Composite self-cohered web materials
The present invention is directed to implantable bioabsorbable non-woven self-cohered web materials having a high degree of porosity. The web materials are very supple and soft, while exhibiting proportionally increased mechanical strength in one or more directions. The web materials often possess a high degree of loft. The web materials can be formed into a variety of shapes and forms suitable for use as implantable medical devices or components thereof.
1 . An implantable article comprising melt-formed continuous filaments intermingled to form a porous web wherein said filaments are self-cohered to each other at multiple contact points, wherein said filaments comprise at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component covalently bonded to or blended with at least one amorphous polymeric component, wherein the filaments possess partial to full polymeric component phase immiscibility when in a crystalline state, wherein said implantable article has a percent porosity greater than ninety in the absence of additional components, and wherein said implantable article is in the form of a hollow tube.
2 . The implantable article of claim 1 further comprising a framework attached to said hollow tube.
3 . The implantable article of claim 2 wherein said framework is a metallic material.
4 . The implantable article of claim 2 wherein said framework is made of a bioabsorbable material.
5 . The implantable article of claim 1 wherein the percent porosity is greater than ninety-one in the absence of additional components.
6 . The implantable article of claim 5 further comprising a framework attached to said hollow tube.
7 . The implantable article of claim 6 wherein said framework is a metallic material.
8 . The implantable article of claim 7 wherein said framework is a bioabsorbable material.
9 . The implantable article of claim 1 wherein the at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component is covalently bonded to at least one amorphous polymeric component.
10 . The implantable article of claim 9 wherein the components comprise a block copolymer.
11 . The implantable article of claim 1 wherein the at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component is blended with the at least one amorphous polymeric component.
12 . The implantable article of claim 11 wherein at least one of the components is a block co-polymer.
13 . The implantable article of claim 1 wherein at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component has a melting point greater than eighty degrees centigrade (80° C.).
14 . An implantable article comprising melt-formed continuous filaments intermingled to form a porous web wherein said filaments are self-cohered to each other at multiple contact points, wherein said filaments comprise a first semi-crystalline polymeric component covalently bonded to or blended with at least one additional semi-crystalline polymeric component, wherein the filaments possess partial to full polymeric component phase immiscibility when in a crystalline state, wherein said implantable article has a percent porosity greater than ninety in the absence of additional components, and wherein said implantable article is in the form of a hollow tube.
15 . The implantable article of claim 14 wherein said implantable article has a percent porosity greater than ninety-one in the absence of additional components.
16 . The implantable article of claim 14 further comprising a framework attached to said hollow tube.
17 . The implantable article of claim 15 wherein said framework is a metallic material.
18 . The implantable article of claim 15 wherein said framework is made of a bioabsorbable material.
19 . The implantable article of claim 14 wherein the percent porosity is greater than ninety-one in the absence of additional components.
20 . The implantable article of claim 19 further comprising a framework attached to said hollow tube.
21 . The implantable article of claim 20 wherein said framework is a metallic material.
22 . The implantable article of claim 21 wherein said framework is a bioabsorbable material.
23 . The implantable article of claim 14 wherein the at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component is covalently bonded to at least one amorphous polymeric component.
24 . The implantable article of claim 23 wherein the components comprise a block copolymer.
25 . The implantable article of claim 14 wherein the at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component is blended with the at least one amorphous polymeric component.
26 . The implantable article of claim 25 wherein at least one of the components is a block co-polymer.
27 . The implantable article of claim 14 wherein at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component has a melting point greater than eighty degrees centigrade (80° C.).
28 . An implantable article comprising melt-formed continuous filaments intermingled to form a porous web wherein said filaments are self-cohered to each other at multiple contact points, wherein said filaments comprise at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component covalently bonded to or blended with at least one amorphous polymeric component, wherein the filaments possess partial to full polymeric component phase immiscibility when in a crystalline state, wherein said implantable article has a percent porosity greater than ninety in the absence of additional components, and wherein said porous web is in the form of a corrugated tube capable of increasing in length and diameter.
29 . The implantable article of claim 28 wherein the percent porosity is greater than ninety-one in the absence of additional components.
30 . The implantable article of claim 28 wherein the at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component is covalently bonded to at least one amorphous polymeric component.
31 . The implantable article of claim 30 wherein the components comprise a block copolymer.
32 . The implantable article of claim 28 wherein the at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component is blended with the at least one amorphous polymeric component.
33 . The implantable article of claim 32 wherein at least one of the components is a block co-polymer.
34 . The implantable article of claim 28 wherein at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component has a melting point greater than eighty degrees centigrade (80° C.).