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US 12,672,947 B2Granted
Prosthetic surgical sling
OwnerRebecca U. Ruefer, Beda B. G. Rueferinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a process of making an expanded fluoropolymer, e.g., PTFE, article is disclosed. The article is formed from a PTFE resin, calendered, and then expanded (e.g., uniaxially, multiaxially, etc.) at an elevated temperature. After cooling, the article is used to form a surgically implanted device, e.g., a surgical prosthetic sling.
Claims15
A surgical implant comprising:
- an elongated flat implant body having first and second ends, the implant body being configured to support a body tissue, the body formed of a biocompatible, bacteria-resistant fluoropolymer material,
- wherein the biocompatible, bacteria-resistant fluoropolymer material comprises a plurality of nodes and a plurality of fibrils, wherein the implant body is multiaxially expanded such that the plurality of fibrils radiate between the plurality of nodes to define a plurality of pores, each of the plurality of pores each having a length and a width, a smallest of the length or width being about equal to or less than about 2 micron, wherein more than about 80% of the implant body is comprised of solid nodes, and
- wherein the biocompatible, bacteria-resistant fluoropolymer material comprises a microporous structure which is closed to ingrowth and bacterial penetration.
An expanded PTFE tissue-engaging surgical implant comprising
- a body formed of expanded PTFE, the body having:
- a microporous structure including a plurality of nodes and a plurality of multiaxially-radiating fibrils, the plurality of multiaxially-radiating fibrils radiate between the plurality of nodes to establish a plurality of pores, each of the plurality of pores having sizes which are less than or equal to about 2 microns, wherein more than about 80% of the body is comprised of solid nodes, and
- the microporous structure being closed to ingrowth and bacterial penetration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.