The present invention relates to a modified polymeric material. The modified polymeric material includes a polymer having a modified surface, where the modified surface includes nano, micron, and/or submicron scale features. The present invention also relates to an implant comprising the modified polymeric material. The present invention further relates to processes for making the modified polymeric material and the implant.

The present invention relates to a modified polymeric material. The modified polymeric material includes a polymer having a modified surface, where the modified surface includes nano, micron, and/or submicron scale features. The present invention also relates to an implant comprising the modified polymeric material. The present invention further relates to processes for making the modified polymeric material and the implant.

The present invention relates to a modified polymeric material. The modified polymeric material includes a polymer having a modified surface, where the modified surface includes nano, micron, and/or submicron scale features. The present invention also relates to an implant comprising the modified polymeric material. The present invention further relates to processes for making the modified polymeric material and the implant.

Disclosed herein are surgical suture materials that facilitate the sustained delivery of releasable components. The suture materials are processed by the disclosed methods to create a layer of pores extending inward from the outer surface of the suture. Particularly, the surgical suture materials are swollen in a calcium-ion containing solution, then freeze-dried to create pores which can be filled with a releasable component for ultimate delivery to the tissue. In one particular embodiment, the suture has an outer sheath that defines a lumen. Elongated filaments extend through the lumen. This suture embodiment is processed by the disclosed methods to yield a surgical suture material with a porous outer sheath. The pores enable efficient loading of a releasable component into the lumen, facilitating sustained delivery of the releasable component from the suture. The suture maintains its mechanical integrity despite the introduction of pores due to coordination bonds formed between the calcium ions of the swelling solution and carbonyl oxygen atoms of the polymer chains of the surgical suture material.

Disclosed herein are surgical suture materials that facilitate the sustained delivery of releasable components. The suture materials are processed by the disclosed methods to create a layer of pores extending inward from the outer surface of the suture. Particularly, the surgical suture materials are swollen in a calcium-ion containing solution, then freeze-dried to create pores which can be filled with a releasable component for ultimate delivery to the tissue. In one particular embodiment, the suture has an outer sheath that defines a lumen. Elongated filaments extend through the lumen. This suture embodiment is processed by the disclosed methods to yield a surgical suture material with a porous outer sheath. The pores enable efficient loading of a releasable component into the lumen, facilitating sustained delivery of the releasable component from the suture. The suture maintains its mechanical integrity despite the introduction of pores due to coordination bonds formed between the calcium ions of the swelling solution and carbonyl oxygen atoms of the polymer chains of the surgical suture material.

A medical device includes a surgical needle, an elongated suture, and an intervening segment. The elongated suture has a first end proximate to the needle and a second end located away from the needle. The elongated suture also includes a plurality of fibers defining a mesh wall between the first and second ends. A plurality of pores extend through the mesh wall, at least some which are in the macroporous size range of greater than 200 microns for facilitating tissue integration when introduced into a body. The intervening segment is disposed between and connected to either or both ends of the elongated suture and the needle. The intervening segment includes one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers and has a cross-sectional dimension smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the mesh wall such that the intervening segment facilitates indirect attachment of the elongated macroporous mesh suture to the needle.

A medical device includes a surgical needle, an elongated suture, and an intervening segment. The elongated suture has a first end proximate to the needle and a second end located away from the needle. The elongated suture also includes a plurality of fibers defining a mesh wall between the first and second ends. A plurality of pores extend through the mesh wall, at least some which are in the macroporous size range of greater than 200 microns for facilitating tissue integration when introduced into a body. The intervening segment is disposed between and connected to either or both ends of the elongated suture and the needle. The intervening segment includes one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers and has a cross-sectional dimension smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the mesh wall such that the intervening segment facilitates indirect attachment of the elongated macroporous mesh suture to the needle.

A suture assembly including a first suture having a generally O-shaped configuration having a first arm, a second arm, a first bridge connecting the first arm to the second arm, and a second bridge connecting the first arm to the second arm. The first bridge opposes the second bridge so that the first suture includes a closed loop. A second suture having a first arm, a second arm and a bridge connecting the first arm to the second arm. The first arm of the second suture is wrapped around the first arm of the first suture in a first direction, and the second arm of the second suture is wrapped around the second arm of the first suture in a second, opposite direction. The suture assembly is capable of assuming (i) a longitudinally-extended, radially-contracted first configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, radially-expanded second configuration.

A suture assembly including a first suture having a generally O-shaped configuration having a first arm, a second arm, a first bridge connecting the first arm to the second arm, and a second bridge connecting the first arm to the second arm. The first bridge opposes the second bridge so that the first suture includes a closed loop. A second suture having a first arm, a second arm and a bridge connecting the first arm to the second arm. The first arm of the second suture is wrapped around the first arm of the first suture in a first direction, and the second arm of the second suture is wrapped around the second arm of the first suture in a second, opposite direction. The suture assembly is capable of assuming (i) a longitudinally-extended, radially-contracted first configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, radially-expanded second configuration.

The present invention relates to a suturing thread for providing a more efficient lift procedure, and provides a suturing thread for a facelift and a body lift, wherein the suturing thread is made of a polymer material and has a plurality of conical protrusions or a plurality of funneled protrusions formed on an outer circumferential surface of a main thread of the suturing thread.