Flexible monofilament surgical sutures comprising poly(polymethylene terephthalate, isophthalate or cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate-co-dimerate)

Claim 1

A drawn and oriented, flexible thermoplastic surgical filament, comprising a copolymer consisting essentially of a multiplicity of random recurring A [poly(polymethylene terephthalate, isophthalate or cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate)] and B [poly(polymethylene dimerate)] units having the following general formula: ##STR9## wherein--Z--represents a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR10## n is 4 to 8, x and y are numbers having average values such that the A units comprise 87 to 92 mole percent, and the B units comprise 13 to 8 mole percent of the copolymer, and ##STR11## denotes a branched hydrocarbon chain containing from 24 to 32 carbon atoms, in which a size 3/0 strand of said filament has the following combination of mechanical properties: Knot strength--at least about 35,000 psi Tensile strength--at least about 60,000 psi Young's modulus--between about 80,000 and 280,000 psi Elongation--from about 20% to 80%

Claim 12

A method of closing a wound in living tissue which comprises approximating and securing the wound tissue with a drawn and oriented, flexible thermoplastic surgical filament, comprising a copolymer consisting essentially of a multiplicity of random recurring A [poly(polymethylene terephthalate, isophthalate or cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate)] and B [poly(polymethylene dimerate)] units having the following general formula: ##STR14## wherein--Z--represents a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR15## n is 4 to 8, x and y are numbers having average values such that the A units comprise 87 to 92 mole percent, and the B units comprise 13 to 8 mole percent of the copolymer, and ##STR16## denotes a branched hydrocarbon chain containing from 24 to 32 carbon atoms, in which a size 3/0 strand of said filament has the following combination of mechanical properties: Knot strength--at least about 35,000 psi Tensile strength--at least about 60,000 psi Young's modulus--between about 80,000 and 280,000 psi Elongation--from about 20% to 80%

Claim 13

A method of closing a wound in living tissue which comprises approximating and securing the wound tissue with a drawn and oriented, flexible thermoplastic surgical filament, comprising a copolymer consisting essentially of a multiplicity of random recurring A [poly(polymethylene terephthalate, isophthalate or cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate)] and B [poly(polymethylene dimerate)] units having the following general formula: ##STR14## wherein--Z--represents a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR15## n is 4 to 8, x and y are numbers having average values such that the A units comprise 87 to 92 mole percent, and the B units comprise 13 to 8 mole percent of the copolymer, and ##STR16## denotes a branched hydrocarbon chain containing from 24 to 32 carbon atoms, in which a size 3/0 strand of said filament has the following combination of mechanical properties: Knot strength--at least about 35,000 psi Tensile strength--at least about 60,000 psi Young's modulus--between about 80,000 and 280,000 psi Elongation--from about 20% to 80%