Optimized suture braid
A high strength abrasion resistant surgical suture material with industry standard knot tying characteristics and color marking characteristics includes a core formed of a plurality of twisted fibers of a first material, surrounded by a braided cover made from fibers of a second material different than the first material. The first material is preferably ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and the second material is preferably a polymeric material having good knot-tying characteristics.
1 . A suture strand suitable for use as a suture or ligature, comprising:
a core including a plurality of core fibers made of a first material; and
a cover surrounding the core, the cover including a plurality of cover fibers made of a second material different than the first material.
2 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the core fibers are arranged in a twisted bundle.
3 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the core consists solely of core fibers of the first material.
4 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cover fibers are arranged to form a woven annular braid.
5 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the cover consists solely of cover fibers of the second material.
6 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a high tensile strength material.
7 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the first material is a high molecular weight, high tenacity material.
8 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the first material is ultrahigh molecular weight long chain polyethylene.
9 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the second material is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of PET, polyester, coated urethanes, and mixtures thereof.
10 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the second material is substantially opaque.
11 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the first material is substantially transparent.
12 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein each of the core fibers comprises a bundle of filaments of the first material.
13 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein each of the cover fibers comprises a bundle of filaments of the second material.
14 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein each of the core fibers is substantially circular in cross section.
15 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein each of the core fibers is substantially wedge-shaped in cross-section.
16 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein the core comprises:
a sub-core comprising at least one core fiber; and
an outer ring comprising a plurality of core fibers surrounding the sub-core.
17 . A suture strand according to claim 16 , wherein the sub-core comprises a single core fiber.
18 . A suture strand according to claim 16 , wherein the sub-core comprises a plurality of core fibers arranged in a twisted bundle.
19 . A suture strand according to claim 16 , wherein the outer ring comprises an annular woven braid of core fibers.
20 . A suture strand according to claim 14 , wherein:
each of the cover fibers is substantially circular in cross-section and has a first diameter; and
each of the core fibers has a diameter greater than the first diameter.
21 . A suture strand according to claim 15 , wherein:
each of the cover fibers is substantially circular in cross-section and has a first diameter; and
each of the core fibers has a length greater than the first diameter.
22 . A suture strand according to claim 1 , wherein:
each of the cover fibers comprises a bundle of cover filaments, each cover filament having a substantially circular cross-section and a cover filament diameter; and
each of the core fibers comprises a bundle of core filaments, each core filament having a substantially circular cross-section and a core filament diameter, wherein the core filament diameter of each of the core filaments is greater than the cover filament diameter of any of the cover filaments.
23 . A suture strand suitable for use as a suture or ligature, comprising:
a core including a plurality of core fibers consisting solely of a first material; and
a cover surrounding the core, the cover including a plurality of cover fibers consisting solely of a second material different than the first material.
24 . A suture strand according to claim 23 , wherein the first material comprises a high tensile strength material.
25 . A suture strand according to claim 23 , wherein the first material is a high molecular weight, high tenacity material.
26 . A suture strand according to claim 23 , wherein the first material is ultrahigh molecular weight long chain polyethylene.
27 . A suture strand according to claim 23 , wherein the second material is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of PET, polyester, coated urethanes, and mixtures thereof.
28 . A suture strand according to claim 23 , wherein the second material is substantially opaque.
29 . A suture strand according to claim 23 , wherein the first material is substantially transparent.
30 . A suture strand according to claim 23 , wherein the core comprises:
a sub-core comprising at least one core fiber; and
an outer ring comprising a plurality of core fibers surrounding the sub-core.
31 . A suture strand according to claim 30 , wherein the sub-core comprises a single core fiber.
32 . A suture strand according to claim 30 , wherein the sub-core comprises a plurality of core fibers arranged in a twisted bundle.
33 . A suture strand according to claim 30 , wherein the outer ring comprises an annular woven braid of core fibers.