US20030138480A1 - Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same - Google Patents

Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20030138480A1
US20030138480A1 US10/373,057 US37305703A US2003138480A1 US 20030138480 A1 US20030138480 A1 US 20030138480A1 US 37305703 A US37305703 A US 37305703A US 2003138480 A1 US2003138480 A1 US 2003138480A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
fiber
component
cavities
polymer
longitudinally
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/373,057
Inventor
William Baker
William Hills
Arnold Wilkie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US10/373,057 priority Critical patent/US20030138480A1/en
Publication of US20030138480A1 publication Critical patent/US20030138480A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61KPREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/0087Galenical forms not covered by A61K9/02 - A61K9/7023
    • A61K9/0092Hollow drug-filled fibres, tubes of the core-shell type, coated fibres, coated rods, microtubules or nanotubes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61LMETHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L15/00Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
    • A61L15/16Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
    • A61L15/42Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
    • A61L15/44Medicaments
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61LMETHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L17/00Materials for surgical sutures or for ligaturing blood vessels ; Materials for prostheses or catheters
    • A61L17/005Materials for surgical sutures or for ligaturing blood vessels ; Materials for prostheses or catheters containing a biologically active substance, e.g. a medicament or a biocide
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01DMECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
    • D01D5/00Formation of filaments, threads, or the like
    • D01D5/24Formation of filaments, threads, or the like with a hollow structure; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01DMECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
    • D01D5/00Formation of filaments, threads, or the like
    • D01D5/28Formation of filaments, threads, or the like while mixing different spinning solutions or melts during the spinning operation; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D01D5/30Conjugate filaments; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01DMECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
    • D01D5/00Formation of filaments, threads, or the like
    • D01D5/28Formation of filaments, threads, or the like while mixing different spinning solutions or melts during the spinning operation; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D01D5/30Conjugate filaments; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D01D5/36Matrix structure; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01FCHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
    • D01F1/00General methods for the manufacture of artificial filaments or the like
    • D01F1/02Addition of substances to the spinning solution or to the melt
    • D01F1/10Other agents for modifying properties
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01FCHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
    • D01F8/00Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof
    • D01F8/04Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof from synthetic polymers
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01FCHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
    • D01F8/00Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof
    • D01F8/04Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof from synthetic polymers
    • D01F8/12Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof from synthetic polymers with at least one polyamide as constituent
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61LMETHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2300/00Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T442/00Fabric [woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.]
    • Y10T442/20Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which is not [a] associated with another preformed layer or fiber layer or, [b] with respect to woven and knit, characterized, respectively, by a particular or differential weave or knit, wherein the coating or impregnation is neither a foamed material nor a free metal or alloy layer
    • Y10T442/2525Coating or impregnation functions biologically [e.g., insect repellent, antiseptic, insecticide, bactericide, etc.]

