Surgical mesh and method

• US 4,452,245 A
• Filed: 06/23/1982
• Issued: 06/05/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Francis C. Usher
• Original Assignee: Francis C. Usher
• Inventors: Usher, Francis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Padgett, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wallen, T. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/391,323
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 128/334 R, 128/335.5, 128/82, 128/155, 128/156, 3/1
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0068 having a special mesh pattern
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/20 specially adapted for knitting articles of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/08 Hernia repair mesh

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.

Claims

1. A surgical mesh of monofilament threads free of water-leachable irritant impurities and being physiologically inert even in the presence of infection,

having a tensile strength sufficient when doubled to withstand wound tension,

the threads in the mesh having a diameter in the range of 5 to 15 mils,

the mesh having 10 to 20 stitches per inch and being knitted in a continuous tubular shape with the threads being unattached to each other at their points of crossing,

the mesh being flattened in use thereby providing continuous suture border edges on each side of the mesh free of selvedge edges.

2. The surgical mesh of claim 1 where,

the threads are polypropylene monofilament.

3. The surgical mesh of claims 1 or 2 where,

the threads have a diameter of 8 to 10 mils, and

the monofilament is polypropylene.