Implantable Textile Components: Surgical Sutures, Tapes, Cords and Tethers
This group of components is unique in their construction in that the basic forms are created by interlacing three or more yarns so that they cross one another to make a narrow strand, much like a rope. As with all of our other implantable textile components, sutures, tapes cords, tethers and cables can be made with a wide variety of materials. Construction can also vary considerably depending upon the desired physical and performance characteristics. Braiding is often the technology of choice in narrow shapes but we can also employ knitting or weaving to tapes or tubes. They can be made flat, round, tapered, bifurcated, made over a core and hollow (coreless). It is also possible to use a hybrid set of materials, often with different colors, lubricity, or modulus, to further enhance performance and visibility within the body. At ATEX, we are able to provide you with these components on spools and as assemblies with needles, anchor points and other terminations. Often, these materials are further processed at our customer sites to be used in suturing, as reinforcing cables, release cables, artificial ligaments and tendons and even as steering guides. Call us today to find out more about our capabilities in this area.