Randomly Uniform Three Dimensional Tissue Scaffold of Absorbable and Non-Absorbable Materials
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsSusanne Landgrebe, Daniel Smith, Oliver Dick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implantable structure, method for making the structure and method for using the structure, where the structure includes a combination of non-absorbable and absorbable components, and the implantable structure has a randomly uniform array of materials. The resulting implantable structure provides improved tissue ingrowth and flexibility after implantation and after absorption of the absorbable materials.
Claims22
An implantable device comprising an initial contiguous weave of a buckled first non-absorbable filament and a first absorbable filament, wherein the absorbable filament has been subjected to shrinkage in threat least two dimensions, providing a random orientation of said non-absorbable filament.
An implantable material comprising a random orientation of at least one first non-absorbable filament held in place by a previously-melted first absorbable filament, in which said implantable material has a first elongation level prior to hydrolysis of said first absorbable filament and a second elongation level after hydrolysis of said first absorbable filament, wherein said second elongation level is at least about three times as great as said first elongation level.
A method of reinforcing bodily tissue, comprising the steps of:
- a. Securing an implantable device into the body of an individual, said implantable device comprising a random orientation of at least one first non-absorbable filament held in place by a previously-melted first absorbable filament, in which said implantable material has a first elongation level prior to hydrolysis of said first absorbable filament and a second elongation level after hydrolysis of said first absorbable filament, wherein said second elongation level is at least about three times as great as said first elongation level;
- and
- b. Allowing tissue ingrowth into said device.
A method of reinforcing bodily tissue, comprising the steps of:
- a. Forming a first yarn and a second yarn, wherein at least one of said first yarn and second yarns includes a first non-absorbable filament and at least one of said first yarn and second yarns includes a first absorbable filament, said first absorbable filament having a lower melting point than said first non-absorbable filament;
- b. Forming an initial woven structure of said first yarn and second yarn;
- c. Subjecting said initial woven structure to a first heat treatment at a first temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage of said first absorbable filament, thus buckling at least one of said first or second yarn, thus forming an initial heated structure;
- d. Subjecting said initial heated structure to a second heat treatment at a second temperature, wherein said second heat treatment at least partially melts said first absorbable filament, thus forming a second heated structure;
- e. Allowing said second heated structure to cool to form a resulting implantable device;
- f. Securing said implantable device into the body of an individual;
- and
- g. Allowing tissue ingrowth into said device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.