Biomedical Textile Spotlight: Braiding Bioresorbables
At Poly-Med, Inc., we focus on the design, development, and manufacturing of polymeric bioresorbable medical components, devices, and excipients. Our in-house vertically integrated system sets us apart from other competitors and makes us the LEADER OF BIORESORBABLES. We offer a wide variety of integrated solutions, including textile manufacturing of medical-grade braids. With our vertically integrated system, we are able to modify the polymer and yarn that are used to create the technical braid, and then alter the post-processing steps of the braid to yield the desired strength and mechanical parameters.
A common braided medical device is the absorbable suture; these sutures provide temporary support of a wound until the tissue is able to withstand normal physiological stresses. Over time, hydrolysis of the suture leads to the absorption of the implant coupled with the loss of mechanical strength followed by mass loss of the suture. Sutures can be manufactured through braiding, which produces intricate constructs that are created through the intertwining of multiple filaments or yarns forming a singular construct. Producing braided medical devices, such as sutures, is a well-established technique that allows for the structure and mechanical behaviors to be tailored to a targeted application. By changing the braiding pattern and process settings such as pick count, parameters such as strength, kink resistance, and torsion control, can be adjusted to modify the material’s performance.
One of the benefits of our vertical integration system is the ability to oversee the process from polymer through finished device. With our known catalog of bioresorbable polymers, we have the ability to easily modify construct properties (strength and mass retention profiles) based on known chemistries. Additionally, we are able to perform custom extrusions to generate varying deniers, filament count, and tenacity. Multifilaments are often used in braided sutures due to their excellent flexibility, handling properties, and greater knot strength compared to monofilaments. Additionally, coatings can be applied to braids to reduce surface roughness and tissue drag. The manufacturing process of braiding is an ideal technique to develop bioresorbable sutures due to PMI’s ability to tailor braiding properties to meet the specific needs of medical applications. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your next braided medical device!
