Surgical mesh and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a continuously knitted tubular surgical mesh of monofilament threads free of water-leachable irritant impurities and physiologically inert even in the presence of infection, the threads being unattached at their points of crossing each other. Also disclosed are methods of using the surgical mesh in which the mesh is flattened thereby providing continuous knitted border edges on each side of the mesh, free of selvedge edges, which prevent unraveling or fraying of the border edges and at the same time avoid retaining any infection present by the border edges. Even though doubled, the tubular surgical mesh permits a greater porosity which allows substantially improved growth of tissues through it, it has greater stretch and flexibility than prior flat surgical meshes, and it avoids retaining infection or contamination by a selvedge edge. It also has increased tensile strength and improved flexural properties over prior flat meshes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.