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to synthetic fibers for medical use and methods for making such synthetic fibers, and, more particularly, to synthetic fibers having cavities adapted to hold relatively large quantities of a medicament, for use in forming sutures, textile prostheses and medicated epidermal pads.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,766 to Schmitt et al. discloses absorbable surgical elements, such as sutures, clips, sponges, gauze, prosthetic devices, and storage pellets having medicaments incorporated therein which are released into tissue over time as the surgical element is absorbed.
  • the medicament is combined with a base material of polyglycolic acid (PGA) and subsequently formed into the surgical elements, e.g., by being spun into filaments to form sutures.
  • PGA polyglycolic acid
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,167 to Ron et al. discloses biocompatible, biodegradable polymers useful for making controlled release devices for drug delivery, such as bioabsorbable sutures, wherein the drug is incorporated directly into the polymer.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,871 to Stevenson incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses multifilament suture stands that are impregnated with an antimicrobial agent and top coated with a segmented polymer, such that the sutures retain antimicrobial properties over an extended period of time.
  • the antimicrobial agent is distributed substantially throughout the suture in the interstices between strands and between individual filaments.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,540 to Olson discloses coating an absorbable braided suture with a solution that controls the release of chemical or pharmaceutical agents as the suture is absorbed into living tissue.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,968 to Dunn et al. discloses biodegradable sutures having a core and sheath configuration, wherein the core comprises a blend of a polymer and an agent to be released into living tissue, and the sheath comprises only the polymer.
  • these known synthetic fibers are effective in controlling the release rate of a medicament into tissue, these fibers are either solid fibers that require the medicine to be absorbed into the fiber or fibers comprising medicine intermixed with a polymer prior to extrusion and formation of the fibers from the mixture. Consequently, these fibers have a limited capacity to hold medicine. Accordingly, there remains a need for synthetic fibers useful for forming sutures, textile prostheses, medicated epidermal pads, and the like, that have the capacity to hold more medicine than conventional synthetic fibers.
  • a synthetic fiber is formed with a plurality of longitudinally-extending cavities which hold a medicament intended to be absorbed into living tissue brought into contact with the fiber.
  • the fiber can be formed by dissolving a soluble polymer component of an extruded plural-component fiber, leaving cavities that extend inward from the outer surface of the fiber in the locations of the dissolved polymer. After the fiber has been exposed to a solvent, the cavities left by the dissolved component are filled with a medicament. Specifically, the cavities are filled with a medicament that is mixed with a viscous carrier which solidifies within the cavities.
  • the fibers can be used to make sutures, textile prostheses for insertion into the body, and epidermal pads and bandages.
  • Fibers having internal cavities can be formed by extruding a single-component fiber from a spinneret orifice having a number of T-shaped slots extending from a central hub.
  • a medicament is introduced into the internal cavities by soaking the fiber in a liquid containing the medicament.
  • the internal-cavity fiber is therefore formed of polymer having some capability for liquid transport, e.g., nylon.
  • a fiber with external cavities can be formed from a similar process by modifying one or more of the extrusion parameters.
  • the fiber of the present invention includes cavities or reservoirs specifically designed to hold a medicament, these fiber advantageously hold significantly more medicine that prior art fibers relying on absorption of a medicament by a fiber or formation of a polymer into which a medicament is intermixed.
  • FIG. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an island-in-the-sea bicomponent fiber having longitudinal “island” components along the fiber surface, wherein the “island” components are dissolvable in a solvent.
  • FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the synthetic fiber shown in FIG. 1, wherein the “island” components have been dissolved, leaving longitudinal cavities along the fiber surface, wherein the cavities have substantially round cross-sectional shapes.
  • FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the synthetic fiber of FIG. 2, wherein the cavities are filled with a medicament in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a spin pack suitable for extruding the synthetic fiber shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a synthetic fiber of the present invention, having longitudinal cavities along the fiber surface, wherein the cavities have cross-sectional shapes elongated in the radial direction.
  • FIG. 6 is transverse cross-sectional view of a synthetic fiber of the present invention having arcuate, internal longitudinal cavities.
  • FIG. 7 is a spinneret orifice for forming a single component synthetic fiber having internal or surface longitudinal cavities for holding a medicament.
  • synthetic textile fibers, monofilaments and multifilament yarns are formed from fibers having open voids or reservoirs that can be filled with a medicament or other additives with beneficial medical uses, for subsequent absorption into the body.
  • the terms “medicine”, “medicament” and “medication” refer to any substance, agent, compound or composition of matter intended to interact with tissue or bodily fluids to treat or prevent disease or damage, cause a pharmacologic or physiologic response, or to provide some other beneficial or therapeutic effect, including, but not limited to: all types of therapeutic agents, such as antiseptics, including antibiotics, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiviral agents, analgesics, anesthetics, anorexics, anthemidines, antiarthritics, antiasthmatic agents, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antidiabetic agents, antidiarheals, antihistamines, antiinflammatory agents, antimigraine agents, antimotion sickness agents, antinauseants, antineoplastics, antiparkinsonism drugs, antipruitics, antipsychotics, antipyretics, antispasmodics including gastrointestinal and urinary, anticholinergics, sympathomimetics, xanthine derivative
  • an extruded synthetic fiber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in transverse cross section at three different stages of the manufacturing process.
  • an extruded bicomponent fiber 10 is a so-called “island-in-the-sea” fiber with a substantially circular cross sectional shape.
  • fiber 10 comprises a durable “sea” polymer 12 , which forms the bulk of fiber 10 , and four polymer “islands” 14 having substantially circular cross sections.
  • the polymer islands 14 are embedded in the sea polymer 12 and lie along the outer surface of fiber 10 , spaced apart by approximately 90°, such that the islands 14 are not totally encapsulated by the sea polymer 12 , and a portion of the outer surface of fiber 10 is formed by the polymer islands 14 .
  • the sea polymer 12 of fiber 10 may be made from any organic high polymer such as nylon, polyethylene terepthalate, or polypropylene, or from absorbable polymers such as polymerized vinyl alcohol or more modern absorbable co-polymers.
  • the term “polymer” includes all such materials (both polymers and co-polymers).
  • the polymer islands 14 are composed of a polymer, such as polyvinyl alcohol, which can later be dissolved in water, alcohol or another suitable solvent. Importantly, sea polymer 12 is does not dissolve in the solvent in which polymer islands 14 dissolve.
  • bicomponent island-in-the-sea fiber 10 shown in FIG. 1 can be by melt, dry or wet spinning.
  • bicomponent fiber 10 can be made by bicomponent spinning, using equipment of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,114 or 4,381,274, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a spin pack 20 that is a simplified version of the spin pack shown in FIG. 1 a of U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,114 and that is suitable for generating bicomponent island-in-the-sea fiber 10 .
  • Spin pack 20 includes upstream openings 22 and 24 through which the island polymer and sea polymer respectively enter spin pack 20 .
  • the island polymer travels through capillary tubes 26 which inject the island polymer into the flow of the sea polymer at the entrance to spinneret 28 in four discrete locations along the edge of the spinneret entrance.
  • the polymers flow through spinneret 28 to an orifice 30 , where they are extruded as island-in-the-sea fiber 10 .
