BRAIDED SURGICAL IMPLANTS
A strand that can be used to support repair of a soft tissue injury is disclosed. The strand comprises high strength collagen fibers and high strength biocompatible fibers, such as polyethylene fibers arranged into a strand that can be used as part of a suture or other scaffold for the repair of joints and soft tissues, such as ligaments and tendons. The fibers may be over-braided around a central core, which is itself comprised of two or more fibers. The high strength collagen fibers are strong enough to withstand the stresses imposed by industrial braiding machines and processes.
1 . An implantable biopolymer scaffold, the scaffold including at least one braided strand, the braided strand consisting essentially of high strength collagen fibers and high strength biocompatible fibers.
2 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible fibers are selected from the group consisting of high strength polyethylene fibers and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers.
3 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is selected from the group of form factors consisting of a brace, patch, tape and a suture, such as round suture, flat suture and round-flat-round suture.
4 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the high strength collagen fibers are braided with at least some of the high strength polyethylene fibers.
5 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 1 , wherein the braided strand comprises a central core and an outer layer over-braided around the central core.
6 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 5 , wherein the central core comprises unbraided fibers.
7 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 6 , wherein the outer layer comprises high strength collagen fibers braided with high strength polyethylene fibers.
8 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 1 , wherein at least half of the fibers comprising the braided strand are collagen fibers.
9 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 1 , wherein the high strength polyethylene fibers have substantially larger diameters than the high strength collagen fibers.
10 . An implantable biopolymer scaffold, the scaffold comprising:
a set of high strength collagen fibers braided with a set of high strength polyethylene fibers;
wherein a high strength collagen fiber of the set of high strength collagen fibers has a first ultimate tensile strength, and wherein a high strength polyethylene fiber of the set of high strength polyethylene fibers has a second ultimate tensile strength; and
wherein the first ultimate tensile strength is at least one percent of the second ultimate tensile strength.
11 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 10 , wherein the first ultimate tensile strength is selected from the group consisting of at least about 1 percent, 3 percent, at least 5 percent, at least about 10 percent, at least about 15 percent and at least about 20 percent of the second ultimate tensile strength.
12 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 10 , wherein the first ultimate tensile strength is at least about ten percent of the second ultimate tensile strength.
13 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 10 , wherein the first ultimate tensile strength has a value of at least about 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 100, 120, 130, 140, 150 or 160 MPa.
14 . The implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 10 , wherein the first ultimate tensile strength has a value of at least 100 MPa.
15 . A braided strand comprising a plurality of high strength collagen fibers and high strength polyethylene fibers.
16 . A braided strand comprising:
a set of high strength collagen fibers braided with a set of high strength polyethylene fibers;
wherein a high strength collagen fiber of the set of high strength collagen fibers has a first ultimate tensile strength, and wherein a high strength polyethylene fiber of the set of high strength polyethylene fibers has a second ultimate tensile strength; and
wherein the first ultimate tensile strength is at least about one percent of the second ultimate tensile strength.
17 . The braided strand according to claim 16 , wherein the high strength polyethylene fibers are ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers.
18 . The braided strand according to claim 16 , wherein the first ultimate tensile strength is selected from the group consisting of at least about 1 percent, at least about 3 percent, at least about 5 percent, at least about 10 percent, at least about 15 percent and at least about 20 percent of the second ultimate tensile strength.
19 . The braided strand according to claim 16 , wherein the first ultimate tensile strength has a value of at least about 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 100, 120, 130, 140, 150 or 160 MPa.
20 . A method of repairing an injured joint, ligament or tendon, comprising the step of implanting an implantable biopolymer scaffold according to claim 1 .
21 . A method of securing a medical implant in the desired position, comprising the step of fastening the implant with a suture according to claim 3 .
22 . A method of closing an incision or wound or repairing injured tissue comprising the step of suturing the incision, wound or tissue with a suture according to claim 3 .