalline polymer or an aramid polymer), and the sheath, which includes a plurality of ultra high molecular weight polyolefin yarns, is braided around the core. The sheath has an overall diameter ranging from about 60 micrometers to about 650 micrometers. Despite its small diameter, the braided structure can be creep resistant and abrasion resistant while at the same time exhibiting low elongation, a high load at break, and high stiffness. The braided structure can be used in medical applications such as sutures, load bearing orthopedic applications, artificial tendons/ligaments, fixation devices, actuation cables, components for tissue repair, etc.

A compressible adjunct for use with a surgical instrument including a staple cartridge includes a biocompatible layer and a plurality of biocompatible looping members. The biocompatible looping members protrude from the biocompatible layer. Each biocompatible looping member includes a first end portion attached to the biocompatible layer, a second end portion attached to the biocompatible layer, and an intermediate curved portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the intermediate curved portion is further away from the biocompatible layer than the first end portion and the second end portion.

A biopolymer fiber containing collagen. The biopolymer fiber has excellent ultimate tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and strain at break comparable to native human tendons and ligaments. The fiber may substantially circular, ovoid, square, rectangular, ribbon-like, triangular, or irregularly shaped. The fiber exhibits an ordered, longitudinally-oriented structure, and the fiber allows infiltration of cellular growth. Implantable biopolymer scaffolds and sutures containing the fibers are provided as well as microfluidic and extrusion methods for producing the biopolymer fibers.

Resorbable multifilament yarns and monofilament fibers including poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and copolymers thereof with high tenacity or high tensile strength have been developed. The yarns and fibers are produced by cold drawing the multifilament yarns and monofilament fibers before hot drawing the yarns and fibers under tension at temperatures above the melt temperature of the polymer or copolymer. These yarns and fibers have prolonged strength retention in vivo making them suitable for soft tissue repairs where high strength and strength retention is required. The multifilament yarns have tenacities higher than 8.1 grams per denier, and in vivo, retain at least 65% of their initial strength at 2 weeks. The monofilament fibers retain at least 50% of their initial strength at 4 weeks in vivo. The monofilament fibers have tensile strengths higher than 500 MPa. These yarns and fibers may be used to make various medical devices for various applications.

A compressible adjunct is used with a surgical instrument including a staple cartridge deck. The compressible adjunct includes a first biocompatible material, a second biocompatible material with a lower melting temperature than the first biocompatible material, and a body including a face positionable against a length of the staple cartridge deck. The face includes a plurality of attachment regions spaced apart from one another, wherein the plurality of attachment regions include the second biocompatible material, wherein the face is selectively attachable to the staple cartridge deck at said plurality of attachment regions, and a plurality of non-attachment regions extending between the plurality of attachment regions, wherein the second biocompatible material is selectively disposed outside said non-attachment regions.

This invention is related to a surgical suture production method that has been given electrical conductivity to the surgical suture. The surgical suture production method subjected to the invention comprises the steps of, dissolving a conductive or semi conductive polymer that is to be used as coating material in a solvent together with a dopant that increases electrical conductivity, immersing the surgical suture inside this solution and coating the suture, taking the suture out of the solution and obtaining an electrical conductive layer on the suture after the solution on it has evaporated.

Absorbable monofilament fibers and self-retaining sutures with high tensile strengths have been developed. The straight pull tensile strengths of the absorbable self-retaining sutures closely approximate, equal or exceed the average minimum knot-pull tensile standards set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). These higher strength absorbable self-retaining sutures can therefore be used either without needing to oversize the suture for a given procedure, or by oversizing the self-retaining suture by no more than 0.1 mm in diameter. In one embodiment, the absorbable self-retaining sutures are made from poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or copolymers thereof.

Methods for producing absorbable self-retaining sutures that have high tensile strengths and pronounced sheath-core structures wherein the sheath is harder than the core are also provided. The self-retaining sutures may be made by spinning and orienting a monofilament fiber of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or copolymer thereof and inserting retainers in monofilament fibers.

Absorbable monofilament fibers and self-retaining sutures with high tensile strengths have been developed. The straight pull tensile strengths of the absorbable self-retaining sutures closely approximate, equal or exceed the average minimum knot-pull tensile standards set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). These higher strength absorbable self-retaining sutures can therefore be used either without needing to oversize the suture for a given procedure, or by oversizing the self-retaining suture by no more than 0.1 mm in diameter. In one embodiment, the absorbable self-retaining sutures are made from poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or copolymers thereof.

Methods for producing absorbable self-retaining sutures that have high tensile strengths and pronounced sheath-core structures wherein the sheath is harder than the core are also provided. The self-retaining sutures may be made by spinning and orienting a monofilament fiber of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or copolymer thereof and inserting retainers in monofilament fibers.