  • bicomponent fiber 10 is formed, it is treated with a suitable solvent, such as water, to dissolve the polymer islands 14 .
  • a suitable solvent such as water
  • polymer islands 14 are removed by exposure to the solvent, leaving a single component (i.e., the sea polymer 12 ) fiber 10 ′ having longitudinally-extending voids or cavities 16 along the surface of fiber 10 ′ in the locations formerly occupied by the dissolved polymer islands 14 .
  • the fibers are to be made into a fabric, it is preferable to form the fabric prior to exposure to the solvent (with the polymer islands 14 in place), and subsequently to wash the fabric in water, alcohol or some other suitable solvent to remove the polymer islands 14 , leaving cavities 16 on the surface of the fibers.
  • the cavities formed in the fibers of the present invention are not interstitial spaces lying between separate, adjacent polymer filaments or strands; rather, the cavities are voids formed in an otherwise solid polymer fiber.
  • cavities 16 left along the outer surface of fiber 10 ′ by the dissolved islands 14 serve as reservoirs that are filled with a medicament 18 to form a fiber 10 ′′.
  • Medicament 18 can be added to the fiber by dipping the fiber (or a fabric, felt, or other textile product made from the fibers) in a bath containing the medicament in a suitable carrier.
  • the carrier is preferable a somewhat viscous carrier so that the medicament 18 and carrier can solidify by drying and/or cooling at room temperature before the medicament/carrier can drain out of the fiber cavities.
  • Treating of the fibers 10 ′ (FIG. 2) with a medicament/carrier to form fiber 10 ′′ (FIG. 3) can be performed in line with fiber extrusion or at any later time after the island polymer has been dissolved.
  • sutures or fabrics made from the extruded and solvent-treated fiber 10 ′, or fiber 10 ′ itself are general purpose fibers, sutures and fabrics that can be later treated with any desired medicament/carrier mixture for a particular application.
  • the medicament is of the type absorbed into the body over a period of time after the medical element formed from the fiber (e.g., a suture, textile prosthesis, or epidermal pad) has been deployed in or on the body.
  • the medical element formed from the fiber e.g., a suture, textile prosthesis, or epidermal pad
  • a medicament is added to the island polymer prior to fiber spinning (by melt, dry or wet spinning) to produce the desired end use fiber in one step. That is, the island polymer is extruded with the desired medicament incorporated therein, such that the extruded fiber is used directly in the final medical product without requiring the island components to be dissolved or the fiber to be dipped in a medicament/carrier mixture. Fibers produced in this manner are of a single purpose type, having a particular medicament that is predetermined at the time of extrusion.
  • a fiber 50 having a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional profile, comprises an extruded “sea” polymer 52 , with four longitudinally-extending cavities 54 created by dissolving four polymer islands that are partially embedded in the sea polymer and form part of the outer surface of the extruded fiber.
  • the cavities 54 are spaced apart by approximately 90°, and each of cavities 54 has a substantially pointed elliptical transverse cross-section shape, with the major elliptical axis lying along a radial line.
  • the cavities 54 extend to the outer surface of fiber 50 , where the elliptical shape of the cavities is truncated. As seen in FIG. 5, the shape of cavities 54 results in sea polymer 52 having a substantially cruciform shape with the circular profile of fiber 50 .
  • fiber 50 is similar to fiber 10 ′ (FIG. 2) except that the cavities are elongated in the radial direction.
  • the fibers of the present invention can include external (i.e., on the fiber surface) medicament-holding cavities having any of variety of different transverse cross-sectional shapes, and the present invention is not limited to the particular cross-sectional shapes shown in the figures. Further, number of cavities can be any suitable number (one or more) of external cavities.
  • an extruded fiber includes one or more internal longitudinal cavities (i.e., cavities not extending to the outer surface of the fiber), which cavities lie in relatively close proximity to the fiber surface.
  • a fiber 60 having internal cavities for storing a medicament is shown.
  • fiber 60 has a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional profile, and comprises an extruded polymer 62 with five longitudinally-extending internal cavities 64 .
  • Each of cavities 64 has an arcuate transverse cross-section shape, and cavities 64 together form a ring of arcuate cavities lying along a circle concentric with fiber 60 (i.e., the circle lies at a fixed radial distance from the center of fiber 60 ).
  • Fiber 60 can be made without the need for bicomponent spinning by employing a spinneret orifice of a suitable shape.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a spinneret face 70 having formed therein an orifice 72 suitable for extruding fiber 60 (FIG. 6).
  • Orifice 72 includes five T-shaped slots extending radially outward from a circular, central hub opening. The circumferential portions of the T-shaped slots are arcuate and form an outer circular ring of openings, with gaps 74 between adjacent slots 72 .
  • the polymer extruded from the T-shaped slots will bridge the gaps 74 a short distance below the spinneret, creating voids near but below the fiber surface, thereby forming a fiber having a cross-section such as that shown in FIG. 6.
  • a medicament can be added to fiber 60 by soaking fiber 60 in a liquid containing the medicament and, optionally, pressurizing the liquid to speed liquid transport into the fiber cavities 64 . Consequently, fiber 60 is preferably made from a polymer with some capability for liquid transport, such as nylon.
  • the internal-cavity fiber 60 has several advantages over a simple hollow fiber with a single, central hole. Specifically, a hollow fiber with a small, single, central hole has a limited capacity to hold medicine, and transport of the medicine to the surrounding tissue is slow due to the thick fiber wall. Conversely, a hollow fiber having a large internal hole holds more medicine; however, such a fiber tends to collapse and cause processing problems in knitting, weaving or, in the case of sutures, the tying of knots.
  • the internal-cavity fiber of the present invention because the fiber cavities are formed closer to the exterior surface of the fiber, the medicament can be transported to the surrounding tissue more rapidly than with fiber having a small, single, central cavity. Further, the medicament is distributed through several cavities, so that a large quantity of medicament can be held in the fiber without the aforementioned problems associated with fiber having a large, single, central hole.
  • the internal-cavity fiber of the present invention is not limited to the particular configuration shown in FIG. 6.
  • the cavities need not be arcuate and can have any cross-sectional shape.
  • the cavities need not be the same size and need not lie at the same radial distance from the fiber center. Further any suitable number of internal cavities can be formed.
  • Fibers of the type described above have a variety of different medical applications and also some non-medical applications, including, but not limited to: fabrics for wound dressings and adhesive bandage pads, where the fibers contain an antiseptic or an agent to promote healing; textile prostheses where the base polymer (or copolymer) is an absorbable type and can be left to gradually disintegrate in the body, or where the base polymer is tissue-compatible and remains in the body; sutures of the absorbable or non-absorbable type made from monofilament or twisted or braided multifilaments; and patches for application to the skin where the fiber cavities contain a component such as nicotine for slow absorption into the skin.
  • fabrics for wound dressings and adhesive bandage pads where the fibers contain an antiseptic or an agent to promote healing
  • textile prostheses where the base polymer (or copolymer) is an absorbable type and can be left to gradually disintegrate in the body, or where the base polymer is tissue-compatible and remains in the body
  • the fibers can be used in a number of non-medical applications, including, but not limited to: fibrous inking pads for rubber stamping and for the printing industry, wherein fibers such as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 have the longitudinal cavities filled with viscous ink; fabrics, felts or fiber masses formed from a fiber having a maximum number of empty small surface grooves and used as absorbent pads in medical or non-medical applications.
  • Such pads can be used, for example, to absorb oil from tanker oil spills, and then wrung out and reused. Fibers such as nylon will withstand many more cycles of absorption and wringing than conventional cotton fibers used in this manner.

