Increased film tear strength

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016338818-A1
Application number	US-201615225598-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 1, 2016
Priority date	Sep 9, 2010
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of increasing the tensile strength of polymer films is provided. The creation of the load distribution elements in polymer films necessary to achieve this result is described. Application of the present invention to increase suture retention in a surgical polymer film is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for increasing the load required for failure of a polymer film, the method comprising:
creating at least one load distribution element in a polymer film that has undergone in plane expansion; attaching at least one tether to the polymer film proximate to each load distribution element of the at least one load distribution element; and applying a tensile load to the polymer film via the at least one tether, wherein the at least one load distribution element deforms under applied tensile load and yields an increase in the load required for failure compared to the polymer film prior to the creation of the at least one distribution load element.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer film has undergone in plane radial expansion.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one load distribution element in the polymer film is circumferentially oriented in the polymer film.

4 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein creating at least one load distribution element comprising creating a plurality of circumferentially oriented load distribution elements, and attaching at least one tether to the polymer film proximate to each load distribution element of the at least one load distribution element comprises attaching at least one tether to the polymer film proximate to each of the plurality of circumferentially oriented load distribution elements.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one load distribution element comprises at least one of a group consisting of:
a slit; and a load distribution perforation.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer film has a thickness selected from a group consisting of:
a thickness less than 0.10 inch; a thickness less than 0.050 inch; a thickness less than 0.010 inch; and a thickness less than 0.002 inch.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the load distribution element has a width greater than a width of the at least one tether.

8 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one tether is attached to the polymer film via at least one attachment element, and wherein the load distribution element has a width greater than a width of the attachment element.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the attachment element includes one or more of a group consisting of:
an adhesive; a mechanical interlock; a sewn connection; a suture; and a staple.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer film is a surgical polymer film.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tether include a plurality of tethers, the method further comprising:
creating a plurality of load distribution elements in the polymer film, wherein the plurality of load distribution elements include the at least one load distribution element; attaching, to each of the load distribution elements in the polymer film, at least one of the plurality of tethers, wherein the polymer film further includes, in addition to the load distribution elements, a plurality of perforations forming a uniform pattern, and each of the plurality of perforations forming the uniform pattern are each smaller than each of the load distribution elements of the plurality of load distribution elements, and wherein the plurality of perforations forming the uniform pattern are each smaller than widths of the plurality of tethers.

12 . An assembly comprising:
a polymer film that has undergone in plane expansion; wherein the polymer film includes at least one load distribution element; and at least one tether attached to the polymer film proximate to each load distribution element of the at least one load distribution element, wherein the at least one load distribution element deforms under applied tensile load and yields an increase in the load required for failure compared to the polymer film prior to the creation of the at least one distribution load element.

13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the polymer film has undergone in plane radial expansion.

14 . The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one load distribution element in the polymer film is circumferentially oriented in the polymer film.

15 . The assembly of claim 12 ,
wherein the at least one load distribution element includes a plurality of circumferentially oriented load distribution elements, wherein at least one tether includes at least one tether attached to the polymer film proximate to each of the plurality of circumferentially oriented load distribution elements.

16 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one load distribution element comprises at least one of a group consisting of:
a slit; and a load distribution perforation.

17 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the polymer film has a thickness selected from a group consisting of:
a thickness less than 0.10 inch; a thickness less than 0.050 inch; a thickness less than 0.010 inch; and a thickness less than 0.002 inch.

18 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the load distribution element has a width greater than a width of the at least one tether.

19 . The assembly of claim 12 ,
wherein the at least one tether is attached to the polymer film via at least one attachment element, and wherein the load distribution element has a width greater than a width of the attachment element.

20 . The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the attachment element includes one or more of a group consisting of:
an adhesive; a mechanical interlock; a sewn connection; a suture; and a staple.

21 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the polymer film is a surgical polymer film.

22 . The assembly of claim 12 ,
wherein the at least one tether includes a plurality of tethers, wherein the at least one load distribution element includes a plurality of load distribution elements in the polymer film; wherein at least one of the plurality of tethers is attached to each of the load distribution elements in the polymer film, wherein the polymer film further includes, in addition to the load distribution elements, a plurality of perforations forming a uniform pattern, and each of the plurality of perforations forming the uniform pattern are each smaller than each of the load distribution elements of the plurality of load distribution elements, and wherein the plurality of perforations forming the uniform pattern are each smaller than widths of the plurality of tethers.

Assignees

• Gore & Ass

Inventors

• Towler Jeffrey C

Classifications

• B29L2031/7532

  Artificial members, protheses · CPC title

• Y10T29/49833

  Punching, piercing or reaming part by surface of second part · CPC title

• B29C66/43

  Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles (B29C66/45 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T156/10

  Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor · CPC title

• A61B46/20

  specially adapted for patients · CPC title