Surgical sutures derived from segmented polyether-ester block copolymers

A non-absorbable monofilament sterile surgical suture or ligature having an attached needle comprising a polymeric block (A) consisting of a polyalkylene ether of the formula ##STR11## having a number average molecular weight of from about 500-3000 wherein R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group of from about 2 to 10 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is 1,4-phenylene or cyclohexylene and n is the number of repeating units and is defined by R and R.sub.2, by R.sub.1 in polymeric block (B), and by the total molecular weight of the copolymer;

• and a polymeric block (B) which is the reaction product of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or a cycloaliphatic acid, and a short chain aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diol, having the formula ##STR12## wherein R.sub.1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl group of from about 2 to 10 carbon atoms or a cyclic group having the formula ##STR13## and R.sub.2 is 1,4-phenylene or cyclohexylene, said block (B) comprising from about 30% to 95% of said copolymer, and said copolymer having a number average molecular weight of from about 25,000 to 30,000, such that said suture has good flexibility, good fatigue life and high tensile strength.