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US 12,465,475 B2Granted
Elastomeric auxetic membrane for urogynecological and abdominal implantations
AssigneeMagee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation
InventorsKatrina Marquita Knight, Pamela A. Moalli, Steven D. Abramowitch, Ken Gall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments relate to the use of auxetic geometries to construct the pores of membranes. Auxetic geometries expand in the transverse direction when stretched along the longitudinal direction. This behavior is counterintuitive as most materials contract in the transverse direction when stretched longitudinally. A mesh with pores that are auxetic has the potential to overcome the primary limitation of most prolapse meshes—pore collapse with tensile loading.
Claims19
An elastomeric membrane for implantation in a human body, comprising:
- a plurality of fibers, comprised of at least one polymer;
- and
- a plurality of pores, wherein each pore is defined by the plurality of fibers and has an auxetic shape such that a size of the pores expands in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis when the membrane is subject to a tensile load along the longitudinal axis,
- wherein the plurality of fibers have an original length and are configured to return to a second length after tensile loading or unloading at 15 N, wherein the second length is less than or equal to 40% longer than the original length.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.