Abstract

A synthetic fiber is formed with a plurality of longitudinally-extending cavities (16, 54 and 64) which hold a medicament that is intended to be absorbed into tissue brought into contact with the fiber. The fiber can be formed by dissolving a soluble polymer component 14 of an extruded plural-component fiber 10, leaving cavities 16 that extend inward from the outer surface of the fiber in the locations of the dissolved polymer. After the fiber has been exposed to a solvent, the cavities left by the dissolved component are filled with a medicament 18. Specifically, the cavities are filled with a medicament that is mixed with a viscous carrier which solidifies within the cavities. The fibers can be used to make sutures, textile prostheses for insertion into the body, and epidermal pads and bandages. Fibers having internal cavities 64, i.e., cavities not extending to the external surface of the fiber, can be formed by extruding a single-component fiber 60 from a spinneret orifice 72 having a number of T-shaped slots extending from a central hub. A medicament is introduced into the internal cavities by soaking the fiber in a liquid containing the medicament. The internal-cavity fiber is therefore formed of polymer having some capability for liquid transport, e.g., nylon.

Description

    CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
  • This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/063,345, entitled “Synthetic Fibers For Medical Use,” filed Oct. 28, 1997. The disclosure of that provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.[0001]
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention [0002]
  • The present invention relates to synthetic fibers for medical use and methods for making such synthetic fibers, and, more particularly, to synthetic fibers having cavities adapted to hold relatively large quantities of a medicament, for use in forming sutures, textile prostheses and medicated epidermal pads. [0003]
  • 2. Description of the Related Art [0004]
  • Conventionally, synthetic fibers useful for medical applications such as sutures, textile prosthesis, and medicated pads that are applied to the skin, have been fabricated as solid fibers that carry a medicament. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,203 to Wise, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses medicine-bearing, polymer-based products, such as sutures and matrices formed in predetermined shapes for bodily implantation, which control the rate at which the medicine is released into the surrounding tissue. [0005]
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,766 to Schmitt et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses absorbable surgical elements, such as sutures, clips, sponges, gauze, prosthetic devices, and storage pellets having medicaments incorporated therein which are released into tissue over time as the surgical element is absorbed. The medicament is combined with a base material of polyglycolic acid (PGA) and subsequently formed into the surgical elements, e.g., by being spun into filaments to form sutures. [0006]
  • Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,167 to Ron et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses biocompatible, biodegradable polymers useful for making controlled release devices for drug delivery, such as bioabsorbable sutures, wherein the drug is incorporated directly into the polymer. [0007]
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,871 to Stevenson, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses multifilament suture stands that are impregnated with an antimicrobial agent and top coated with a segmented polymer, such that the sutures retain antimicrobial properties over an extended period of time. The antimicrobial agent is distributed substantially throughout the suture in the interstices between strands and between individual filaments. [0008]
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,540 to Olson, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses coating an absorbable braided suture with a solution that controls the release of chemical or pharmaceutical agents as the suture is absorbed into living tissue. [0009]
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,968 to Dunn et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses biodegradable sutures having a core and sheath configuration, wherein the core comprises a blend of a polymer and an agent to be released into living tissue, and the sheath comprises only the polymer. [0010]
  • While these known synthetic fibers are effective in controlling the release rate of a medicament into tissue, these fibers are either solid fibers that require the medicine to be absorbed into the fiber or fibers comprising medicine intermixed with a polymer prior to extrusion and formation of the fibers from the mixture. Consequently, these fibers have a limited capacity to hold medicine. Accordingly, there remains a need for synthetic fibers useful for forming sutures, textile prostheses, medicated epidermal pads, and the like, that have the capacity to hold more medicine than conventional synthetic fibers. [0011]
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide synthetic fibers useful for forming sutures, textile prostheses and medicated epidermal pads, that are capable of holding a greater quantity of medicine than conventional synthetic fibers. [0012]
  • It is another object of the present invention to employ bicomponent fiber extrusion techniques to form synthetic fibers capable of storing medicine to be released into living tissue. [0013]
  • It is a yet another object of the present invention to provide for storage of medicine, to be time released into the body, in cavities formed in a synthetic fiber. [0014]
  • It is a further object of the present invention to employ single-component fiber extrusion techniques to form synthetic fibers capable of storing medicine to be released into living tissue. [0015]
  • The aforesaid objects are achieved individually and in combination; and it is not intended that the present invention be construed as requiring two or more of the objects to be combined unless expressly required by the claims attached hereto. [0016]
  • According to the present invention, a synthetic fiber is formed with a plurality of longitudinally-extending cavities which hold a medicament intended to be absorbed into living tissue brought into contact with the fiber. The fiber can be formed by dissolving a soluble polymer component of an extruded plural-component fiber, leaving cavities that extend inward from the outer surface of the fiber in the locations of the dissolved polymer. After the fiber has been exposed to a solvent, the cavities left by the dissolved component are filled with a medicament. Specifically, the cavities are filled with a medicament that is mixed with a viscous carrier which solidifies within the cavities. The fibers can be used to make sutures, textile prostheses for insertion into the body, and epidermal pads and bandages. [0017]
  • Fibers having internal cavities, i.e., cavities not extending to the external surface of the fiber, can be formed by extruding a single-component fiber from a spinneret orifice having a number of T-shaped slots extending from a central hub. A medicament is introduced into the internal cavities by soaking the fiber in a liquid containing the medicament. The internal-cavity fiber is therefore formed of polymer having some capability for liquid transport, e.g., nylon. A fiber with external cavities can be formed from a similar process by modifying one or more of the extrusion parameters. [0018]
  • Because the fiber of the present invention includes cavities or reservoirs specifically designed to hold a medicament, these fiber advantageously hold significantly more medicine that prior art fibers relying on absorption of a medicament by a fiber or formation of a polymer into which a medicament is intermixed. [0019]
  • The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components.[0020]
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an island-in-the-sea bicomponent fiber having longitudinal “island” components along the fiber surface, wherein the “island” components are dissolvable in a solvent. [0021]
  • FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the synthetic fiber shown in FIG. 1, wherein the “island” components have been dissolved, leaving longitudinal cavities along the fiber surface, wherein the cavities have substantially round cross-sectional shapes. [0022]
  • FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the synthetic fiber of FIG. 2, wherein the cavities are filled with a medicament in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. [0023]
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a spin pack suitable for extruding the synthetic fiber shown in FIG. 1. [0024]
  • FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a synthetic fiber of the present invention, having longitudinal cavities along the fiber surface, wherein the cavities have cross-sectional shapes elongated in the radial direction. [0025]
  • FIG. 6 is transverse cross-sectional view of a synthetic fiber of the present invention having arcuate, internal longitudinal cavities. [0026]
  • FIG. 7 is a spinneret orifice for forming a single component synthetic fiber having internal or surface longitudinal cavities for holding a medicament.[0027]
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • In accordance with the present invention, synthetic textile fibers, monofilaments and multifilament yarns are formed from fibers having open voids or reservoirs that can be filled with a medicament or other additives with beneficial medical uses, for subsequent absorption into the body. As used herein the terms “medicine”, “medicament” and “medication” refer to any substance, agent, compound or composition of matter intended to interact with tissue or bodily fluids to treat or prevent disease or damage, cause a pharmacologic or physiologic response, or to provide some other beneficial or therapeutic effect, including, but not limited to: all types of therapeutic agents, such as antiseptics, including antibiotics, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiviral agents, analgesics, anesthetics, anorexics, anthemidines, antiarthritics, antiasthmatic agents, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antidiabetic agents, antidiarheals, antihistamines, antiinflammatory agents, antimigraine agents, antimotion sickness agents, antinauseants, antineoplastics, antiparkinsonism drugs, antipruitics, antipsychotics, antipyretics, antispasmodics including gastrointestinal and urinary, anticholinergics, sympathomimetics, xanthine derivatives, cardiovascular preparations including calcium channel blockers, betablockers, antiarrythmics, antihypertensives, diuretics, vasodilators, including coronary peripheral, and cerebral, central nervous stimulants, decongestants, diagnostic agents, hormones, hypnotics, immunosuppressives, muscle relaxants, parasympathomimetics, psychostimulants, sedatives, tranquilizers, agents to ease symptoms of addiction, and the like, and combinations thereof. [0028]
  • Referring to FIGS. [0029] 1-3, an extruded synthetic fiber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in transverse cross section at three different stages of the manufacturing process. As shown in FIG. 1, an extruded bicomponent fiber 10 is a so-called “island-in-the-sea” fiber with a substantially circular cross sectional shape. Specifically, fiber 10 comprises a durable “sea” polymer 12, which forms the bulk of fiber 10, and four polymer “islands” 14 having substantially circular cross sections. The polymer islands 14 are embedded in the sea polymer 12 and lie along the outer surface of fiber 10, spaced apart by approximately 90°, such that the islands 14 are not totally encapsulated by the sea polymer 12, and a portion of the outer surface of fiber 10 is formed by the polymer islands 14.
