Surgical filament from polypropylene blended with polyethylene

• US 4,557,264 A
• Filed: 04/09/1984
• Issued: 12/10/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hinsch, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Howard, Jacqueline V.
• Application Number:
  US06/597,857
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 128/335.5, 128/334, 523/114, 428/364, 428/370
• US Class Current: 606/231
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/04 Non-resorbable materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2924 Composite

Abstract

Surgical filaments such as sutures and ligatures are made from a blend of polypropylene and linear low density polyethylene.

Claims

1. A drawn and oriented, strong and compliant, surgical filament comprising a physical blend of polypropylene and linear low density polyethylene, wherein the filament contains from about 0.1 to 25 weight percent linear low density polyethylene, based on weight of polyethylene plus polypropylene.

2. The surgical filament of claim 1 attached to a needle.

3. The surgical filament of claim 1 having the following properties:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ tensile strength 350 to 900 N/mm.sup.2 intrinsic knot strength 300 to 800 N/mm.sup.2 break elongation 23 to 53 percent flexural modulus 1200 to 5000 N/mm.sup.2 ______________________________________

4. The surgical filament of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the filament contains from about 1 to 16 weight percent linear low density polyethylene, based on weight of polyethylene plus polypropylene.

5. The surgical filament of claim 1, 2, or 3 in sterile condition.