Absorbable composite medical devices such as surgical meshes and braided sutures, which display two or more absorption/biodegradation and breaking strength retention profiles and exhibit unique properties in different clinical settings, are made using combinations of at least two types of yarns having distinctly different physicochemical and biological properties and incorporate in the subject construct special designs to provide a range of unique properties as clinically useful implants.

Medical grade yarns, medical devices constructed of such yarns, and methods for making such yarns and devices are described. Polyester drawn fibers, and more particularly high strength and high tenacity micro polyester fibers for use in medical devices, and methods of preparing the same are provided.

A wound closure device can be provided as described herein. In an example, the wound closure device includes a first suture segment having a first suture configuration and a second suture segment having a second suture configuration. The first and second suture configurations can be different from each other. For example, the first suture configuration can includes a first set of characteristics such as barbed or non-barbed, barb sizes, filament sizes, colors, materials, and/or the like and the second suture configuration can include a second set of characteristics such as barbed or non-barbed, barb sizes, filament sizes, colors, materials and/or the like that can be different from the first set of characteristics. The wound closure device can further include connecting section configured to provide a transition from the first suture segment to the second suture segment.

Novel absorbable polymeric blends are disclosed. The blends have a first absorbable polymer type that is a polylactide polymer or a copolymer of lactide and glycolide and a second absorbable polymer type that is poly(p-dioxanone), wherein the first absorbable polymer type or the second absorbable polymer type or the first absorbable polymer type and the second absorbable polymer type additionally comprise a first polymeric component and a second polymeric component. The first polymeric component has a higher weight average molecular weight than the second polymeric component and at least one of said components is at least partially end-capped by a carboxylic acid. The novel polymeric blends are useful for manufacturing medical devices having dimensional stability, having engineered degradation and breaking strength retention in vivo. Also disclosed are novel absorbable medical devices made from these novel polymer blends, as well as novel methods of manufacture.

An implantable medical device and method of making it, including a collection of filaments, including a plurality of first variety filaments made of a first polymeric material and at least one second variety filament, and optionally at least one third variety of filament, wherein the second variety filament is coated or impregnated with a first biomedically useful agent and, if present, the third variety of filament is coated or impregnated with a second biomedically useful agent different from the first biomedically useful agent.

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.

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.

Biocompatible coatings and spin finishes that can be applied to polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers, and medical devices made from PHA polymers, have been developed. The coatings impart good lubricity to PHA polymers, particularly to fibers and braids made from these materials, making the coatings ideal for use on medical devices such as PHA braided sutures. The spin finishes can be applied to PHA fibers to facilitate their manufacture, and also for their conversion to other products, including medical textiles. The spin finishes serve to protect multifilament fiber bundles, and keep them intact following extrusion, and also to impart lubricity to the fiber bundles and monofilament fibers so that they are not damaged in subsequent processing steps particularly in textile processing. The coating reduces tissue drag of, for example, braided sutures.

Biocompatible coatings and spin finishes that can be applied to polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers, and medical devices made from PHA polymers, have been developed. The coatings impart good lubricity to PHA polymers, particularly to fibers and braids made from these materials, making the coatings ideal for use on medical devices such as PHA braided sutures. The spin finishes can be applied to PHA fibers to facilitate their manufacture, and also for their conversion to other products, including medical textiles. The spin finishes serve to protect multifilament fiber bundles, and keep them intact following extrusion, and also to impart lubricity to the fiber bundles and monofilament fibers so that they are not damaged in subsequent processing steps particularly in textile processing. The coating reduces tissue drag of, for example, braided sutures.

Biocompatible coatings and spin finishes that can be applied to polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers, and medical devices made from PHA polymers, have been developed. The coatings impart good lubricity to PHA polymers, particularly to fibers and braids made from these materials, making the coatings ideal for use on medical devices such as PHA braided sutures. The spin finishes can be applied to PHA fibers to facilitate their manufacture, and also for their conversion to other products, including medical textiles. The spin finishes serve to protect multifilament fiber bundles, and keep them intact following extrusion, and also to impart lubricity to the fiber bundles and monofilament fibers so that they are not damaged in subsequent processing steps particularly in textile processing. The coating reduces tissue drag of, for example, braided sutures.