PROSTHETIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
A knitted prosthetic device has at least two knitted sections, where each knitted section has at least one row of fiber. The knitted prosthetic device also has at least one intra-articular section disposed between the at least two knitted sections. In addition, the at least one intra-articular section has at least one single continuous fiber traversing the at least one intra-articular section and the at least two knitted sections, where the at least one single continuous fiber forms a plurality of traverses extending between the at least two knitted sections. In particular, embodiments may be used as ligament prostheses by anchoring each of the at least two knitted sections to a bone section of a patient. Such embodiments may be constructed from a strong polymer, preferably, but not limited to, silk, where the polymer provides ligament support but bioresorbs as load bearing responsibilities are transferred to tissue resulting from ingrowth.
1 . A prosthetic device comprising a knitted section, wherein the knitted section comprises sericin extracted silk fibroin fibers in the form of a yarn, and the silk fibroin fibers are substantially nonantigenic.
2 . The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic device further comprises at least two knitted sections.
3 . The prosthetic device of claim 2 , wherein each knitted section including at least one row of fiber.
4 . The prosthetic device of claim 3 , there is at least one section disposed between the at least two knitted sections.
5 . The prosthetic device of claim 4 , the at least one section disposed between the at least two knitted sections comprises at least one single continuous fiber traversing the at least one section disposed between the at least two knitted sections and the at least two knitted sections.
6 . The prosthetic device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one single continuous fiber forms a plurality of traverses extending between the at least two knitted sections.
7 . The prosthetic device of claim 6 , wherein the at least two knitted sections and the at least one single continuous fiber comprise the sericin extracted silk fibroin fibers in a form of a yarn.
8 . The prosthetic device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of traverses extending between the at least two knitted sections are substantially parallel.
9 . The prosthetic device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one single continuous fiber is received into the at least one row of each knitted section.
10 . The prosthetic device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one single continuous fiber is tucked in the at least one row of each knitted section.
11 . The prosthetic device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one single continuous fiber is tucked to at least one loop in each knitted section.
12 . The prosthetic device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one loop is formed by the at least one single continuous fiber.
13 . The prosthetic device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one loop is formed in each knitted section.
14 . The prosthetic device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one row of the at least two knitted sections comprises a plurality of rows, and the at least one single continuous fiber traverses, at least once, each of the plurality of rows.
15 . The prosthetic device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one single continuous fiber is received into the plurality of rows.
16 . A support structure for soft tissue support and replacement comprising a knitted section, wherein the knitted section comprises sericin extracted silk fibroin fibers in the form of a yarn and the silk fibroin fibers are substantially nonantigenic.
17 . An implantable reconstructive device comprising a knitted section, wherein the knitted section comprises sericin extracted silk fibroin fibers in the form of a yarn and the silk fibroin fibers are substantially nonantigenic.