  • The [0030] sea polymer 12 of fiber 10 may be made from any organic high polymer such as nylon, polyethylene terepthalate, or polypropylene, or from absorbable polymers such as polymerized vinyl alcohol or more modern absorbable co-polymers. As used herein, the term “polymer” includes all such materials (both polymers and co-polymers). The polymer islands 14 are composed of a polymer, such as polyvinyl alcohol, which can later be dissolved in water, alcohol or another suitable solvent. Importantly, sea polymer 12 is does not dissolve in the solvent in which polymer islands 14 dissolve.
  • In general, the spinning of bicomponent island-in-the-[0031] sea fiber 10 shown in FIG. 1 can be by melt, dry or wet spinning. For example, bicomponent fiber 10 can be made by bicomponent spinning, using equipment of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,114 or 4,381,274, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a spin pack 20 that is a simplified version of the spin pack shown in FIG. 1a of U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,114 and that is suitable for generating bicomponent island-in-the-sea fiber 10. Spin pack 20 includes upstream openings 22 and 24 through which the island polymer and sea polymer respectively enter spin pack 20. The island polymer travels through capillary tubes 26 which inject the island polymer into the flow of the sea polymer at the entrance to spinneret 28 in four discrete locations along the edge of the spinneret entrance. The polymers flow through spinneret 28 to an orifice 30, where they are extruded as island-in-the-sea fiber 10.
  • Once [0032] bicomponent fiber 10 is formed, it is treated with a suitable solvent, such as water, to dissolve the polymer islands 14. As shown in FIG. 2, polymer islands 14 are removed by exposure to the solvent, leaving a single component (i.e., the sea polymer 12) fiber 10′ having longitudinally-extending voids or cavities 16 along the surface of fiber 10′ in the locations formerly occupied by the dissolved polymer islands 14. If the fibers are to be made into a fabric, it is preferable to form the fabric prior to exposure to the solvent (with the polymer islands 14 in place), and subsequently to wash the fabric in water, alcohol or some other suitable solvent to remove the polymer islands 14, leaving cavities 16 on the surface of the fibers. It will be understood that the cavities formed in the fibers of the present invention are not interstitial spaces lying between separate, adjacent polymer filaments or strands; rather, the cavities are voids formed in an otherwise solid polymer fiber.
  • Referring to FIG. 3, [0033] cavities 16 left along the outer surface of fiber 10′ by the dissolved islands 14 serve as reservoirs that are filled with a medicament 18 to form a fiber 10″. Medicament 18 can be added to the fiber by dipping the fiber (or a fabric, felt, or other textile product made from the fibers) in a bath containing the medicament in a suitable carrier. The carrier is preferable a somewhat viscous carrier so that the medicament 18 and carrier can solidify by drying and/or cooling at room temperature before the medicament/carrier can drain out of the fiber cavities.
  • Treating of the [0034] fibers 10′ (FIG. 2) with a medicament/carrier to form fiber 10″ (FIG. 3) can be performed in line with fiber extrusion or at any later time after the island polymer has been dissolved. In the latter case, sutures or fabrics made from the extruded and solvent-treated fiber 10′, or fiber 10′ itself, are general purpose fibers, sutures and fabrics that can be later treated with any desired medicament/carrier mixture for a particular application.
  • Typically, the medicament is of the type absorbed into the body over a period of time after the medical element formed from the fiber (e.g., a suture, textile prosthesis, or epidermal pad) has been deployed in or on the body. [0035]
  • According to another embodiment, rather than dissolving the island polymer components in a solvent, a medicament is added to the island polymer prior to fiber spinning (by melt, dry or wet spinning) to produce the desired end use fiber in one step. That is, the island polymer is extruded with the desired medicament incorporated therein, such that the extruded fiber is used directly in the final medical product without requiring the island components to be dissolved or the fiber to be dipped in a medicament/carrier mixture. Fibers produced in this manner are of a single purpose type, having a particular medicament that is predetermined at the time of extrusion. [0036]
  • The medicament-storing cavities that are formed in the fiber of the present invention need not have a circular transverse cross-sectional shape. Referring to FIG. 5, a [0037] fiber 50, having a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional profile, comprises an extruded “sea” polymer 52, with four longitudinally-extending cavities 54 created by dissolving four polymer islands that are partially embedded in the sea polymer and form part of the outer surface of the extruded fiber. The cavities 54 are spaced apart by approximately 90°, and each of cavities 54 has a substantially pointed elliptical transverse cross-section shape, with the major elliptical axis lying along a radial line. The cavities 54 extend to the outer surface of fiber 50, where the elliptical shape of the cavities is truncated. As seen in FIG. 5, the shape of cavities 54 results in sea polymer 52 having a substantially cruciform shape with the circular profile of fiber 50. Thus, fiber 50 is similar to fiber 10′ (FIG. 2) except that the cavities are elongated in the radial direction. As will be evident from the fibers shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the fibers of the present invention can include external (i.e., on the fiber surface) medicament-holding cavities having any of variety of different transverse cross-sectional shapes, and the present invention is not limited to the particular cross-sectional shapes shown in the figures. Further, number of cavities can be any suitable number (one or more) of external cavities.
  • The fibers shown in FIGS. [0038] 1-3 and 5 have external longitudinal cavities formed into the fiber external surface; however, the present invention is not limited to fibers with external surface cavities. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an extruded fiber includes one or more internal longitudinal cavities (i.e., cavities not extending to the outer surface of the fiber), which cavities lie in relatively close proximity to the fiber surface. Referring to FIG. 6, a fiber 60 having internal cavities for storing a medicament is shown. Specifically, fiber 60 has a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional profile, and comprises an extruded polymer 62 with five longitudinally-extending internal cavities 64. Each of cavities 64 has an arcuate transverse cross-section shape, and cavities 64 together form a ring of arcuate cavities lying along a circle concentric with fiber 60 (i.e., the circle lies at a fixed radial distance from the center of fiber 60).
  • [0039] Fiber 60, and other fibers having internal cavities, can be made without the need for bicomponent spinning by employing a spinneret orifice of a suitable shape. FIG. 7 illustrates a spinneret face 70 having formed therein an orifice 72 suitable for extruding fiber 60 (FIG. 6). Orifice 72 includes five T-shaped slots extending radially outward from a circular, central hub opening. The circumferential portions of the T-shaped slots are arcuate and form an outer circular ring of openings, with gaps 74 between adjacent slots 72. If the gaps 74 between adjacent T-shaped slots are set to an appropriate width W, the polymer extruded from the T-shaped slots will bridge the gaps 74 a short distance below the spinneret, creating voids near but below the fiber surface, thereby forming a fiber having a cross-section such as that shown in FIG. 6.
  • A medicament can be added to [0040] fiber 60 by soaking fiber 60 in a liquid containing the medicament and, optionally, pressurizing the liquid to speed liquid transport into the fiber cavities 64. Consequently, fiber 60 is preferably made from a polymer with some capability for liquid transport, such as nylon.
  • Like the external-cavity fibers shown in FIGS. [0041] 1-3 and 4, the internal-cavity fiber 60 has several advantages over a simple hollow fiber with a single, central hole. Specifically, a hollow fiber with a small, single, central hole has a limited capacity to hold medicine, and transport of the medicine to the surrounding tissue is slow due to the thick fiber wall. Conversely, a hollow fiber having a large internal hole holds more medicine; however, such a fiber tends to collapse and cause processing problems in knitting, weaving or, in the case of sutures, the tying of knots.
  • In contrast, with the internal-cavity fiber of the present invention, because the fiber cavities are formed closer to the exterior surface of the fiber, the medicament can be transported to the surrounding tissue more rapidly than with fiber having a small, single, central cavity. Further, the medicament is distributed through several cavities, so that a large quantity of medicament can be held in the fiber without the aforementioned problems associated with fiber having a large, single, central hole. [0042]
  • It will be understood that the internal-cavity fiber of the present invention is not limited to the particular configuration shown in FIG. 6. For example, the cavities need not be arcuate and can have any cross-sectional shape. The cavities need not be the same size and need not lie at the same radial distance from the fiber center. Further any suitable number of internal cavities can be formed. [0043]
  • Referring again to FIG. 7, if the [0044] gaps 74 in the spinneret orifice 72 are made larger, if fiber cooling below the spinneret is quicker, or if the polymer is more viscous, then the polymer will not close the gaps, and a fiber somewhat similar to that shown in FIG. 2 (i.e., a fiber with external cavities) can be made without the need of bicomponent spinning. While this technique is less expensive for forming external cavities, the fiber shape can be controlled more precisely with the bicomponent “islands-in-a-sea” technique described above.
  • Fibers of the type described above have a variety of different medical applications and also some non-medical applications, including, but not limited to: fabrics for wound dressings and adhesive bandage pads, where the fibers contain an antiseptic or an agent to promote healing; textile prostheses where the base polymer (or copolymer) is an absorbable type and can be left to gradually disintegrate in the body, or where the base polymer is tissue-compatible and remains in the body; sutures of the absorbable or non-absorbable type made from monofilament or twisted or braided multifilaments; and patches for application to the skin where the fiber cavities contain a component such as nicotine for slow absorption into the skin. [0045]
  • When the cavities of the above-described fibers are not filled with medicaments, the fibers can be used in a number of non-medical applications, including, but not limited to: fibrous inking pads for rubber stamping and for the printing industry, wherein fibers such as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 have the longitudinal cavities filled with viscous ink; fabrics, felts or fiber masses formed from a fiber having a maximum number of empty small surface grooves and used as absorbent pads in medical or non-medical applications. Such pads can be used, for example, to absorb oil from tanker oil spills, and then wrung out and reused. Fibers such as nylon will withstand many more cycles of absorption and wringing than conventional cotton fibers used in this manner. [0046]
  • Having described preferred embodiments of a new and improved method and apparatus for extruding plural-component food products, it is believed that other modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. [0047]

