A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

A polymeric material fiber includes a polymeric material which is a homopolymer of caprolactone or a copolymer of at least 90% by weight of caprolactone and one or more additional monomers. An implantable mesh includes this fiber alone or combined with one or more additional fiber materials. Methods for treating patients involve implanting the fiber material, for example incorporated in a mesh.

A polymeric material fiber includes a polymeric material which is a homopolymer of caprolactone or a copolymer of at least 90% by weight of caprolactone and one or more additional monomers. An implantable mesh includes this fiber alone or combined with one or more additional fiber materials. Methods for treating patients involve implanting the fiber material, for example incorporated in a mesh.

A method for spreading a tow of textile non-braided filaments, preferably chemical or inorganic fibres comprises providing a tow of textile non-braided filaments extending along its own main direction and having a section transverse to the main direction with a predetermined thickness and a predetermined width, feeding the tow along a travel path and spreading the tow in order to increase its width and reduce its thickness, defining a spread tow. The step of spreading the tow includes immersing the tow in a bath and generating in the bath a sequence of transverse waves crossing the tow transversely to the main direction in order to separate and place the individual filaments side by side, thereby spreading the tow, wherein the tow entering the bath and/or the spread tow extracted from the bath is/are unsized.

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

A polymeric material fiber includes a polymeric material which is a homopolymer of caprolactone or a copolymer of at least 90% by weight of caprolactone and one or more additional monomers. An implantable mesh includes this fiber alone or combined with one or more additional fiber materials. Methods for treating patients involve implanting the fiber material, for example incorporated in a mesh.

A polymeric material fiber includes a polymeric material which is a homopolymer of caprolactone or a copolymer of at least 90% by weight of caprolactone and one or more additional monomers. An implantable mesh includes this fiber alone or combined with one or more additional fiber materials. Methods for treating patients involve implanting the fiber material, for example incorporated in a mesh.