SUTURE MATERIAL HAVING BENEFICIAL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Suture material that includes an exterior braid of more than 50% ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, defining a lumen having a lumen diameter. In addition, the suture material includes an interior core, comprised of fibers and having a diameter that is less than 55% of the diameter of said lumen.
1 . Suture material, consisting of:
(a) an exterior braid of more than 50% ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, defining a lumen having a lumen diameter;
(b) an interior core, comprised of fibers and having a diameter that is less than 55% of the diameter of said lumen; and
(c) void space separating said interior core from said exterior braid.
2 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein said core is composed, at least in part, of fibers of polyester.
3 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein said fibers of said core are air tangled together.
4 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein less than 60% of the fibers of said core are composed of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.
5 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein said diameter of said core is less than 50% of said lumen diameter.
6 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein said core is composed at least in part of bio-absorbable fibers.
7 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein said core includes no ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.
8 . The suture of claim 7 , wherein said core consists of polyester.
9 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein said core makes up less than 20% of said suture structure by weight.
10 - 20 . (canceled)