Claims (26)

What is claimed is:
1. A synthetic fiber for use in medical applications in which the fiber interacts with living tissue, comprising:
a polymer extending in a longitudinal direction and forming a basic structure of the fiber, said polymer having a plurality of longitudinally-extending cavities formed therein; and
a medicament disposed in the plurality of longitudinally-extending cavities.
2. The synthetic fiber according to claim 1, wherein the fiber has a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional shape.
3. The synthetic fiber according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinally-extending cavities are external cavities that extend inward into said polymer from an outer surface of said polymer.
4. The synthetic fiber according to claim 3, wherein said longitudinally-extending cavities have a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional shape.
5. The synthetic fiber according to claim 3, wherein said longitudinally-extending cavities have a transverse cross-sectional shape that is elongated in a radial direction.
6. The synthetic fiber according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinally-extending cavities are internal cavities formed within said polymer, which do not extend to an outer surface of said polymer.
7. The synthetic fiber according to claim 6, wherein said longitudinally-extending cavities have a substantially arcuate shape.
8. The synthetic fiber according to claim 7, wherein said longitudinally-extending cavities are arranged in a ring within said polymer.
9. The synthetic fiber according to claim 1, wherein said medicament is mixed with a viscous carrier forming a medicament/carrier mixture that substantially fills and solidifies within said longitudinally-extending cavities.
10. The synthetic fiber according to claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises at least one of: an organic high polymer such as nylon, polyethylene terepthalate, and polypropylene; an absorbable polymer such as polymerized vinyl alcohol; and a co-polymer.
11. A product comprising the synthetic fiber according to claim 1, selected from the group consisting of: sutures, textile prostheses, medicated epidermal pads, and bandages.
12. A method of fabricating a synthetic fiber for medical use, comprising the steps of:
extruding a plural-component fiber from an orifice of a spinneret;
dissolving a soluble component of the plural-component fiber in a solvent, thereby forming longitudinally-extending cavities in a remaining polymer component of the fiber; and
securing a medicament in the longitudinally-extending cavities formed in the remaining polymer component of the fiber.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein:
said extruding step includes extruding the plural-component fiber as an island-in-the-sea bicomponent fiber, wherein the soluble component forms longitudinally-extending islands in a sea component that becomes the remaining polymer component;
said dissolving step includes dissolving the soluble component forming the islands, leaving the longitudinally-extending cavities in the location of the islands; and
said securing step includes filling the longitudinally-extending cavities with a mixture of the medicament and a viscous carrier, which mixture solidifies within the longitudinally-extending cavities.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said extruding step includes extruding the bicomponent fiber with islands that form a portion of an outer surface of the bicomponent fiber, such that said dissolving step forms the longitudinally-extending cavities as external cavities that extend inward into said remaining polymer component from an outer surface of said remaining polymer component.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said dissolving step produces longitudinally-extending cavities having a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional shape.
16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said dissolving step produces longitudinally-extending cavities that have a transverse cross-sectional shape that is elongated in a radial direction.
17. The method according to claim 12, wherein said extruding step includes extruding the fiber with a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional shape.
18. The method according to claim 12, wherein said extruding step includes extruding a plural-component fiber comprising at least one of: an organic high polymer such as nylon, polyethylene terepthalate, and polypropylene; an absorbable polymer such as polymerized vinyl alcohol; and a co-polymer.
19. A method of fabricating a synthetic fiber for medical use, comprising the steps of:
extruding a single-component fiber from an orifice of a spinneret, such that a plurality of longitudinally-extending cavities are formed in the single-component fiber; and
introducing a medicament into the longitudinally-extending cavities formed in the single-component fiber.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said extruding step includes extruding the single-component fiber from an orifice having T-shaped slots extending radially from a central hole.
21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the longitudinally-extending cavities are formed beneath an outer surface of the single-component fiber, such that the longitudinally-extending cavities are internal cavities.
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said introducing step includes soaking the single-component fiber in a solution containing the medicament.
23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the longitudinally-extending cavities are formed as external cavities that extend inward into the single-component fiber from an outer surface of the single-component fiber.
24. The method according to claim 19, wherein said extruding step includes extruding the single-component fiber with a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional shape.
25. The method according to claim 19, wherein said extruding step includes extruding the single-component fiber which comprises at least one of: an organic high polymer such as nylon, polyethylene terepthalate, and polypropylene; an absorbable polymer such as polymerized vinyl alcohol; and a co-polymer.
26. A method of fabricating a plural-component synthetic fiber for medical use, comprising the steps of:
mixing a medicament with a polymer to form a first fiber component;
feeding the first fiber component and a second fiber component to a spinneret in an island-in-the-sea arrangement; and
extruding an island-in-the-sea plural-component fiber from an orifice of a the spinneret, wherein longitudinally extending islands of the plural-component fiber are formed of the first fiber component and lie along an exterior surface of the plural-component fiber.
US10/373,057 1997-10-28 2003-02-26 Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same Abandoned US20030138480A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/373,057 US20030138480A1 (en) 1997-10-28 2003-02-26 Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6334597P 1997-10-28 1997-10-28
US09/530,183 US6551353B1 (en) 1997-10-28 1998-10-28 Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same
US10/373,057 US20030138480A1 (en) 1997-10-28 2003-02-26 Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/530,183 Division US6551353B1 (en) 1997-10-28 1998-10-28 Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same
PCT/US1998/022810 Division WO1999021507A2 (en) 1997-10-28 1998-10-28 Synthetic fibres for medical use and method of making the same

