Mesh implant with an interlocking knitted structure

• US 20080306494A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novus Scientific AB (Novus Scientific Pte., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Radi Medical Systems AB (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Magnusson, Henrik, Mathisen, Torbjorn
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/003 differing in adsorbability or resorbability, i.e. in adsorption or resorption time
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/12 characterised by thread material

Abstract

A resorbable polymeric mesh implant is provided for use in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. The mesh implant is provided with an interlocking knitted structure comprising two or more sets of fibers with different times of degradation, allowing a stepwise increase in the relative distension of the overall mesh over time. The filamentous fibers are knitted together, wherein the filaments of the first set of fibers are interlaced into the filaments of the second set of fibers and at least partly traverse the knit pattern of the second set of fibers such that the filaments of the first set of fibers lock the movement of the part of the mesh formed by the second set of fibers.

Claims

1. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects, comprising:

a first arrangement of resorbable material; and

a second arrangement of resorbable material, the second arrangement of resorbable material being substantially degradable at a later point in time than the first arrangement of resorbable material, the first arrangement of resorbable material being in contact with the second arrangement of resorbable material such that

the first arrangement of resorbable material locks movement of the second arrangement of resorbable material by traversing apertures of the second arrangement of resorbable material to maintain relative distension of the mesh implant substantially constant following a time of implantation and until the first arrangement of resorbable material is substantially degraded, and such that after the first arrangement of resorbable material is substantially degraded, the relative distension of the mesh implant substantially increases.

14. A method to repair a soft tissue defect, wherein a resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1 or 2 is used.

2. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects, wherein the mesh implant comprises at least a first set of resorbable polymeric fibers and a second set of resorbable polymeric fibers, wherein

the fibers are knitted together, wherein filaments of said first set of fibers are interlaced into filaments of the second set of fibers and at least partly traverse a knit pattern of the second set of fibers such that the filaments of the first set of fibers lock the movement of the part of the mesh implant formed by the second set of fibers, and

the relative distension of the mesh implant is substantially constant following the time of implantation and until said first set of fibers is substantially degraded, and the second set of fibers are substantially degraded at a later point in time than the first set of fibers.

3. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2, wherein the mesh implant comprises a third set of fibers that is substantially degraded at a later point in time than the second set of fibers and the relative distension of the mesh implant is substantially changed after the second set of fibers is substantially degraded.

4. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the different sets of fibers are made of different materials with different resorption times relative to the time of implantation.

5. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first set of fibers is substantially degraded at a point in time within the time range of 2-40 days following implantation.

6. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the last substantially degraded set of fibers is substantially degraded at a point in time within the time range of 3-18 months following implantation.

7. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the relative distension of the mesh implant following the time of implantation and until said first set of fibers is substantially degraded is within the range of 0-10%.

8. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the relative distension of the mesh implant following the time of substantial degradation of the first set of fibers is above 10%.

9. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the polymeric mesh implant is a hernia mesh implant.

10. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the mesh implant stretches more in one direction along the plane of the mesh implant than in another direction along the plane of the mesh implant.

11. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the polymeric mesh implant is formed into a three-dimensional shape to support an internal body structure.

12. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first set of fibers and/or further sets of fibers has or is incorporated into a knitted structure with an aperture size in the range of 0.1-4.0 mm.

13. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the mesh implant is knitted using a technique that produces a mesh that is resistant to runs.