Shape memory polymer fabrics
The disclosure describes a method including manufacturing a shape memory polymer fabric with a collection of shape memory polymer fibers such that the resulting shape memory polymer fabric has a glass transition temperature of greater than 50 degrees centigrade. The method further includes training the shape memory polymer fabric with a pre-determined percentage of strain between an expanded shape and a contracted shape. The method further includes preparing a portion of the shape memory polymer fabric into a shape that is sized to cover two portions of a ruptured soft tissue of an animal with a mean body temperature below 40 degrees centigrade while the fabric has the predetermined percentage of strain stored in the expanded shape.
1. A shape memory polymer fabric, comprising:
a collection of non-woven shape memory polymer fibers for orthopedic applications, the collection exhibiting a storage temperature below 40 degrees centigrade, a glass transition temperature at or above 50 degrees centigrade, and a modulus of 20-74 MPa;
wherein the shape memory polymer fabric has a stored strain defining a difference in length of an active dimension of the fabric, the difference in length defining a difference between an installed shape and an unconstrained shape.
2. The shape memory polymer fabric of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer fibers have an average fiber diameter between 1 and 10 microns.
3. The shape memory polymer fabric of claim 1 , wherein the collection of shape memory polymer fibers form a non-woven mesh with varying degrees of shape memory polymer fiber entanglement.
4. The shape memory polymer fabric of claim 1 , wherein the glass transition temperature is determined by a dynamic mechanical analysis technique.
5. The shape memory polymer fabric of claim 1 , wherein the glass transition temperature is at or above 60 degrees centigrade.
6. The shape memory polymer fabric of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer fabric is configured to have a shape memory response, when exposed to surgical installation inside a human body with an average body temperature at about 37 degrees centigrade without temperature-assisted activation during surgery, the shape memory response comprising activating at an insubstantial rate for a period exceeding 2 months.
7. The shape memory polymer fabric of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer fabric comprises a rectangular cross section in the installed shape.
8. The shape memory polymer fabric of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer fabric is configured to undergo a monotonic shape memory response to transition between the installed shape and the unconstrained shape.
9. A shape memory polymer fabric, comprising:
a collection of non-woven shape memory polymer fibers for orthopedic applications, the collection exhibiting a storage temperature below 40 degrees centigrade, a glass transition temperature at or above 50 degrees centigrade, a modulus of 20-74 MPa; and
wherein:
the shape memory polymer fabric has a stored strain defining a difference in length of an active dimension of the fabric between an installed shape and an unconstrained shape;
and
the shape memory polymer fabric comprises a rectangular cross section in the installed shape.