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030138480A1 true US20030138480A1 (en) 2003-07-24

Family

ID=22048573

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/530,183 Expired - Lifetime US6551353B1 (en) 1997-10-28 1998-10-28 Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same
US10/373,057 Abandoned US20030138480A1 (en) 1997-10-28 2003-02-26 Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/530,183 Expired - Lifetime US6551353B1 (en) 1997-10-28 1998-10-28 Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (2) US6551353B1 (en)
AU (1) AU1282499A (en)
WO (1) WO1999021507A2 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080113008A1 (en) * 2006-09-14 2008-05-15 Karen Roche Absorbent fabric implant
US20090105753A1 (en) * 2004-08-26 2009-04-23 Prodesco, Inc. Sutures and methods of making the same

Families Citing this family (105)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1289815B1 (en) * 1996-12-30 1998-10-16 Sorin Biomedica Cardio Spa ANGIOPLASTIC STENT AND RELATED PRODUCTION PROCESS
US6540780B1 (en) * 1998-11-23 2003-04-01 Medtronic, Inc. Porous synthetic vascular grafts with oriented ingrowth channels
US6500444B1 (en) 1999-12-21 2002-12-31 International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. Continuously fragrance-emitting dry or wet wipe fabric article and method for preparing same
US6207274B1 (en) 1999-12-21 2001-03-27 International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. Fragrance containing fiber
GB2357435A (en) * 1999-12-23 2001-06-27 Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd Absorbent medicinal articles
EP1132058A1 (en) * 2000-03-06 2001-09-12 Advanced Laser Applications Holding S.A. Intravascular prothesis
US6979347B1 (en) * 2000-10-23 2005-12-27 Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Implantable drug delivery prosthesis
US6758859B1 (en) * 2000-10-30 2004-07-06 Kenny L. Dang Increased drug-loading and reduced stress drug delivery device
ATE330564T1 (en) * 2001-07-20 2006-07-15 Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl STENT
DE10150995A1 (en) * 2001-10-08 2003-04-10 Biotronik Mess & Therapieg Implant e.g. a stent, comprises a decomposable substance which allows contact between the cell proliferation inhibitor and the stent surroundings only after a specified time
US6861142B1 (en) * 2002-06-06 2005-03-01 Hills, Inc. Controlling the dissolution of dissolvable polymer components in plural component fibers
EP1581792A4 (en) * 2002-06-21 2008-07-23 Stephen D Nightingale Multi-functional product markers and methods for making and using the same
US20030236219A1 (en) * 2002-06-21 2003-12-25 Nightingale Stephen D. Edible product markers and methods for making and using edible product markers
US7135038B1 (en) 2002-09-30 2006-11-14 Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Drug eluting stent
US6991637B2 (en) * 2003-06-18 2006-01-31 Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc. Soft tissue defect repair device
US7776101B2 (en) * 2003-06-18 2010-08-17 Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc. Soft tissue defect repair device
US7892993B2 (en) 2003-06-19 2011-02-22 Eastman Chemical Company Water-dispersible and multicomponent fibers from sulfopolyesters
US8513147B2 (en) 2003-06-19 2013-08-20 Eastman Chemical Company Nonwovens produced from multicomponent fibers
US20040260034A1 (en) 2003-06-19 2004-12-23 Haile William Alston Water-dispersible fibers and fibrous articles
US7687143B2 (en) * 2003-06-19 2010-03-30 Eastman Chemical Company Water-dispersible and multicomponent fibers from sulfopolyesters
US20050133948A1 (en) * 2003-12-22 2005-06-23 Cook Michael C. Apparatus and method for multicomponent fibers
US8142475B2 (en) 2004-10-18 2012-03-27 Tyco Healthcare Group Lp Adhesive suture structure and methods of using the same
CA2585634A1 (en) * 2004-10-29 2006-05-11 Adhesives Research, Inc. Microscopic tagging system for security identification
US8137382B2 (en) 2004-11-05 2012-03-20 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for coupling anatomical features
US8088130B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2012-01-03 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
US7658751B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2010-02-09 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method for implanting soft tissue
US7909851B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2011-03-22 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Soft tissue repair device and associated methods
US9017381B2 (en) 2007-04-10 2015-04-28 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Adjustable knotless loops
US8303604B2 (en) 2004-11-05 2012-11-06 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Soft tissue repair device and method
US8298262B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2012-10-30 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method for tissue fixation
US8118836B2 (en) 2004-11-05 2012-02-21 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
US7749250B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2010-07-06 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Soft tissue repair assembly and associated method
US8361113B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2013-01-29 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
US7905904B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2011-03-15 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Soft tissue repair device and associated methods
US9801708B2 (en) 2004-11-05 2017-10-31 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
US8128658B2 (en) 2004-11-05 2012-03-06 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone
US20060189993A1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-08-24 Arthrotek, Inc. Soft tissue conduit device
US8968364B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2015-03-03 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for fixation of an ACL graft
US8652171B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2014-02-18 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for soft tissue fixation
US9149267B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2015-10-06 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
US9078644B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2015-07-14 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Fracture fixation device
US9468433B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2016-10-18 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for forming a self-locking adjustable loop
US9538998B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2017-01-10 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for fracture fixation
US8597327B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2013-12-03 Biomet Manufacturing, Llc Method and apparatus for sternal closure
US8562645B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2013-10-22 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for forming a self-locking adjustable loop
US11259792B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2022-03-01 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for coupling anatomical features
US8562647B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2013-10-22 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for securing soft tissue to bone
US11311287B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2022-04-26 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method for tissue fixation
US8801783B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2014-08-12 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Prosthetic ligament system for knee joint
US10517587B2 (en) 2006-02-03 2019-12-31 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for forming a self-locking adjustable loop
US20070224235A1 (en) 2006-03-24 2007-09-27 Barron Tenney Medical devices having nanoporous coatings for controlled therapeutic agent delivery
US7737060B2 (en) * 2006-03-31 2010-06-15 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Medical devices containing multi-component fibers
US8815275B2 (en) 2006-06-28 2014-08-26 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Coatings for medical devices comprising a therapeutic agent and a metallic material
WO2008002778A2 (en) 2006-06-29 2008-01-03 Boston Scientific Limited Medical devices with selective coating
US11259794B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2022-03-01 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method for implanting soft tissue
US8672969B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2014-03-18 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Fracture fixation device
US9918826B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2018-03-20 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Scaffold for spring ligament repair
US20090169628A1 (en) * 2006-10-17 2009-07-02 Armark Authentication Technologies, Llc Article and method for focused delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic materials
US8431149B2 (en) * 2007-03-01 2013-04-30 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Coated medical devices for abluminal drug delivery
US20080221618A1 (en) * 2007-03-09 2008-09-11 Gaoyuan Chen Co-extruded tissue grasping monofilament
US8815273B2 (en) 2007-07-27 2014-08-26 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Drug eluting medical devices having porous layers
JP2010535541A (en) * 2007-08-03 2010-11-25 ボストン サイエンティフィック リミテッド Coating for medical devices with large surface area
US20090118821A1 (en) * 2007-11-02 2009-05-07 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Endoprosthesis with porous reservoir and non-polymer diffusion layer
US20090118812A1 (en) * 2007-11-02 2009-05-07 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Endoprosthesis coating
US10166127B2 (en) 2007-12-12 2019-01-01 Intact Vascular, Inc. Endoluminal device and method
US10022250B2 (en) 2007-12-12 2018-07-17 Intact Vascular, Inc. Deployment device for placement of multiple intraluminal surgical staples
US9375327B2 (en) 2007-12-12 2016-06-28 Intact Vascular, Inc. Endovascular implant
US7896911B2 (en) 2007-12-12 2011-03-01 Innovasc Llc Device and method for tacking plaque to blood vessel wall
US8128677B2 (en) * 2007-12-12 2012-03-06 Intact Vascular LLC Device and method for tacking plaque to a blood vessel wall
US9603730B2 (en) 2007-12-12 2017-03-28 Intact Vascular, Inc. Endoluminal device and method
EP2271380B1 (en) 2008-04-22 2013-03-20 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Medical devices having a coating of inorganic material
US8932346B2 (en) * 2008-04-24 2015-01-13 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Medical devices having inorganic particle layers
US8449603B2 (en) * 2008-06-18 2013-05-28 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Endoprosthesis coating
US20100078848A1 (en) * 2008-09-29 2010-04-01 Armark Authentication Technologies, Llc Spinneret and method of spinning fiber
US20100291214A1 (en) * 2008-12-23 2010-11-18 Armark Authentication Technologies, Llc Three-dimensional microfiber extrudate structure and process for forming three-dimensional microfiber extrudate structure
US8512519B2 (en) 2009-04-24 2013-08-20 Eastman Chemical Company Sulfopolyesters for paper strength and process
WO2010132763A1 (en) * 2009-05-15 2010-11-18 Armark Authentication Technologies, Llc Fiber having non-uniform composition and method for making same
US8501644B2 (en) * 2009-06-02 2013-08-06 Christine W. Cole Activated protective fabric
US8968362B2 (en) 2010-04-08 2015-03-03 Covidien Lp Coated looped suture
US8616040B2 (en) * 2010-09-17 2013-12-31 Medtronic Vascular, Inc. Method of forming a drug-eluting medical device
US9273417B2 (en) 2010-10-21 2016-03-01 Eastman Chemical Company Wet-Laid process to produce a bound nonwoven article
US10390977B2 (en) 2011-06-03 2019-08-27 Intact Vascular, Inc. Endovascular implant
US9096955B2 (en) 2011-09-30 2015-08-04 Ut-Battelle, Llc Method for the preparation of carbon fiber from polyolefin fiber precursor, and carbon fibers made thereby
US9357991B2 (en) 2011-11-03 2016-06-07 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method and apparatus for stitching tendons
US9381013B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2016-07-05 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Method for coupling soft tissue to a bone
US9314241B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2016-04-19 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
EP3733134A1 (en) 2012-01-25 2020-11-04 Intact Vascular, Inc. Endoluminal device
US8906200B2 (en) 2012-01-31 2014-12-09 Eastman Chemical Company Processes to produce short cut microfibers
US9096959B2 (en) 2012-02-22 2015-08-04 Ut-Battelle, Llc Method for production of carbon nanofiber mat or carbon paper
US9597426B2 (en) 2013-01-25 2017-03-21 Covidien Lp Hydrogel filled barbed suture
US9918827B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2018-03-20 Biomet Sports Medicine, Llc Scaffold for spring ligament repair
US9303357B2 (en) 2013-04-19 2016-04-05 Eastman Chemical Company Paper and nonwoven articles comprising synthetic microfiber binders
EP3039175B1 (en) 2013-08-29 2019-10-09 Teleflex Medical Incorporated High-strength multi-component suture
US9598802B2 (en) 2013-12-17 2017-03-21 Eastman Chemical Company Ultrafiltration process for producing a sulfopolyester concentrate
US9605126B2 (en) 2013-12-17 2017-03-28 Eastman Chemical Company Ultrafiltration process for the recovery of concentrated sulfopolyester dispersion
US9433520B2 (en) 2015-01-29 2016-09-06 Intact Vascular, Inc. Delivery device and method of delivery
US9375336B1 (en) 2015-01-29 2016-06-28 Intact Vascular, Inc. Delivery device and method of delivery
US10076324B2 (en) * 2015-08-31 2018-09-18 Ethicon Llc Adjunct material to provide controlled drug elution
US10086116B2 (en) * 2015-08-31 2018-10-02 Ethicon Llc Adjunct material to provide controlled drug release
US10569071B2 (en) 2015-08-31 2020-02-25 Ethicon Llc Medicant eluting adjuncts and methods of using medicant eluting adjuncts
US10993824B2 (en) 2016-01-01 2021-05-04 Intact Vascular, Inc. Delivery device and method of delivery
EP3532659A1 (en) 2016-10-26 2019-09-04 Association for the Advancement of Tissue Engineering and Cell based Technologies & Therapies (A4TEC) - Associação Fibers with segments, their preparation and applications thereof
US20180117819A1 (en) * 2016-10-27 2018-05-03 Clemson University Research Foundation Inherently super-omniphobic filaments, fibers, and fabrics and system for manufacture
US11660218B2 (en) 2017-07-26 2023-05-30 Intact Vascular, Inc. Delivery device and method of delivery
US20220090314A1 (en) * 2019-01-30 2022-03-24 Toray Industries, Inc. Water-repellent woven or knitted article, production method for same, and garment

Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3978203A (en) * 1974-07-12 1976-08-31 Dynatech Corporation Sustained release of pharmaceuticals from polyester matrices
US3991766A (en) * 1973-05-31 1976-11-16 American Cyanamid Company Controlled release of medicaments using polymers from glycolic acid
US4024871A (en) * 1975-07-23 1977-05-24 Ethicon, Inc. Antimicrobial sutures
US4307723A (en) * 1978-04-07 1981-12-29 Medical Engineering Corporation Externally grooved ureteral stent
US4351337A (en) * 1973-05-17 1982-09-28 Arthur D. Little, Inc. Biodegradable, implantable drug delivery device, and process for preparing and using the same
US4841968A (en) * 1986-09-26 1989-06-27 Southern Research Institute Antithrombotic/thrombolytic suture and methods of making and using the same
US5010167A (en) * 1989-03-31 1991-04-23 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Poly(amide-and imide-co-anhydride) for biological application
US5141811A (en) * 1989-12-01 1992-08-25 Teijin Limited Elastic synthetic polymer filament with multi-lobated cross-sectional profile
US5162074A (en) * 1987-10-02 1992-11-10 Basf Corporation Method of making plural component fibers
US5200248A (en) * 1990-02-20 1993-04-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Open capillary channel structures, improved process for making capillary channel structures, and extrusion die for use therein
US5370681A (en) * 1991-09-16 1994-12-06 Atrium Medical Corporation Polyumenal implantable organ
US5378540A (en) * 1988-12-29 1995-01-03 Deknatel Technology Corporation, Inc. Absorbable coating and blend and suture coated therewith
US5411550A (en) * 1991-09-16 1995-05-02 Atrium Medical Corporation Implantable prosthetic device for the delivery of a bioactive material
US5545208A (en) * 1990-02-28 1996-08-13 Medtronic, Inc. Intralumenal drug eluting prosthesis
US5551954A (en) * 1991-10-04 1996-09-03 Scimed Life Systems, Inc. Biodegradable drug delivery vascular stent
US5795318A (en) * 1993-04-30 1998-08-18 Scimed Life Systems, Inc. Method for delivering drugs to a vascular site
US5891108A (en) * 1994-09-12 1999-04-06 Cordis Corporation Drug delivery stent
US6004346A (en) * 1990-02-28 1999-12-21 Medtronic, Inc. Intralumenal drug eluting prosthesis
US6071305A (en) * 1996-11-25 2000-06-06 Alza Corporation Directional drug delivery stent and method of use
US6117802A (en) * 1997-10-29 2000-09-12 Alliedsignal Inc. Electrically conductive shaped fibers
US6206915B1 (en) * 1998-09-29 2001-03-27 Medtronic Ave, Inc. Drug storing and metering stent
US6240616B1 (en) * 1997-04-15 2001-06-05 Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Method of manufacturing a medicated porous metal prosthesis
US6273913B1 (en) * 1997-04-18 2001-08-14 Cordis Corporation Modified stent useful for delivery of drugs along stent strut
US6465095B1 (en) * 2000-09-25 2002-10-15 Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc. Splittable multicomponent fibers with partially overlapping segments and methods of making and using the same

Patent Citations (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4351337A (en) * 1973-05-17 1982-09-28 Arthur D. Little, Inc. Biodegradable, implantable drug delivery device, and process for preparing and using the same
US3991766A (en) * 1973-05-31 1976-11-16 American Cyanamid Company Controlled release of medicaments using polymers from glycolic acid
US3978203A (en) * 1974-07-12 1976-08-31 Dynatech Corporation Sustained release of pharmaceuticals from polyester matrices
US4024871A (en) * 1975-07-23 1977-05-24 Ethicon, Inc. Antimicrobial sutures
US4307723A (en) * 1978-04-07 1981-12-29 Medical Engineering Corporation Externally grooved ureteral stent
US4841968A (en) * 1986-09-26 1989-06-27 Southern Research Institute Antithrombotic/thrombolytic suture and methods of making and using the same
US5466410A (en) * 1987-10-02 1995-11-14 Basf Corporation Process of making multiple mono-component fiber
US5162074A (en) * 1987-10-02 1992-11-10 Basf Corporation Method of making plural component fibers
US5378540A (en) * 1988-12-29 1995-01-03 Deknatel Technology Corporation, Inc. Absorbable coating and blend and suture coated therewith
US5010167A (en) * 1989-03-31 1991-04-23 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Poly(amide-and imide-co-anhydride) for biological application
US5141811A (en) * 1989-12-01 1992-08-25 Teijin Limited Elastic synthetic polymer filament with multi-lobated cross-sectional profile
US5200248A (en) * 1990-02-20 1993-04-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Open capillary channel structures, improved process for making capillary channel structures, and extrusion die for use therein
US5200248B1 (en) * 1990-02-20 1999-02-09 Procter & Gamble Open capillary channel structures improved process for making capillary channel structures and extrusion die for use therein
US6004346A (en) * 1990-02-28 1999-12-21 Medtronic, Inc. Intralumenal drug eluting prosthesis
US5545208A (en) * 1990-02-28 1996-08-13 Medtronic, Inc. Intralumenal drug eluting prosthesis
US5411550A (en) * 1991-09-16 1995-05-02 Atrium Medical Corporation Implantable prosthetic device for the delivery of a bioactive material
US5370681A (en) * 1991-09-16 1994-12-06 Atrium Medical Corporation Polyumenal implantable organ
US5551954A (en) * 1991-10-04 1996-09-03 Scimed Life Systems, Inc. Biodegradable drug delivery vascular stent
US5795318A (en) * 1993-04-30 1998-08-18 Scimed Life Systems, Inc. Method for delivering drugs to a vascular site
US5891108A (en) * 1994-09-12 1999-04-06 Cordis Corporation Drug delivery stent
US6071305A (en) * 1996-11-25 2000-06-06 Alza Corporation Directional drug delivery stent and method of use
US6240616B1 (en) * 1997-04-15 2001-06-05 Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Method of manufacturing a medicated porous metal prosthesis
US6273913B1 (en) * 1997-04-18 2001-08-14 Cordis Corporation Modified stent useful for delivery of drugs along stent strut
US6117802A (en) * 1997-10-29 2000-09-12 Alliedsignal Inc. Electrically conductive shaped fibers
US6206915B1 (en) * 1998-09-29 2001-03-27 Medtronic Ave, Inc. Drug storing and metering stent
US6465095B1 (en) * 2000-09-25 2002-10-15 Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc. Splittable multicomponent fibers with partially overlapping segments and methods of making and using the same

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090105753A1 (en) * 2004-08-26 2009-04-23 Prodesco, Inc. Sutures and methods of making the same
US20080113008A1 (en) * 2006-09-14 2008-05-15 Karen Roche Absorbent fabric implant

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1999021507A2 (en) 1999-05-06
AU1282499A (en) 1999-05-17
WO1999021507A3 (en) 1999-07-22
US6551353B1 (en) 2003-04-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6551353B1 (en) Synthetic fibers for medical use and method of making the same
US8367570B2 (en) Mechanically strong absorbent non-woven fibrous mats
US5919473A (en) Methods and devices for delivering opioid analgesics to wounds via a subdermal implant
FI88259C (en) SURGICAL REPARATIONSANORDNING
US9655609B2 (en) Soft suture anchor
US9101508B2 (en) Electro spun nanofibrous wound dressing and a method of synthesizing the same
US8240009B2 (en) Non-woven fiber assemblies
US3108357A (en) Compound absorbable prosthetic implants, fabrics and yarns therefor
KR101457341B1 (en) Multi-component fibers produced using a rotational spinning method
US6861142B1 (en) Controlling the dissolution of dissolvable polymer components in plural component fibers
CN101219066A (en) Knotless wound closure device
JP2003510475A (en) Absorbent fabric
EP2753369B1 (en) Flocked surgical suture and methods for the production thereof
JP2010527414A (en) Electronic rotating device, fiber structure manufacturing method, and electronic spun fiber structure
JP7300447B2 (en) Method and system for making poly(glycerol sebacate)/alginate continuous fibers and yarns comprising continuous poly(glycerol sebacate) fibers
CA2892249C (en) Mechanically strong absorbent non-woven fibrous mats
CN111012958A (en) Method for manufacturing dental thread using nanofiber composite yarn
US20200276379A1 (en) Tissue cuff
DE602004012678T2 (en) A method of treating a portion of a suture and forming a suture tip for attachment to a needle
WO2001047459A1 (en) Absorbent medicinal articles
JPH0978453A (en) Charging of treating liquid into hollow fiber and charging of polymer
CZ300142B6 (en) Process for preparing fibrous biologically degradable materials serving as controlled release-medicament carriers

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION