Knit PTFE Articles and Mesh
Disclosed is a knitted article, and a method of producing such an article, having at least one PTFE fiber with oriented fibrils forming multiple fiber cross-over points wherein PTFE fiber is self-bonded in at least one of the cross-over points.
1 . A knitted article comprising:
a knitted structure having at least one PTFE fiber with oriented fibrils, said PTFE fiber forming multiple fiber cross-over points wherein said PTFE fiber is self-bonded in at least one of said cross-over points.
2 . The knitted article of claim 1 wherein the fibrils are oriented non-parallel to each other.
3 . The knitted article of claim 1 wherein said knitted article is a hernia repair mesh.
4 . The knitted article of claim 1 wherein said knitted article is a soft tissue repair mesh.
5 . The knitted article of claim 1 wherein said knitted article is a soft tissue reinforcement mesh.
6 . The knitted article of claim 1 wherein said knitted article is for repair of anatomical defects.
7 . The knitted article of claim 1 wherein said knitted article is for correction of defects in the genitourinary system.
8 . The knitted article of claim 1 wherein said knitted article is for repair of organs.
9 . The knitted article of claim 6 wherein said anatomical defect is abdominal wall.
10 . The knitted article of claim 1 further comprising at least one functional layer.
11 . A knitted article comprising:
a knitted structure having at least one monofilament PTFE fiber, said PTFE fiber forming multiple fiber cross-over points wherein said PTFE fiber is self-bonded in at least one of said cross-over points.
12 . A knitted mesh comprising:
at least one PTFE fiber with oriented fibrils, said PTFE fiber being knitted into a mesh forming multiple fiber cross-over points wherein said PTFE fiber is self-bonded in at least one of said cross-over points, and wherein said mesh has a mass of between 50 and 70 g/m 2 and stiffness of greater than 25 g as determined by INDA Standard test Method 90.3.
13 . A knitted mesh comprising:
at least one PTFE fiber with oriented fibrils, said PTFE fiber is knitted into a mesh forming multiple fiber cross-over points wherein said PTFE fiber is self-bonded in at least one of said cross-over points, and wherein said mesh has a mass of between 70 and 90 g/m 2 and stiffness of greater than 35 g as determined by INDA Standard test Method 90.3.
14 . A knitted mesh comprising:
at least one PTFE fiber having oriented fibrils, said PTFE fiber is knitted into a mesh forming multiple fiber cross-over points wherein said PTFE fiber is self-bonded in at least one of said cross-over points, and wherein said mesh has a mass of between 90 and 165 g/m 2 and stiffness of greater than 50 g as determined by INDA Standard test Method 90.3.
15 . A knitted article comprising:
a knitted structure having at least one PTFE fiber with oriented fibrils, said PTFE fiber forming multiple fiber cross-over points wherein said PTFE fiber is cross-fibril locked in at least one of said cross-over points.
16 . A knitted article of claim 1 wherein said PTFE fiber is self-bonded in at least one of said cross-over points by heat treatment of said knitted article under tension.
17 . A knitted article of claim 15 wherein said heat treatment is in the range of 350-375° C.
18 . A mesh comprising:
at least one PTFE fiber with oriented fibrils, said PTFE fiber being knitted into a mesh forming multiple fiber cross-over points wherein said PTFE fiber is self-bonded in at least one of said cross-over points, and wherein said mesh has a mass of greater than 70 g/m 2 and stiffness of greater than 25 g as determined by INDA Standard test Method 90.3.
19 . The knitted article of claim 1 wherein the knitted structure is solely PTFE.
20 . The knitted article of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional non-knitted layer.
21 . The knitted article of claim 1 further comprising at least one coating covering at least one portion of said knitted structure.
22 . The article of claim 21 wherein the coating is a bioactive agent.
23 . The article of claim 21 wherein the coating is an antimicrobial agent.
24 . The article of claim 21 wherein the coating is an antibiotic.